Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nahl Verse 40

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Whenever We intend to do something, We do no more than say to it, “Be,” and it comes to be.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

If We ever will something ˹to exist˺, all We say is: “Be!” And it is!

Ruwwad Translation Center

When We intend something, We only say to it, “Be!”, and it is.

A. J. Arberry

The only words We say to a thing, when We desire it, is that We say to it 'Be,' and it is.

Abdul Haleem

When We will something to happen, all that We say is, ‘Be,’ and it is.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Our only saying unto a thing, when We intend it, is that We say unto it: be, and it becometh.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

For to anything which We have willed, We but say the word, "Be", and it is.

Abul Ala Maududi

(As for the possibility of resurrection, bear in mind that) whenever We do will something, We have to do no more than say: "Be", and it is.

Ahmed Ali

Yet when We will a thing We have only to say: "Be", and it is.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And Our command for anything to occur, when We will it, is that We only say to it, “Be” – and it thereupon happens.

Ali Quli Qarai

All that We say to a thing, when We will it, is to say to it ‘Be!’ and it is.

Ali Ünal

(Raising the dead to life, like giving them life in the first place, is easy for Us:) Our word for a thing when We will it is simply Our saying to it, "Be!" and it is.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Our word to a thing when We intend it (to come into being) is only that We say to it, `Be´ and it comes to be.

English Literal

Truly/indeed Our saying/word to a thing if We willed/wanted/intended it (is) that We say to it: "Be." So it becomes.

Faridul Haque

And Our command for anything to occur, when We will it, is that We only say to it, "Be" - and it thereupon happens.

Hamid S. Aziz

We only say unto a thing We intend, the Word, "BE," and it is.

Hilali & Khan

Verily! Our Word unto a thing when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: "Be!" and it is.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

So that He might make manifest to them that about which they differ, and that those who disbelieve might know that they were liars.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Our word for a thing when We intend it, is only that We say to it, Be, and it is.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And Our word unto a thing, when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: Be! and it is.

Muhammad Sarwar

When We want to bring something into existence, Our command is, "Exist," and it comes into existence.

Qaribullah & Darwish

When We decree a thing, We only say: 'Be' and it is.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Verily, Our Word to a thing when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: "Be!" - and it is.

Wahiduddin Khan

When We will something to happen, all that We say is, "Be!" and it is.

Talal Itani

When We intend for something to happen, We say to it, “Be,” and it becomes.

Tafsir jalalayn

All that We say to a thing, when We will it, that is, when We will that it come into existence (qawlun is a subject, the predicate of which is [what follows]) is to say to it `Be,' and it is, in other words, and that [thing] is (a variant reading [for fa-yaknu] has fa-yakna as a supplement to naqla). The verse is intended as an affirmation of the power [of God] to resurrect.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Verily, Our Word to a thing when We intend it, is only that We say to it;"Be!" - and it is.

meaning, We issue the command once, and then it happens.

Allah does not need to repeat or confirm whatever He commands, because there is nothing that can stop Him or oppose Him. He is the One, the Compelling, the Almighty, whose power, might and dominion have subjected all things. None has the right to be worshipped except Him, and there is no Lord other than Him