Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nahl Verse 126

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And if you were to harm (them) in retaliation, harm them to the measure you were harmed. And if you opt for patience, it is definitely much better for those who are patient.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

If you retaliate, then let it be equivalent to what you have suffered. But if you patiently endure, it is certainly best for those who are patient.

Ruwwad Translation Center

If you retaliate, let your retaliation be the like of what you suffered. But if you bear with patience, it is surely best for those who are steadfast.

A. J. Arberry

And if you chastise, chastise even as you have been chastised; and yet assuredly if you are patient, better it is for those patient.

Abdul Haleem

If you [believers] have to respond to an attack, make your response proportionate, but it is best to stand fast.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And if ye chastise, then chastise with the like of that wherewith ye were afflicted, and if ye endure patiently, then surely it is better for the patient.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And if ye do catch them out, catch them out no worse than they catch you out; But if ye show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient.

Abul Ala Maududi

If you take retribution, then do so in proportion to the wrong done to you. But if you can bear such conduct with patience, indeed that is best for the steadfast.

Ahmed Ali

If you have to retaliate, do so to the extent you have been injured; but if you forbear it is best for those who bear with fortitude.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And if you mete out punishment, then punish similarly as you were afflicted; and if you patiently endure, then indeed patience is better for the patiently enduring.

Ali Quli Qarai

Should you retaliate, retaliate with the like of what you have been made to suffer, but if you are patient that is surely better for the steadfast.

Ali Ünal

If you have to respond to any wrong, respond (only) to the measure of the wrong done to you; but if you endure patiently, it is indeed better for the patient.

Amatul Rahman Omar

(Believers!) if you have to punish (the oppressors) then punish them to the extent you have been persecuted. But if you endure patiently, remember it is far better for the patiently persevering.

English Literal

And if you punished/rewarded, so punish with similar/equal (to) what you were punished with it, and if (E) you188were patient it (E) (is) best to the patient.

Faridul Haque

And if you mete out punishment, then punish similarly as you were afflicted; and if you patiently endure, then indeed patience is better for the patiently enduring.

Hamid S. Aziz

But if you punish (or catch them out), punish (or catch them out) only with the like of that with which you were afflicted; but if you endure patiently, verily it is better for the patient.

Hilali & Khan

And if you punish (your enemy, O you believers in the Oneness of Allah), then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, verily, it is better for As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Call to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in the best manner. Surely thy Lord knows best him who strays from His path, and He knows best those who go aright.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And if you take your turn, then retaliate with the like of that with which you were afflicted; but if you are patient, it will certainly be best for those who are patient.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

If ye punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith ye were afflicted. But if ye endure patiently, verily it is better for the patient.

Muhammad Sarwar

If you want retaliation, let it be equal to that which you faced. But if you exercise patience it will be better for you.

Qaribullah & Darwish

If you punish, let your punishment be proportionate to the punishment you received. But if you are patient, it is better for the patient.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And if you punish them, then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you have patience with them, then it is better for those who are patient.

Wahiduddin Khan

If you want to retaliate, retaliate to the same degree as the injury done to you. But if you are patient, it is better to be so.

Talal Itani

If you were to retaliate, retaliate to the same degree as the injury done to you. But if you resort to patience—it is better for the patient.

Tafsir jalalayn

After Hamza [b. `Abd al-Muttalib] had been killed and mutilated, and the Prophet (s) had seen him and said, `Verily I will mutilate 70 of them for you', the following was revealed; And if you retaliate, retaliate with the like of what you have been made to suffer; and yet if you endure patiently, [refraining] from revenge, verily that, namely, [that] enduring, is better for the patient. Thus the Prophet (s) refrained [from taking revenge] and made atonement for his oath, as reported by al-Bazzr.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Command for Equality in Punishment

Allah says;

وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُم بِهِ وَلَيِن صَبَرْتُمْ لَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لِّلصَّابِرينَ



And if you punish them, then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you have patience with them, then it is better for those who are patient.

Allah commands justice in punishment and equity in settling the cases of rights.

Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ibn Sirin said concerning the Ayah,
عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُم بِهِ
(then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted),

"If a man among you takes something from you, then you should take something similar from him."

This was also the opinion of Mujahid, Ibrahim, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, and others.

Ibn Jarir also favored this opinion.

Ibn Zayd said;

"They had been commanded to forgive the idolators, then some men became Muslim who were strong and powerful. They said, `O Messenger of Allah, if only Allah would give us permission, we would sort out these dogs!'

Then this Ayah was revealed, then it was latter abrogated by the command to engage in Jihad.