Al-Qur'an Surah Ali 'Imran Verse 4

Mufti Taqi Usmani

earlier to give guidance to mankind, and has sent down the Furqān (the Criterion of right and wrong). Surely, those who have rejected the verses of Allah, for them there is severe punishment. Allah is Mighty, the Lord of Retribution.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

previously, as a guide for people, and ˹also˺ revealed the Standard ˹to distinguish between right and wrong˺.[[ The Standard (Al-Furqân) is one of the names of the Quran. ]] Surely those who reject Allah’s revelations will suffer a severe torment. For Allah is Almighty, capable of punishment.

Ruwwad Translation Center

previously, as guidance for people, and He sent down the Criterion [between right and wrong]. But those who reject the verses of Allah will suffer a severe punishment, and Allah is All-Mighty, Capable of Retribution.

A. J. Arberry

aforetime, as guidance to the people, and He sent down the Salvation. As for those who disbelieve in God's signs, for them awaits a terrible chastisement; God is All-mighty, Vengeful.

Abdul Haleem

earlier as a guide for people and He has sent down the distinction [between right and wrong]. Those who deny God’s revelations will suffer severe torment: God is almighty and capable of retribution.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Aforetime, for a guidance unto the people, and sent down the criterion. Verily those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah Unto them shall be torment severe. And Allah is Mighty, Lord of Retribution.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Then those who reject Faith in the Signs of Allah will suffer the severest penalty, and Allah is Exalted in Might, Lord of Retribution.

Abul Ala Maududi

for the guidance of mankind; and He has also revealed the Criterion (to distinguish truth from falsehood). A severe chastisement lies in store for those who deny the signs of Allah. Allah is All-Mighty; He is the Lord of Retribution.

Ahmed Ali

Before this as guidance for men, and has sent the criterion (of falsehood and truth). As for those who deny the signs of God, the punishment is severe; for God is all powerful and great His requital.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Before this, a guidance to mankind; and sent down the Judgement (Criterion to judge between right and wrong); indeed for those who disbelieved in the verses of Allah, is a severe punishment; and Allah is the Almighty, the Avenger (of the wrong).

Ali Quli Qarai

before as guidance for mankind, and He has sent down the Criterion. Indeed, there is a severe punishment for those who deny the signs of Allah, and Allah is all-mighty, avenger.

Ali Ünal

In time past, as guidance for the people; and He has sent down the Criterion to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and the knowledge, and power of judgment to put it into effect. Those who disbelieve in the Revelations of God, for them is a severe punishment. God is All-Glorious with irresistible might, Ever-Able to Requite.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Before this, as a guidance of the people. And He has revealed (the Qur´ân as) the Criterion of judgment (between truth and falsehood). Those who deny the revelations of Allâh there surely awaits them a severe punishment. Mighty is Allâh, the Lord of Retribution.

English Literal

From before guidance to the people, and He descended the Separator of Right and Wrong/Koran , that those who disbelieved with God`s verses , for them (is) a strong (severe) torture, and God (is) glorious/mighty , (owner) of a revenge/punishment.

Faridul Haque

Before this, a guidance to mankind; and sent down the Judgement (Criterion to judge between right and wrong); indeed for those who disbelieved in the verses of Allah, is a severe punishment; and Allah is the Almighty, the Avenger (of the wrong).

Hamid S. Aziz

Verily, those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah, for them is a severe penalty, for Allah is Mighty and Avenging.

Hilali & Khan

Aforetime, as a guidance to mankind, And He sent down the criterion [of judgement between right and wrong (this Quran)]. Truly, those who disbelieve in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, for them there is a severe torment; and Allah is All-Mighty, All-Able of Retribution.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

aforetime, a guidance for the people, and He sent the Discrimination. Those who disbelieve in the messages of Allah -- for them is a severe chastisement. And Allah is Mighty, the Lord of retribution.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Surely they who disbelieve in the communications of Allah they shall have a severe chastisement; and Allah is Mighty, the Lord of retribution.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Aforetime, for a guidance to mankind; and hath revealed the Criterion (of right and wrong). Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong).

Muhammad Sarwar

before as a guide for the people and now He has revealed the criteria of discerning right from wrong. Those who reject the revelations of God will face the most severe torment. God is Majestic and capable to revenge.

Qaribullah & Darwish

before, as a guidance for people, and He sent down the Criterion. As for those who disbelieve in the verses of Allah, for them is an intense punishment. Allah is Mighty, Owner of Vengeance.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Aforetime, as a guidance to mankind. And He sent down the criterion. Truly, those who disbelieve in the Ayat of Allah, for them there is a severe torment; and Allah is All-Mighty, All-Able of Retribution.

Wahiduddin Khan

in the past as guidance for mankind; He has [also] sent down the Standard by which to discern the true from the false. Surely those who deny God's signs will suffer severe punishment. God is mighty and capable of retribution.

Talal Itani

Aforetime, as guidance for mankind; and He sent down the Criterion. Those who have rejected God’s signs will have a severe punishment. God is Mighty, Able to take revenge.

Tafsir jalalayn

before, that is to say, before revealing it [the Qur'n], as guidance (hudan, a circumstantial qualifier meaning, hdiyn, `guides from error') to people, to those who followed these two [Books] (He uses the word anzala for the revelation of these two, and nazzala for that of the Qur'n, for the latter entails repetition, whereas the two Books were revealed in one instance); and He revealed the Criterion (al-furqn), meaning the Scriptures that discriminate between truth and falsehood. He mentions this [Criterion] after He has mentioned the three Scriptures so that it encompasses all [revealed Scriptures] besides these. As for those who disbelieve in God's signs, the Qur'n or any other [revelation], for them awaits a terrible chastisement; God is Mighty, victorious in His affair, so that nothing can prevent Him from effecting His promise and His threat; Lord of Retribution, with a severe punishment for those that disobeyed Him, the like of which none can do.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

مِن قَبْلُ

Aforetime,

meaning, before the Qur'an was revealed.

هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ

As a guidance to mankind, (in their time).

وَأَنزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ

And He sent down the criterion,

which is the distinction between misguidance, falsehood and deviation on one hand, and guidance, truth and piety on the other hand. This is because of the indications, signs, plain evidences and clear proofs that it contains, and because of its explanations, clarifications, etc.

Allah's statement,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِأيَاتِ اللّهِ

Truly, those who disbelieve in the Ayat of Allah,

means they denied, refused and unjustly rejected them.

لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ

For them there is a severe torment, (on the Day of Resurrection).

وَاللّهُ عَزِيزٌ

And Allah is All-Mighty,

meaning, His grandeur is invincible and His sovereignty is infinite,

ذُو انتِقَامٍ



All-Able of Retribution.

from those who reject His Ayat and defy His honorable Messengers and great Prophets