Al-Qur'an Surah Al-'Ankabut Verse 45

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Recite (O Prophet) what is revealed to you of the Book, and establish Salāh . Surely Salāh restrains one from shameful and evil acts. Indeed remembrance of Allah is the greatest of all things. Allah knows what you do.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, ˹genuine˺ prayer should deter ˹one˺ from indecency and wickedness. The remembrance of Allah is ˹an˺ even greater ˹deterrent˺. And Allah ˹fully˺ knows what you ˹all˺ do.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Recite [O Prophet] what is revealed to you of the Book, and establish prayer, for indeed prayer restrains one from immoral acts and wickedness. Indeed, the remembrance of Allah is of greater merit. And Allah knows all what you do.

A. J. Arberry

Recite what has been revealed to thee of the Book, and perform the prayer; prayer forbids indecency and dishonour. God's remembrance is greater; and God knows the things you work.

Abdul Haleem

[Prophet], recite what has been revealed to you of the Scripture; keep up the prayer: prayer restrains outrageous and unacceptable behaviour. Remembering God is greater: God knows everything you are doing.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Recite thou that which hath been revealed unto thee of the Book and establish thou the prayer; verily prayer preventeth man from indecency and that which is disreputable: and surely the remembrance of Allah is the greatest. And Allah knoweth that which ye perform.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer; for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do.

Abul Ala Maududi

(O Prophet), recite the Book that has been revealed to you and establish Prayer. Surely Prayer forbids indecency and evil. And Allah's remembrance is of even greater merit. Allah knows all that you do.

Ahmed Ali

Recite what has been revealed to you of this Book, and be constant in devotion. Surely prayer keeps you away from the obscene and detestable, but the remembrance of God is greater far; and God knows what you do.

Ahmed Raza Khan

O dear Prophet (Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), recite from the Book which has been sent down to you, and establish the prayer; indeed the prayer stops from indecency and evil; and indeed the remembrance of Allah is the greatest; and Allah knows all what you do.

Ali Quli Qarai

Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book, and maintain the prayer. Indeed the prayer restrains from indecent and wrongful conduct, and the remembrance of Allah is surely greater. And Allah knows whatever [deeds] you do.

Ali Ünal

Recite and convey to them what is revealed to you of the Book, and establish the Prayer in conformity with its conditions. Surely, the Prayer restrains from all that is indecent and shameful, and all that is evil. Surely God’s remembrance is the greatest (of all types of worship and not restricted to the Prayer). God knows all that you do.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Recite (preach, follow and meditate on) that which has been revealed to you of the Book (-the Qur´ân) and observe Prayer. Verily, Prayer restrains (the observer) from indecency and abominable things and loathsome deeds and from all that runs counter to reason and moral sense. Yet of all, the greatest thing is that Allâh will remember you and help you rise to eminence. And Allâh knows all that you do.

English Literal

Read/recite/follow what was inspired/transmitted to you from The Book , and start/keep up the prayers, that (E) the prayers forbid/prevent from the enormous/atrocious deeds and the defiance of God and His orders/obscenity , and God`s remembrance/reminder (E) (is) greater , and God knows what you perform/produce .

Faridul Haque

O dear Prophet (Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), recite from the Book which has been sent down to you, and establish the prayer; indeed the prayer stops from indecency and evil; and indeed the remembrance of Allah is the greatest; and Allah knows all what you do.

Hamid S. Aziz

Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth. Verily, in this is a sign for those have faith.

Hilali & Khan

Recite (O Muhammad SAW) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Quran), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat). Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha' (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.) and the remembering (praising, etc.) of (you by) Allah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising, etc.) Allah in prayers, etc.]. And Allah knows what you do.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And these parables, We set them forth for men, and none understand them but the learned.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Recite that which has been revealed to you of the Book and keep up prayer; surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil, and certainly the remembrance of Allah is the greatest, and Allah knows what you do.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Recite that which hath been inspired in thee of the Scripture, and establish worship. Lo! worship preserveth from lewdness and iniquity, but verily remembrance of Allah is more important. And Allah knoweth what ye do.

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), recite to them what has been revealed to you in the Book and be steadfast in prayer; prayer keeps one away from indecency and evil. It is the greatest act of worshipping God. God knows what you do.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Recite what has been sent down to you of the Book, and establish the prayer. Prayer forbids indecency and dishonor. The remembrance of Allah is greater, and Allah knows what you do.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book, and perform the Salah. Verily, the Salah prevents from Al-Fahsha' (immoral sins) and Al-Munkar (evil deeds) and the remembering (praising) of Allah is greater indeed. And Allah knows what you do.

Wahiduddin Khan

Recite what has been revealed to you of the book, and pray regularly. Surely prayer restrains one from indecency and evil and remembrance of God is greater. God has knowledge of all your actions.

Talal Itani

Recite what is revealed to you of the Scripture, and perform the prayer. The prayer prevents indecencies and evils. And the remembrance of God is greater. And God knows what you do.

Tafsir jalalayn

Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book, the Qur'n, and maintain prayer; truly prayer prohibits lewd acts and indecency, [defined as such] according to the Law. In other words, that is its purpose provided that the person adheres to [observance of] it. And the remembrance of God is surely greater, than other acts of obedience, and God knows what you do, and He will requite you for them.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ

Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book,

Allah commands His Messenger and the believers to recite the Qur'an, which means both reciting it and conveying it to people.

وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَأةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَأةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ

and perform the Salah. Verily, the Salah prevents from Al-Fahsha' and Al-Munkar and the remembrance of Allah is greater indeed.

Prayer includes two things;

the first of which is giving up immoral behavior and evil deeds, i.e., praying regularly enables a person to give up these things.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said;

"A man came to the Prophet and said, `So-and-so prays at night, but when morning comes, he steals.'

The Prophet said;

إِنَّهُ سَيَنْهَاهُ مَا تَقُول

What you are saying (i.e., the Salah) will stop him from doing that."

Prayer also includes the remembering of Allah, which is the higher objective, Allah says;
وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ
(and the remembrance of Allah is greater indeed), more important than the former.

وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ



And Allah knows what you do.

means, He knows all that you do and say.

Abu Al-`Aliyah commented on the Ayah;
إِنَّ الصَّلَةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ
(Verily, the Salah prevents from immoral sins and evil wicked deeds),

"Prayer has three attributes, and any prayer that contains none of these attributes is not truly prayer;

Being done purely and sincerely for Allah alone (Ikhlas),

fear of Allah, and remembrance of Allah. Ikhlas makes a person do good deeds, fear prevents him from doing evil deeds,

and the remembrance of Allah is the Qur'an which contains commands and prohibitions."

Ibn Awn Al-Ansari said;

"When you are praying, you are doing good, it is keeping you away from immoral sins and evil wicked deeds and what you are doing is part of the remembrance of Allah which is greater.