Al-Qur'an Surah Ash-Shuraa Verse 39

Mufti Taqi Usmani

and those who, when they are subjected to aggression, defend themselves.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

and who enforce justice when wronged.

Ruwwad Translation Center

and those who retaliate fairly when oppressed.

A. J. Arberry

and who, when insolence visits them, do help themselves --

Abdul Haleem

and defend themselves when they are oppressed.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And those who, when they are oppressed vindicate themselves.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And those who, when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on them, (are not cowed but) help and defend themselves.

Abul Ala Maududi

who, when a wrong is done to them, seek its redress.

Ahmed Ali

And those who defend themselves when they are wronged.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And those who take revenge when rebellion harms them.

Ali Quli Qarai

those who, when afflicted by oppression, defend themselves.

Ali Ünal

And those who, when an unjust aggression is inflicted on (any or all of) them, defend themselves and one another (to end the aggression).

Amatul Rahman Omar

And those who, when they meet wrongful aggression, defend themselves.

English Literal

And those who when/if the oppression/transgression struck/marked them , they become victorious.

Faridul Haque

And those who take revenge when rebellion harms them.

Hamid S. Aziz

And those who, when great wrong afflicts them, defend themselves.

Hilali & Khan

And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, they take revenge.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And those who respond to their Lord and keep up prayer, and whose affairs are (decided) by counsel among themselves, and who spend out of what We have given them;

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And those who, when great wrong afflicts them, defend themselves.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And those who, when great wrong is done to them, defend themselves,

Muhammad Sarwar

and those who, when suffering a great injustice, seek to defend themselves.

Qaribullah & Darwish

and when harmed they become victorious.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, take revenge.

Wahiduddin Khan

who, when they are attacked, defend themselves.

Talal Itani

And those who, when wronged, defend themselves.

Tafsir jalalayn

and those who, when they suffer aggression, injustice, defend themselves -- these are another category -- that is to say, they retaliate against those who wrong them in the same manner in which the latter wronged them, as God, exalted be He, says;

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, take revenge.

means, they have the strength to take revenge on those who commit aggressive wrong and hostile acts against them. They are not incapable of doing so and they are not helpless; they are able to take revenge against those who transgress against them, even though when they have the power to take revenge, they prefer to forgive, as when Yusuf, peace be upon him, said to his brothers;

لَا تَثْرَيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ

No reproach on you this day; may Allah forgive you. (12;92)

even though he was in a position to take revenge on them for what they had done to him.

The Messenger of Allah forgave the eighty people who intended to do him harm during the year of Al-Hudaybiyah, camping by the mountain of At-Tan`im. When he overpowered them, he set them free, even though he was in a position to take revenge on them.

He also forgave Ghawrath bin Al-Harith who wanted to kill him and unsheathed his sword while he was sleeping. The Prophet woke up to find him pointing the sword at him. He reproached him angrily and the sword dropped. Then the Messenger of Allah picked up the sword and called his Companions. He told them what had happened, and he forgave the man.

There are many similar Hadiths and reports. And Allah knows best