Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nahl Verse 59

Mufti Taqi Usmani

He hides himself from people because of the (self-presumed) bad news given to him (and wonders): Shall he keep it despite the disgrace (he will face in the society), or put it away into the dust? In fact, evil is what they decide.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

He hides himself from the people because of the bad news he has received. Should he keep her in disgrace, or bury her ˹alive˺ in the ground? Evil indeed is their judgment![[ Some pagan Arabs used to bury their infant daughters alive for fear of shame or poverty. This practice was condemned and abolished by Islam. See {6:151} and {81:8}-9.]]

Ruwwad Translation Center

He hides away from people because of the bad news he was given. Should he keep her in disgrace, or bury her in the dust? How terrible is their judgment!

A. J. Arberry

as he hides him from the people because of the evil of the good tidings that have been given unto him, whether he shall preserve it in humiliation, or trample it; into the dust. Ah, evil is that they judge!

Abdul Haleem

In his shame he hides himself away from his people because of the bad news he has been given. Should he keep her and suffer contempt or bury her in the dust? How ill they judge!

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Skulking from the people because of the evil of that which hath been announced unto him: shall he keepit with ignominy or bury it in the dust! Lo'. vile is that which they judge!

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

With shame does he hide himself from his people, because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance and) contempt, or bury it in the dust? Ah! what an evil (choice) they decide on?

Abul Ala Maududi

and he hides himself from people because of the bad news, thinking: should he keep the child despite disgrace, or should he bury it in dust? How evil is their estimate of Allah!

Ahmed Ali

And hides from people for shame at the news, (at a loss) whether he should keep her with shame, or bury her in the ground. How bad is the judgement that they make!

Ahmed Raza Khan

Hiding from the people because of the evil of the tidings; “Will he keep her with disgrace, or bury her beneath the earth?”; pay heed! Very evil is the judgement they impose!

Ali Quli Qarai

He hides from the people out of distress at the news he has been brought: shall he retain it in humiliation, or bury it in the ground! Behold! Evil is the judgement that they make.

Ali Ünal

He hides himself from the people because of the evil (as he wrongly supposes it) of what he has had news of. (So he debates within himself:) Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in earth? Look now! how evil is the judgment they make (concerning God, and how evil is the decision they debate)!

Amatul Rahman Omar

He hides himself (in shame) from the people because of the (so called) bad news he has received, (considering) whether he should keep her (alive) inspite of disgrace, or commit her somewhere in the dust. Look! evil (in every way) is the judgment they make.

English Literal

He hides/conceals from the nation from (the) bad/evil/harm (of) what he was announced good news to with it, does he hold/grasp/cling to it on disgrace/weakness , or he buries/hides/conceals it in the dust/earth? Is (it) not bad/evil what they judge/rule?

Faridul Haque

Hiding from the people because of the evil of the tidings; "Will he keep her with disgrace, or bury her beneath the earth?"; pay heed! Very evil is the judgement they impose!

Hamid S. Aziz

He skulks away from the people, for the evil tidings he has heard; - is he to keep it with its disgrace, or to bury it in the dust? - Ah! How evil is their judgment (or choice)!

Hilali & Khan

He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonour or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when the birth of a daughter is announced to one of them, his face becomes black and he is full of wrath.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that which is announced to him. Shall he keep it with disgrace or bury it (alive) in the dust? Now surely evil is what they judge.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

He hideth himself from the folk because of the evil of that whereof he hath had tidings, (asking himself): Shall he keep it in contempt, or bury it beneath the dust. Verily evil is their judgment.

Muhammad Sarwar

They try to hide themselves from the people because of the disgrace of such news. Will they keep their new born despite the disgrace or bury it alive? How sinful is their Judgment!

Qaribullah & Darwish

Because of the evil of the good news he hides himself from people, (pondering) whether he will keep her and be humiliated, or trample her into the dust. Evil is their judgement!

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

He hides himself from the people because of the evil of what he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth Certainly, evil is their decision.

Wahiduddin Khan

In his shame he hides himself away from his people, because of the bad news he has been given. Should he keep her and feel disgraced or bury her in the dust? How ill they judge!

Talal Itani

He hides from the people because of the bad news given to him. Shall he keep it in humiliation, or bury it in the dust? Evil is the decision they make.

Tafsir jalalayn

He hides, disappearing, from people, that is, [from] his people, out of distress at the tidings given to him, fearing mockery, unsure what to do with it [the newborn]; shall he retain it -- refrain from killing it -- in humiliation, [enduring] shame and disgrace, or trample into the dust, by burying it alive. Verily wretched is what they judge, [evil is] this judgement of theirs, in which they ascribe to their Creator [that His are the] daughters, who have such a [lowly] status in their eyes.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

يَتَوَارَى مِنَ الْقَوْمِ

He hides himself from the people,

meaning he does not want anyone to see him.

مِن سُوءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِ أَيُمْسِكُهُ عَلَى هُونٍ أَمْ يَدُسُّهُ فِي التُّرَابِ

because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth!

meaning, should he keep her, humiliating her, not letting her inherit from him and not taking care of her, preferring his male children over her!

أَمْ يَدُسُّهُ فِي التُّرَابِ
(or bury her in the earth),

meaning bury her alive, as they used to do during the days of ignorance.

How could they dislike something so intensely, yet attribute it to Allah

أَلَا سَاء مَا يَحْكُمُونَ



Certainly, evil is their decision.

meaning how evil are the words they say, the way they want to share things out and the things they attribute to Him.

As Allah says;

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِمَا ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحْمَـنِ مَثَلً ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدّاً وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

And if one of them is informed of the news of (the birth of a girl) that which he sets forth as a parable to the Most Gracious (Allah), his face becomes dark, and he is filled with grief! (43;17)

Here, Allah says