Al-Qur'an Surah Ali 'Imran Verse 178

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Those who disbelieve should not think that the respite We give them is good for them. In fact, We give them respite only that they may increase in sin, and for them there is a humiliating punishment.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Those who disbelieve should not think that living longer is good for them. They are only given more time to increase in sin, and they will suffer a humiliating punishment.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Those who disbelieve should not think that whatever respite We give them is good for them. We only give them respite so that they may increase in sin, and for them there will be a disgracing punishment.

A. J. Arberry

And let not the unbelievers suppose that the indulgence We grant them is better for them; We grant them indulgence only that they may increase in sin; and there awaits them a humbling chastisement.

Abdul Haleem

The disbelievers should not think that it is better for them that We give them more time: when We give them more time they become more sinful- a shameful torment awaits them.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And let not those who disbelieve deem that We respite them for their good: We respite them only that they may increase in sin; and theirs shall be a torment ignominious.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Let not the Unbelievers think that our respite to them is good for themselves; We grant them respite that they may grow in their iniquity; But they will have a shameful punishment.

Abul Ala Maududi

Do not let the, unbelievers imagine that the respite We give them is good for them. We give them respite so that they may grow in wickedness. A humiliating chastisement lies in store for them.

Ahmed Ali

The unbelievers must not think that the respite We give them augurs well. We do so that they sink deeper into sin, and suffer an ignominious doom.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And never must the disbelievers be under the illusion that the respite We give them is any good for them; We give them respite only for them to further advance in their sins; and for them is a disgraceful punishment.

Ali Quli Qarai

Let the faithless not suppose that the respite that We grant them is good for their souls: We give them respite only that they may increase in sin, and there is a humiliating punishment for them.

Ali Ünal

And let not those who disbelieve think that Our giving them rein is good for them. We give them rein only that they may grow in sin and wickedness (and deserve God’s punishment). For them is a shameful, humiliating punishment.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And do not let those who disbelieve think that the respite We give them is good for them. Surely, We grant them respite but they do not avail it, with the result that they add to their sins. A humiliating punishment awaits them.

English Literal

And (let not) those who disbelieved think/suppose (E) that We extend in time/life/enjoyment/delay goodness for themselves, but We extend in time/life/enjoyment/delay for them to increase (them in) sin/crime, and for them (is) a despised torture.

Faridul Haque

And never must the disbelievers be under the illusion that the respite We give them is any good for them; We give them respite only for them to further advance in their sins; and for them is a disgraceful punishment.

Hamid S. Aziz

Allah will not leave the faithful in your present state until He separates the vile from the good. And Allah will not inform you of the unseen, but Allah chooses of His Apostles whom He pleases. So believe you in Allah and His Messenger; and if you believe and do right, for you is measureless reward.

Hilali & Khan

And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing of their punishment is good for them. We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness. And for them is a disgracing torment.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Those who buy disbelief at the price of faith can do no harm to Allah, and for them is a painful chastisement.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And let not those who disbelieve think that Our granting them respite is better for their souls; We grant them respite only that they may add to their sins; and they shall have a disgraceful chastisement.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And let not those who disbelieve imagine that the rein We give them bodeth good unto their souls. We only give them rein that they may grow in sinfulness. And theirs will be a shameful doom.

Muhammad Sarwar

The unbelievers must not think that Our respite is for their good. We only give them time to let them increase their sins. For them there will be a humiliating torment.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Do not let those who disbelieve think that what We delay is better for them. Indeed, We delay for them only that they will increase in sin, and for them a humiliating punishment.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing their punishment is good for them. We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness. And for them is a disgraceful torment.

Wahiduddin Khan

Let not those who deny the truth think that Our granting them respite is good for them: Our granting them respite will only cause them to increase in disobedience -- shameful punishment awaits them.

Talal Itani

Those who disbelieve should not assume that We respite them for their own good. In fact, We only respite them so that they may increase in sinfulness. A humiliating torment awaits them.

Tafsir jalalayn

And let not the disbelievers suppose (read l yahsabanna, `let them not suppose', or l tahsabanna, `do not suppose') that what We indulge them in, that is, [that] Our indulging [them], in extending their [terms of] life and deferring them [their death], is better for their souls (in the case of the reading yahsabanna, `let them [not] suppose', anna [of anna-m] and its two operators stand in place of the two objects, but only in place of the second in the case of the other reading [tahsabanna], `do [not] suppose'). We grant them indulgence, We give [them] respite, only that they may increase in sinfulness, through frequent disobedience, and theirs is a humbling chastisement, one of humiliation, in the Hereafter.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing their punishment is good for them. We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness. And for them is a disgraceful torment.

This statement is similar to Allah's other statements,

أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ

نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ

Do they think that because We have given them abundant wealth and children, (that) We hasten unto them with good things. Nay, but they perceive not. (23;55-56)

and,

فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـذَا الْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'an. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not. (68;44)

and,

وَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَلُهُمْ وَأَوْلَـدُهُمْ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُمْ بِهَا فِى الدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـفِرُونَ

And let not their wealth or their children amaze you. Allah's plan is to punish them with these things in this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers. (9;85)

Allah then said