Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ahqaf Verse 31

Mufti Taqi Usmani

O our people, respond to Allah’s herald, and believe in him, and (once you do that,) Allah will forgive your sins for you, and will save you from a painful punishment.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

O  our fellow jinn! Respond to the caller of Allah and believe in him, He will forgive your sins and protect you from a painful punishment.

Ruwwad Translation Center

O our people, respond to the one who is calling to Allah, and believe in him; He will forgive some of your sins and protect you from a painful punishment.

A. J. Arberry

O our people, answer God's summoner, and believe in Him, and He will forgive you some of your sins, and protect you from a painful chastisement.

Abdul Haleem

Our people, respond to the one who calls you to God. Believe in Him: He will forgive you your sins and protect you from a painful torment.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

O our people! answer Allah's summoner and believe in him; He shall forgive you your sins and shall shelter you from a torment afflictive.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"O our people, hearken to the one who invites (you) to Allah, and believe in him; He will forgive you your faults, and deliver you from a Penalty Grievous.

Abul Ala Maududi

Our people, respond to the call of him who calls you to Allah and believe in him. Allah will forgive your sins and will protect you from a grievous chastisement.”

Ahmed Ali

O our people, hearken to the summoner of God, and believe in him, so that He may forgive you your sins and save you from a painful doom.

Ahmed Raza Khan

“O our people! Listen to Allah’s caller and accept faith in Him, so that He may forgive you some of your sins and save you from the painful punishment.”

Ali Quli Qarai

O our people! Respond to Allah’s summoner and have faith in Him. He will forgive you some of your sins and shelter you from a painful punishment.’

Ali Ünal

"O our people! Respond (affirmatively) to him who calls to God, and believe in him. God will forgive you your sins (which you have committed so far), and save you from a painful punishment.

Amatul Rahman Omar

`O our people! accept the call of one calling to Allâh and believe in Him. (If you do so) He will keep you safe from (the woeful consequences of) your sins and will screen you from the woeful punishment.

English Literal

You our nation, answer/reply God`s caller/requester, and believe with Him, He forgives for you from your crimes and He protects/defends you from a painful torture.

Faridul Haque

“O our people! Listen to Allah’s caller and accept faith in Him, so that He may forgive you some of your sins and save you from the painful punishment.”

Hamid S. Aziz

"O our people! Accept the Divine Caller and believe in Him, He will forgive you of your faults and protect you from a painful punishment.

Hilali & Khan

O our people! Respond (with obedience) to Allah's Caller (i.e. Allah's Messenger Muhammad SAW), and believe in him (i.e. believe in that which Muhammad SAW has brought from Allah and follow him). He (Allah) will forgive you of your sins, and will save you from a painful torment (i.e. Hell-fire).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

They said: O our people, we have heard a Book revealed after Moses, verifying that which is before it, guiding to the truth and to a right path.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

O our people! accept the Divine caller and believe in Him, He will forgive you of your faults and protect you from a painful punishment.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

O our people! respond to Allah's summoner and believe in Him. He will forgive you some of your sins and guard you from a painful doom.

Muhammad Sarwar

Our people, respond favorably to the Messenger of God and believe in Him. He will forgive your sins and rescue you from the painful torment.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Our nation, answer the Caller of Allah and believe in Him! He (Allah) will forgive you some of your sins and protect you from a painful punishment.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

"O our people! Respond to Allah's Caller, and believe in him. He (Allah) will forgive you some of your sins, and protect you from a painful torment."

Wahiduddin Khan

Our people, respond to the one who calls you to God. Believe in him! God will forgive you your sins and protect you from a painful punishment.

Talal Itani

O our people! Answer the caller to God, and believe in Him; and He will forgive you your sins, and will save you from a painful punishment.”

Tafsir jalalayn

O our people! Respond to God's summoner, Muhammad (s), by embracing faith, and believe in him, and He, God, will forgive you some of your sins, because some of these [sins] are wrongs [done to others] and which [therefore] can only be forgiven after those wronged are reconciled -- and shelter you from a painful chastisement.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

يَا قَوْمَنَا أَجِيبُوا دَاعِيَ اللَّهِ

O our people! Respond to Allah's Caller,

This is proof that Muhammad has been sent to both the human beings and the Jinns.

Thus, Allah says,

أَجِيبُوا دَاعِيَ اللَّهِ وَامِنُوا بِهِ

Respond to Allah's Caller and believe in him.

Then Allah says,

يَغْفِرْ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ

He will then forgive you some of your sins,

Some scholars say that "some" here is auxiliary, but this is questionable since it is rarely used to strengthen an affirmative meaning.

Others say that it means partial forgiveness.

وَيُجِرْكُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ



and protect you from a painful torment.

meaning, He will protect you from His painful punishment.

Then Allah informs that they said