Al-Qur'an Surah Al-'Ankabut Verse 12

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Follow our way, and we will bear the burden of your sins.” And they are not (able) to bear the burden of their sins in the least. Indeed they are pure liars.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

The disbelievers say to the believers, “˹Just˺ follow our way, and we will bear ˹the burden of˺ your sins.” But they would never ˹want to˺ bear any of the believers’ sins. They are simply lying.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Follow our way, and we will bear the burden of your sins.” But they will never bear any of their sins. They are indeed liars.

A. J. Arberry

The unbelievers say to the believers, 'Follow our path, and let us carry your offences'; yet they cannot carry anything, even of their own offences; they are truly liars.

Abdul Haleem

Those who disbelieve say to the believers, ‘Follow our path and we shall bear [the consequences for] your sins,’ yet they will not do so––they are liars.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And those who disbelieve say unto those who believe: follow our way, and we shall surely bear your sins; whereas they shall not bear aught of their sins; verily they are the liars.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And the Unbelievers say to those who believe; "Follow our path, and we will bear (the consequences) of your faults." Never in the least will they bear their faults; in fact they are liars!

Abul Ala Maududi

The unbelievers say to the believers: “Follow our way and we will carry the burden of your sins.” (They say so even though) they are not going to carry any part of their sins. Surely they are lying.

Ahmed Ali

Those who deny say to those who affirm: "Follow our way; we shall carry the burden of your sins." But they cannot carry the burden of their sins in the least. They are liars indeed.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And the disbelievers said to the Muslims, “Follow our path and we will bear your sins”; whereas they will not bear anything from their sins; they are indeed liars.

Ali Quli Qarai

The faithless say to the faithful, ‘Follow our way and we will bear [responsibility for] your iniquities.’ They will not bear anything of their iniquities. They are indeed liars.

Ali Ünal

Those who disbelieve say to those who believe: "If you follow our way (of religion and life), we will take your sins upon us, yet they cannot take upon them anything of their sins. They are liars indeed.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And those who disbelieve say to those who believe, `Follow our way and we will bear (the consequences of) your sins (at the time of judgment), whereas they can bear nothing whatsoever of their sins. They are as a matter of fact liars.

English Literal

And those who disbelieved said to those who believed: "Follow our way/method , and we bear/carry (E) your sins/mistakes ." And they are not with carrying from their sins/mistakes from a thing, that they truly are lying/denying/falsifying (E).

Faridul Haque

And the disbelievers said to the Muslims, “Follow our path and we will bear your sins”; whereas they will not bear anything from their sins; they are indeed liars.

Hamid S. Aziz

Allah surely knows those who believe, and surely knows the hypocrites.

Hilali & Khan

And those who disbelieve say to those who believe: "Follow our way and we will verily bear your sins," never will they bear anything of their sins. Surely, they are liars.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And among men is he who says: We believe in Allah; but when he is persecuted for the sake of Allah, he thinks the persecution of men to be as the chastisement of Allah. And if there comes help from thy Lord, they will say: Surely we were with you. Is not Allah the Best Knower of what is in the hearts of mankind?

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And those who disbelieve say to those who believe: Follow our path and we will bear your wrongs. And never shall they be the bearers of any of their wrongs; most surely they are liars.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Those who disbelieve say unto those who believe: Follow our way (of religion) and we verily will bear your sins (for you). They cannot bear aught of their sins. Lo! they verily are liars.

Muhammad Sarwar

The unbelievers say to the believers. "Follow our way. We shall take the responsibility for your sins." They cannot take responsibility for any of the sins. They are only liars.

Qaribullah & Darwish

The unbelievers say to those who believe: 'Follow our path, and we will carry your sins' Yet they cannot carry even a thing of their sins. They are surely lying.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And those who disbelieve say to those who believe: "Follow our way and let us bear your sins." Never will they bear anything of their sins. Surely, they are liars.

Wahiduddin Khan

Those who deny the truth say to the faithful, "Follow our way, and we will bear the burden of your sins." But they will bear none of their sins. They are surely lying.

Talal Itani

Those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Follow our way, and we will carry your sins.” In no way can they carry any of their sins. They are liars.

Tafsir jalalayn

And those who disbelieve say to those who believe, `Follow our path, our religion, and we will bear [responsibility for] your sins', when you follow us, should there be any [such sins] (the imperative here functions as a predicate). God, exalted be He, says; But they will not [be able to] bear anything of their sins. Truly they are liars, in [saying] this.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Arrogant Claim of the Disbelievers that They would carry the Sins of Others if They would return to Disbelief

Allah tells;

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ امَنُوا اتَّبِعُوا سَبِيلَنَا

And those who disbelieve say to those who believe;"Follow our way,

Allah tells us that the disbelievers of Quraysh said to those who believed and followed the truth;leave your religion, come back to our religion, and follow our way;

وَلْنَحْمِلْ خَطَايَاكُمْ

and let us bear your sins."

meaning, `if there is any sin on you, we will bear it and it will be our responsibility'.

It is like a person saying;"Do this, and your sin will be on my shoulders."

Allah says, proving this to be a lie;

وَمَا هُم بِحَامِلِينَ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُم مِّن شَيْءٍ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ



Never will they bear anything of their sins. Surely, they are liars.

in their claim that they will bear the sins of others, for no person will bear the sins of another.

Allah says;

وَإِن تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ إِلَى حِمْلِهَا لَا يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَىْءٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى

and if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin. (35;18)

وَلَا يَسْـَلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيماً يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ

And no friend will ask a friend (about his condition), though they shall be made to see one another. (70;10-11)