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Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
Which. then, is the better: he who has founded his building on God-consciousness and [a desire for] His goodly acceptance-or he who has founded his building on the edge of a water-worn, crumbling river-bank, so that it [is bound to] tumble down with him into the fire of hell? For, God does not grace with His guidance people who [deliberately] do wrong
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Which is better: those who laid the foundation of their building on the fear and pleasure of Allah, or those who did so on the edge of a crumbling cliff that tumbled down with them into the Fire of Hell? And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.
Safi Kaskas   
Which is better, one who has founded his building on God-consciousness and a desire for His acceptance, or he who has founded his building on the edge of a crumbling cliff that will tumble down with him into Hellfire? God does not guide people who are [deliberately] unjust.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
أَفَمَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَانَهُ عَلَىٰ تَقْوَىٰ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٍ خَيْرٌ أَم مَّنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَانَهُ عَلَىٰ شَفَا جُرُفٍ هَارٍ فَانْهَارَ بِهِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِين
Transliteration (2021)   
afaman assasa bun'yānahu ʿalā taqwā mina l-lahi wariḍ'wānin khayrun am man assasa bun'yānahu ʿalā shafā jurufin hārin fa-in'hāra bihi fī nāri jahannama wal-lahu lā yahdī l-qawma l-ẓālimīn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Then is (one) who founded his building on righteousness from Allah and (His) pleasure better or (one) who founded his building on edge (of) a cliff (about to) collapse, so it collapsed with him in (the) Fire (of) Hell. And Allah (does) not guide the people the wrongdoing.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Which. then, is the better: he who has founded his building on God-consciousness and [a desire for] His goodly acceptance-or he who has founded his building on the edge of a water-worn, crumbling river-bank, so that it [is bound to] tumble down with him into the fire of hell? For, God does not grace with His guidance people who [deliberately] do wrong
M. M. Pickthall   
Is he who founded his building upon duty to Allah and His good pleasure better; or he who founded his building on the brink of a crumbling, overhanging precipice so that it toppled with him into the fire of hell? Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Which then is best? - he that layeth his foundation on piety to Allah and His good pleasure? - or he that layeth his foundation on an undermined sand-cliff ready to crumble to pieces? and it doth crumble to pieces with him, into the fire of Hell. And Allah guideth not people that do wrong
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Which is better: those who laid the foundation of their building on the fear and pleasure of Allah, or those who did so on the edge of a crumbling cliff that tumbled down with them into the Fire of Hell? And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.
Safi Kaskas   
Which is better, one who has founded his building on God-consciousness and a desire for His acceptance, or he who has founded his building on the edge of a crumbling cliff that will tumble down with him into Hellfire? God does not guide people who are [deliberately] unjust.
Wahiduddin Khan   
Who is better, he who founds his building on the fear of God and His good pleasure, or he who builds on the brink of a crumbling precipice, so that his house is ready to fall with him into the Fire of Hell? God does not guide the wrongdoers
Shakir   
Is he, therefore, better who lays his foundation on fear of Allah and (His) good pleasure, or he who lays his foundation on the edge of a cracking hollowed bank, so it broke down with him into the fire of hell; and Allah does not guide the unjust people
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Is one who founded his structure on the God-consciousness of God and His contentment better than he who founded his structure on the brink of a crumbling, tottering bank of a river so that it tumbled with him into the fire of hell? And God guides not the folk, the ones who are unjust!
T.B.Irving   
Is someone who founds his building on heeding and pleasing God better, or someone who founds his building along the edge of a crumbling bluff, so it crumbles along with him into Hell fire? God does not guide such wrongful folk:
Abdul Hye   
Who is a better one; the one who lays the foundation of a building on piety from Allah and His good pleasure, or the one who lays the foundation of a building on a cliff edge ready to crumble down, so that it will crumble to pieces with him into the fire of hell? And Allah does not guide the people who are the wrongdoers.
The Study Quran   
So is one who founded his building upon reverence for God and [His] Contentment better, or one who founded his building on the brink of a crumbling bank, which then crumbles with him into the Fire of Hell? And God guides not wrongdoing people
Dr. Kamal Omar   
So then that who laid the foundation of his building on obedience to Allah and (His) agreements, attestations and good pleasures — is better, or that who laid the foundation of his building on an undetermined brink, of a precipice, ready to crumble down? So (this brink) crumbled down together with that (building) into the Fire of Hell. And Allah does not guide the nation of the transgressors
Farook Malik   
Who is a better person; he who lays the foundation of his building on piety to Allah and His good pleasure, or he who lays the foundation of his building on an undermined bank that will tumble down with him into the fire of Hell? Allah does not guide such wrongdoers
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
Is he who founds his structure upon piety and acceptance from God better, or he who founds his structure on the brink of a cliff that is about to tumble, so it tumbles with him into the Fire of Hell? God does not guide the unjust people
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
So, is he who founded his structure upon piety to Allah and all-blessed Satisfaction more charitable, or he who founded his structure upon the brink of a toppling precipice, (and) so it has toppled down with him in the fire of Hell? And Allah does not guide the unjust people
Muhammad Sarwar   
Which is better, the mosque that is founded for pious purposes and for achieving God's pleasure or that which is based on the brink of a crumbling bank and which may crumble into hell at any moment? God does not guide the unjust
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Then tell me, which one is better, whether the one who has founded his building on fear of Allah and on search of His pleasure, or the one who has founded his building on the edge of an abyss that is about to collapse, then it did collapse with him into the fire of Jahannam ? Allah does not give guidance to the unjust people
Shabbir Ahmed   
Is he who founded his building on the Secure Way of Allah and His goodly Acceptance better, or he who founded his building on the crumbling cliff of "Shirk" that topples down with him into the fire of Hell? Allah does not intervene to guide a folk who displace right with wrong
Dr. Munir Munshey   
So, who will fare better (do you think)? The one who raised his building on piety and the pleasure (and approval) of Allah, or the one who raised his building upon the brink of a crumbling water-worn precipice. It will crumble and topple him right into the fire of hell. Allah does not guide the nation of wrong doers
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Then, who is best? He (the one) who lays the foundation of his building (home) on devotion to Allah and His Good Pleasure? or he who lays the foundation of his building on a weak sand-hill ready to break to pieces? And it (the mosque) does break to pieces with him, into the fire of Hell. And Allah does not guide people who do wrong
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Then is one who laid the foundation of his building on righteousness [with fear] from Allah and [seeking] His approval better or one who laid the foundation of his building on the edge of a bank about to collapse, so it collapsed with him into the fire of Hell? And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Is one who lays his foundation on obtaining righteousness from God and His acceptance better, or one who lays his foundation on the edge of a cliff which is about to crumble, so that it crumbled with him into the fires of Hell God does not guide the wicked people
Abdel Haleem   
Which is better, the person who founds his building on consciousness of God and desire for His good pleasure, or the person who founds his building on the brink of a crumbling precipice that will tumble down into the Fire of Hell, taking him with it? God does not guide the evildoers
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Is he, then, who hath founded his building upon piety towards Allah and His good-will better, or he who hath founded his building on the brink of a crumbling bank, so that it crumbleth with him into the Hell-fire! And Allah guideth not the wrong-doing people
Ahmed Ali   
Is the man who lays the foundations of his sanctum on his allegiance to God and the wish to seek His favour, better, or he who lays the foundations of his building on the edge of a bank eroded by water, which will collapse with him into the fire of Hell? But God does not guide the people who are wilfully unjust
Aisha Bewley   
Who is better: someone who founds his building on taqwa of Allah and His good pleasure, or someone who founds his building on the brink of a crumbling precipice so that it collapses with him into the Fire of Hell? Allah does not love wrongdoers.
Ali Ünal   
Is he better, who founded his building (religion and personal world) on piety and reverence for God, and the aim to please God, or he who founded his building on the edge of a water-worn, crumbling river-bank so that it tumbles with him into the Hell-fire? God does not guide wrongdoing people
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Is he who founds his building on Godwariness and [the pursuit of Allah’s] pleasure better-off or he who founds his building on the brink of a collapsing bank which collapses with him into the fire of hell? And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing lot
Hamid S. Aziz   
Is he who has laid his foundation upon the fear of (duty to) Allah and of His good pleasure better, or he who has laid his foundation upon a crumbling undermined sand cliff, which crumbles away with him into the fire of hell? Allah guides not a people wh
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Is one who based his foundation on being cautious of God and His pleasure better or one who based his foundation on the edge of a cliff that is about to crumble and is falling down into fire of hell with him? God does not guide the wrongdoing people
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Which then is best? He who lays his foundation on piety to God and His blessings, or he who lays his foundation on an unstable sand-cliff waiting to collapse? And it will crumble to pieces with him into the fire of hell, and God does not guide people while they do wrong
Musharraf Hussain   
Which of the two is better: the person who laid his foundations on fear of Allah and Divine pleasure; or the one who lays his foundations on the very edge of a crumbling cliff edge, so it tumbles into the fire of Hell, taking him with it? Allah doesn’t guide the wicked people
Maududi   
Is he, then, who has erected his structure on the fear of Allah and His good pleasure better, or he who erects his structure on the brink of a crumbling bank, so that it crumbles down with him into the Hell-Fire? Allah does not bestow His Guidance on the wrong-doing folk
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Is he who founds his building on obtaining righteousness from God and His acceptance better, or he who founds his building on the edge of a cliff which is about to crumble, so that it crumbled with him into the fires of Hell? And God does not guide the wicked people.
Mohammad Shafi   
Who is better then: the one who lays his foundation on fear of Allah and His good pleasure, or the one who lays his foundation on the brink of a crumbling hollowed bank, and which crumbles down with him into the fire of Hell ? And Allah does not guide the people who deliberately do wrong, unjust things

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Then is he who laid foundation upon the fear of Allah and His pleasure better or he who laid his foundation on the brink of a falling pit, then he fell with it in the fire of the Hell? And Allah does not give way to the people unjust.
Rashad Khalifa   
Is one who establishes his building on the basis of reverencing GOD and to gain His approval better, or one who establishes his building on the brink of a crumbling cliff, that falls down with him into the fire of Hell? GOD does not guide the transgressing people.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Is he who founds his building on the fear of Allah and His pleasure, better or he who founds his building on the brink of a crumbling edge so that it will tumble with him into the Fire of Gehenna? Allah does not guide the harmdoers
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Is he, then, who lays his foundation on duty to Allah and (His) good pleasure better, or he who lays his foundation on the edge of a cracking hollowed bank, so it broke down with him into the Fire of hell? And Allah guides not the unjust people
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
Is who founded (established) his building/structure on fear and obedience from God and acceptance/approval better ? Or who founded (established) his building/structure on (the) edge/brink (of) a cracking/falling/weakly undercut bank/shore , so it collapsed/fell down with him in Hell's fire? And God does not guide the nation the unjust/oppressive
Bijan Moeinian   
Is the one who has built his place of worship on the basis of the piety and the Lord’s approval better or the one who establishes his building on the brink of a crumbling cliff, that is going to fall down with him in the Fire of Hell. God indeed does not guide the unjust people
Faridul Haque   
So is one who established his foundation upon the fear of Allah and upon His pleasure better, or the one who laid his foundation upon the brink of a falling precipice, so it fell along with him into the fire of hell? And Allah does not guide the unjust
Sher Ali   
Is he, then, who founded his building on the fear of ALLAH and HIS pleasure better or he who has founded his building on the brink of a tottering water-worn bank which tumbled down with him into the fire of Hell? And ALLAH guides not the wrongdoing people
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
Who is better—the one who founds his edifice (i.e., mosque) on the fear of Allah and (His) pleasure and satisfaction, or the one who lays the foundation of his building on the edge of a crumbling precipice? So, that (building) tumbled down with its architect into the Fire of Hell. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoers
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Is he, who founded his edifice on taking Allah as a shield and (on) His good pleasure, better or he who founded his edifice on the brink of a hollowed and crumbling water-worn bank so that it toppled along with him into the Fire of Gehenna? And Allah guides not the wrong doing people (to the ways of success)
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Is it then he, who laid the foundation of his building on piety to Allah and His Good Pleasure, better, or he who laid the foundation of his building on an undetermined brink of a precipice ready to crumble down, so that it crumbled to pieces with him into the Fire of Hell. And Allah guides not the people who are the Zalimoon (cruel, violent, proud, polytheist and wrong-doer)

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Why, is he better who founded his building upon the fear of God and His good pleasure, or he who founded his building upon the brink of a crumbling bank that has tumbled with him into the fire of Gehenna? And God guides not the people of the evildoers
George Sale   
Whether therefore is he better, who hath founded his building on the fear of God and his good will; or he who hath founded his building on the brink of a bank of earth which is washed away by waters, so that it falleth with him into the fire of hell? God directeth not the ungodly people
Edward Henry Palmer   
Is he who has laid his foundation upon the fear of God and of His good-will better, or he who has laid his foundation upon a crumbling wall of sand, which crumbles away with him into the fire of hell?- but God guides not a people who do wrong
John Medows Rodwell   
Which of the two is best? He who hath founded his building on the fear of God and the desire to please Him, or he who hath founded his building on the brink of an undermined bank washed away by torrents, so that it rusheth with him into the fire of Hell? But God guideth not the doers of wrong
N J Dawood (2014)   
Who is a better man, he who founds his house on the fear of God and His good pleasure, or he who builds on the brink of a crumbling precipice, so that his house will fall with him into the fire of Hell? God does not guide the wrongdoers

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Which one is better? One person lays a foundation on faithfulness to Allah and pleasing Him. Another person builds on a crumbling cliff so that the building is ready to fall with him/her into the fire of Hell? Allah does not guide [unrepentant] sinners.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Is someone who founds his building on heeding and pleasing Allah (God) better, or someone who founds his building along the edge of a crumbling bluff, so it crumbles along with him into Hell fire? Allah (God) does not guide such wrongful folk:
Sayyid Qutb   
Who is better: a man who founds his building [motivated by a sense of] being God-fearing and seeking His goodly acceptance, or one who founds his building on the edge of a crumbling precipice, so that it tumbles with him in the fire of hell? God does not guide the wrongdoers.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Is the one who founds his building on taqwa and the pleasure of Allah (Ridvan; the capacity to transform potentials into actions through the awareness of one’s reality) better or the one who founds it on the edge of a crumbling cliff that is ready to collapse with him into the fire of hell? Allah does not enable the wrongdoing people (dualists, deniers and hypocrites) to experience the reality!
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
Is he, therefore, better who has laid his foundation on fear of Allah and (His) good pleasure, or he who has laid his foundation on the brink of a crumbling hollowed bank that tumbles with him into the Fire of Hell? And Allah does not guide the unjust people.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
Is he who has built his structure on a foundation of piety and the gratification of Allah better or the one who has built his structure on a foundation of impiety featured by a building founded on an undermined sandcliff which collapses and crumbles away in the fire of Hell! And Allah does not guide to His path of righteousness the wrongful of actions
Mir Aneesuddin   
Then, is he who founded his building for guarding (himself) from (the punishment of) Allah and (for winning) His pleasure better or he who founded his building on the edge of a cracking hollowed bank, so that it crumbles down with him into the fire of hell? And Allah does not guide the unjust people.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Which then is best? - he that layeth his foundation on piety to God and His good pleasure? - or he that layeth his foundation on an undermined sand-cliff ready to crumble to pieces? and it doth crumble to pieces with him, into the fire of Hell. And God guideth not people that do wrong
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Then is (one) who founded his building on righteousness from Allah and (His) pleasure better or (one) who founded his building on edge (of) a cliff (about to) collapse, so it collapsed with him in (the) Fire (of) Hell. And Allah (does) not guide the wrongdoing people