Al-Qur'an Surah Qaf Verse 4

Mufti Taqi Usmani

We know very well how much of them is diminished by the earth, and We have a Book that Preserves every thing.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

We certainly know what the earth consumes of them ˹after their death˺, and with us is a well-preserved Record.[[ Or a Record preserving ˹everything˺. ]]

Ruwwad Translation Center

We certainly know what the earth consumes of them [after their death], and with Us is a Preserved Record.

A. J. Arberry

We know what the earth diminishes of them; with Us is a book recording.

Abdul Haleem

We know very well what the earth takes away from them: We keep a comprehensive record.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Surely We know that which the earth consumeth of them, and with Us is, Book preserved.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We already know how much of them the earth takes away; With Us is a record guarding (the full account).

Abul Ala Maududi

(Thus do they imagine, although) We know well what the earth takes away from them. With Us is a Record that preserves everything.

Ahmed Ali

We know what the earth consumes of them, for We have the Book that preserves everything.

Ahmed Raza Khan

We know all what the earth decreases from them; and with Us is a Book that retains.

Ali Quli Qarai

We know what the earth diminishes from them, and with Us is a preserving Book.

Ali Ünal

We know for certain whatever the earth corrodes of them (to the most minute particle); with Us there is a book recording and preserving (incorruptibly).

Amatul Rahman Omar

We know how much of them the earth consumes (and how much it adds to them). We have with Us a book that preserves (everything - the Law of conservation).

English Literal

We had known what the Earth/land reduces/decreases from them, and at Us (is) an honest protecting/safekeeping Book .

Faridul Haque

We know all what the earth decreases from them; and with Us is a Book that retains.

Hamid S. Aziz

We know indeed what the earth diminishes (or takes) from them (excreta or dead bodies), and with Us is a Preserved Record (or the record is preserved).

Hilali & Khan

We know that which the earth takes of them (their dead bodies), and with Us is a Book preserved (i.e. the Book of Decrees).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

When we die and become dust -- that is a far return.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

We know indeed what the earth diminishes of them, and with Us is a writing that preserves.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

We know that which the earth taketh of them, and with Us is a recording Book.

Muhammad Sarwar

We already know how much of them (of their bodies) the earth will consume. With Us there is a Book that contains all records.

Qaribullah & Darwish

We know all that the earth takes away of them, and a Book of Records is with Us.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

We know that which the earth takes of them, and with Us is a Book preserved.

Wahiduddin Khan

We know very well what the earth takes away from them: We hold a book which records all things.

Talal Itani

We know what the earth consumes of them, and with Us is a comprehensive book.

Tafsir jalalayn

We know what the earth diminishes, consumes, of them, and with Us is a preserving Book, namely, the Preserved Tablet (al-lawh al-mahfz), which contains everything that has been ordained [by God].

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا تَنقُصُ الاَْرْضُ مِنْهُمْ

We know that which the earth takes of them.

meaning, `We know what the earth consumes of their dead bodies.' Where and how the bodies disintegrated, what they turned into and how they have become, all of this is never absent from Allah's knowledge.

وَعِندَنَا كِتَابٌ حَفِيظٌ



and with Us is a Book preserved,

`that keeps all records. Therefore, Our knowledge is encompassing and the Book of decrees has everything precisely recorded in it.

Al-`Awfi narrated that Abdullah bin Abbas commented on the statement of Allah the Exalted,
قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا تَنقُصُ الاَْرْضُ مِنْهُمْ
(We know that which the earth takes of them),

"It refers to what the earth consumes of their flesh, skin, bones and hair."

A similar view was recorded from Mujahid, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and several others.

Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored, explained the reason behind their disbelief, rebellion and discounting the possibility of what is truly possible,

بَلْ كَذَّبُوا بِالْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاءهُمْ فَهُمْ فِي أَمْرٍ مَّرِيجٍ