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Muhammad Asad   
Yet if We were to ordain for them, "Lay down your lives," or, "Forsake your homelands," only a very few of them would do it - although, if they did what they are admonished to do, it would indeed be for their own good and apt to strengthen them greatly [in faith]
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
If We had commanded them to sacrifice themselves or abandon their homes, none would have obeyed except for a few. Had they done what they were advised to do, it would have certainly been far better for them and more reassuring,
Safi Kaskas   
If we had ordered them, "Lay down your lives!" or, "Leave your homes," they would not have done so, except for a few. However, if they had done what they were ordered to do, it would have been better for them and a stronger confirmation of their faith,

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَلَوْ أَنَّا كَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَنِ اقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ أَوِ اخْرُجُوا مِن دِيَارِكُم مَّا فَعَلُوهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ مِّنْهُمْ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ فَعَلُوا مَا يُوعَظُونَ بِهِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ تَثْبِيتً
Transliteration (2021)   
walaw annā katabnā ʿalayhim ani uq'tulū anfusakum awi ukh'rujū min diyārikum mā faʿalūhu illā qalīlun min'hum walaw annahum faʿalū mā yūʿaẓūna bihi lakāna khayran lahum wa-ashadda tathbīta
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And if [that] We (had) decreed on them that, "Kill yourselves" or "Go forth from your homes," not they would have done it except a few of them. But if [that] they had done what they were advised with [it], surely (it) would have been better for them and stronger strengthen(ing).

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Yet if We were to ordain for them, "Lay down your lives," or, "Forsake your homelands," only a very few of them would do it - although, if they did what they are admonished to do, it would indeed be for their own good and apt to strengthen them greatly [in faith]
M. M. Pickthall   
And if We had decreed for them: Lay down your lives or go forth from your dwellings, but few of them would have done it; though if they did what they are exhorted to do it would be better for them, and more strengthening
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
If We had ordered them to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes, very few of them would have done it: But if they had done what they were (actually) told, it would have been best for them, and would have gone farthest to strengthen their (faith)
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
If We had commanded them to sacrifice themselves or abandon their homes, none would have obeyed except for a few. Had they done what they were advised to do, it would have certainly been far better for them and more reassuring,
Safi Kaskas   
If we had ordered them, "Lay down your lives!" or, "Leave your homes," they would not have done so, except for a few. However, if they had done what they were ordered to do, it would have been better for them and a stronger confirmation of their faith,
Wahiduddin Khan   
If We had commanded them, Lay down your lives or leave your dwellings, they would have not done it, save a few of them. If they had done what they were instructed to do, it would have been better for them, as well as more strengthening [for their faith]
Shakir   
And if We had prescribed for them: Lay down your lives or go forth from your homes, they would not have done it except a few of them; and if they had done what they were admonished, it would have certainly been better for them and best in strengthening (them)
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And if We prescribed for them that you: Kill yourselves, or: Go forth from your abodes, they would not have accomplished it, but a few of them. And had they accomplished what they are admonished by it, it would have been better for them and a stauncher confirming.
T.B.Irving   
If We had prescribed for them: ´Let yourselves be killed or expelled from your homes," only a few of them would have done so. If they had done what they were instructed to do, it would have been better for them, as well as more stabilizing:
Abdul Hye   
And if We had enjoined upon them (saying): “You kill yourselves (the innocent ones kill the guilty ones) or leave from your homes,” they would not have done it except very few of them. If they had done what they were commanded of it, it would have been better for them, and would have added (to their faith) firmness;
The Study Quran   
And had We prescribed for them, “Lay down your lives” or “Leave your homes,” they would not have done so, save a few. And had they done what they were exhorted to do, it would have been better for them, and a stronger confirmation
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And if We had ordained for them: ‘that you kill yourselves (in the Way of Allah), or (that) you come out of your homes (in the Way of Allah)’, they would not have done it except a minority among them. And if indeed they had done what they are exhorted to, surely it would have been better for them and more powerful in providing strength (to their Faith or Belief)
Farook Malik   
If We had commanded them to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes, very few of them would have done it. Yet, if they would have done what they were commanded to do, it would have been better for them; not only would their faith have been strengthened
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
Had We decreed for them: 'Kill yourselves,' or 'Leave your homes,' they would not have done it, except for a few of them. But had they done what they were instructed to do, it would have been better for them, and a firmer confirmation
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And if We had prescribed for them (saying), "Kill yourselves, " or "Go out of your residences, " in no way would they have performed (it) except a few of them. And if they had performed what they were admonished, it would have been more charitable for them and more strict in confirming them
Muhammad Sarwar   
Had We commanded them to kill themselves or abandon their homes, only a few of them would have done it. If they had done what they had been advised to do, it would have strengthened their faith
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
If We had prescribed for them that they should kill themselves or that they should migrate from their homeland, they would have not done it, except a few of them. If they had done what they were advised to do, it would have been better for them, and more effective in making (them) firm
Shabbir Ahmed   
And if We had decreed for them, "Lay down your lives," or "Forsake your homelands," a few of them would do it. Although, if they did as was admonished, it would be for their own good, and a cause for strengthening themselves
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Barely a few would have complied, had We ordered them to lay down their lives or to leave their homes. They would have fared better, had they done what they were being advised. It would have strengthened their faith
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And if We had ordered (them) to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes, very few of them would have done it: But if they had done what they were (actually) told, it would have been the best for them, and would have gone farthest to strengthen their (Faith)
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And if We had decreed upon them, "Kill yourselves" or "Leave your homes," they would not have done it, except for a few of them. But if they had done what they were instructed, it would have been better for them and a firmer position [for them in faith]
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And had We decreed for them: "Kill yourselves," or "Leave your land," they would not have done so except for a few of them. And if they had done what they were advised with, it would have been better for them and helped to strengthen them
Abdel Haleem   
if We had ordered, ‘Lay down your lives’ or ‘Leave your homes,’ they would not have done so, except for a few- it would have been far better for them and stronger confirmation of their faith, if they had done as they were told
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And had We prescribed unto them: slay yourselves or go forth from your dwellings, they had not done it, save a few of them. And did they do that which they are exhorted to do, it would be for them better and more strengthening
Ahmed Ali   
If We had commanded them to lay down their lives and to go forth from their homes, only a few would have obeyed; though had they followed what they had been commanded it would surely have been good for them and the strengthening of their faith
Aisha Bewley   
If We had directed them to kill themselves or leave their homes, they would not have done so, except for a very few. But if they had done what they were urged to do, it would have been better for them and far more strengthening.
Ali Ünal   
If We were to ordain for them, "Lay down your lives (in God’s cause so that you may be purified of your sins)" or "Leave your habitations (that you have contaminated with your sins and emigrate to another land in God’s cause)," they would not do that save a few of them. But if they had done what was urged upon them (before things had come to this point) – if only they would do it from now on – it would indeed have been (and would be) for their own good and (more apt for them) to be more securely established (in the land)
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Had We prescribed for them, [commanding]: ‘Slay [the guilty among] your folks or leave your habitations,’ they would not have done it, except a few of them. And if they had done as they were advised it would have been better for them, and firmer in confirming [their faith]
Hamid S. Aziz   
But had we prescribed for them, "Sacrifice your lives, or leave your homes" they would not have done it, save only a few of them. But had they done what they were told, then it would have been better for them, and more strengthening
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And if We had prescribed to them to kill yourselves (or each other) or leave your homes, only a few of them would have done it. But if they did what they were advised to it, it would have been better and more strengthening for them
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
If We ordered them to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes, very few of them would have done so. But if they had done what they were told, it would have been best for them, and would have gone furthest to strengthen their faith
Musharraf Hussain   
If We had ordered them: “Lay down your lives,” or “Leave your homes,” for the sake of Allah only a few of them would have done so. Had they done what they were told, that would have been better for them and put them on a far firmer footing;
Maududi   
Had We enjoined upon them: ´Slay yourselves´, or ´Leave your habitations´, very few of them would have done it; yet if they had done as they were admonished, it would have been better for them and would have strengthened them
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And had We decreed for them: "Kill yourselves," or "Leave your land," they would not have done so except for a few of them. And if they had done what they were advised with, it would have been better for them and helped to strengthen them.
Mohammad Shafi   
And if We had passed an order for them to lay down their lives or to leave their homes, they would not have done it, except for a few of them. And had they done what they were advised to, it would have certainly been better for them and it would have very much strengthened their position

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And if We had made it obligatory on them; that 'kill yourselves and go out leaving your hearth and home, then only a few of them would have done so; and if they do of what they are advised, then it was better for them and stronger in establishing faith.
Rashad Khalifa   
Had we decreed for them: "You must offer your lives," or "Give up your homes," they would not have done it, except for a few of them. (Even if such a command was issued,) had they done what they were commanded to do, it would have been better for them, and would prove the strength of their faith.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Had We written for them, saying, 'Slay yourselves, ' or 'Emerge from your houses, ' they would not have done so, except a few of them. Yet, if they had done as they were exhorted, it would have been better for them, and stronger in firmness
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And if We had enjoined them, Lay down your lives or go forth from your homes, they would not have done it except a few of them. And if they had done what they are exhorted to do, it would certainly have been better for them and more strengthening
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
And if that We wrote/ordered/decreed on them, that kill yourselves or get out from your homes, they would not have done it, except (a) few from them, and if that they did what they are being advised/warned with it (it) would have been best for them, and strongest affirmation
Bijan Moeinian   
If I had asked them to put their lives in line for the cause of God or leave their homes to participate in a God pleasing mission, only a few would have obeyed in spite of the fact that obeying the Lord’s orders is the best for them as it will make them stronger people
Faridul Haque   
And had We decreed for them to slay themselves or to leave their homes and families, only a few of them would have done it; and if they did what they are advised to, it would be good for them, and would have strengthened faith
Sher Ali   
And if WE had commanded them: Slay your people or leave your homes,' they would not have done it except a few of them; and if they had done what they are exhorted to do, it would surely have been better for them and conducive to greater strength
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
If We had prescribed for them: ‘Kill yourselves, or leave your homes and go away,’ only a few of them would have acted upon it. If they had abided by what they were advised to do, that would have been in their favour, enabling them to tenaciously hold fast (to the Faith)
Amatul Rahman Omar   
If We had made it binding on them, `Lay down your lives or go out of your homes,' they would not have done it, excepting a few of them. And if they had done what they are exhorted to do, it would surely have been better for them and conducive to a greater strength (in their faith)
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And if We had ordered them (saying), "Kill yourselves (i.e. the innnocent ones kill the guilty ones) or leave your homes," very few of them would have done it; but if they had done what they were told, it would have been better for them, and would have strengthened their (Faith)

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
But had We prescribed for them, saying, 'Slay yourselves' or 'Leave your habitations,' they would not have done it, save a few of them; yet if they had done as they were admonished it would have been better for them, and stronger confirming them
George Sale   
And if we had commanded them, saying, slay your selves, or depart from your houses; they would not have done it, except a few of them. And if they had done what they were admonished, it would certainly have been better for them, and more efficacious for confirming their faith
Edward Henry Palmer   
But had we prescribed for them, 'Kill yourselves, or go ye forth out of your houses,' they would not have done it, save only a few of them; but had they done what they are admonished, then it would have been better for them, and a more firm assurance
John Medows Rodwell   
Had we laid down such a law for them as "Kill yourselves, or abandon your dwellings," but few of them would have done it. But had they done that to which they were exhorted, better and it been for them, and stronger for the confirmation of their faith
N J Dawood (2014)   
And had We commanded them: ‘Lay down your lives,‘ or ‘Flee from your homes,‘ only a few would have complied. Yet, had they done what they were admonished to do, it would have been better for them and their faith would have been strengthened

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
If We had ordered them to sacrifice their lives or leave their homes, very few of them would have done it. If they would have done as they were told, it would have been best for them and strengthened their faith.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
If We had prescribed for them: 'Let yourselves be killed or expelled from your homes," only a few of them would have done so. If they had done what they were instructed to do, it would have been better for them, as well as more stabilizing:
Sayyid Qutb   
Yet if We were to order them, “Lay down your lives,” or, “Forsake your homelands,” only a very few of them would do it; but if they would do what they are admonished to do, it would indeed be for their own good and apt to strengthen them greatly [in faith].
Ahmed Hulusi   
If We had written upon them “kill your selves” (be willing to die for the sake of Allah) or “leave your homes”, except for a very few of them, they would not have done it. Had they followed the advice given to them, surely it would have been better and healthier for them.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And if We had decreed, for them (saying) : ' Kill yourselves or go forth from your dwellings, they would not have done it except a few of them; and if they had done what they were admonished, it would have certainly been better for them and more efficacious for streng thening (their faith)
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
And had Allah enjoined them to sacrifice their lives in His cause or to go out of their homes to fight against positive unbelief, they would not have obeyed the injunction with the exception of a few. Had they obeyed Allah's authoritative admonition, it would have been much better for them here and Hereafter. Such obedience would have confirmed their peace and position of authority and deep joy would have settled on their spirits
Mir Aneesuddin   
And had We prescribed for them that, "Kill yourselves or go out from your houses," they would not have done it except a few of them, and had they done that which they are admonished with, it would have been better for them and (it would have) established (them) more firmly,

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
If We had ordered them to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes, very few of them would have done it: But if they had done what they were (actually) told, it would have been best for them, and would have gone farthest to strengthen thei r (faith)
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And if [that] We (had) decreed on them that, "Kill yourselves" or "Go forth from your homes," not they would have done it except a few of them. But if [that] they had done what they were advised with [it], surely (it) would have been better for them and stronger strengthen(ing)