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Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you - even though you be in towers raised high. "Yet, when a good thing happens to them, some [people] say, "This is from God," whereas when evil befalls them, they say, "This is from thee [O fellowman]!” Say: "All is from God." What, then, is amiss with these people that they are in no wise near to grasping the truth of what they are told
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Wherever you may be, death will overcome you—even if you were in fortified towers.” When something good befalls them, they say, “This is from Allah,” but when something evil befalls them, they say, “This is from you.” Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Both have been destined by Allah.” So what is the matter with these people? They can hardly comprehend anything!
Safi Kaskas   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you are in high protected towers. When good fortune happens to them, some [people] say, "This is from God," whereas when harm comes to them, they say, "This is from you [Prophet]." Tell them, "Both come from God." What is the matter with these people? They hardly understand what they are told.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
أَیۡنَمَا تَكُونُوا۟ یُدۡرِككُّمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ وَلَوۡ كُنتُمۡ فِی بُرُوجࣲ مُّشَیَّدَةࣲۗ وَإِن تُصِبۡهُمۡ حَسَنَةࣱ یَقُولُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِۖ وَإِن تُصِبۡهُمۡ سَیِّئَةࣱ یَقُولُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦ مِنۡ عِندِكَۚ قُلۡ كُلࣱّ مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِۖ فَمَالِ هَـٰۤؤُلَاۤءِ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ لَا یَكَادُونَ یَفۡقَهُونَ حَدِیثࣰا ۝٧٨
Transliteration (2021)   
aynamā takūnū yud'rikkumu l-mawtu walaw kuntum fī burūjin mushayyadatin wa-in tuṣib'hum ḥasanatun yaqūlū hādhihi min ʿindi l-lahi wa-in tuṣib'hum sayyi-atun yaqūlū hādhihi min ʿindika qul kullun min ʿindi l-lahi famāli hāulāi l-qawmi lā yakādūna yafqahūna ḥadītha
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Wherever you be will overtake you [the] death even if you are in towers lofty. And if befalls them any good they say, "This (is) from Allah," And if befalls them any evil they say, "This (is) from you." Say, "All (is) from Allah." So what (is wrong) (with) these [the] people, not do they seem (to) understand any statement.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you - even though you be in towers raised high. "Yet, when a good thing happens to them, some [people] say, "This is from God," whereas when evil befalls them, they say, "This is from thee [O fellowman]!” Say: "All is from God." What, then, is amiss with these people that they are in no wise near to grasping the truth of what they are told
M. M. Pickthall   
Wheresoever ye may be, death will overtake you, even though ye were in lofty towers. Yet if a happy thing befalleth them they say: This is from Allah; and if an evil thing befalleth them they say: This is of thy doing (O Muhammad). Say (unto them): All is from Allah. What is amiss with these people that they come not nigh to understand a happening
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
"Wherever ye are, death will find you out, even if ye are in towers built up strong and high!" If some good befalls them, they say, "This is from Allah"; but if evil, they say, "This is from thee" (O Prophet). Say: "All things are from Allah." But what hath come to these people, that they fail to understand a single fact
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Wherever you may be, death will overcome you—even if you were in fortified towers.” When something good befalls them, they say, “This is from Allah,” but when something evil befalls them, they say, “This is from you.” Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Both have been destined by Allah.” So what is the matter with these people? They can hardly comprehend anything!
Safi Kaskas   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you are in high protected towers. When good fortune happens to them, some [people] say, "This is from God," whereas when harm comes to them, they say, "This is from you [Prophet]." Tell them, "Both come from God." What is the matter with these people? They hardly understand what they are told.
Wahiduddin Khan   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you be in strongly built towers. If some good befalls them, they say, This is from God, and if ill befalls them, they say, This is from you. Tell them, All is from God. But what is wrong with these people that they fail to understand anything
Shakir   
Wherever you are, death will overtake you, though you are in lofty towers, and if a benefit comes to them, they say: This is from Allah; and if a misfortune befalls them, they say: This is from you. Say: All is from Allah, but what is the matter with these people that they do not make approach to understanding what is told (them)
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Wherever you be, death will overtake you, even if you had been in imposing towers. And when benevolence lights on them, they say: This is from God. And when an evil deed lights on them, they say: This is from thee. Say: All is from God. So what is with these folk that they understand almost no discourse?
T.B.Irving   
Wherever you may be, death shall still overtake you even though you are in well-built towers." Yet if something fine happens to them, they say: "This is from God;" while if something bad happens to them, they say: "This is because of you!" SAY: "Everything comes from God." What is wrong with such folk that they scarcely understand why anything happens?
Abdul Hye   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortified towers. If a good happens to them, they say: “This is from Allah,” but if an evil befalls them, they say: “This is from you (O Muhammad).” Say: "All are from Allah," so what (is wrong with) these people that they don’t seem to understand any word?
The Study Quran   
Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you, though you should be in towers raised high. And if good befalls them, they say, “This is from God,” but if evil befalls them, they say, “This is from thee.” Say, “All is from God.” What is with these people that they scarcely understand any tiding
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you are in fortified towers. If they receive good, they say, “This is from God,” but if misfortune strikes them, they say, “This is from you.” Say, “All is from God.” What is wrong with these people, they hardly understand any statement?
Talal Itani (2012)   
Wherever you may be, death will catch up with you, even if you were in fortified towers. When a good fortune comes their way, they say, 'This is from God.' But when a misfortune befalls them, they say, 'This is from you.' Say, 'All is from God.' So what is the matter with these people, that they hardly understand a thing
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortified Buruj.” And if some good reaches them, they say: “This is from Allah.” But if some evil befalls them, they say: “This is from you (O Prophet).” Tell (them): ‘All (comes) from the presence of Allah.’ So what (is wrong) with these people — they do not become capable that they may understand a Hadees (any statement narrated by Allah in Al-Kitab)
M. Farook Malik   
As for death, no matter where you may be, death is going to reach you even if you are in fortified towers. When such people are blessed with some benefit, they say: "This is from Allah;" but if they suffer a loss, they say: "this is because of you." O Muhammad tell them: "Everything is from Allah." What is the matter with these people that they do not understand a word
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, (even) if you were in imposingly constructed towers." And in case a fair (thing) alights upon (Literally: afflicts) them, they say, "This is from the Providence of Allah." And in case an odious thing afflicts them, they say, "This is from your presence." Say, All is from the Providence of Allah." What is it then with these people! They almost do not comprehend any discourse
Muhammad Sarwar   
Wherever you are, death will find you even if you hide yourselves in firmly constructed towers. Whenever people experience good fortune, they say that it is from God but whenever they experience misfortune, they say it is because of you, (Muhammad). Tell them, "Everything is from God." What is wrong with these people that they do not even try to understand
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Wherever you will be, Death will overtake you, even though you are in fortified castles. If some good comes to them, they say, .This is from Allah. But if some evil visits them, they say, .This is from you. Say, .All is from Allah. So, what is wrong with these people, they do not seem to understand anything
Shabbir Ahmed   
Wherever you may be, death will find you, even if you live in fortified castles. When something good happens to them, they say, "It is from Allah." And when affliction befalls them they say to each other, "This is from you O fellow-man!" Tell them, "All things happen according to Allah's Laws." What is amiss with these people, they understand not a thing
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Death will overtake you no matter where you are, even if you were (hiding) in a fortified lofty tower. If something good happens to them, they say, "This is from Allah." But when misfortune strikes, they say, "This is from you." Say, "All of it is from Allah!" What is wrong with these people? They hardly understand anything
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
"Wherever you are, death will find you out, even if you are in towers built up strong and high!" If some good happens to them, they say, "This is from Allah;" But if evil (happens, to them), they say, "This is from you (O Prophet)." Say: "All things are from Allah." But what has come to these people, that they do not understand a single word
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction. But if good comes to them, they say, "This is from Allah "; and if evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you." Say, "All [things] are from Allah ." So what is [the matter] with those people that they can hardly understand any statement
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Wherever you may be, death will find you, even if you are in fortified towers. If any good befalls them, they Say: "This is from God," and if any bad befalls them, they Say: "This is from you!" Say: "All is from God;" what is wrong with these people, they barely understand anything said
Abdel Haleem   
Death will overtake you no matter where you may be, even inside high towers.’ When good fortune comes their way, they say, ‘This is from God,’ but when harm befalls them, they say, ‘This is from you [Prophet].’ Say to them, ‘Both come from God.’ What is the matter with these people that they can barely understand what they are told
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Wheresoever ye may be, death shall overtake you, even though ye be in fortresses plastered. And if there betideth them some good, they say: this is from God. And if there betideth them some ill, they say: this is because of thee. Say thou: everything is from Allah. What aileth then this people, that well-nigh they understand not any speec
Ahmed Ali   
Death will overtake you wheresoever you be, even in the mightiest of towers. Yet if some good comes their way they say: "It is from God;" and if it is evil that befalls them, they say: "It is indeed from you." Say to them: "Every thing is from God." O, what has come upon the people that even this they fail to understand
Aisha Bewley   
Wherever you are, death will catch up with you, even if you are in impregnable fortresses. If a good thing happens to them, they say, ´This has come from Allah.´ But if a bad thing happens to them, they say, ´This has come from you.´ Say, ´Everything comes from Allah.´ What is the matter with these people that they scarcely understand a single word?
Ali Ünal   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even though you be in towers built up strong and high. Yet, when some good happens to them, they say: "This is from God;" and when an evil befalls them, they say: "This is because of you." Say: "All is from God." But how is it with these people that they do not grasp the truth of anything said (or anything that has happened)
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Wherever you may be, death shall overtake you, even if you were in fortified towers.’ And if any good befalls them, they say, ‘This is from Allah;’ and when an ill befalls them, they say, ‘This is from you.’ Say, ‘All is from Allah.’ What is the matter with these people that they would not understand any matter
Hamid S. Aziz   
"Wherever you be, death will overtake you, though you were in lofty towers." And if a good thing befalls them, they say, "This is from Allah," but if a bad thing, they say, "This is from you (Muhammad)." Say (unto them), &qu;
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Death catches up with you wherever you are, even if you are in strongly built towers. And if something good happens to them, they say: “This is from God.” And if something bad happens to them, they say: “This is from you.” Say: “Everything is from God.” What is the matter with these people that they do not understand this saying?
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
“Wherever you are, death will find you. Even if you are in towers built up strong and high.” If some good befalls them they say, “This is from God.” But if problems arise they say, “This is from you.” Say, “All things are from God.” But what comes to the people who fail to understand this fact
Musharraf Hussain   
Death will catch up wherever you may be, even if you are in strong forts. When good things happen to them, they say, “This is from Allah,” and, when bad things happen to them, they say, “This is your fault, Muhammad.” Say: “All is from Allah.” What is the matter with these people that they hardly understand what they are told
Maududi   
Wherever you might be, death will overtake you even though you be in massive towers. And when some good happens to them, they say: ´This is from Allah´; whereas when some misfortune befalls them, they say: ´This is because of you´. Say: ´All is from Allah.´ What has happened to this people that they seem to understand nothing
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Wherever you may be, death will find you, even if you are in fortified towers. If any good befalls them, they say: "This is from God," and if any evil befalls them, they say: "This is from you!" Say: "All is from God;" what is wrong with these people, they barely understand any narrative!
Mohammad Shafi   
Wherever you are, death will overtake you even if you are within fortified fortresses. And if any good comes to them, they say, "This is from Allah." And if anything bad afflicts them, they say, "This is from you ?" Say, "All things are from Allah." And what's the matter with these people that they are unable to understand the statement

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, though if you be in strong forts. And if some good reaches them, then they say, 'this is from Allah and if some bad reaches them, then they say, 'This has come from you. Say you, 'All is from Allah. Then what happened to them, they seem not to understand anything.
Rashad Khalifa   
Wherever you are, death will catch up with you, even if you live in formidable castles. When something good happens to them, they say, "This is from GOD," and when something bad afflicts them, they blame you. Say, "Everything comes from GOD." Why do these people misunderstand almost everything?
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Wherever you are, death will overtake you, even if you shall be in the fortified, high towers. ' If bounty reaches them, they say: 'This is from Allah, ' but when evil hits them, they say: 'This is from you. ' Say to them: 'All is from Allah! ' What is the matter with this people that they scarcely understand any statement
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Wherever you are, death will overtake you, though you are in towers, raised high. And if good befalls them, they say: This is from Allah; and if a misfortune befalls them, they say: This is from thee. Say: All is from Allah. But what is the matter with these people that they make no effort to understand anything
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
Wherever you are, the death catches up/reaches you , and (even) if you were in towers/castles/constellations built/erected , and if a goodness strikes them, they say: "This (is) from at God." And if a sin/crime (harm) strikes them, they say: "This (is) from at you." Say: "All/each (are) from at God, so how those the nation, they almost do not understand an information/speech?"
Bijan Moeinian   
Know that wherever you are (even in a fortified castle,) you will meet the death, when the time comes. It is funny how the hypocrites thank God for good fortunes of life and blame His Prophet for their misfortune. Let them know that everything is from God. What is wrong with this people who do not get it
Faridul Haque   
Death will come to you wherever you may be, even if you were in strong fortresses; if some good reaches them they say, "This is from Allah"; and if any misfortune reaches them, they say, "This is from you"; say, "Everything is from Allah"; what is wrong with these people, that they do not seem to understand anything
Sher Ali   
Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you be in strongly built towers. And if some good befalls them, they say, `This is from ALLAH;' and if evil befalls them, they say, `This is from thee.' Say, `All is from ALLAH.' What has happened to these people that they would not try to understand anything
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
(O you who abstain from the armed struggle due to fear of death!) Death will overtake you wherever you may be, (even) if you are in unconquerable fortresses. And (their mentality is such that) if some good fortune (benefit) comes to them, they say: ‘It is from Allah (i.e., intermediation and benevolence of the Messenger has no role in it),’ and if some adversity befalls them, they say: ‘(O Messenger!) It is from you (i.e., because of you).’ Say: ‘(In fact,) all comes from Allah.’ So, what has gone wrong with these people that they do not feel inclined to understand anything
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Death will overtake you wherever you may be, even if you be in strongly built castles. And if any good occurs to them (- to the hypocrites) they say, `This is from Allah' and if evil befalls them they say, `This is from you.' Say, `Everything is from Allah.' What is the matter with these people that they hardly understand (anything)
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
"Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!" And if some good reaches them, they say, "This is from Allah," but if some evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you (O Muhammad SAW)." Say: "All things are from Allah," so what is wrong with these people that they fail to understand any word

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, though you should be in raised-up towers. And if a good thing visits them, they say, 'This is from God'; but if an evil thing visits them, they say, 'This is from thee.' Say: 'Everything is from God.' How is it with this people? They scarcely understand any tiding
George Sale   
Wheresoever ye be, death will overtake you, although ye be in lofty towers. If good befall them, they say, this is from God; but if evil befall them, they say, this is from thee, O Mohammed: Say, all is from God; and what aileth these people, that they are so far from understanding what is said unto them
Edward Henry Palmer   
Wheresoe'er ye be death will overtake you, though ye were in lofty towers. And if a good thing befall them, they say, 'This is from God,' but if a bad thing, they say, 'This is from thee.' Say, 'It is all from God.' What ails these people? they can hardly understand a tale
John Medows Rodwell   
Wherever ye be, death will overtake you - although ye be in lofty towers! If good fortune betide them, they say, "This is from God;" and if evil betide them, they say, "This is from thee." SAY: All is from God: But what hath come to these people that they are not near to understanding what is told them
N J Dawood (2014)   
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you: though you put yourselves in lofty towers.‘ When they are blessed with good fortune, they say: ‘This is from God.‘ But when evil befalls them, they say: ‘It was your² fault.‘ Say: ‘All is from God!‘ What has come over these people that they can hardly understand a word

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
Wherever you may be, the death will overtake you even if you were in towers raised aloft. And when a good thing happens to them, they said, “This is from the presence of Allah” and when an evil happens to them they said, “This is from your side” Say, “All is from the presence of Allah” Why is it that these people almost do not comprehend any discourse.
Munir Mezyed   
And wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you were in strong rock fortresses with lofty walls set on high. When a single righteous deed befalls them, they say: "This is from Allâh". But when a single evil deed befalls them, they say: "This is from you, (Muhammad)". Say: “All things are from Allâh". What is wrong with these people that they could hardly understand a word?.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
Wherever you are death will reach you even if you were in fortified towers, and when good befalls them they say this is from Allah, and when bad befalls them they say this is from you, say: all is from Allah, so what is (wrong) with these people that they hardly understand a word?
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Wherever you are, be sure that death will find you, even if you are in mighty, towering castles. If some good befalls (the idolaters), they say, “This is from Allah!” If a crisis comes, they say, “This is (the Prophet’s) fault!” Say, “All things are from Allah.” What is wrong with people that they scarcely understand a single thing?
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
Wherever youpl may be, death will overtake you, even if you were in lofty towers. And if any good befalls them, they say, “This is from Allah.” But when any evil befalls them, they say, “This is from you.” Saysg, “All is from Allah.” So what is wrong with these people, that they hardly comprehend any discourse?
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Wherever you may be, death shall still overtake you even though you are in well-built towers." Yet if something fine happens to them, they say: "This is from Allah (God);" while if something bad happens to them, they say: "This is because of you!" SAY: "Everything comes from Allah (God)." What is wrong with such folk that they scarcely understand why anything happens?
Samy Mahdy   
Wherever you are, death will reach you, even if you were in a lofty tower. And if excellence inflicts them, they say, “This is from Allah.” and if badness inflicts them, they say, “This is from you.” Say, “All is from Allah.” So, what is with this kinfolk that they would not almost understand a narration?
Sayyid Qutb   
Wherever you may be death will overtake you, even though you be in towers built up strong and high.” Yet, when a good thing happens to them, some [people] say, “This is from God,” whereas when evil befalls them, they say, “This is from you!” Say, “All is from God.” What is amiss with these people that they are in no wise near to grasping the truth of what they are told?
Ahmed Hulusi   
Death will find you wherever you are. Even if you were within tall and sturdy towers... But if good comes to them, they say, “This is from Allah”; and if evil befalls them, they say, “This is from you.” Say, “All of it is from Allah!” What is the matter with people that they do not try to understand the reality!
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
Wherever you be, death will over take you, even though you be in strong towers. Yet, if something fine befalls them They say: ' This is from Allah', but if an ill befalls them, They say: 'This is from you'. Say: 'Everything is from Allah'. But what the matter with such people that it is night to perceive no word?
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Wherever you may be you shall be caught in the jaws of death even if you happen to be in fortresses fortified against confounding ages cruel knife. Yet when good fortune falls in their way, they -your people– relate it to Allah, and if they are befallen with a misfortune they relate it to you O Muhammad. Say to them: "All happenings, good or bad, are authorized by Allah." What ails these people that they hardly comprehend a discourse of reason
Mir Aneesuddin   
Wherever you be, death will catch you up, even if you are in towers raised high. And if good befalls them they say, "This is from Allah," and if evil befalls them they say, "This is from you," say, "Everything is from Allah." So what is (wrong) with these people that they do not (even) intend to understand a happening (or a statement)? say, "Everything is from Allah." So what is (wrong) with these people that they do not (even) intend to understand a happening (or a statement)?

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
"Wherever ye are, death will find you out, even if ye are in towers built up strong and high!" If some good befalls them, they say, "This is from God"; but if evil, they say, "This is from thee" (O Prophet). Say: "All things are from God." But what hath come to these people, that they fail to understand a single fact
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Wherever you be will overtake you [the] death even if you are in towers lofty. And if befalls them any good they say, "This (is) from Allah," And if befalls them any evil they say, "This (is) from you." Say, "All (is) from Allah." So what (is wrong) (with) these [the] people, they do not seem (to) understand any statement
OLD Transliteration   
Aynama takoonoo yudrikkumu almawtu walaw kuntum fee buroojin mushayyadatin wa-in tusibhum hasanatun yaqooloo hathihi min AAindi Allahi wa-in tusibhum sayyi-atun yaqooloo hathihi min AAindika qul kullun min AAindi Allahi famali haola-i alqawmi la yakadoona yafqahoona hadeethan