Al-Qur'an Surah Yusuf Verse 39

Mufti Taqi Usmani

O my fellow prisoners, are different gods better or Allah, the One, the All-Dominant?

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

O  my fellow-prisoners! Which is far better: many different lords or Allah—the One, the Supreme?

Ruwwad Translation Center

O my two fellow prisoners, which is better: many different lords or Allah, the One, the Subjugator?

A. J. Arberry

Say, which is better, my fellow-prisoners -- many gods at variance, or God the One, the Omnipotent?

Abdul Haleem

Fellow prisoners, would many diverse gods be better than God the One, the All Powerful? [No indeed!]

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

O My two fellow-prisoners! are sundry lords better of Allah, the One, the Subduer

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"O my two companions of the prison! (I ask you); are many lords differing among themselves better, or the One Allah, Supreme and Irresistible?

Abul Ala Maududi

Fellow-prisoners! Is it better that there be diverse lords, or just Allah, the One, the Irresistible?

Ahmed Ali

(Tell me) O fellow-prisoners, are a number of gods better, or one God omnipotent?

Ahmed Raza Khan

“O both my fellow-prisoners! Are various lords better, or One Allah, the Dominant above all?”

Ali Quli Qarai

O my prison mates! Are different masters better, or Allah, the One, the All-paramount?

Ali Ünal

"O my two fellow-prisoners! Are many diverse lords more reasonable and better (to attribute creation to and believe in and obey), or God, the One, the All-Overwhelming (holding absolute sway over all that exists)?

Amatul Rahman Omar

`My two fellow-prisoners! what is better? Diverse and numerous gods or Allâh, the One, the Most Supreme?

English Literal

You my two companions/friends (of) the prison/jail, are separate Lords better or God the one, the defeater/conqueror ?

Faridul Haque

"O both my fellow-prisoners! Are various lords better, or One Allah, the Dominant above all?"

Hamid S. Aziz

And I have followed the faith of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It never was for us to associate aught as partners with Allah. This is of the Bounty (or Grace) from Allah upon us and upon mankind: but most men give not thanks.

Hilali & Khan

"O two companions of the prison! Are many different lords (gods) better or Allah, the One, the Irresistible?

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And I follow the religion of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It beseems us not to associate aught with Allah. This is by Allah’s grace upon us and on mankind, but most people give not thanks.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

O my two mates of the prison! are sundry lords better or Allah the One, the Supreme?

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

O my fellow-prisoners! Are divers lords better, or Allah the One, Almighty?

Muhammad Sarwar

"My fellow-prisoners can many different masters be considered better than One All-dominant God?

Qaribullah & Darwish

My fellowprisoners, say which is better, many gods at variance, or Allah the One, the Conqueror?

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

"O two companions of the prison! Are many different lords (gods) better or Allah, the One, the Irresistible"

Wahiduddin Khan

O my two fellow-prisoners! Are many diverse lords better, or God, the One, the Almighty?

Talal Itani

“O My fellow inmates, are diverse lords better, or God, the One, the Supreme?”

Tafsir jalalayn

He [Joseph] then explicitly calls them to faith, saying; O my two fellow-prisoners!, inmates [of the prison]; Are several lords better, or, is, God, the One, the Almighty, better? (an interrogative meant as an affirmative).

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah tells;

يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ

O two companions of the prison!

Prophet Yusuf went on calling his two prison companions to worship Allah alone, without partners, and to reject whatever is being worshipped instead of Him like the idols, which were worshipped by the people of the two men, Yusuf said,

أَأَرْبَابٌ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ اللّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ



Are many different lords (gods) better or Allah, the One, the Irresistible!

to Whose grace and infinite kingdom everything and everyone has submitted in humiliation