Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Kahf Verse 81

Mufti Taqi Usmani

We, therefore, wished that their Lord would replace him with someone better than him in piety, and more akin to affection.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

So we hoped that their Lord would give them another, more virtuous and caring in his place.

Ruwwad Translation Center

So we hoped that their Lord would give them another in his place, more righteous and tender-hearted.

A. J. Arberry

so we desired that their Lord should give to them in exchange one better than he in purity, and nearer in tenderness.

Abdul Haleem

we wished that their Lord should give them another child- purer and more compassionate- in his place.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

So we intended that their Lord should change for the twain one better than he in piety and closer in affection.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection.

Abul Ala Maududi

and we desired that their Lord should grant them another in his place, a son more upright and more tender hearted.

Ahmed Ali

We hoped their Lord would give them a substitute better than him in virtue and goodness.

Ahmed Raza Khan

“So we wished that their Lord may bestow them a child – better, purer and nearer to mercy.”

Ali Quli Qarai

So We desired that their Lord should give them in exchange one better than him in respect of purity and closer in mercy.

Ali Ünal

"So we wished that their Lord would grant them in his place one better than him in purity and nearer in affection (to his parents).

Amatul Rahman Omar

`So we desired that their Lord should give them in his place (a child) superior to him in virtue and purity and more regardful to attend to the right of relationships.

English Literal

So We wanted/intended that their (B)`s Lord exchanges/substitutes (for) them (B) better than him and purification/correction and nearer/closer (in) mercy/relation.

Faridul Haque

"So we wished that their Lord may bestow them a child - better, purer and nearer to mercy."

Hamid S. Aziz

And as for the youth, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them with rebellion and disbelief.

Hilali & Khan

"So we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in righteousness and near to mercy.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And as for the boy, his parents were believers and We feared lest he should involve them in wrongdoing and disbelief.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

So we desired that their Lord might give them in his place one better than him in purity and nearer to having compassion.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in purity and nearer to mercy.

Muhammad Sarwar

so We decided that their Lord should replace him by a better and more virtuous son.

Qaribullah & Darwish

It was our wish that their Lord should grant them another in exchange, another better in purity and tenderness.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

"So we intended that their Lord should exchange him for them for one better in righteousness and nearer to mercy."

Wahiduddin Khan

We wanted their Lord to replace him with someone purer than him and more compassionate.

Talal Itani

So we wanted their Lord to replace him with someone better in purity, and closer to mercy.

Tafsir jalalayn

So We desired that their Lord should give them in exchange (read yubaddilahum or yubdilahum) one better than him in purity, that is, in righteousness and God-fearing, and closer, than him, to mercy (read ruhman or ruhuman, in other words [it is to be understood as] rahmatan, `by way of mercy') namely, [closer to] dutifulness towards his parents. Thus God, exalted be He, gave them in exchange a girl, who [afterwards] married a prophet and gave birth to a prophet through whom God guided an entire community.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

So we intended that their Lord should exchange him for them for one better in righteousness and nearer to mercy.

A child who was better than this one, a child for whom they would feel more compassion.

This was the view of Ibn Jurayj