Al-Qur'an Surah Qaf Verse 3

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Is it when we die and become dust (that we will be brought to life again?) That is a return, far (from understanding).”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

˹Will we be returned to life,˺ when we are dead and reduced to dust? Such a return is impossible.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

What! Is it when we die and become dust [will we return to life]? That is a far-fetched return.”

A. J. Arberry

What, when we are dead and become dust? That is a far returning!'

Abdul Haleem

To come back [to life] after we have died and become dust? That is too farfetched.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Shell We be brought back when we are dead and have become dust? That is a return remote!

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"What! When we die and become dust, (shall we live again?) That is a (sort of) return far (from our understanding)."

Abul Ala Maududi

What! When we are dead and reduced to mere dust, (shall we be raised to life)? Such a return is far-fetched.”

Ahmed Ali

When we are dead and turned to dust, this returning (to life) is most far-fetched."

Ahmed Raza Khan

“When we are dead and have turned to dust, will we be raised again? That return is impossible!”

Ali Quli Qarai

‘What! When we are dead and have become dust, [shall we be raised again]? That is a far-fetched return!’

Ali Ünal

"When we have died and become dust (you say, we will be raised from the dead)? That is a far-fetched return!"

Amatul Rahman Omar

`What! when we are dead and reduced to dust, (shall we be raised to life again)? This (sort of) return is highly impossible.´

English Literal

Is (it that) if we died and we were dust/earth? That (is) a far/distant return.

Faridul Haque

“When we are dead and have turned to dust, will we be raised again? That return is impossible!”

Hamid S. Aziz

"What! When we are dead and have become dust (shall we live again)? That is a far return (or far from probable or from our understanding)."

Hilali & Khan

"When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be resurrected?) That is a far return."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Nay, they wonder that a warner has come to them from among themselves; so the disbelievers say: This is a wonderful thing!

Mohammad Habib Shakir

What! when we are dead and have become dust? That is afar (from probable) return.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be brought back again)? That would be a far return!

Muhammad Sarwar

that after we die and become dust, we shall be brought back to life again. This seems far from reality".

Qaribullah & Darwish

What, when we are dead and turned to dust? That indeed would be an unlikely return'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

"When we are dead and have become dust. (Shall we be resurrected) That is a far return."

Wahiduddin Khan

to come back to life after we have died and become dust? That is most improbable!"

Talal Itani

When we have died and become dust? This is a farfetched return.”

Tafsir jalalayn

What! (read a-idh pronouncing both hamzas, or not pronouncing the second, but inserting an alif between the two in both cases) When we are dead and have become dust?, shall we return [to life]? That is a far- fetched return!', [an event that is] extremely remote.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

When we are dead and have become dust. That is a far return.

They said, `after we die, disintegrate, with our organs torn apart and we become dust, how can we be brought back to our original shape and bodies,'

ذَلِكَ رَجْعٌ بَعِيدٌ
(That is a far return). `it is not likely that it will ever occur.'

They thought that Resurrection was far from happening and will never occur.

Allah the Exalted responded to their statement by saying