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Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
Their parable is that of people who kindle a fire: but as soon as it has illumined all around them, God takes away their light and leaves them in utter darkness, wherein they cannot see
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Their example is that of someone who kindles a fire, but when it lights up all around them, Allah takes away their light, leaving them in complete darkness—unable to see.
Safi Kaskas   
They are like one who lights a fire, and when it shines around him, God takes away their light and leaves them in darkness, where they are unable to see;

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
مَثَلُهُمۡ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِی ٱسۡتَوۡقَدَ نَارࣰا فَلَمَّاۤ أَضَاۤءَتۡ مَا حَوۡلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمۡ وَتَرَكَهُمۡ فِی ظُلُمَـٰتࣲ لَّا یُبۡصِرُونَ ۝١٧
Transliteration (2021)   
mathaluhum kamathali alladhī is'tawqada nāran falammā aḍāat mā ḥawlahu dhahaba l-lahu binūrihim watarakahum fī ẓulumātin lā yub'ṣirūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Their example (is) like (the) example (of) the one who kindled a fire, then, when it illuminated what (was) around him took away Allah their light and left them in darkness[es], (so) not (do) they see.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Their parable is that of people who kindle a fire: but as soon as it has illumined all around them, God takes away their light and leaves them in utter darkness, wherein they cannot see
M. M. Pickthall   
Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindleth fire, and when it sheddeth its light around him Allah taketh away their light and leaveth them in darkness, where they cannot see
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness. So they could not see
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Their example is that of someone who kindles a fire, but when it lights up all around them, Allah takes away their light, leaving them in complete darkness—unable to see.
Safi Kaskas   
They are like one who lights a fire, and when it shines around him, God takes away their light and leaves them in darkness, where they are unable to see;
Wahiduddin Khan   
They are like those who kindled a fire, and when it lighted up all around them, God took away their light and left them in utter darkness, unable to se
Shakir   
Their parable is like the parable of one who kindled a fire, but when it had illumined all around him, Allah took away their light, and left them in utter darkness-- they do not see
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Their parable is like a parable of those who started a fire. Then, when it illuminated what was around it, God took away their light and left them in shadows where they perceive not.
T.B.Irving   
They may be compared to someone who kindles a fire, and once it lights up whatever lies around him, God takes away their light and leaves them in darkness. They do not see:
Abdul Hye   
Their example is like the one who kindled a fire; then when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light (eyesight) and left them in darkness, so they could not see.
The Study Quran   
Their parable is that of one who kindled a fire, and when it lit up what was around him, God took away their light, and left them in darkness, unseeing
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Their situation is like that of a person who kindles a fire; when it illuminates all around him, God takes away their light, leaving them in utter darkness, unable to see.
Talal Itani (2012)   
Their likeness is that of a person who kindled a fire; when it illuminated all around him, God took away their light, and left them in darkness, unable to see.
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Their case is like the case of that who kindled a fire, and when it lighted up all around him, Allah took away their sight and left them in thick darkness, they see not
M. Farook Malik   
Their example is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it illuminated all around him Allah took away their light (their eyesight) and left them in utter darkness: they could see nothing
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
The likeness of them is as the likeness of one who set to kindle a fire; so, as soon as it illuminated whatever is around him, Allah went away with their light, (i.e., took away their light)and left them in darkness (es) (where) they do not behold (anything)
Muhammad Sarwar   
(Their case) is like that of one who kindles a fire and when it grows bright God takes away its light leaving him in darkness (wherein) he cannot see (anything)
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Their situation is like that of a man who kindles a fire, and when it illuminates everything around him, Allah takes away their lights and leaves them in layers of darkness, so that they see nothing
Shabbir Ahmed   
Their example is that of a person who lights up a fire in darkness (without adequate fuel). As soon as brightness surrounds them, Allah (the Divine Law) takes away their light leaving them in darkness where they cannot see. (The Lasting Light is nothing but the Divine guidance)
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Their example is that of those who kindled a fire (to see in the dark). But just as it lit up their surroundings, Allah took away their light _ (their eyesight) _ and left them groping in utter darkness. (Now), they just do not see
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Their similitude is that of a man who started a fire; When it shed light all around him Allah took away their light and left them in total darkness, so they could not see
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Their example is like one who lights a fire, so when it illuminates what is around him, God takes away his light and leaves him in the darkness not seeing
Abdel Haleem   
They are like people who [labour to] kindle a fire: when it lights up everything around them, God takes away all their light, leaving them in utter darkness, unable to see
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Their likeness is as the likeness of him who kindleth a fire, then when it hath lit up that which is around him, Allah taketh away their light and leaveth them in darknesses where they see no
Ahmed Ali   
They are like a man who kindles a fire, and when its glow has illumined the air God takes away their light leaving them in the dark where they will not be able to see
Aisha Bewley   
Their likeness is that of people who light a fire, and then when it has lit up all around them, Allah removes their light and leaves them in darkness, unable to see.
Ali Ünal   
They are like him who (while traveling with company in the desert, halted for the night and) kindled a fire (for light and warmth and protection). However, when the fire had just lit all around him (and the company had become comfortable but were not properly appreciative of the fire and failed to guard it against wind, the fire was extinguished. Thus) God took away their light and left them in darkness, unseeing
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Their parable is that of one who lighted a torch, and when it had lit up all around him, Allah took away their light, and left them sightless in a manifold darkness
Hamid S. Aziz   
Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindles a fire; and when it lights up all around, Allah goes off with their light, and leaves them in darkness that they cannot see
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
They are like someone who starts a fire, and when it lights up around him, God takes away their light and leaves them in darkness, unable to see.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Their likeness is that of a man who kindled a fire. When it lights all around him, God took away his light and left them in darkness
Musharraf Hussain   
They are like the one who lights a fire, and when everything is bright, suddenly Allah takes away their light and leaves them in pitch darkness so they cannot see.
Maududi   
Their condition may be described in a parable: a man kindled a fire and when it illuminated all around him, Allah took away the light from their eyes and left them in utter darkness, where they could not see anything
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Their example is like the one who lights a fire, so when it illuminates what is around him, God takes away his light and leaves him in the darkness not seeing.
Mohammad Shafi   
Their situation is as the situation in which someone kindled a fire. But when it lighted up its environs, Allah snatched away their light and left them, in darknesses, unable to see

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Their example is like the one who kindled a fire, so when it lit up all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness where nothing is seen.
Rashad Khalifa   
Their example is like those who start a fire, then, as it begins to shed light around them, GOD takes away their light, leaving them in darkness, unable to see
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Their example is like one who kindled a fire, and when it lit all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness. They could not see
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Their parable is as the parable of one who kindles a fire, but when it illumines all around him, Allah takes away their light, and leaves them in darkness -- they cannot see
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
Their example (is) as the one who ignited a fire, so when it lit/illuminated what (is) around/surrounding him, God took/went away with their light, and left them in darknesses, they do not see/understand
Bijan Moeinian   
Their case may be compared to the case of those who started a fire in the darkness. As soon as they started to see around themselves, God [in account of their mockery] took their light away and left them in absolute darkness; unable to see
Faridul Haque   
Their example is like that of one who kindled a fire; and when it lit up all that was around it, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness, unable to see anything
Sher Ali   
Their case is like the case of a person who kindled a fire, and when it lighted up all around him, ALLAH took away their light and left them in thick darkness, they see not
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
Their example is like a person who lit a fire (in surrounding darkness), and when it brightened the environment, Allah took away their light and left them in total darkness. Now they cannot see anything
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Their case is like the case of a person who kindled a fire (in darkness) but no sooner did it light up their surroundings than Allah took away their light and left them in different kinds of darkness, (in a state in which) they could see nothing
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
The likeness of them is as the likeness of a man who kindled a fire, and when it lit all about him God took away their light, and left them in darkness unseein
George Sale   
They are like unto one who kindleth a fire, and when it hath enlightened all around him; God taketh away their light and leaveth them in darkness, they shall not see
Edward Henry Palmer   
Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindles a fire; and when it lights up all around, God goes off with their light, and leaves them in darkness that they cannot see
John Medows Rodwell   
They are like one who kindleth a fire, and when it hath thrown its light on all around him. . . . God taketh away their light and leaveth them in darkness - they cannot see!
N J Dawood (2014)   
They are like one who kindled a fire, but as soon as it lit up all around him God put it out and left him in darkness: they do not see.

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
Their example is like the example of one who lit off a fire but when it brightened all that was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darknesses so they do not see;
Munir Mezyed   
Their parable is like the parable of those who kindle a fire, but when it illuminates what is around them, Allâh takes away their light, leaving them sightless in a manifold darkness.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
Their example is like someone who lights a fire, and when it lights up his surroundings, Allah takes their light away and leaves them in darkness unable to see.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
Their likeness is that of a person who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness(es), unable to see.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
The parable of (the hypocrites) is that of a man who kindled a fire. After it had shed light all around him, Allah took away the light. He left them all in utter darkness, unable to see.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
They may be compared to someone who kindles a fire, and once it lights up whatever lies around him, Allah (God) takes away their light and leaves them in darkness. They do not see:
Samy Mahdy   
Their example was the example of who kindled a fire; then when it illuminated all around him, Allah went away their light, and quit them in darkness, not visualizing.
Sayyid Qutb   
They are like one who sought to kindle a fire, and as it lit up all around him God took away their light and left them in darkness, unable to see anything.
Thomas Cleary   
What they are like is one who lit a fire, and when it illumined everything around, God took their light and left them in darkness. unseeing.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Their example is like someone who kindles a fire that illuminates their surrounding, yet because the Nur (light of knowledge) from their essence does not shine through, Allah leaves them in darkness; they can no longer see!
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
The likeness of them is as the likeness of a man who kindled a fire, and when it lit all about him Allah took away their light, and left them in darkness unseeing
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Their example stands similitude exact of someone who has kindled a fire togive light to a body of companions and when the surroundings glowed with light, Allah extinguished their fire and their alacrity and quenched their light and cut them off illumination and enlightenment and left them in want of physical, spiritual and intellectual sight
Mir Aneesuddin   
Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire, so when it enlightened that which was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness (so that) they do not see,
The Ascendant Qur‘an, Muhammad H. al-‘Asi   
They are like people who kindle a fire: but as soon as it illumined all around them, Allah takes away their light and leaves them in senseless darkness

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, God took away their light and left them in utter darkness. So they could not see
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Their example (is) like (the) example (of) the one who kindled a fire, then, when it illuminated what (was) around him took away Allah their light and left them in darkness[es], (so) not (do) they see
OLD Transliteration   
Mathaluhum kamathali allathee istawqada naran falamma adaat ma hawlahu thahaba Allahu binoorihim watarakahum fee thulumatin la yubsiroona