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Muhammad Asad   
Now they who ascribe divinity to aught beside God say, "Had God so willed, we would not have worshipped aught but Him - neither we nor our forefathers; nor would we have declared aught as forbidden without a commandment from Him." Even thus did speak those [sinners] who lived before their time; but, then, are the apostles bound to do more than clearly deliver the message [entrusted to them]
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
The polytheists argue, “Had Allah willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have worshipped anything other than Him, nor prohibited anything without His command.” So did those before them. Is not the messengers’ duty only to deliver ˹the message˺ clearly?
Safi Kaskas   
Now the very ones who associate deities with God say, "Had God willed it so, we would have worshipped Him alone, and we would never have declared anything as forbidden unless he had commanded us to do so". This is just what those who lived before them did. Are the messengers required to do more than deliver the message clearly?

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِینَ أَشۡرَكُوا۟ لَوۡ شَاۤءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا عَبَدۡنَا مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَیۡءࣲ نَّحۡنُ وَلَاۤ ءَابَاۤؤُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمۡنَا مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَیۡءࣲۚ كَذَ ٰلِكَ فَعَلَ ٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۚ فَهَلۡ عَلَى ٱلرُّسُلِ إِلَّا ٱلۡبَلَـٰغُ ٱلۡمُبِینُ ۝٣٥
Transliteration (2021)   
waqāla alladhīna ashrakū law shāa l-lahu mā ʿabadnā min dūnihi min shayin naḥnu walā ābāunā walā ḥarramnā min dūnihi min shayin kadhālika faʿala alladhīna min qablihim fahal ʿalā l-rusuli illā l-balāghu l-mubīn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And said those who associate partners (with Allah), "If (had) willed Allah not we (would) have worshipped from other than Him any thing, we and not our forefathers and not we (would) have forbidden from other than Him from anything." Thus did those who (were) from before them, Then is (there) on the messengers except the conveyance clear?

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Now they who ascribe divinity to aught beside God say, "Had God so willed, we would not have worshipped aught but Him - neither we nor our forefathers; nor would we have declared aught as forbidden without a commandment from Him." Even thus did speak those [sinners] who lived before their time; but, then, are the apostles bound to do more than clearly deliver the message [entrusted to them]
M. M. Pickthall   
And the idolaters say: Had Allah willed, we had not worshipped aught beside Him, we and our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught without (command from) Him. Even so did those before them. Are the messengers charged with aught save plain conveyance (of the message)
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
The worshippers of false gods say: "If Allah had so willed, we should not have worshipped aught but Him - neither we nor our fathers,- nor should we have prescribed prohibitions other than His." So did those who went before them. But what is the mission of messengers but to preach the Clear Message
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
The polytheists argue, “Had Allah willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have worshipped anything other than Him, nor prohibited anything without His command.” So did those before them. Is not the messengers’ duty only to deliver ˹the message˺ clearly?
Safi Kaskas   
Now the very ones who associate deities with God say, "Had God willed it so, we would have worshipped Him alone, and we would never have declared anything as forbidden unless he had commanded us to do so". This is just what those who lived before them did. Are the messengers required to do more than deliver the message clearly?
Wahiduddin Khan   
Those who associate [others with God] say, If God had so willed we would not have worshipped anything besides Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything without His sanction. So did those who went before them. The duty of the messengers is only to convey the message clearly
Shakir   
And they who give associates (to Allah) say: If Allah had pleased, we would not have served anything besides Allah, (neither) we nor our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything without (order from) Him. Thus did those before them; is then aught incumbent upon the messengers except a plain delivery (of the message)
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And those who ascribed partners with God said: If God willed neither would we have worshiped other than Him anything, we nor our fathers, nor would we have held sacred anything other than what He forbade. Thus, accomplished those who were before them. Then, what is upon the Messengers, but the delivering of the clear message?
T.B.Irving   
Those who associate [others with God] say: ´If God so wished, neither we nor our forefathers would have served anything besides Him, nor would we have forbidden anything besides Him." Thus have those before them done! Need messengers do anything except to proclaim things clearly.?
Abdul Hye   
And those who join others in worship (with Allah) say: “If Allah had willed, neither we would have worshipped anything other than Him, nor our forefathers, nor we would have forbidden anything without (command from) Him.” So did those who were before them. Then are the Messengers charged with anything but to convey the clear message?
The Study Quran   
Those who ascribe partners unto God say, “Had God willed, we would not have worshipped aught apart from Him—neither us nor our fathers—nor would we have considered sacred aught apart from Him.” Those before them did likewise. Is aught incumbent upon the Messenger save the clear proclamation
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Those who associate others argue, “If God had willed, we wouldn’t have worshiped anything other than Him, neither us nor our ancestors, nor would we have prohibited anything without His sanction.” Those before them did the same. Are the messengers’ duty anything other than the clear conveyance of the message?
Talal Itani (2012)   
The idolaters say, 'Had God willed, we would not have worshiped anything besides Him, neither us, nor our ancestors, nor would we have prohibited anything besides His prohibitions.' Those before them did likewise. Are the messengers responsible for anything but clear communication
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And those who assigned partners (to Allah) said: “Had Allah (so) willed we would have not worshipped besides Him any thing, (neither) we and nor our fathers. And we would not have declared haram any thing other than His (prohibitions as available in His Al-Kitab)." Thus behaved those who went before them. Then is there on the Messengers (any responsibility) except (clearly conveying) the Message
M. Farook Malik   
The pagans say: "If Allah wanted, neither we nor our forefathers would have worshipped any one else but Him, nor made anything unlawful without His will." Such excuses were put forward also by those who went before them. Yet Messengers have no more responsibility than to convey the Message clearly
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And the ones who have associated (others with Allah) have said, "If Allah had so decided, in no way would we have worshiped, apart from Him, anything, neither we nor our fathers; and in no way would we have prohibited, apart from Him, anything (whatsoever)." Thus did the ones before them perform. So are the Messengers (entrusted) with anything except (to deliver) the evident proclamation
Muhammad Sarwar   
The pagans had said, "Had God wanted we would not have worshipped anything other than Him, nor would our fathers. We would not have forbidden anything without (a command from) Him." The same thing was said by the people who lived before them. Are the Messengers expected to do more than just preach
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
The polytheists said, .If Allah had so willed, we would have not worshipped anything other than Him - neither we nor our forefathers - nor would we have made anything unlawful without (a command from) Him. Similar was the reaction of those who were before them. Therefore, the messengers‘ obligation is no more than to convey the message clearly
Shabbir Ahmed   
Now the idolaters say, "If Allah had so willed, we would not have worshiped or served anyone but Him, we and our forefathers. Nor had we forbidden things outside His Command." Thus did those before them. But, are the Messengers responsible for other than conveying the Message clearly
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Those guilty of ´shirk´ (ascribing partners to Allah) said, "Unless Allah had so willed, we would not worship anyone else besides Him. Nor would our ancestors. We could not have sanctified anything else other than Him." Those others before them said that too! Is there any (obligation) upon the messengers, except to convey the message distinctly
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
The worshippers of false gods say: "If Allah had so willed then we would not have worshipped anybody but Him— Neither we and nor our fathers— Nor would we have forbade anything other than His (things which He forbids)." Like this did those who went before them. But what is the duty of messengers (from Allah) except to teach the Clear Message
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And those who associate others with Allah say, "If Allah had willed, we would not have worshipped anything other than Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything through other than Him." Thus did those do before them. So is there upon the messengers except [the duty of] clear notification
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And those who set up partners said: "If God had wished it, we would not have served anything besides Him; neither us nor our fathers; nor would we have forbidden anything without Him." Those before them did the exact same thing; so are the messengers required to do anything but deliver with clarit
Abdel Haleem   
Those who worshipped others alongside God say, ‘If God had willed, we would not have worshipped anything but Him, nor would our fathers. We would not have declared anything forbidden without His sanction.’ Those before them said the same. Are the messengers obliged to do anything other than deliver [their message] clearly
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And those who associate say: had God willed we would not have worshipped aught beside Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor we would have forbidden aught without Him. Like-wise did those before them. Naught is then on the apostles except a preaching plain
Ahmed Ali   
The idolaters say: "If God had willed we would not have worshipped anything apart from Him, nor would our fathers have done, nor would we have forbidden any thing without His (leave)." So had the people done before them. Therefore it is binding on the prophets to convey the message in clearest terms
Aisha Bewley   
The idolaters say, ´If Allah had willed we would not have worshipped anything apart from Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything without His say.´ Those before them said the same. Are the Messengers responsible for anything but clear transmission?
Ali Ünal   
Those who associate partners with God say: "Had God so willed, we would not have worshipped anything other than Him, neither we nor our forefathers; nor would we have declared anything unlawful without (a commandment from) Him." Even so did those who lived before them (and associated partners with God like them). But, then, is any duty laid upon the Messengers except to convey the Message clearly
Ali Quli Qara'i   
The polytheists say, ‘Had Allah wished, we would not have worshiped anything besides Him —neither we, nor our fathers— nor would we have held anything holy besides Him.’ Those who were before them had acted likewise. Is the apostles’ duty anything but to communicate in clear terms
Hamid S. Aziz   
And the idolaters (those who associated others with Allah) said, "Had Allah pleased we had not served aught beside Him, neither we nor our fathers; nor had we forbidden aught without His permission". Even so did those before them. Are the messe
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And those who associated (partners with God) said: “If God wanted, we and our fathers would not have served anything other than Him, and we would not have forbidden anything other than His (prohibitions).” That is how those before them acted. Are the messengers responsible for anything other than clearly delivering (the message)?
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
The worshippers of false gods say, “If God had so willed, we would not have worshipped anything but Him, neither we nor our parents, nor would we have created prohibitions other than His,” as did those who went before them say. But what is the mission of messengers except to convey the message clearly
Musharraf Hussain   
The idolaters will say, “If Allah wished we wouldn’t have worshipped anyone beside Him; neither our forefathers nor we would have made anything unlawful without His permission.” That’s how those gone before them behaved; what else can the messengers do except give clear warning?
Maududi   
Those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity say: "Were Allah to will so, neither we nor our forefathers would have worshipped any other than Him, nor would we have prohibited anything without His command." Their predecessors proffered similar excuses. Do the Messengers have any other duty but to plainly convey the Message
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And those who were polytheists said: "If God had wished, we would not have served a thing other than Him; neither us nor our fathers; nor would we have made unlawful anything other than from Him." Those before them did exactly the same thing; so are the messengers required to do anything except deliver with clarity
Mohammad Shafi   
And they who worship others besides Allah say, "Had Allah so willed, we would not have worshipped anything besides Him. Nor would our fathers do it. And we would not have prohibited anything without His Command." This is what those before them did. Are the Messengers then responsible for anything but the plain and clear conveyance of the divine Message?h

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And the polytheists said, 'had Allah willed, we would not have worshipped anything save Him, neither we nor our fathers' nor we would have forbidden anything apart from Him thus did those before them; then what is on the messengers, but to deliver clearly.
Rashad Khalifa   
The idol worshipers say, "Had GOD willed, we would not worship any idols besides Him, nor would our parents. Nor would we prohibit anything besides His prohibitions." Those before them have done the same. Can the messengers do anything but deliver the complete message?
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
The idolaters say: 'Had Allah willed, neither we nor our fathers would have worshipped anything other than Him, nor would we have forbidden anything without Him', as such did those before them. Yet what should Messengers do but give a clear deliverance
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And the idolaters say: Had Allah pleased, we had not served aught but Him, (neither) we nor our fathers, nor had we prohibited aught without (order from) Him. Thus did those before them. But have the messengers any duty except a plain delivery (of the message)
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And those who shared/made partners (with God) said: "If God willed/wanted, we would not have worshipped from other than Him from a thing, us and nor our fathers, and nor forbade/prohibited from other than Him from a thing." As/like that those from before them made/did, so is there on the messengers except the information/communication the clear/evident
Bijan Moeinian   
The idol worshippers say: “If God wanted, neither we nor our forefathers would have never worshipped anything but the Lord. Nor would we have declared anything that God has made lawful as unlawful.” Such excuses were also presented by the people who were living before them. Do they not realize that the only mission of the prophets is to deliver the message (and that God has given the mankind the freedom to accept the message or to disregard it and that God has decided not to make people to believe by force?
Faridul Haque   
And the polytheists said, "Had Allah willed, we would not have worshipped anything besides Him - neither we nor our forefathers - and nor would we have forbidden anything, whilst being disassociated with Him"; those before them did exactly this; so what is (incumbent) upon the Noble Messengers, except to plainly convey (the message)
Sher Ali   
And the idolaters say, `If ALLAH had so willed, we should not have worshiped anything beside HIM, neither we nor our fathers, nor should we have forbidden anything without command from HIM.' So did those who opposed the truth before them. Are the Messengers responsible for anything except the plain delivery of the Message
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And those who set up peers with Allah say: ‘Had Allah so willed, we would not have worshipped anything apart from Him, neither we nor our fathers. Nor would we have forbidden anything without His (command).’ Those before them (also) did the same. Are the Messengers responsible for anything in addition to clearly conveying (the message and commandments of Allah)
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Those who associated partners (with Allah) said (also), `Had Allah so willed, neither we nor our fathers would have worshipped anything apart from Him, nor would we have forbidden anything without (sanction from) Him.' Their predecessors acted as they do. But there is no other responsibility upon the Messengers except the delivery (of the Message) in plain terms
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And those who join others in worship with Allah say: "If Allah had so willed, neither we nor our fathers would have worshipped aught but Him, nor would we have forbidden anything without (Command from) Him." So did those before them. Then! Are the Messengers charged with anything but to convey clearly the Message

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
The idolators say, 'If God had willed we would not have served; apart from Him, anything, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden, apart from Him, anything.' So did those before them; yet is aught for the Messengers, but to deliver the manifest Message
George Sale   
The idolaters say, if God had pleased, we had not worshipped any thing besides Him, neither had our fathers: Neither had we forbidden any thing, without Him. So did they who were before them. But is the duty of the apostles any other, than public preaching
Edward Henry Palmer   
And those who associated (others with God) said, 'Had God pleased we had not served aught beside Him, neither we nor our fathers; nor had we prohibited aught without Him;' - thus did those before them: but have messengers aught to do but to deliver their message plainly
John Medows Rodwell   
They who have joined other gods with God say, "Had He pleased, neither we nor our fathers had worshipped aught but him; nor should we, apart from him, have forbidden aught." Thus acted they who were before them. Yet is the duty of the apostles other than public preaching
N J Dawood (2014)   
The idolaters say: ‘Had God pleased, we would not have worshipped any besides Him, neither we or our forefathers; nor would we have declared anything unlawful without His sanction.‘ Such also was the pleas of those who had gone before them. Yet what should apostles do but give veritable warning

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
And those who ascribed partners to Allah said, “If Allah had willed we would not have worshipped aught besides Him, neither us nor our fathers, neither had we prohibited anything without his commandment. Thus did those before them act but is there anything on the messengers except the clear conveyance [of message]?
Munir Mezyed   
Those who associate others with Allâh say: ‘Had Allâh willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have worshiped anything other than Him, nor would we have prohibited anything without (a command from) Him." This is what they did (also) those who were before them. So, are the Messengers responsible for anything but to convey clearly the Message (of their Lord to the people)?
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And the idolaters say: if Allah willed we would not have served anything besides Him, neither us nor our fathers, and we would not have sanctified anything besides Him. This is what those before them did, so are the messengers tasked with anything but to convey clearly?
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
The worshipers of false gods say, “If Allah had willed, we would not have worshiped anything but Him. That goes for ourselves and our forefathers. Also, we would not have made up any rules in addition to His.” Those who went before them said the same thing. What is the mission of the messengers, however, except to preach the plain truth?
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
And those who had associated (others with Allah) said, “Had Allah willed, we would never have worshiped anything apart from Him—neither us, nor our forefathers, nor would we have prohibited anything without (permission from) Him.” Those before them did likewise. So are the messengers responsible for anything but evident proclamation?
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Those who associate [others with Allah (God)] say: 'If Allah (God) so wished, neither we nor our forefathers would have served anything besides Him, nor would we have forbidden anything besides Him." Thus have those before them done! Need messengers do anything except to proclaim things clearly.?
Samy Mahdy   
And those who associated said, “If Allah willed, we would not have worshiped without Him, of a thing neither of us, nor our parents, nor would we have forbidden without Him, of a thing.” Thus, those before them did. So is there upon the messengers except the obvious notification?
Sayyid Qutb   
Those who associate partners with God say, 'Had God so willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have worshipped any other than Him, nor would we have declared anything forbidden without a commandment from Him.' Those before them said the same. Are the messengers bound to do anything other than to clearly deliver the message?
Ahmed Hulusi   
The dualists said, “Had Allah willed neither we nor our fathers would have worshipped things other than Him and we would not have forbidden anything other than what He says”... Thus did those before them... What can the duty of Rasuls be other than clear notification?
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And those who associate (other gods with Allah) say: 'If Allah had willed, we would not have worshipped aught besides Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything without (command from) Him. ' Thus did those before them. Is aught for the Messengers, but to deliver the manifest message
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
And to excuse their infidelity which it is not possible to justify, the idolaters insolently say: "Had Allah willed, neither we nor our fathers would have worshipped besides Him other gods, nor would we have enforced taboos other than those decreed by Him" Thus much acted their predecessors. But is the Messenger really responsible for any act or a duty other than relating the divine message and the elucidation of its text
Mir Aneesuddin   
And those who associate partners (with Allah) say, “Had Allah willed we would not have served (worshipped) anything besides Him, we and our fathers; and we would not have made anything unlawful, besides Him*.” Those before them (also) did like that, so what (else is incumbent) on the messengers except clear conveyance (of the message)? * In addition to His making certain things unlawful.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
The worshippers of false gods say: "If God had so willed, we should not have worshipped aught but Him - neither we nor our fathers,- nor should we have prescribed prohibitions other than His." So did those who went before them. But what is the mission of apostles but to preach the Clear Message
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And said those who associate partners (with Allah "If Allah (had) willed not we (would) have worshipped other than Him any thing, we and not our forefathers and not we (would) have forbidden other than Him anything." Thus did those who (were) before them. Then is (there) on the messengers except the conveyance clear
OLD Transliteration   
Waqala allatheena ashrakoo law shaa Allahu ma AAabadna min doonihi min shay-in nahnu wala abaona wala harramna min doonihi min shay-in kathalika faAAala allatheena min qablihim fahal AAala alrrusuli illa albalaghu almubeenu