Al-Qur'an Surah An-Naml Verse 59

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Say, “Praise belongs to Allah, and peace be on those of His servants whom He has chosen.” Is Allah better or that which they associate (with Him as His partners)?

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Praise be to Allah, and peace be upon the servants He has chosen.” ˹Ask the disbelievers,˺ “Which is better: Allah or whatever ˹gods˺ they associate ˹with Him˺?”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Say, “All praise is for Allah, and peace be upon His slaves whom He has chosen. Is Allah better, or those partners whom they associate with Him?”

A. J. Arberry

Say: 'Praise belongs to God, and peace be on His servants whom He has chosen.' What, is God better, or that they associate?

Abdul Haleem

Say [Prophet], ‘Praise be to God and peace on the servants He has chosen. Who is better: God, or those they set up as partners with Him?

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Say thou: All praise unto Allah, and peace upon His bondmen whom He hath Chosen! Is Allah best, or that which they associate?

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Say; Praise be to Allah, and Peace on his servants whom He has chosen (for his Message). (Who) is better?- Allah or the false gods they associate (with Him)?

Abul Ala Maududi

Say, (O Muhammad): "All praise be to Allah, and peace be on those of His servants whom He has chosen." (Ask them): "Who is better: Allah or the false gods that they associate with Him as His partners?

Ahmed Ali

Say: "All praise be to God, and peace on those of His creatures whom He has chosen." Is God better or those they associate with Him --

Ahmed Raza Khan

Say (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), “All praise is to Allah, and peace upon His chosen bondmen; is Allah better or what you ascribe as His partners?”

Ali Quli Qarai

Say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, and Peace be to the servants whom He has chosen.’ Is Allah better, or the partners they ascribe [to Him]?

Ali Ünal

Say: "All praise and gratitude are for God and peace be upon those of His servants whom He has chosen (and made pure)." Is God better or all that they associate as partners (with Him)?

Amatul Rahman Omar

Say, `All kind of true and perfect praise belongs to Allâh. And peace be upon those of His servants whom He has chosen.´ Who is to be preferred, Allâh or the things they associate (with Him)?

English Literal

Say: "The praise/gratitude/thanks (is) to God, and peace/security on (to) His worshippers/slaves those whom He chose/purified; is God better/best or what they share/make partners (with Him)?"

Faridul Haque

Say (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), “All praise is to Allah, and peace upon His chosen bondmen; is Allah better or what you ascribe as His partners?”

Hamid S. Aziz

And We rained down upon them a shower, and dreadful is the rain for those who have been warned.

Hilali & Khan

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Praise and thanks be to Allah, and peace be on His slaves whom He has chosen (for His Message)! Is Allah better, or (all) that you ascribe as partners (to Him)?" (Of course, Allah is Better).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

But We delivered him and his followers except his wife; We ordained her to be of those who remained behind.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Say: Praise be to Allah and peace on His servants whom He has chosen: is Allah better, or what they associate (with Him)?

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Say (O Muhammad): Praise be to Allah, and peace be on His slaves whom He hath chosen! Is Allah best, or (all) that ye ascribe as partners (unto Him)?

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), say, "It is only God who deserves all praise. Peace be upon His chosen servants. Which is better God or the idols?

Qaribullah & Darwish

Say: 'Praise belongs to Allah and peace be upon His worshipers whom He has chosen' Who is more worthier, Allah or that which they associate!

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Say: "Praise and thanks be to Allah, and peace be on His servants whom He has chosen! Is Allah better, or what they ascribe as partners"

Wahiduddin Khan

Say, "All praise be to God, and peace be upon those servants of His whom He has chosen. Is God better, or what they associate with Him?

Talal Itani

Say, “Praise God, and peace be upon His servants whom He has selected. Is God better, or what they associate?”

Tafsir jalalayn

Say, O Muhammad (s); `Praise be to God, for the destruction of the disbelievers of past communities, and peace be on His servants whom He has chosen'. Is God (read a-Allhu, pronouncing both hamzas; or by substituting an alif for the second one; or by not pronouncing the second one but inserting an alif between the one not pronounced and the other one or without [such an insertion]) better, for those who worship Him, or the partners which they ascribe? (read [either] tushrikna, `you ascribe', or yushrikna, `they ascribe'), [they being] the people of Mecca, [the partners they ascribe] to Him, in other words, are such gods better for those who worship them?

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Command to praise Allah and send Blessings on His Messengers

Allah commands His Messenger to;

قُلِ

Say;

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ

Praise and thanks be to Allah,

meaning, for His innumerable blessings upon His servants and for His exalted Attributes and most beautiful Names.

وَسَلَمٌ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَى

and peace be on His servants whom He has chosen!

And He commands him to send peace upon the servants of Allah whom He chose and selected, i.e., His noble Messengers and Prophets, may the best of peace and blessings from Allah be upon them.

This was the view of Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam and others;the meaning of the servants He has chose is the Prophets. He said,

"This like He said in the Ayah;

سُبْحَـنَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

وَسَلَـمٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ


وَالْحَمْدُ للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ


Glorified be your Lord, the Lord of honor and power! (He is free) from what they attribute unto Him! And peace be on the Messengers! And all the praises and thanks be to Allah, Lord of all that exists." (37;180-182)

Ath-Thawri and As-Suddi said,

"This refers to the Companions of Muhammad, may Allah be pleased with them all."

Something similar was also narrated from Ibn Abbas, and there is no contradiction between the two views, because they were also among the servants of Allah whom He had chosen, although the description is more befitting of the Prophets.

اللَّهُ خَيْرٌ أَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ



Is Allah better, or what they ascribe as partners (to Him)!

This is a question aimed at denouncing the idolators for their worship of other gods besides Allah.

Some more Proofs of Tawhid

Then Allah begins to explain that He is the Only One Who creates, provides and controls, as He says