Al-Qur'an Surah Az-Zumar Verse 4

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Had Allah opted to have a son of His own, He would have definitely chosen anyone, as He wished, out of what He had created. (But), Pure is He. He is Allah, the Only One, the All-Dominant.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Had it been Allah’s Will to have offspring, He could have chosen whatever He willed of His creation. Glory be to Him! He is Allah—the One, the Supreme.

Ruwwad Translation Center

If Allah had willed to take for Himself a son, He could have chosen whatever He wished from among what He creates. Glory be to Him. He is Allah, the One, the Subjugator.

A. J. Arberry

Had God desired to take to Him a son, He would have chosen whatever He willed of that He has created. Glory be to Him! He is God, the One, the Omnipotent.

Abdul Haleem

God could have chosen any of His creation He willed for offspring, but He is far above this! He is the One, the Almighty.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Had Allah willed to take a son, He could have chosen whatsoever He pleased out of that which He hath created. Hallowed be He! He is Allah the One, the Subduer.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Had Allah wished to take to Himself a son, He could have chosen whom He pleased out of those whom He doth create; but Glory be to Him! (He is above such things.) He is Allah, the One, the Irresistible.

Abul Ala Maududi

If Allah had wanted to take to Himself a son, He could have chosen anyone He wanted out of those whom He creates. Glory be to Him (that He should have a son). He is Allah: the One, the Overpowering.

Ahmed Ali

Had God pleased to take a son, He could have chosen whom He liked from among those He has created. Glory be to Him. He is God, the one, the omnipotent.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Were Allah to create a son* for Himself, He would have chosen any one from His creation! Purity is to Him! He is Allah, the One, the All Dominant. (*Which is impossible.)

Ali Quli Qarai

Had Allah intended to take a son, He could have chosen from those He has created whatever He wished. Immaculate is He! He is Allah, the One, the All-paramount.

Ali Ünal

Had God willed to take to Himself a child, He could certainly have chosen whatever He willed out of all that He has created. All-Glorified is He (in that He is exalted above having any children). He is God, the One, the All-Overwhelming (with absolute sway over all that exists).

Amatul Rahman Omar

If Allâh had intended to take to Himself a son He could have chosen from His creation the one He pleased (and would not have left it to you). Holy is He! He is Allâh, the One, the All-Dominant.

English Literal

If God wanted/intended that (E) He takes a child (son), He would have chosen/purified from who He created, what He wills/wants, His praise/glory, He is God, the one the defeator/conqueror (E) .

Faridul Haque

Were Allah to create a son * for Himself, He would have chosen any one from His creation! Purity is to Him! He is Allah, the One, the All Dominant. (*Which is impossible.)

Hamid S. Aziz

If Allah desire to take a son to Himself, He will surely choose those He pleases from what He has created. Glory be to Him: He is Allah, the One, the Absolute.

Hilali & Khan

Had Allah willed to take a son (or offspring or children), He could have chosen whom He pleased out of those whom He created. But glory be to Him! (He is above such things). He is Allah, the One, the Irresistible.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Now surely sincere obedience is due to Allah (alone). And those who choose protectors besides Him (say): We serve them only that they may bring us nearer to Allah. Surely Allah will judge between them in that in which they differ. Surely Allah guides not him who is a liar, ungrateful.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

If Allah desire to take a son to Himself, He will surely choose those He pleases from what He has created. Glory be to Him: He is Allah, the One, the Subduer (of all).

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

If Allah had willed to choose a son, He could have chosen what He would of that which He hath created. Be He Glorified! He is Allah, the One, the Absolute.

Muhammad Sarwar

Had God wanted to have a son, He would have chosen one from His creatures according to His will. God is too Exalted to have a son. He is One and Almighty.

Qaribullah & Darwish

If Allah had desired to take a son, He would have chosen whatever He willed out of His creation. Exaltations to Him! He is Allah, the One, the Conqueror.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Had Allah willed to take a son, He could have chosen whom He willed out of those whom He created. But glory be to Him! He is Allah, the One, the Irresistible.

Wahiduddin Khan

If God had willed to take a son He could have chosen anyone He pleased out of His creation: but Glory be to Him! [He is above such things.] He is God, the One, the Omnipotent.

Talal Itani

If God wanted to have a son, He could have selected from His creation at will. Glory be to Him. He is God, the One, the Prevailing.

Tafsir jalalayn

Had God wanted to take a son -- as they allege [that He has], `The Compassionate One has taken [to Himself] a son' [Q. 19;88], He could have chosen from what He has created whatever He willed, and taken it as a child, instead of the angels whom they claim to be God's daughters, or [their claim] that `Ezra is the son of God', or that `Jesus is the son of God' [cf. Q. 9;30]. Glory be to Him, in exaltation of Him as being above that He should take a child. He is God, the One, the All-Compelling, over all His creatures.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

لَوْ أَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا لاَّصْطَفَى مِمَّا يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاء

Had Allah willed to take a son (or offspring), He could have chosen whom He willed out of those whom He created.

meaning, the matter would not have been as they claim.

This is a conditional sentence which does not imply that this happened or that it is permitted; indeed, it is impossible. The aim is only to point out the ignorance of their claims.

It is like the Ayat;

لَوْ أَرَدْنَأ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهْواً لاَّتَّخَذْنَـهُ مِن لَّدُنَّأ إِن كُنَّا فَـعِلِينَ

Had We intended to take a pastime, We could surely have taken it from Us, if We were going to do (that). (21;17)

قُلْ إِن كَانَ لِلرَّحْمَـنِ وَلَدٌ فَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْعَـبِدِينَ

Say;"If the Most Gracious had a son, then I am the first of worshippers." (43;81)

All of these Ayat are conditional, and it is permissible to form a conditional sentence referring to something that is impossible if it serves the purposes of the speaker.

سُبْحَانَهُ هُوَ اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ



But glory be to Him! He is Allah, the One, the Irresistible.

means, exalted and sanctified be He above the idea that He could have any offspring, for He is the One, the Only, the Unique, the Self-Sufficient Master to Whom everything is enslaved and is in need of. He is the One Who is independent of all else, Who has subjugated all things and they submit humbly to Him. Blessed and exalted be He far above what the wrongdoers and deniers say