Al-Qur'an Surah Az-Zukhruf Verse 58

Mufti Taqi Usmani

and said, “Are Our gods better or is he?” They did not cite it (the example) but for the sake of disputation. Rather, they are a quarrelsome people.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

They exclaimed, “Which is better: our gods or Jesus?” They cite him only to argue. In fact, they are a people prone to dispute.

Ruwwad Translation Center

and they said, “Are Our gods better or he?” They only mentioned him to you for the sake of argument. They are indeed a contentious people.

A. J. Arberry

and say, 'What, are our gods better, or he?' They cite not him to thee, save to dispute;. nay, but they are a people contentious.

Abdul Haleem

saying, ‘Are our gods better or him?’- they cite him only to challenge you: they are a contentious people-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And they say: are our gods better, or is he? They mention him not to thee save for disputation. Aye! they are a people contentious.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And they say, "Are our gods best, or he?" This they set forth to thee, only by way of disputation; yea, they are a contentious people.

Abul Ala Maududi

and said: “Who is better, our deities or he?” They said so only out of contentiousness. They are a disputatious people.

Ahmed Ali

And say: "Are our deities better or he?" They say this only for disputing. Surely they are a contentious people.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And they say, “Are our deities better or he?” They did not say this to you except to unjustly argue; in fact they are a quarrelsome people.

Ali Quli Qarai

They say, ‘Are our gods better or he?’ They cite him to you only for the sake of contention. Indeed, they are a contentious lot.

Ali Ünal

And they say, "Are our deities better or is he?" They put it to you only for disputation. Indeed, they are a people addicted to contentiousness.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And they said, `What! are our gods better or he (- the Christ)?´ They have mentioned his case to you only by way of disputation. Nay, but (the thing is that) they are a contentious people.

English Literal

And they said: "Are our gods better or He?" They did not give it (the question) to you except arguing/disputing (E), but they are a nation disputing/controverting .

Faridul Haque

And they say, “Are our deities better or he?” They did not say this to you except to unjustly argue; in fact they are a quarrelsome people.

Hamid S. Aziz

And they say, "Are our gods better, or is he?" They raise not the objection save by way of disputation; nay, they are a contentious people.

Hilali & Khan

And say: "Are our aliha (gods) better or is he ['Iesa (Jesus)]?" They quoted not the above example except for argument. Nay! But they are a quarrelsome people. [(See VV. 21:97-101) - The Quran.]

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when the son of Mary is mentioned as an example, lo! thy people raise a clamour thereat.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And they say: Are our gods better, or is he? They do not set it forth to you save by way of disputation; nay, they are a contentious people.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And say: Are our gods better, or is he? They raise not the objection save for argument. Nay! but they are a contentious folk.

Muhammad Sarwar

"Are our gods any better than Jesus (for according to Muhammad), if our gods go to hell so too will Jesus. What they say is only a false argument. In fact, they are a quarrelsome people.

Qaribullah & Darwish

and say: 'What are our gods better, or is he' They do not mention him to you except to dispute, truly, they are a contentious nation.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And say: "Are our gods better or is he" They quoted not the above example except for argument. Nay! But they are a quarrelsome people.

Wahiduddin Khan

saying, "Are our gods better or him?" -- they cite him only to challenge you: they are a contentious people --

Talal Itani

They said, “Are our gods better, or he?” They cited him only for argument. In fact, they are a quarrelsome people.

Tafsir jalalayn

And they say, `Are our gods better or he?', Jesus. We are satisfied that our gods be [in the same predicament] with him. They only cite this, that is, the example, to you for the sake of contention, [merely] arguing with falsehood, for they know that [the particle] m [of wa-m ta`budna, `and what you worship'] refers [only] to non-rational beings and cannot therefore include Jesus, peace be upon him. Nay, but they are a contentious lot, an extremely disputatious folk.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

And say;"Are our gods better or is he?"

They quoted not the above example except for argument.

Nay! But they are a quarrelsome people.

Then Allah mentions Isa bin Maryam and says;

إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ مَثَلً لِّبَنِي إِسْرَايِيلَ