Al-Qur'an Surah Sad Verse 11

Mufti Taqi Usmani

What is there (in Makkah) is just a host of the (opposing) groups that has to be defeated.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

This is just another ˹enemy˺ force bound for defeat out there.[[ This verse alludes to the defeat of the Meccan pagans later at Badr. ]]

Ruwwad Translation Center

This is only a small army among several armies that will soon be defeated.

A. J. Arberry

A very host of parties is routed there!

Abdul Haleem

their armed alliance is weak and will be crushed.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Here there is a host of the confederates only to be defeated.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But there - will be put to flight even a host of confederates.

Abul Ala Maududi

This is only a small army out of the several armies that will suffer defeat here.

Ahmed Ali

They will be one more army vanquished among the many routed hordes.

Ahmed Raza Khan

This is just one of the disgraced armies, that will be routed there and then.

Ali Quli Qarai

[They are but] a host routed out there of the factions.

Ali Ünal

They are no more than a routed band of (disunited) parties there (awaiting a defeat as certain as the defeat of the hordes of old times who rejected the Messengers and were utterly abased).

Amatul Rahman Omar

(But bear in mind the prophecy:) there will be several hosts of the confederates which shall be completely routed here (at Madînah).

English Literal

Soldiers/warriors from the groups/parties at that place and time (are) defeated .

Faridul Haque

This is just one of the disgraced armies, that will be routed there and then.

Hamid S. Aziz

But there they shall be put to flight, even as a confederated host.

Hilali & Khan

(As they denied Allah's Message) they will be a defeated host like the confederates of the old times (who were defeated).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Or is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them theirs? Then let them rise higher in means.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

A host of deserters of the allies shall be here put to flight.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

A defeated host are (all) the factions that are there.

Muhammad Sarwar

They are only a small band among the defeated confederate tribes.

Qaribullah & Darwish

The army is defeated as (were) the confederates.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

They will be a defeated host like the Confederates of the old times.

Wahiduddin Khan

this host too, among other hosts, is bound to suffer defeat.

Talal Itani

An army of confederates with be defeated there.

Tafsir jalalayn

A routed (mahzmun is an adjectival qualification of jundun, `host') host [is all that they are], in other words, they are [nothing but] a despicable host, nothing more -- in their denial of you -- from among the factions (mina'l-ahzbi, also an adjectival qualification of jundun) in other words, [they are] like those hosts of factions who were in confederation against prophets before you; these were defeated and destroyed, and likewise We shall destroy these [people].

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

they will be a defeated host like the Confederates of the old times.

meaning, these hosts of disbelievers who are in false pride and opposition will be defeated and overwhelmed and disgraced, just as the Confederates of the old times were disgraced before them.

This Ayah is like the Ayah;

أَمْ يَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ جَمِيعٌ مُّنتَصِرٌ

سَيُهْزَمُ الْجَمْعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ الدُّبُرَ

Or say they;"We are a great multitude, victorious."

Their multitude will be put to flight, and they will show their backs. (54;44-45)

-- which is what happened on the day of Badr --

بَلِ السَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَالسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَى وَأَمَرُّ

Nay, but the Hour is their appointed time, and the Hour will be more grievous and more bitter. (54;46