Al-Qur'an Surah Ar-Rum Verse 28

Mufti Taqi Usmani

He (Allah) gives you an example from yourselves: Do you have, from among your slaves, any partners in the wealth that We have given to you, so as they and you are equal in it, (and) so as you fear them like you fear each other? This is how We explain the signs for a people who understand.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

He sets forth for you an example ˹drawn˺ from your own lives: would you allow some of those ˹bondspeople˺ in your possession to be your equal partners in whatever ˹wealth˺ We have provided you, keeping them in mind as you are mindful of your peers?[[ The passage says that since humans would not allow those who are inferior to them to become their partners in wealth, how can they set up helpless partners with Allah in His kingdom? ]] This is how We make the signs clear for people who understand.

Ruwwad Translation Center

He makes this comparison for you from your own lives: do you have among your slaves any partners who equally share with you whatever wealth we have given you, so you are fearing them as you fear one another? This is how We make the verses clear for people who understand.

A. J. Arberry

He has struck for you a similitude from yourselves; do you have, among that your right hands own, associates in what We have provided for you so that you are equal in regard to it, you fearing them as you fear each other? So We distinguish the signs for a people who understand.

Abdul Haleem

He gives you this example, drawn from your own lives: do you make your slaves full partners with an equal share in what We have given you? Do you fear them as you fear each other? This is how We make Our messages clear to those who use their reason.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

He propoundeth unto you a similitude taken from yourselves. Have you, from among those whom your right hands own, partners in that wherewith We have provided you, so that ye are equal in respect thereof, and ye fear them as ye fear each other? In this wise We detail the signs for a people who reflect.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

He does propound to you a similitude from your own (experience); do ye have partners among those whom your right hands possess, to share as equals in the wealth We have bestowed on you? Do ye fear them as ye fear each other? Thus do we explain the Signs in detail to a people that understand.

Abul Ala Maududi

He sets forth for you a parable from your own lives. Do you have among your slaves some who share with you the sustenance that We have bestowed on you so that you become equals in it, all being alike, and then you would hold them in fear as you fear each other? Thus do We make plain the Signs for those who use reason.

Ahmed Ali

He gives you an example from your own life: Do you possess among your dependants any partners in what We have bestowed on you, so that you and they have equal (share) in it, and that you fear them as you fear each other? That is how We explain Our signs clearly for those who comprehend.

Ahmed Raza Khan

He illustrates an example for you from your own selves; do you have for yourselves, among the bondmen you possess, partners in the sustenance We have bestowed upon you, thereby you become equal in respect of it – you fearing them the way you fear each other? This is how We illustrate detailed signs for the people of intellect.

Ali Quli Qarai

He draws for you an example from yourselves: Do you have among your slaves any partners [who may share] in what We have provided you, so that you are equal in its respect, and you revere them as you revere one another? Thus do We elaborate the signs for people who exercise their reason.

Ali Ünal

He strikes a parable from your selves: Do you recognize for those, over whom you hold possession and authority (slaves or animals), a share in what We have provided for you, so that you and they have equal shares in it, and do you hold them in fearful respect as you hold each other in fearful respect? Thus We set out in detail the signs (of Our Oneness) for people who will reason and understand.

Amatul Rahman Omar

He sets forth for you an illustration drawn from your own lives. Do any of those whom your right hands own equally share with you that which We have provided you with. It is, however, a fact that you all (the owner and the owned) are equal (partners) in it, so that you take care of them as you take care of your own selves. That is how We explain many of Our Messages to a people who make use of their understanding.

English Literal

He gave for you an example/proverb from your selves, are (there) for you from what your right (hands) owned/possessed from partners in what We provided for you (are your servants etc. equal partners in your wealth)? So you are (all) in it equal/alike? You fear them as you are fearing yourselves, (if you do not accept this for yourselves how could you make equal partners to God)? Like that We detail/explain the verses/evidences/signs to a nation reasoning/comprehending .

Faridul Haque

He illustrates an example for you from your own selves; do you have for yourselves, among the bondmen you possess, partners in the sustenance We have bestowed upon you, thereby you become equal in respect of it - you fearing them the way you fear each other? This is how We illustrate detailed signs for the people of intellect.

Hamid S. Aziz

And He it is Who originates the creation, then reproduces it, and it is easy for Him; and His is the Sublime Similitude (or the most exalted attributes) in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

Hilali & Khan

He sets forth for you a parable from your ownselves, - Do you have partners among those whom your right hands possess (i.e. your slaves) to share as equals in the wealth We have bestowed on you? Whom you fear as you fear each other? Thus do We explain the signs in detail to a people who have sense.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And His is whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. All are obedient to Him.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

He sets forth to you a parable relating to yourselves: Have you among those whom your right hands possess partners in what We have given you for sustenance, so that with respect to it you are alike; you fear them as you fear each other? Thus do We make the communications distinct for a people who understand.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

He coineth for you a similitude of yourselves. Have ye, from among those whom your right hands possess, partners in the wealth We have bestowed upon you, equal with you in respect thereof, so that ye fear them as ye fear each other (that ye ascribe unto Us partners out of that which We created)? Thus We display the revelations for people who have sense.

Muhammad Sarwar

God has told you this parable about yourselves: Could your slaves share your wealth equally with you and could you fear them as you fear yourselves? Thus, do We clarify the evidence (of the truth) for the people of understanding.

Qaribullah & Darwish

He sets for you an example, drawn from yourselves. Do you have from among those whom your right hand possesses associates in what We have given you, who share it equally with you? Do you fear them as you fear one another? So We made plain Our signs to a nation of understanding.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

He sets forth for you a parable from yourselves: Do you have partners among those whom your right hands possess to share as equals in the wealth We have bestowed on you, whom you fear as you fear each other Thus do We explain the signs in detail to a people who have sense.

Wahiduddin Khan

He sets forth for you an example taken from your own lives. Do you make your servants full partners with an equal share in the wealth We have bestowed upon you? Do you fear them as you fear each other? In this way We explain the signs to people who use their reason.

Talal Itani

He illustrates an example for you, from your own selves: do you make your servants full partners in the wealth We have given you? Do you revere them as you revere one another? We thus explain the revelations for a people who understand.

Tafsir jalalayn

He has struck, He has coined, for you, O idolaters, a similitude, that is [actually drawn], from yourselves, and it is [as follows]; do you have among those whom your right hands own, that is to say, among your servants, any partners, of yourselves, [who may share] in what We have provided for you, of property and so on, so that you, and they, are equal therein, fearing them as you fear your own [folk], [just as you fear] those free men like you? (the interrogative is meant as a negation) in other words, `your servants are not partners of yours in what you own, so how can you make some of God's servants partners of His. So We detail the signs, [so] We explain them in such detail, for people who understand, [a people who] reflect.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

A Parable of Tawhid

This is the parable Allah makes of the idolators, those who worship others besides Him and attribute partners to Him, while at the same time admitting that these so-called partners -- idols and false gods -- are enslaved to and belong to Him.

In their Talbiyah (during Hajj and Umrah they used to say,

"At Your service, You have no partner except the partner that You have, You own Him and whatever he owns."

Allah says here;

ضَرَبَ لَكُم مَّثَلً مِنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ

He sets forth for you a parable from yourselves,

`something which you yourselves can see witness, and understand.'

هَل لَّكُم مِّن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُم مِّن شُرَكَاء فِي مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ فَأَنتُمْ فِيهِ سَوَاء

Do you have partners among those whom your right hands possess to share as equals in the wealth We have bestowed on you...

`None of you would like to have his servant as a partner in his wealth, each of them having an equal share.'

تَخَافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ

whom you fear as you fear each other.

`You fear that they will have a share in your wealth with you.'

Abu Mijlaz said,

"You do not fear that your servant will have a share in your wealth, because he has no such right; similarly, Allah has no partner."

The point is, that since any one of you would abhor such a thing, how can you attribute rivals to Allah from among His creation!

At-Tabarani recorded that Ibn Abbas said,

"The people of Shirk used to say in their Talbiyah,

`At Your service, You have no partner except the partner that You have, You own Him and whatever he owns.'

Then Allah revealed the words;

هَل لَّكُم مِّن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُم مِّن شُرَكَاء فِي مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ فَأَنتُمْ فِيهِ سَوَاء تَخَافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ

Do you have partners among those whom your right hands possess to share as equals in the wealth We have bestowed on you, whom you fear as you fear each other..."

If humans have this characteristic, this parable shows that it is even less befitting for Allah to have a partner.

كَذَلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الاْيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ



Thus do We explain the signs in detail to a people who have sense.

Then Allah points out that when the idolators worship others instead of Him, doing so out of their own folly and ignorance;