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Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
Thereupon God sent forth a raven which scratched the earth, to show him how he might conceal the nakedness of his brother's body. [And Cain] cried out: "Oh, woe is me! Am I then too weak to do what this raven did, and to conceal the nakedness of my brother's body?" - and was thereupon smitten with remorse
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Then Allah sent a crow digging ˹a grave˺ in the ground ˹for a dead crow˺, in order to show him how to bury the corpse of his brother. He cried, “Alas! Have I ˹even˺ failed to be like this crow and bury the corpse of my brother?” So he became regretful.
Safi Kaskas   
God sent a raven to scratch the ground to show him how to cover his brother's body. He cried out, "How awful! Am I so helpless that I cannot do what this raven has done?" He then buried his brother and was filled with sorrow.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ غُرَابࣰا یَبۡحَثُ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِیُرِیَهُۥ كَیۡفَ یُوَ ٰرِی سَوۡءَةَ أَخِیهِۚ قَالَ یَـٰوَیۡلَتَىٰۤ أَعَجَزۡتُ أَنۡ أَكُونَ مِثۡلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡغُرَابِ فَأُوَ ٰرِیَ سَوۡءَةَ أَخِیۖ فَأَصۡبَحَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰدِمِینَ ۝٣١
Transliteration (2021)   
fabaʿatha l-lahu ghurāban yabḥathu fī l-arḍi liyuriyahu kayfa yuwārī sawata akhīhi qāla yāwaylatā aʿajaztu an akūna mith'la hādhā l-ghurābi fa-uwāriya sawata akhī fa-aṣbaḥa mina l-nādimīn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Then sent Allah a crow, it (was) scratching in the earth to show him how to hide (the) dead body (of) his brother. He said, "Woe to me! Am I unable that I can be like this [the] crow and hide (the) dead body (of) my brother?" Then he became of the regretful.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Thereupon God sent forth a raven which scratched the earth, to show him how he might conceal the nakedness of his brother's body. [And Cain] cried out: "Oh, woe is me! Am I then too weak to do what this raven did, and to conceal the nakedness of my brother's body?" - and was thereupon smitten with remorse
M. M. Pickthall   
Then Allah sent a raven scratching up the ground, to show him how to hide his brother's naked corpse. He said: Woe unto me! Am I not able to be as this raven and so hide my brother's naked corpse? And he became repentant
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Then Allah sent a raven, who scratched the ground, to show him how to hide the shame of his brother. "Woe is me!" said he; "Was I not even able to be as this raven, and to hide the shame of my brother?" then he became full of regrets
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Then Allah sent a crow digging ˹a grave˺ in the ground ˹for a dead crow˺, in order to show him how to bury the corpse of his brother. He cried, “Alas! Have I ˹even˺ failed to be like this crow and bury the corpse of my brother?” So he became regretful.
Safi Kaskas   
God sent a raven to scratch the ground to show him how to cover his brother's body. He cried out, "How awful! Am I so helpless that I cannot do what this raven has done?" He then buried his brother and was filled with sorrow.
Wahiduddin Khan   
Then God sent a raven, which scratched the earth, so that He might show him how to hide the corpse of his brother. Alas! he cried, Am I not able even to be like this raven, so that I may hide the corpse of my brother? And he repented
Shakir   
Then Allah sent a crow digging up the earth so that he might show him how he should cover the dead body of his brother. He said: Woe me! do I lack the strength that I should be like this crow and cover the dead body of my brother? So he became of those who regret
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Then, God raised up a raven to scratch the earth, to cause him to see how to cover up the naked corpse of his brother. He says: Woe to me! Was I unable to be like this raven to cover up the naked corpse of my brother? Then, he became among the ones who were remorseful.
T.B.Irving   
God sent a raven to scratch the earth in order to show him how to dispose of his brother´s corpse, He said: "It´s too bad for me! Have I failed to be like this raven and dispose of my brother´s corpse?" So one morning he felt full of remorse.
Abdul Hye   
Then Allah sent a crow scratching in the earth so that it shows him how he may hide dead body of his brother. He (the murderer) said: “Woe to me! Am I not even able that I could be like this crow and could hide dead body of my brother?” Then he became from those who regretted.
The Study Quran   
Then God sent a crow, scratching the earth, to show him how he might conceal his brother’s nakedness. He said, “Oh, woe unto me! Am I not able to be even as this crow and conceal my brother’s nakedness?” And he came to be among the remorseful
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Then, God sent a raven, scratching the ground, to show him how to cover his brother’s body. He cried out, “Woe to me! I couldn’t be like this raven and bury my brother’s body.” And he became full of regret.
Talal Itani (2012)   
Then God sent a raven digging the ground, to show him how to cover his brother's corpse. He said, 'Woe to me! I was unable to be like this raven, and bury my brother's corpse.' So he became full of regrets
Dr. Kamal Omar   
So Allah made available a crow. It scratches the earth so that He may show him how he may hide the corpse of his brother. (The Murderer, to himself) said: “Oh, woe to me! Have I become helpless that I become like this particular crow, then I hide corpse of my brother (under the dug-up mud)?” Then he became out of those who regret
M. Farook Malik   
(He carried around the dead body of his brother and did not know what to do with it.) Then Allah sent a raven, which dug the ground to show him how to bury the dead body of his brother. "Alas!" He cried, "I failed even to be like this raven to find some way to dispose of the dead body of my brother!" So he became full of regrets
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
Then Allah sent forth a raven (Or: crow) searching into the earth to show him how he should overlay the shameful parts (i.e. the vile body) of his brother. He said, "Oh woe to me! Am I unable to be like this raven, (and) so overlay the shameful parts of my brother?" So he became among the remorseful
Muhammad Sarwar   
God sent down a raven which started to dig up the earth to show the killer how to bury the corpse of his brother. On seeing the raven, (Cain) said, "Woe to me! Am I less able than a raven to bury the corpse of my brother?" He became greatly remorseful
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Then, Allah sent a crow that scratched the earth to show him how he should conceal the corpse of his brother. He said, .Alas! Was I not even able to be like this crow so that I could conceal the corpse of my brother? So, he stood regretful
Shabbir Ahmed   
Allah then sent a raven scratching up the soil, to allude to him that he might have concealed and ignored the imperfections of his brother. He said, "Oh, I failed even to be like this raven to conceal my brother's imperfections!" Then he became full of regrets. ('Sauaat' = Imperfections, faults (7:20-22)
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Then, Allah sent a crow there. It scratched the ground and showed him how he might (bury and) hide his brother´s corpse. He said (to himself), "Oh woe to me! I couldn´t even be like this crow! I couldn´t (figure out how to) hide my brother´s corpse." He was filled with remorse
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Then Allah sent a raven (a black crow) that scratched the ground, to show him how to hide the dead body of his brother, "Shame (and curse) on me!" Said he: "Was I not even able to be like this crow, and (be able) to hide the dead body of my brother?" Then he became full of sorrow (for his actions)—
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Then Allah sent a crow searching in the ground to show him how to hide the disgrace of his brother. He said, "O woe to me! Have I failed to be like this crow and hide the body of my brother?" And he became of the regretful
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
So God sent forth a raven to scratch the land and show him how to deal with the wickedness inflicted upon his brother. He said: "O my, am I not able to be like this raven and deal with the wickedness inflicted upon my brother!" So he became of those who regretted
Abdel Haleem   
God sent a raven to scratch up the ground and show him how to cover his brother’s corpse and he said, ‘Woe is me! Could I not have been like this raven and covered up my brother’s body?’ He became remorseful
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Then Allah sent a raven scratching in the earth to show him in what wise he might cover the corpse of his brother. He said: woe unto me was incapable of being like unto this raven so that I might cover the corpse of my brother! And he became of the remorseful
Ahmed Ali   
Then God sent a raven which scratched the ground in order to show him how to hide the nakedness of his brother. "Alas, the woe," said he, "that I could not be even like the raven and hide the nakedness of my brother," and was filled with remorse
Aisha Bewley   
Then Allah sent a crow which scratched at the earth to show him how to conceal his brother´s corpse. He said, ´Woe is me! Can I not even be like this crow and conceal my brother´s corpse?´ And he became one of those who suffer bitter remorse
Ali Ünal   
(He did not know what to do with the dead body of his brother.) Then God sent forth a raven, scratching in the earth, to show him how he might cover the corpse of his brother. (So seeing) he cried: "Oh, alas for me! Am I then unable even to be like this raven, and so find a way to cover the corpse of my brother?" And he became distraught with remorse
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Then Allah sent a crow, exploring in the ground, to show him how to bury the corpse of his brother. He said, ‘Woe to me! Am I unable to be [even] like this crow and bury my brother’s corpse?’ Thus he became regretful
Hamid S. Aziz   
Then Allah sent a crow to scratch in the earth and show him how he might hide his brother´s naked corpse. He said, "Alas, for me! Am I too helpless to become like this crow and hide my brother´s naked corpse?" and in the morning he
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Then God sent a crow digging up the ground to show him how to cover up his brother’s dead body. He said: “Shame on me, am I unable to be like this crow to hide my brother’s corpse?” Then he became regretful.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Then God sent a raven who scratched the ground to show him how to hide the shame of his brother, “Oh my God,” He said, “Was I not even able to be as this raven, and to hide the shame of my brother?” Then he became full of regrets
Musharraf Hussain   
Allah sent a crow, it dug the ground to show him how to bury his brother’s corpse. He said, “How pathetic am I! I am no better than this crow, I can’t even hide my brother’s corpse?” So he was regretful
Maududi   
Thereupon Allah sent forth a raven who began to scratch the earth to show him how he might cover the corpse of his brother. So seeing he cried: ´Woe unto me! Was I unable even to be like this raven and find a way to cover the corpse of my brother? Then he became full of remorse at his doing
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
So God sent forth a raven to scratch the land and show him how to deal with the body of his brother. He said: "Woe to me! Am I not even able to be like this raven and deal with the body of my brother?" So he became of those who regretted
Mohammad Shafi   
Then Allah sent a crow digging the earth so as to show him how to dispose of the dead body of his brother. He said, "Woe to me! Have I not the competence even to be like this crow to dispose of the dead body of my brother?" And he was ashame

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Then Allah sent a raven, scratching in the earth, so that he might show him, how he should hide the corpse of his brother. He said, 'Oh woe is me! I could not be able even like this raven so that I may hide the corpse of my brother, then he remained repenting.
Rashad Khalifa   
GOD then sent a raven to scratch the soil, to teach him how to bury his brother's corpse. He said, "Woe to me; I failed to be as intelligent as this raven, and bury my brother's corpse." He became ridden with remorse.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Then Allah sent down a crow, which dug the earth to show him how to bury the naked corpse of his brother. 'Alas! ' he said, 'am I unable to be like this crow and so I bury my brother's naked corpse. ' And he became among those who regret
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Then Allah sent a crow scratching the ground to show him how to cover the dead body of his brother. He said: Woe is me! Am I not able to be as this crow and cover the dead body of my brother? So he became of those who regret
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
So God sent a crow digging/searching in the earht/Planet Earth, to show him how (he) hides/conceals his brother's shameful genital private part to be covered, he said: "Oh my calamity , have I been unable that I be similar/like that the crow, so I hide/conceal my brother's shameful genital private part to be covered?" So he became from the regretful/sorrowful/remorseful
Bijan Moeinian   
Then God ordered a crow to scratch the earth, showing him how to hide his brother’s corps [and bringing his ignorant nature to his attention.] He said: “Shame on me, I do not even know as much as this bird to bury my brother’s corps.” Then he [buried his brother’s corps and] became very sorry [for what he had done.]
Faridul Haque   
So Allah sent a crow scratching the ground, to show him how to hide his brother’s corpse; he said, “Woe to me! I was not even capable enough to be like this crow, so I would hide my brother’s corpse”; and he turned remorseful
Sher Ali   
Then ALLAH sent a raven which scratched in the ground, that HE might show him how to hide the corpse of his brother. He said, `Woe is me ! Am I not able to be even like this raven so that I may hide the corpse of my brother?' And then he became remorseful
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
Then Allah sent a crow that started scratching the earth to show him how to hide his brother’s corpse. (Seeing this,) he said: ‘Alas! Could I not become even the like of this crow that I might hide the corpse of my brother!’ So he became one of the remorseful people
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Then Allah sent a raven which scratched into the earth so as to show him how he might cover his brother's dead body. He said, `Woe is me! Am I unable to be even like this raven so that I may cover the dead body of my brother?' And he became one of the remorseful
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Then Allah sent a crow who scratched the ground to show him to hide the dead body of his brother. He (the murderer) said: "Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and to hide the dead body of my brother?" Then he became one of those who regretted

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Then God sent forth a raven, scratching into the earth, to show him how he might conceal the vile body of his brother. He said, 'Woe is me! Am I unable to be as this raven, and so conceal my brother's vile body?' And he became one of the remorseful
George Sale   
And God sent a raven, which scratched the earth, to shew him how he should hide the shame of his brother, and he said, wo is me! Am I unable to be like this raven, that I may hide my brother's shame? And he became one of those who repent
Edward Henry Palmer   
And God sent a crow to scratch in the earth and show him how he might hide his brother's shame, he said, ' Alas, for me! Am I too helpless to become like this crow and hide my brother's shame?' and in the morning he was of those who did repent
John Medows Rodwell   
And God sent a raven which scratched upon the ground, to shew him how he might hide his brother's wrong. He said: "O woe is me! am I too weak to become like this raven, and to hide away my brother's wrong?" And he became one of the repentant
N J Dawood (2014)   
Then God sent down a raven, which clawed the earth to show him how to bury the naked corpse of his brother. ‘Alas for me!‘ he said. ‘Have I not strength enough to do as this raven has done and so bury my brother‘s naked corpse?‘ And he repented

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
So Allah sent a crow digging in the earth to show him how to bury the body of his brother. He said, “Woe unto me. Am I so helpless that I cannot be like this crow so that I can bury the body of my brother?” Thereby he became of those regretful.
Munir Mezyed   
Then Allâh sent a raven scratching into the earth in order to show him how to bury the naked corpse of his brother. He says: ‘Woe betide me! How was it that I was unable to be like this raven and bury the corpse of my brother?’ So he became of those who feel bitter regret.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
Then Allah sent a raven who uncovered the earth to show him how to bury the body of his brother. He said, woe to me, am I not able to be like this raven and bury the body of my brother? and he became remorseful.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Then Allah sent a raven, which scratched upon the ground to show (Cain) how to hide the appalling corpse of his brother. “So miserable am I!” he said. “Was I not even able to be as this raven in hiding the disgrace of my brother?” Then he was filled with regret.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
Then Allah sent a raven scratching up the ground to show him how to cover his brother's corpse. He said, “Woe to me! Was I incapable of being like this raven and burying my brother's corpse?” And he became of the regretful.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Allah (God) sent a raven to scratch the earth in order to show him how to dispose of his brother's corpse, He said: "It's too bad for me! Have I failed to be like this raven and dispose of my brother's corpse?" So one morning he felt full of remorse.
Samy Mahdy   
So, Allah missioned a crow search in the land, to show him how to bury his brother's corpse. He said, “Woe for me! I was unable to be like this crow, so I buried my brother's corpse.” So, he became among the regretful ones.
Sayyid Qutb   
God then sent forth a raven which scratched the earth, to show him how he might conceal the nakedness of his brother's body. He cried out: “Woe to me! Am I then too weak to do what this raven has done, and to conceal the nakedness of my brother's body?” He was then overwhelmed by remorse.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Then Allah disclosed a crow to him, grubbing the earth, showing him how to bury his brother’s corpse... Cain said to himself, “Woe unto me! I am not even like this crow to know how to bury the corpse of my brother!” And he became of the regretful.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
Then Allah sent a raven digging up the ground to show him (the murderer) how he should cover the dead body of his brother. He said: ' Woe unto me! Am I unable to be like this raven and cover the corpse of my brother? ' So he became one of the remorseful
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Unable to handle the corpse of his brother, he was at a loss. There and then did Allah send a raven to remove earth with its claws to bury a dead raven so that the killer would know how to dispose of his brother's corpse? The raven having shamed him with its notable performance, he said: "Woe betide me; have I not been even able to be like this raven to dispose of my brother’s corpse and obstruct the view of my crime! " And there he was left with nothing but pining regrets and vain repentance
Mir Aneesuddin   
Then Allah sent a crow scratching the earth to show him how to hide his brother's dead body. He said, "Sorrowful is my state, was I unable to be equal even to this crow so as to hide the dead body of my brother?" He thus became one of those who regret.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Then God sent a raven, who scratched the ground, to show him how to hide the shame of his brother. "Woe is me!" said he; "Was I not even able to be as this raven, and to hide the shame of my brother?" then he became full of regrets
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Then Allah sent a crow, it (was) scratching in the earth to show how to hide (the) dead body (of) his brother. He said, "Woe to me! Am I unable that I can be like this [the] crow and hide (the) dead body (of) my brother?" Then he became of the regretful
OLD Transliteration   
FabaAAatha Allahu ghuraban yabhathu fee al-ardi liyuriyahu kayfa yuwaree saw-ata akheehi qala ya waylata aAAajaztu an akoona mithla hatha alghurabi faowariya saw-ata akhee faasbaha mina alnnadimeena