Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ahzab Verse 14

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And if it (Madīnah) is entered (by the enemy, in their presence,) from all its sides and they are asked (to join) the mischief, they would readily commit it, and would not remain in them (their homes) but for a short while

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Had their city been sacked from all sides and they had been asked to abandon faith, they would have done so with little hesitation.

Ruwwad Translation Center

If the enemy were to enter the town upon them from all sides, and they were asked to abandon faith, they would have done it and would not have shown hesitation in it except a little.

A. J. Arberry

And if entrance had been forced against them from those quarters, and then they had been asked to apostatise, they would have done so, and but tarried about it briefly.

Abdul Haleem

had the city been invaded from all sides, and the enemy invited them to rebel, they would have done so almost without hesitation.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And if they were to be entered upon from the sides thereof and they were asked to sedition, they would surely have committed it, and they would have tarried therein but slightly.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And if an entry had been effected to them from the sides of the (city), and they had been incited to sedition, they would certainly have brought it to pass, with none but a brief delay!

Abul Ala Maududi

If the enemy were to enter the town from various directions, and they were summoned to act treacherously, they would have succumbed to it and would have shown little reluctance in doing so.

Ahmed Ali

If the (enemy) had entered the city from every side and asked them to rise in revolt, they would have done so, and not hesitated but a little;

Ahmed Raza Khan

And if the armies had come upon them from the outskirts of Medinah and demanded disbelief from them, they would certainly have given them their demand and would not have hesitated in it except a little.

Ali Quli Qarai

Had they been invaded from its flanks and had they been asked to apostatize, they would have done so with only a mild hesitation,

Ali Ünal

Now if they (and their houses) had been invaded from all sides (of the city) and they had been asked to betray (their faith), they would certainly have done so with but little hesitation.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And if entry (of the enemy-forces) were effected (in the town of Madînah) against them from its diverse quarters and then they were incited to (treachery and) join in the disturbance (against the Companions) they would have readily gone for it. But (afterwards as it happened) they could not stay there (in their so called undefended houses) but a little while.

English Literal

And if (it) is entered on them from its sides/directions then they were asked (for) the treason , they would have given it (E) and they would not have delayed/remained with it (the treason) except little .

Faridul Haque

And if the armies had come upon them from the outskirts of Medinah and demanded disbelief from them, they would certainly have given them their demand and would not have hesitated in it except a little.

Hamid S. Aziz

And when a party of them said, "O people of Yathrib! there is no place to stand for you (here), therefore go back"; and a party of them asked permission of the Prophet, saying. "Surely our houses are exposed"; and they were not exposed; they only desired to flee.

Hilali & Khan

And if the enemy had entered from all sides (of the city), and they had been exhorted to AlFitnah (i.e. to renegade from Islam to polytheism) they would surely have committed it and would have hesitated thereupon but little.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And if an entry were made upon them from the outlying parts of it, then they were asked to wage war (against the Muslims), they would certainly have done it, and they would not have stayed in it but a little while.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And if an entry were made upon them from the outlying parts of it, then they were asked to wage war, they would certainly have done it, and they would not have stayed in it but a little while.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

If the enemy had entered from all sides and they had been exhorted to treachery, they would have committed it, and would have hesitated thereupon but little.

Muhammad Sarwar

Had the army of the enemies invaded their homes and asked them to give-up their religion, they would have yielded to them without delay.

Qaribullah & Darwish

And if an entrance had been forced against them from its quarters, and then they had been asked to incite, they would have done so, and remained in it (the city) but a little (time).

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And if the enemy had entered from all sides, and they had been exhorted to Al-Fitnah, they would surely have committed it and would have hesitated thereupon but little.

Wahiduddin Khan

If their town had been stormed, and they had been incited to sedition, they would have rebelled with little hesitation.

Talal Itani

Had it been invaded from its sides, and they were asked to dissent, they would have done so with little hesitation.

Tafsir jalalayn

And had they been invaded in it, namely, Medina, from all sides and had they been exhorted, in other words, had the invaders exhorted them, to treachery, [a return to] idolatrous ways, they would have committed it (read la-tawh, or la-atawh, meaning, `they would have offered it', or `they would have committed it' [respectively]) and would have hesitated thereupon but a little.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah tells us about those who said;

وَلَوْ دُخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَقْطَارِهَا ثُمَّ سُيِلُوا الْفِتْنَةَ لَاتَوْهَا وَمَا تَلَبَّثُوا بِهَا إِلاَّ يَسِيرًا