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Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
But when they are told, "Follow what God has bestowed from on high," some answer, "Nay, we shall follow [only] that which we found our forefathers believing in and doing." Why, even if their forefathers did not use their reason at all, and were devoid of all guidance
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
When it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they reply, “No! We ˹only˺ follow what we found our forefathers practicing.” ˹Would they still do so,˺ even if their forefathers had ˹absolutely˺ no understanding or guidance?
Safi Kaskas   
If they are told "Follow what God has revealed," they say, "Rather We will follow what we found our fathers doing," even though their fathers did not understand anything and were not guided.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَإِذَا قِیلَ لَهُمُ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَاۤ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُوا۟ بَلۡ نَتَّبِعُ مَاۤ أَلۡفَیۡنَا عَلَیۡهِ ءَابَاۤءَنَاۤۚ أَوَ لَوۡ كَانَ ءَابَاۤؤُهُمۡ لَا یَعۡقِلُونَ شَیۡءࣰا وَلَا یَهۡتَدُونَ ۝١٧٠
Transliteration (2021)   
wa-idhā qīla lahumu ittabiʿū mā anzala l-lahu qālū bal nattabiʿu mā alfaynā ʿalayhi ābāanā awalaw kāna ābāuhum lā yaʿqilūna shayan walā yahtadūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And when it is said to them, "Follow what has revealed Allah," they said, "Nay we follow what we found [on it] our forefathers (following)". Even though [were] their forefathers (did) not understand anything and not were they guided?

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
But when they are told, "Follow what God has bestowed from on high," some answer, "Nay, we shall follow [only] that which we found our forefathers believing in and doing." Why, even if their forefathers did not use their reason at all, and were devoid of all guidance
M. M. Pickthall   
And when it is said unto them: Follow that which Allah hath revealed, they say: We follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers were wholly unintelligent and had no guidance
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
When it is said to them: "Follow what Allah hath revealed:" They say: "Nay! we shall follow the ways of our fathers." What! even though their fathers Were void of wisdom and guidance
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
When it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they reply, “No! We ˹only˺ follow what we found our forefathers practicing.” ˹Would they still do so,˺ even if their forefathers had ˹absolutely˺ no understanding or guidance?
Safi Kaskas   
If they are told "Follow what God has revealed," they say, "Rather We will follow what we found our fathers doing," even though their fathers did not understand anything and were not guided.
Wahiduddin Khan   
But when they are told, Follow what God has sent down, they answer, We will follow the ways of our fathers, even though their fathers did not use their reason, and were devoid of all guidance
Shakir   
And when it is said to them, Follow what Allah has revealed, they say: Nay! we follow what we found our fathers upon. What! and though their fathers had no sense at all, nor did they follow the right way
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And when it was said to them: Follow what God caused to descend. They said: Nay! We will follow whatever we discovered our fathers were following on it —even though their fathers had been not at all reasonable—nor are they truly guided.
T.B.Irving   
Whenever someone tells them: "Follow what God has sent down;" they say: "Rather we will follow what we discovered our forefathers were doing," even though their forefathers did not use reason in any way nor were they guided.
Abdul Hye   
When it is said to them: "Follow what Allah has sent down." They say: "Nay! We will follow what we found our fathers on it (practiced)." (Would they follow) even if their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided?
The Study Quran   
When it is said unto them, “Follow what God has sent down,” they say, “Nay, we follow that which we found our fathers doing.” What! Even though their fathers understood nothing, and were not rightly guided
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
When it is said to them, “Follow what God revealed,” they respond, “We will follow what we found our ancestors practicing.” Even though their ancestors had no understanding or guidance?
Talal Itani (2012)   
And when it is said to them, 'Follow what God has revealed,' they say, 'We will follow what we found our ancestors following.' Even if their ancestors understood nothing, and were not guided
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And when it is said to them: “Adopt what Allah has sent down.” They said: “Nay! We shall adopt on what we found our fathers.” What, even if their fathers were not understanding anything and were not getting guidance
M. Farook Malik   
When it is said to them: "Follow what Allah has revealed." They reply: "Nay! We will follow what our forefathers practiced." Well! Even if their forefathers had no sense at all and lacked guidance
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And when it is said to them, "Closely follow what Allah has sent down, " they say, "No indeed, we closely follow what we have come upon from our fathers." And even if their fathers did not consider anything and they were not guided
Muhammad Sarwar   
When some people are asked to follow the revelations of God, they say, "We would rather follow what our fathers have followed," even though their fathers had no understanding and could not find the true guidance
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
When it is said to them: .Follow what Allah has sent down,. they say: .Instead, we would follow that (religion) on which we have found our fathers. Is it so, even though their fathers had no understanding at all, nor had they been on the right path
Shabbir Ahmed   
And when it is said unto them, "Follow that which Allah has revealed", they say, " Nay, we follow that wherein we found our fathers." "What! Even though their fathers used no reason at all and journeyed through life without any light?" ((5:104), (10:78), (11:62), (11:87), (21:53), (34:43), (38:7), (43:23). 'Hudan' = Prominent and bright = Lighted = Visibly ahead = Leading = Guidance)
Dr. Munir Munshey   
When they are asked to follow that which Allah has revealed, they say, "No! We would rather follow the path that we found our forefathers pursuing." Even if their forefathers understood nothing? (Even if) they were misguided
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
When it is said to them: "Follow what Allah has revealed:" They say: "No! We shall follow the ways of our fathers." What! Even though their fathers did not have the wisdom and guidance
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And when it is said to them, "Follow what Allah has revealed," they say, "Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing." Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And if they are told: "Follow what God has sent down," they Say: "No, we will follow what we found our fathers doing!" What if their fathers did not understand anything and were not guide
Abdel Haleem   
But when it is said to them, ‘Follow the message that God has sent down,’ they answer, ‘We follow the ways of our fathers.’ What! Even though their fathers understood nothing and were not guided
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And when it said unto them: follow that which Allah hath sent down, they say: nay, we shall follow that way whereon we found our fathers - even though their fathers understood not aught, nor were they guided aright
Ahmed Ali   
When it is said to them: "Follow what God has revealed," they reply: "No, we shall follow only what our fathers had practiced," -- even though their fathers had no wisdom or guidance
Aisha Bewley   
When they are told, ´Follow what Allah has sent down to you,´ They say, ´We are following what we found our fathers doing.´ What, even though their fathers did not understand a thing and were not guided!
Ali Ünal   
When it is said to them (who follow in the footsteps of Satan), "Follow what God has sent down," they respond: "No, but we follow that (the traditions, customs, beliefs, and practices) which we found our forefathers in." What, even if their forefathers had no understanding of anything, and were not rightly guided
Ali Quli Qara'i   
When they are told, ‘Follow what Allah has sent down,’ they say, ‘We will rather follow what we have found our fathers following.’ What, even if their fathers neither applied any reason nor were guided?
Hamid S. Aziz   
When it is said to them, "Follow what Allah has revealed," they say, "Nay, we will follow the way of our fathers." What! Even though their fathers had no sense (or wisdom) at all or guidance
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And when it is said to them: “Follow what God sent down,” they say: “No, we follow what we found our fathers on it,” even if their fathers did not understand anything and were not guided.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
When it is said to them, “Follow what God has revealed,” they say, “No, we will follow the ways of our parents.” What, even though their parents were void of wisdom and guidance
Musharraf Hussain   
When the disbelieversare told, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say: “No! We follow what we found our ancestors doing”, even though their ancestors lacked both basic understanding and guidance.
Maududi   
When it is said to them, "Follow the Commands that Allah has sent down," they reply, "We will follow only what we found our forefathers practising., Well, will they go on following their forefathers even though they did not use common sense and did not find the right way
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And if they are told: "Follow what God has sent down," they say: "No, we will follow what we found our fathers doing!" What if their fathers did not comprehend anything and were not guided?
Mohammad Shafi   
And when they are asked to follow what Allah has sent down, they say, "But we follow what we found our forefathers doing." Even if their forefathers had understood nothing, nor had they been guided!?

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And when it is said to them, 'follow what Allah has sent down, they say, 'Nay We shall follow that whereon we found our fathers, what! Even if their fathers had no sense at all and no guidance?
Rashad Khalifa   
When they are told, "Follow what GOD has revealed herein," they say, "We follow only what we found our parents doing." What if their parents did not understand, and were not guided?
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
When it is said to them: 'Follow what Allah has sent down, ' they reply: 'We will follow that which we found our fathers upon, ' even though their fathers did not understand anything and they were not guided
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And when it is said to them, "Follow what Allah has revealed," they say: "Nay, we follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers had no sense at all, nor did they follow the right way."
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And if it (was) said to them: "Follow what God descended." They said: "But we follow what we found our fathers on it." Even even if their fathers were not reasoning/comprehending a thing and nor being guided
Bijan Moeinian   
When the non-Muslims are asked to follow the Lord’s commandments, they will say: “We prefer to follow the religion of our forefathers!” What if their forefathers were wrong and that their religion did not make sense
Faridul Haque   
And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has sent down”, they say, “On the contrary, we shall follow what we found our forefathers upon”; What! Even if their forefathers had no intelligence, or guidance?
Sher Ali   
And when it is said to them, `Follow that which ALLAH has sent down, they say, `Nay, we will follow that wherein we found our fathers.' What ! even if their fathers had no sense at all and followed not the right path
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And when it is said to them (the disbelievers): ‘Follow that which Allah has sent down,’ they say: ‘(Nay) we shall rather follow the same (path) on which we found our ancestors,’ even though their ancestors had neither any sense nor any guidance
Amatul Rahman Omar   
And when it is said to them (- the disbelievers), `Follow what Allah has revealed.' They say, `We would rather follow such things as we found our forefathers (doing and believing).' (Would they do so) even though their forefathers could not refrain (from evil), nor they could achieve their goal
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
When it is said to them: "Follow what Allah has sent down." They say: "Nay! We shall follow what we found our fathers following." (Would they do that!) Even though their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
And when it is said to them, 'Follow what God has sent down,' they say, 'No; but we will follow such things as we found our fathers doing.' What? And if their fathers had no understanding of anything, and if they were not guided
George Sale   
And when it is said unto them who believe not, follow that which God hath sent down; they answer, nay, but we will follow that which we found our fathers practise. What? Though their fathers knew nothing, and were not rightly directed
Edward Henry Palmer   
When it is said to them, 'Follow what God has revealed,' they say, 'Nay, we will follow what we found our fathers agreed upon.' What! and though their fathers had no sense at all or guidance -
John Medows Rodwell   
And when it is said to them, "Follow ye that which God hath sent down;" they say, "Nay, we follow the usages which we found with our fathers." What! though their fathers were utterly ignorant and devoid of guidance
N J Dawood (2014)   
If they are told: ‘Follow what God has revealed,‘ they say: ‘We will follow what our fathers practised,‘ even though their fathers understood nothing and had no guidance

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
and when it is said unto them, “Follow that which Allah has sent down.” They say, “Nay we will continue to follow what we found our fathers on.” “What? Even if their fathers understood nothing nor were they well-guided?”
Munir Mezyed   
And when they are told to yield to what Allâh has revealed of the Full knowledge of the Truth, they say: ‘Nay! but we shall adhere to what we found our fathers adhering’. What! even though their forefathers lacked the ability to perceive and understand; and they were living in spiritual darkness?.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And when they are told to follow what Allah has revealed they say: "No, we follow what we found our ancestors doing." What if their ancestors never understood anything nor were guided?
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
(The idolaters) are told, “Follow what Allah has revealed.” Then (the idolaters) say, “No, we will follow the ways of our fathers.” Is that so, even though their fathers did not have wisdom and guidance?
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has sent down,” they say, “Rather, we follow what we found our forefathers following. What if their forefathers used not to reason anything nor to seek guidance?
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Whenever someone tells them: "Follow what Allah (God) has sent down (the Quran);" they say: "Rather we will follow what we discovered our forefathers were doing," even though their forefathers did not use reason in any way nor were they guided.
Samy Mahdy   
And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has sent down,” they said, “Nay, but we will follow what we have found our fathers familiar, upon it,.” Even if their fathers were not reasoning a thing, and were not guided?
Ahmed Hulusi   
When they are told, “Believe in what Allah has revealed (the knowledge that the Names of Allah comprise your being and the entire existence and the knowledge of sunnatullah), they say, “No, rather, we follow that which our fathers followed (external deification)”... What if their fathers were misguided and failed to comprehend the reality?
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And when they are told: ' Follow what Allah has sent down,' they say: ' Nay! We follow what we found our fathers upon,' even though their fathers had no understanding of anything nor were they guided aright
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
And when the unbelievers are told to recognize Allah’s revelations consenting to them, they say: "We only lean on our fathers system of faith and worship." But how will it be if their fathers lacked sound Judgement in choosing means and ends and miss the path of righteousness
Mir Aneesuddin   
And when it is said to them, "Follow that which Allah has sent down," they say, "No, we will follow that on which we found our fathers." What ! even if their fathers were not having understanding of anything and had not received guidance?

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
When it is said to them: "Follow what God hath revealed:" They say: "Nay! we shall follow the ways of our fathers." What! even though their fathers Were void of wisdom and guidance
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And when it is said to them, "Follow what has revealed Allah," they said, "Nay we follow what we found [on it] our forefathers (following)". Even though [were] their forefathers (did) not understand anything and not were they guided
OLD Transliteration   
Wa-itha qeela lahumu ittabiAAoo ma anzala Allahu qaloo bal nattabiAAu ma alfayna AAalayhi abaana awa law kana abaohum la yaAAqiloona shay-an wala yahtadoona