Al-Qur'an Surah Maryam Verse 73

Mufti Taqi Usmani

When Our verses are recited to them in all their clarity, the disbelievers say to the believers, “Which of the two groups is superior in its place and better in its assembly?”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

When Our clear revelations are recited to them, the disbelievers ask the believers ˹mockingly˺, “Which of the two of us is better in status and superior in assembly?”

Ruwwad Translation Center

When Our verses are recited to them in all their clarity, the disbelievers say to the believers, “Which of the two parties is better in terms of dwellings and superior in social gatherings?”

A. J. Arberry

When Our signs are recited to them as clear signs, the unbelievers say to the believers, 'Which of the two parties is better in station, fairer in assembly?'

Abdul Haleem

When Our revelations are recited to them in all their clarity, [all that] the disbelievers say to the believers [is], ‘Which side is better situated? Which side has the better following?’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And when Our manifest revelations are rehearsed unto them, those who disbelieve say unto those who believe: which of the two portions is better in station and goodlier in company? *Chapter: 19

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them, the Unbelievers say to those who believe, "Which of the two sides is best in point of position? Which makes the best show in council?"

Abul Ala Maududi

When Our clear revelations are recited to those who deny the Truth they are wont to say to those who have faith: "Which of the two groups has a better status and whose assemblies are grander?"

Ahmed Ali

When Our lucid revelations are read out to them, the infidels say to those who believe: "Which of the two groups is better in standing, and whose company is more excellent?"

Ahmed Raza Khan

And when Our clear verses are recited to them, the disbelievers say to the Muslims, “Which group has a better home, and a better alliance?”

Ali Quli Qarai

When Our manifest signs are recited to them, the faithless say to the faithful, ‘Which of the two groups is superior in station and better with respect to company?’

Ali Ünal

When Our Revelations, clear as evidence and in meaning are recited (and conveyed) to them, those who persistently disbelieve say to those who believe: "Which of the two parties (– you or us –) is superior in status with more impressive dwellings and more imposing as a company?"

Amatul Rahman Omar

When Our clear Messages are recited to them the disbelievers say to those who believe, `Which of the two parties of us is better in respect of position and (makes) more impressive society?´

English Literal

And when Our evidences/verses evidences are read/recited on (to) them, those who disbelieved said to those who believed: "Which (of) the two groups/parties/flocks is (in) better residence and best gathering/assembly/club?"

Faridul Haque

And when Our clear verses are recited to them, the disbelievers say to the Muslims, "Which group has a better home, and a better alliance?"

Hamid S. Aziz

Then We will save those who fear Us; but We will leave the evildoers therein on their knees.

Hilali & Khan

And when Our Clear Verses are recited to them, those who disbelieve (the rich and strong among the pagans of Quraish who live a life of luxury) say to those who believe (the weak, poor companions of Prophet Muhammad SAW who have a hard life): "Which of the two groups (i.e. believers and disbelievers) is best in (point of) position and as regards station (place of council for consultation)."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And We shall deliver those who guard against evil, and leave the wrongdoers therein on their knees.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when Our clear communications are recited to them, those who disbelieve say to those who believe: Which of the two parties is best in abiding and best in assembly?

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when Our clear revelations are recited unto them, those who disbelieve say unto those who believe: Which of the two parties (yours or ours) is better in position, and more imposing as an army?

Muhammad Sarwar

When Our revelations are recited to them, the unbelievers say to the faithful ones, "Which of us is more prosperous?"

Qaribullah & Darwish

When Our clear verses are recited to them the unbelievers say to the believers: 'Which of the two parties has a better position or company'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And when Our clear Ayat are recited to them, those who disbelieve say to those who believe: "Which of the two groups has the best dwellings and the finest Nadiyyan"

Wahiduddin Khan

When Our clear revelations are recited to them, those who deny the truth say to the faithful, "Which of the two sides is better in respect of position and makes a more impressive assembly?"

Talal Itani

When Our clear revelations are recited to them, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Which of the two parties is better in position, and superior in influence?”

Tafsir jalalayn

And when Our manifest, evident (bayyintin, `manifest', is a circumstantial qualifier) signs, in the Qur'n, are recited to them, namely, [to] the believers and the disbelievers, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, `Which of the two parties -- us or you -- is better in station, in lodging and abode (read as maqman, it is [derived] from [the first form] qma, `he stood'; read as muqman, it is [derived] from the [fourth form] aqma, `he took up residence') and more excellent in assembly?' (nadiyyan, meaning the place in which a folk assemble and converse). They [the disbelievers] mean `we [are the better of the two parties]', and so we will fare better than you. God, exalted be He, says;

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Disbelievers boast over Their good Fortune in the World

Allah says,

وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ ايَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ امَنُوا أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ

And when Our clear Ayat are recited to them, those who disbelieve say to those who believe;"Which of the two groups has the,

Allah, the Exalted, informs that when the clear, evident Ayat of Allah are recited to the disbelievers, they reject them and turn away. They say about those who believe, while boasting to them and arguing that their false religion is correct,

خَيْرٌ مَّقَامًا وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا



best dwellings and the finest Nadiyyan.

This means the best houses, with the loftiest levels and the finest Nadiyyan, which are meeting rooms for men to gather and discuss matters.

Thus, this means that their meeting rooms are full of more people who come to attend. In this they were saying, "How can we be upon falsehood while we are in this manner of successful living!"

These people were actually those who were concealed in the house of Al-Arqam bin Abi Al-Arqam and its likes from the other houses.

This is as Allah says about them,

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوْ كَانَ خَيْراً مَّا سَبَقُونَأ إِلَيْهِ

And those who disbelieve say of those who believe;"Had it been a good thing, they (the weak and the poor) would not have preceded us thereto!" (46;11)

Nuh's people said,

أَنُوْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الاٌّرْذَلُونَ

"Shall we believe in you, when the weakest (of the people) follow you!" (26;111)

And Allah says,

وَكَذلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لِّيَقُولواْ أَهَـوُلاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن بَيْنِنَأ أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِالشَّـكِرِينَ

Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say;"Is it these (poor believers) whom Allah has favored among us!" Does not Allah know best those who are grateful! (6;53)