Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Anbya Verse 109

Mufti Taqi Usmani

But, if they turn away, then say (to them), “I have warned you all alike, and I do not know whether what you have been warned of is near or far.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

If they turn away, then say, “I have warned you all equally. I do not know if what you are threatened with is near or far.

Ruwwad Translation Center

But if they turn away, say, “I have proclaimed the message to you all alike, and I do not know whether what you are warned of is near or far.

A. J. Arberry

Then, if they should turn their backs, say: 'I have proclaimed to you all equally, even though I know not whether near or far is that you are promised.'

Abdul Haleem

But if they turn away, say, ‘I have proclaimed the message fairly to you all. I do not know whether the judgement you are promised is near or far,

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Then if they turn away, say thou: I have proclaimed unto you all alike, and I know not whether nigh or far is that which ye are promised,

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But if they turn back, Say; "I have proclaimed the Message to you all alike and in truth; but I know not whether that which ye are promised is near or far.

Abul Ala Maududi

If they turn away, say to them: "I have warned you all alike; and I cannot say whether what you have been promised is near or distant.

Ahmed Ali

If they turn away, tell them: "I have warned you all alike. I do not know if what has been promised you is near or far away.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Then if they turn away, proclaim, “I have proclaimed a war against you on equal terms; and what do I know whether the promise which is given to you, is close or far?”

Ali Quli Qarai

But if they turn away, say, ‘I have proclaimed to you all alike, and I do not know whether what you have been promised is far or near.

Ali Ünal

If they still turn away, say: "I have conveyed to you all that I must convey, and warned you all alike. But I do not know if that with which you are threatened (whether it be the destruction or the Last Judgment,) is near or far.

Amatul Rahman Omar

But if they still turn back say, `I have given you clear warning in all fairness. I do not know, however, whether that threat held out to you will be (fulfilled in the) near or distant (future).

English Literal

So if they turned away , so say: "I informed you on equality/straightness , and I do not know is what you are being promised, near/close, or distant/far?"

Faridul Haque

Then if they turn away, proclaim, "I have proclaimed a war against you on equal terms; and what do I know whether the promise which is given to you, is close or far?"

Hamid S. Aziz

Say, "I am only inspired that your God is one God; will ye, then, surrender unto Him (become Muslims)?"

Hilali & Khan

But if they (disbelievers, idolaters, Jews, Christians, polytheists, etc.) turn away (from Islamic Monotheism) say (to them O Muhammad SAW): "I give you a notice (of war as) to be known to us all alike. And I know not whether that which you are promised (i.e. the torment or the Day of Resurrection) is near or far."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Say: It is only revealed to me that your God is one God: will you then submit?

Mohammad Habib Shakir

But if they turn back, say: I have given you warning in fairness and I do not know whether what you are threatened with is near or far;

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

But if they are averse, then say: I have warned you all alike, although I know not whether nigh or far is that which ye are promised.

Muhammad Sarwar

If they turn away, tell them, "I have warned every one of you equally. I do not know when the torment which you have to suffer will take place.

Qaribullah & Darwish

If they turn back, say: 'I have warned you all alike, though I cannot tell whether what you are promised is imminent or distant.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

But if they turn away say: "I give you a notice to be known to us all alike. And I know not whether that which you are promised is near or far."

Wahiduddin Khan

If they turn away, say, "I have warned you all alike, though I do not know whether [the scourge] which you are promised is near at hand or far off.

Talal Itani

But if they turn away, say, “I have informed you sufficiently. Although I do not know whether what you are promised is near or far.”

Tafsir jalalayn

But if they turn away, from this, say; `I have proclaimed to you, I have notified you of [my declaration of] war [on you], all alike (`al saw' is a circumstantial qualifier referring to both the subject of the verb and the object) that is to say, you are [all] equal in having knowledge of this; I shall not proceed independently without [having first informed] you, in order for you to make preparations, although I do not know whether near or far is that which you have been promised', with respect to chastisement, or to the [Day of] Resurrection that comprises this [chastisement]; only God knows it.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا

But if they turn away,

means, if they ignore that to which you call them.

فَقُلْ اذَنتُكُمْ عَلَى سَوَاء

say;"I give you a notice to be known to us all alike..."

meaning, `I declare that I am in a state of war with you as you are in a state of war with me. I have nothing to do with you just as you have nothing to do with me.'

This is like the Ayah;

وَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل لِّى عَمَلِى وَلَكُمْ عَمَلُكُمْ أَنتُمْ بَرِييُونَ مِمَّأ أَعْمَلُ وَأَنَاْ بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

And if they belie you, say;"For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds! You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do!" (10;41)

وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ مِن قَوْمٍ خِيَانَةً فَانبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَى سَوَاءٍ

If you fear treachery from any people, throw back (their covenant) to them (so as to be) on equal terms (that there will be no more covenant between you and them). (8;58)

which means;so that both you and they will know that the treaty is null and void.

Similarly, Allah says here;

فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ اذَنتُكُمْ عَلَى سَوَاء

But if they turn away say;"I give you a notice to be known to us all alike..."

meaning, `I have already informed you that I have nothing to do with you and you have nothing to do with me.'
No one knows when the Hour will come

And He (Muhammad) says;

وَإِنْ أَدْرِي أَقَرِيبٌ أَم بَعِيدٌ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ



And I know not whether that which you are promised (i.e., the Day of Resurrection) is near or far.

meaning;`it will inevitably come to pass, but I have no knowledge of whether it is near or far.'

إِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ الْجَهْرَ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْتُمُونَ