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Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
But when you are greeted with a greeting [of peace], answer with an even better greeting, or [at least] with the like thereof. Verily, God keeps count indeed of all things
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
And when you are greeted, respond with a better greeting or at least similarly. Surely Allah is a ˹vigilant˺ Reckoner of all things.
Safi Kaskas   
When you are greeted with a greeting, answer with an even better greeting, or [at least] respond with the same greeting. God keeps account of everything.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَإِذَا حُیِّیتُم بِتَحِیَّةࣲ فَحَیُّوا۟ بِأَحۡسَنَ مِنۡهَاۤ أَوۡ رُدُّوهَاۤۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَیۡءٍ حَسِیبًا ۝٨٦
Transliteration (2021)   
wa-idhā ḥuyyītum bitaḥiyyatin faḥayyū bi-aḥsana min'hā aw ruddūhā inna l-laha kāna ʿalā kulli shayin ḥasība
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And when you are greeted with a greeting, then greet with better than it or return it. Indeed, Allah is of every thing an Accountant.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
But when you are greeted with a greeting [of peace], answer with an even better greeting, or [at least] with the like thereof. Verily, God keeps count indeed of all things
M. M. Pickthall   
When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better than it or return it. Lo! Allah taketh count of all things
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all things
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
And when you are greeted, respond with a better greeting or at least similarly. Surely Allah is a ˹vigilant˺ Reckoner of all things.
Safi Kaskas   
When you are greeted with a greeting, answer with an even better greeting, or [at least] respond with the same greeting. God keeps account of everything.
Wahiduddin Khan   
When you are greeted by anyone, respond with a better greeting or at least return it; God takes account of all things
Shakir   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with a better (greeting) than it or return it; surely Allah takes account of all things
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And when you were given greetings with greetings, then, give greetings fairer than that or return the same to them. Truly, God had been over everything a Reckoner.
T.B.Irving   
Whenever you are welcomed with some greeting, then answer back with something finer than it, or [at least] return it. God is a Reckoner for everything.
Abdul Hye   
When you are greeted with a greeting, you greet better than that, or return it equally. Indeed, Allah keeps account over everything.
The Study Quran   
And when you are offered a greeting, respond with a greeting that is better, or return it; surely God takes account of all things
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
When you are greeted, respond with a better greeting, or return it. God takes account of everything.
Talal Itani (2012)   
When you are greeted with a greeting, respond with a better greeting, or return it. God keeps count of everything
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, then you greet with one better than that or repeat it in return. Certainly, Allah is One Who takes account of every thing
M. Farook Malik   
When anyone greets you in a courteous manner, let your greetings be better than his - or at least return the same. Allah keeps account of everything
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, then greet a fairer one than it, or give it back again; surely Allah has been Ever-Reckoner over everything
Muhammad Sarwar   
Answer a greeting in kinder words than those said to you in the greeting or at least as kind. God keeps account of all things
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
When you are greeted with a salutation, greet with one better than it, or return the same. Surely, Allah is the One who takes account of everything
Shabbir Ahmed   
Good deeds that contribute to the well being of the society begin with kindness (2:177). When someone greets you, respond with similar or more courteous greetings. Allah reckons all things. Anyone who contributes towards peace and betterment of life, do as much or better for him
Dr. Munir Munshey   
When someone welcomes you with a greeting, respond with an even better salute, or (at least) return the same greeting. Indeed, Allah will take into account every single thing
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, follow it with an even more courteous greeting, or (at least) of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all things
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And if you are greeted with a greeting, then return an even better greeting or return the same. God is Reckoning over all things
Abdel Haleem   
But [even in battle] when you [believers] are offered a greeting, respond with a better one, or at least return it: God keeps account of everything
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And when ye are greeted with a greeting, then greet back with one better than that or return that; verily Allah is of everything the Reckoner
Ahmed Ali   
When you are greeted with a greeting, then greet with one fairer, or repeat the same greeting. For God takes account of all things
Aisha Bewley   
When you are greeted with a greeting, return the greeting or improve on it. Allah takes account of everything.
Ali Ünal   
When (whether traveling or at home, or in war or at peace) you are greeted with a greeting (of peace and goodwill), answer with one better, or (at least) with the same. Surely God keeps account of all things
Ali Quli Qara'i   
When you are greeted with a salute, greet with a better one than it, or return it; indeed Allah takes account of all things
Hamid S. Aziz   
And when you are greeted with a good (courteous, friendly, beneficial) salutation, salute with a better one, or return it; verily, Allah takes account of all things
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, then greet with better than that or return it. God takes everything into account.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
When a greeting is offered to you, meet it with a greeting more courteous, or of equal courtesy. And God takes careful account of all things
Musharraf Hussain   
When anyone greets you, respond with a better greeting or at least return it in kind. Allah keeps account of everything
Maududi   
When you are greeted with a salutation then return it with a better one, or at least the same. Surely Allah takes good count of everything
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And if you are greeted with a greeting, then return an even better greeting or return the same. God is Reckoning over all things.
Mohammad Shafi   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, then return the greeting in a better or similar manner. Indeed, Allah is the Comptroller over all things

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And when you are greeted with any word of greeting then, greet him back with a better word than it or return the same. Undoubtedly, Allah is Reckoner of everything.
Rashad Khalifa   
When greeted with a greeting, you shall respond with a better greeting or at least an equal one. GOD reckons all things.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with better than it, or return it. Allah is the Reckoner of all things
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with one better than it, or return it. Surely Allah ever takes account of all things
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And if you were greeted with a greeting, so greet with better from (than) it, or return it, that God was/is on every thing counting/calculating
Bijan Moeinian   
When you are greeted in a courteous manner [by a Muslim or non-Muslim], your response should be at least equal, if not more courteous. God thus takes into consideration the least of your behavior
Faridul Haque   
And when you are greeted with some words, greet back with words better than it or with the same; indeed Allah will take account of everything
Sher Ali   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better greeting or at least return it. Surely ALLAH takes account of all things
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And when you are honoured with (a word of) greeting, then (in reply) greet with a better (salutation) or (at least) reciprocate (in the same words). Surely, Allah takes account of everything
Amatul Rahman Omar   
And whenever you are greeted with a prayer greet you with a better prayer or (at least) return the same. Verily, Allah takes account of everything
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, Allah is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
And when you are greeted with a greeting greet with a fairer than it, or return it; surely God keeps a watchful count over everything
George Sale   
When ye are saluted with a salutation, salute the person with a better salutation, or at least return the same; for God taketh an account of all things
Edward Henry Palmer   
And when ye are saluted with a salutation, salute with a better than it, or return it;- verily, God of all things takes account
John Medows Rodwell   
If ye are greeted with a greeting, then greet ye with a better greeting, or at least return it: God taketh count of all things
N J Dawood (2014)   
If a man greets you, let your greeting be better than his ― or at least return it. God surely keeps count of all things

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
And whenever you are greeted with a greeting, then greet with what is better than it or reply with the same. Truly Allah is All-reckoning over everything.
Munir Mezyed   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with a better one or at least return it. Most assuredly Allâh Allâh ever takes account of all things.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And if you are greeted with a greeting, respond with a better one or return it, for Allah counts everything.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
And if youpl are greeted with a greeting, then respond with a better one or (at least) return it. Indeed, Allah has always been a Reckoner of everything.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
When you are met with a greeting, respond with an even friendlier greeting or the same good wishes. Allah is an accountant over everything.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Whenever you are welcomed with some greeting, then answer back with something finer than it, or [at least] return it. Allah (God) is a Reckoner for everything.
Samy Mahdy   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, so greet with a better than it, or return it. Surely, Allah is over everything, an Accountant.
Sayyid Qutb   
When a greeting is offered you, answer it with an even better greeting, or [at least] with its like. God keeps count of all things.
Thomas Cleary   
And when you are greeted with a salutation, offer a greeting nicer still, or at least return it; for God takes account of everything.
Ahmed Hulusi   
When someone greets you with a greeting greet him back with a more comprehensive greeting or one that is the like. Indeed Allah is Hasib over all things (enforces the consequences of all that becomes manifest).
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet you with a better (greeting) than it, or at least return it. Verily Allah takes account of all things
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
When you are greeted with words or gestures, acknowledge the greeting with a more courteous recognition or at least return the same formula; it is an obligation. Allah has always taken account of all things and all actions
Mir Aneesuddin   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, then greet (back in a manner) better than that or return it (with equal courtesy), Allah is certainly One who takes account of everything.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. God takes careful account of all things
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And when you are greeted with a greeting, then greet with better than it or return it. Indeed, Allah is of every thing an Accountant
OLD Transliteration   
Wa-itha huyyeetum bitahiyyatin fahayyoo bi-ahsana minha aw ruddooha inna Allaha kana AAala kulli shay-in haseeban