Al-Qur'an Surah Saba Verse 18

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And We had set visible townships, all the way between them and the towns blessed by Us, and phased the journey between them in measured phases: “Travel along them at nights and days peacefully.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

We had also placed between them and the cities[[ i.e., Mecca and Jerusalem. ]] We showered with blessings ˹many small˺ towns within sight of one another. And We set moderate travel distances in between, ˹saying,˺ “Travel between them by day and night safely.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

We placed [a chain of] towns between them and the towns We had blessed, and We made between them well-measured distances: “Travel through them by night and day safely.”

A. J. Arberry

And We set, between them and the cities that We have blessed, cities apparent and well We measured the journey between them: 'Journey among them by night and day in security!'

Abdul Haleem

Also, We had placed, between them and the towns We had blessed, other towns within sight of one another to which they could travel easily- ‘ Travel safely in this land by night and by day’-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And We had placed between them and the cities" which We had blest cities easy to be seen, and We had made the stages of journey between them easy:" travel in them nights and days secure.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Between them and the Cities on which We had poured our blessings, We had placed Cities in prominent positions, and between them We had appointed stages of journey in due proportion; "Travel therein, secure, by night and by day."

Abul Ala Maududi

We placed other prominent towns between them, the towns that We had blessed and had set well-measured stages between them. Move back and forth between them, night and day, in perfect security.

Ahmed Ali

Between them and the cities We had blessed We placed towns along the highway, and made them stages on their journey, (saying): "Travel between them in safety by day or by night."

Ahmed Raza Khan

And We had made several towns upon the road between them and the towns which We had blessed – and kept them according to the length of the journey; “Travel safely in them, by night and by day.”

Ali Quli Qarai

We had placed between them and the towns which We had blessed hamlets prominent [from the main route], and We had ordained the course through them: ‘Travel through them in safety, night and day.’

Ali Ünal

We had set between them and the lands We blessed (Palestine and Damascus, with great blessings for their people) many towns within sight of one another, and We had established the journey distances (between them for ease and safety): "Travel therein by night or by day in security!"

Amatul Rahman Omar

And We had placed between them (- the Shebians) and the towns (of Syria) which We had blessed, (other) towns facing each others and prominently visible, and We had fixed easy (journeying) stages between them. (We said to the people of Sheba), `Journey through them by night and day, safe and secure.´

English Literal

And We made/put between them and between the villages/urban cities which We blessed in it apparent/visible villages/urban cities, and We predestined/evaluated in it the movement/ride , say: "Move/ride in it, nights and days/times safe/secure ."

Faridul Haque

And We had made several towns upon the road between them and the towns which We had blessed – and kept them according to the length of the journey; “Travel safely in them, by night and by day.”

Hamid S. Aziz

We requited them with this because they were ungrateful; do We ever punish any but the ungrateful?

Hilali & Khan

And We placed between them and the towns which We had blessed, towns easy to be seen, and We made the stages (of journey) between them easy (saying): "Travel in them safely both by night and day."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

With this We requited them because they were ungrateful; and We punish none but the ingrate.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And We made between them and the towns which We had blessed (other) towns to be easily seen, and We apportioned the journey therein: Travel through them nights and days, secure.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And We set, between them and the towns which We had blessed, towns easy to be seen, and We made the stage between them easy, (saying): Travel in them safely both by night and day.

Muhammad Sarwar

We established between them and the town that We had blessed, other towns nearby, and thus made it easier to travel. We told them, "Travel there safely day and night".

Qaribullah & Darwish

Between them and the villages which We had blessed, We placed easily visible villages, and We spaced the journey between them exactly. (We said):'Travel through them by day and night in safety'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And We placed, between them and the towns which We had blessed, towns easy to be seen, and We made the stages (of journey) between them easy (saying): "Travel in them safely both by night and day."

Wahiduddin Khan

We had placed between them and the towns that We had blessed, other towns situated close to each other, and We fixed the stages [of journey] between them, saying, "Travel between them in safety by night and day,"

Talal Itani

Between them and the towns We had blessed, We placed prominent towns, and We made the travel between them easy. “Travel between them by night and day, in safety.”

Tafsir jalalayn

And We set between them, between Sheba, who were in Yemen, and the towns which We had blessed, with [abundance of] water and trees -- these being the towns of Syria, to which they used to travel for commerce -- prominent towns, continuous [along the route] from Yemen to Syria, and We facilitated [for travellers] the journeying through them, such that they would rest for the afternoon in one and spend the night in the next, [and so on] until the end of their travel, having no need of any supplies or water along the way; and We said, `Travel through them night and day safely', having no fear by night or by day.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Trade of Saba' and Their Destruction

Allah tells us about the blessings which the people of Saba' enjoyed, and the luxuries and plentiful provision which was theirs in their land, with its secure dwellings and towns which were joined to one another, with many trees, crops and fruits. When they traveled, they had no need to carry provisions or water with them; wherever they stopped, they would find water and fruits, so they could take their noontime rest in one town, and stay overnight in another, according to their needs on their journey.

Allah says;

وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ الْقُرَى الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا

And We placed, between them and the towns which We had blessed,

Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Malik, who narrated it from Zayd bin Aslam, and Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi, Ibn Zayd and others -- all said that;

this means the towns of Syria.

It means they used to travel from Yemen to Syria via towns easy to be seen and connected to one another.

Al-Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas said,

"`The towns which We had blessed by putting Jerusalem among them."

قُرًى ظَاهِرَةً

towns easy to be seen,

meaning, clear and visible, known to travelers, so they could take their noontime rest in one town and stay overnight in another.

Allah says;

وَقَدَّرْنَا فِيهَا السَّيْرَ

and We made the stages (of journey) between them easy.

meaning, `We made it in a way that met the needs of the travelers.'

سِيرُوا فِيهَا لَيَالِيَ وَأَيَّامًا امِنِينَ



Travel in them safely both by night and day.

means, those who travel in them will be safe both by night and by day