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Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
A kind word and the veiling of another's want is better than a charitable deed followed by hurt; and God is self-sufficient, forbearing
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Most Forbearing.
Safi Kaskas   
A kind word and forgiveness are better than charity followed by hurt. God is Rich beyond need and Forbearing.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيم
Transliteration (2021)   
qawlun maʿrūfun wamaghfiratun khayrun min ṣadaqatin yatbaʿuhā adhan wal-lahu ghaniyyun ḥalīmu
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
A word kind and (seeking) forgiveness (are) better than a charity followed [it] (by) hurt. And Allah (is) All-Sufficient, All-Forbearing.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
A kind word and the veiling of another's want is better than a charitable deed followed by hurt; and God is self-sufficient, forbearing
M. M. Pickthall   
A kind word with forgiveness is better than almsgiving followed by injury. Allah is Absolute, Clement
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and He is Most-Forbearing
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Most Forbearing.
Safi Kaskas   
A kind word and forgiveness are better than charity followed by hurt. God is Rich beyond need and Forbearing.
Wahiduddin Khan   
A kind word and forgiveness is better than a charitable deed followed by hurtful words: God is self-sufficient and forbearing
Shakir   
Kind speech and forgiveness is better than charity followed by injury; and Allah is Self-sufficient, Forbearing
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
An honorable saying and forgiveness are better than charity succeeded by injury. And God is Sufficient, Forbearing.
T.B.Irving   
Polite conversation and forgiveness are better than any act of charity followed by a scolding. God is Transcendent, Lenient.
Abdul Hye   
Kind words and forgiving (of faults) are better than charity which is followed by injury. And Allah is Rich (free from all needs), Forbearing.
The Study Quran   
An honorable word and forgiveness are better than an act of charity followed by injury. And God is Self-Sufficient, Clement
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Desirable words and forgiveness are better than Sadaqa to which follows an injury. And Allah is Free of all wants, Most Forbearing
Farook Malik   
Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is Self-sufficient, Forbearing
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by insults. God is Rich and Clement
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
A beneficent saying and forgiveness are more charitable than a donation followed by hurt. And Allah is Ever-Affluent, (Literally: Ever-Rich) Ever-Forbearing
Muhammad Sarwar   
Instructive words and forgiveness are better than charity that may cause an insult to the recipient. God is Rich and Forbearing
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
A graceful word and forgiving is better than charity followed by causing hurt. Allah is All-Independent, Forbearing
Shabbir Ahmed   
Kind words and respecting people's honor is better than charity coupled with injury. Allah, the Rich, the Clement, provides everyone without return or obligation
Dr. Munir Munshey   
A kind and courteous word and forgiveness is (much) better than the charity, that is followed by (such an emotional) abuse. Allah is free of all wants, and the most Forbearing
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Kind words and the overlooking of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is Free of all wants (Ghani), (and He is) Most Forbearing (Haleem)
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Free of need and Forbearing
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Kind words and forgiveness is far better than a charity that is followed by harm. God is Rich, Compassionate
Abdel Haleem   
A kind word and forgiveness is better than a charitable deed followed by hurtful [words]: God is self-sufficient, forbearing
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
A reputable word and forgiveness are better than an alms which hurt followeth; and Allah is Self-Sufficient, Forbearing
Ahmed Ali   
Saying a word that is kind, and forgiving is better than charity that hurts. (Do not forget that) God is affluent and kind
Aisha Bewley   
Correct and courteous words accompanied by forgiveness are better than sadaqa followed by insulting words. Allah is Rich Beyond Need, All-Forbearing.
Ali Ünal   
A kind word and forgiving (people’s faults) are better than almsgiving followed by taunting. God is All-Wealthy and Self-Sufficient, (absolutely independent of the charity of people), All-Clement (Who shows no haste in punishing.
Ali Quli Qara'i   
An honourable word with pardon is better than a charity followed by affront. Allah is all-sufficient, most forbearing
Hamid S. Aziz   
Kind speech and pardon are better than almsgiving followed by injury. Allah is Absolute and Clement
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Nice word and forgiveness is better than charity that is followed by annoyance (and harassment). God is rich (without any needs) and patient
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. But God is free of all wants, and He is Enduring
Musharraf Hussain   
A kind word and forgiveness are far better than charity that is followed by an insult. Allah is Self-Sufficient and Most Gentle.
Maududi   
A kind word and forbearance is better than that charity which is followed up by insult or injury. Allah is Self-Sufficient and Forbearing
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Kind words and forgiveness are far better than a charity that is followed by harm. God is Rich, Compassionate.
Mohammad Shafi   
Kind words and forgiveness are better than giving of poor-due that is followed by hurtful conduct. And Allah is Self-sufficient, Gentle and Kind.

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
To speak kind word and to forgive is better than that; charity followed by injury. And Allah is above want, Clement.
Rashad Khalifa   
Kind words and compassion are better than a charity that is followed by insult. GOD is Rich, Clement.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
A kind word and forgiveness is better than charity followed by injury. Allah is the Clement
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
A kind word with forgiveness is better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Self-sufficient, Forbearing
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
(A) saying/word (of) kindness and forgiveness (is) better from (than) (a) charity following it mild harm, and God (is) rich, clement
Bijan Moeinian   
Kind words and forgiving people’s faults is much better than a charitable action followed by a cutting remark. God is the wealthiest; He is not in need of any one and is the Most Tolerant
Faridul Haque   
Speaking kind words and pardoning are better than charity followed by injury; and Allah is the Independent, Most Forbearing
Sher Ali   
A kind word and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And ALLAH is Self-Sufficient, Forbearing
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
Polite conversation (with the needy) and extending tolerance are far better than charity followed by injuring (his) heart. And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Forbearing
Amatul Rahman Omar   
A fair word and forbearance are better than charity followed by injury. Indeed, Allah is Self-Sufficient (having no want), Ever Forbearing
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury. And Allah is Rich (Free of all wants) and He is Most-Forbearing

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Honourable words, and forgiveness, are better than a freewill offering followed by injury; and God is All-sufficient, All-clement
George Sale   
A fait speech, and to forgive, is better than alms followed by mischief. God is rich and merciful
Edward Henry Palmer   
Kind speech and pardon are better than almsgiving followed by annoyance, and God is rich and clement
John Medows Rodwell   
A kind speech and forgiveness is better than alms followed by injury. God is Rich, Clement
N J Dawood (2014)   
A kind word with forgiveness is better than charity followed by insult. God is self-sufficient and gracious

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Kind words and discretion about faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is Independent, Most Tolerant.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Polite conversation and forgiveness are better than any act of charity followed by an injury. Allah (God) is Transcendent, Lenient.
Ahmed Hulusi   
A kind word and to cover a fault is better than a charity followed by offence. Allah is the Ghani and the Halim.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
A kind word and forgiveness is better than a charity that is followed by injury, and Allah is Self-sufficient, Forbearing
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
In fact, a kind word of friendliness and forgiveness is far better than benevolence followed by reproach inducing mental anguish, and Allah is Independent, Ghaniyun (Absolute) and Halimun
Mir Aneesuddin   
Recognised (good) speech and protective forgiveness are better than charity followed by annoyance, and Allah is Independent, Clement.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. God is free of all wants, and He is Most-Forbearing
OLD Literal Word for Word   
A word kind and (seeking) forgiveness (are) better than a charity followed [it] (by) hurt. And Allah (is) All-Sufficient, All-Forbearing