Al-Qur'an Surah Al-'Ankabut Verse 18

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And if you reject me, then many nations have rejected their messengers before you. The messenger has no more obligation than to convey the message clearly.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

If you ˹Meccans˺ persist in denial, so did ˹many˺ communities before you. The Messenger’s duty is only to deliver ˹the message˺ clearly.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

If you reject [the message], so did many nations reject before you. The duty of the Messenger is only to deliver the message clearly.”

A. J. Arberry

'But if you cry me lies, nations cried lies before you; and it is only for the Messenger to deliver the Manifest Message.'

Abdul Haleem

If you say this is a lie, [be warned that] other communities before you said the same. The messenger’s only duty is to give clear warning.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And if ye belie me, then communities before you have belied: and upon the apostle is naught but a preaching manifest.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"And if ye reject (the Message), so did generations before you; and the duty of the messenger is only to preach publicly (and clearly)."

Abul Ala Maududi

And if you give the lie (to the Messenger), then many nations before you also gave the lie (to their Messengers). The Messenger is charged with no other duty than to deliver the Message in clear terms.”

Ahmed Ali

But if you deny, then many a people have denied before you. The duty of the apostle is to convey the message clearly."

Ahmed Raza Khan

“And if you deny, then many nations have denied before you; and the Noble Messenger is not responsible except to plainly convey (the message).”

Ali Quli Qarai

If you impugn [the Apostle’s teaching], then [other] nations have impugned [likewise] before you, and the Apostle’s duty is only to communicate in clear terms.

Ali Ünal

If you deny Our Messenger, know that many communities before you denied (the Messengers sent to them, but their denial was of no avail to them). What rests with the Messenger is no more than to convey the Message fully and clearly.

Amatul Rahman Omar

`And if you deny (me) then (you should not forget that) people before you have also cried lies (to their respective Messengers), and the Messenger is responsible only for conveying (the Divine Message to the people) in clear terms.

English Literal

And if you lie/deny/falsify, so nations from before you had lied/denied/falsified, and nothing (is) on the messenger except the information/communication, the clear/evident .

Faridul Haque

“And if you deny, then many nations have denied before you; and the Noble Messenger is not responsible except to plainly convey (the message).”

Hamid S. Aziz

"You serve instead of Allah only idols and you only invent a lie; verily, those whom you serve beside Allah own (control) no provision for you. So seek your provision from Allah, and serve Him, and give thanks to Him; unto Him shall you return.

Hilali & Khan

"And if you deny, then nations before you have denied (their Messengers). And the duty of the Messenger is only to convey (the Message) plainly."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And (We sent) Abraham, when he said to his people: Serve Allah and keep your duty to Him. That is better for you, if you did but know.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And if you reject (the truth), nations before you did indeed reject (the truth); and nothing is incumbent on the apostle but a plain delivering (of the message).

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

But if ye deny, then nations have denied before you. The messenger is only to convey (the message) plainly.

Muhammad Sarwar

If you, (pagans), call our (revelations) lies, certainly many generations living before you have also done the same thing. The duty of a Messenger is only to preach clearly.

Qaribullah & Darwish

If you belie me, other nations before you also belied. It is only for a Messenger to deliver the clear deliverance.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And if you deny, then nations before you have denied. And the duty of the Messenger is only to convey plainly."

Wahiduddin Khan

If you reject the truth, other communities before you also rejected the truth. The messenger's responsibility is only to convey the message clearly."

Talal Itani

If you disbelieve, communities before you have also disbelieved. The Messenger is only responsible for clear transmission.

Tafsir jalalayn

But if you deny, that is, if you deny me, O people of Mecca, then [many] communities have denied before you, that is, before my time; and the messenger's duty is only to communicate [the Message] clearly'. Both stories are meant to comfort the Prophet (s). And regarding his people, God, exalted be He, says;

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَإِن تُكَذِّبُوا فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ أُمَمٌ مِّن قَبْلِكُمْ

And if you deny, then nations before you have denied.

means, `you have heard what happened to them by way of punishment for opposing the Messengers.'

وَمَا عَلَى الرَّسُولِ إِلاَّ الْبَلَغُ الْمُبِينُ



And the duty of the Messenger is only to convey plainly.

All the Messengers have to do is to convey the Message as Allah has commanded them. Allah guides whoever He wills and leaves astray whoever He wills, so strive to be among the blessed.

Qatadah said concerning the Ayah;
وَإِن تُكَذِّبُوا فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ أُمَمٌ مِّن قَبْلِكُمْ
(And if you deny, then nations before you have denied),

"These are words of consolation to His Prophet, peace be upon him."

This suggestion by Qatadah implies that the narrative (about Ibrahim) is interrupted here, and resumes with the words "And nothing was the answer of (Ibrahim's) people..." in Ayah 24.

This was also stated by Ibn Jarir. From the context it appears that Ibrahim, peace be upon him, said all of what is in this section. Here he establishes proof against them that the Resurrection will indeed come to pass, because at the end of this passage it says;
فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ
("And nothing was the answer of his people..."). (29;24)

And Allah knows best