Al-Qur'an Surah Al-An'am Verse 148

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Those who associate partners with Allah will say, “Had Allah willed, we would have not associated (partners with Him), nor our fathers, nor would we have made anything prohibited.” In the same way those who went before them gave the lie to (the truth) until they tasted Our punishment. Say, “Do you have any sure knowledge that you may produce to us? You follow nothing but whims, and do nothing but make conjectures.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

The polytheists will argue, “Had it been Allah’s Will, neither we nor our forefathers would have associated others with Him ˹in worship˺ or made anything unlawful.” Likewise, those before them rejected the truth until they tasted Our punishment. Ask ˹them, O  Prophet˺, “Do you have any knowledge that you can produce for us? Surely you follow nothing but ˹false˺ assumptions and you do nothing but lie.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Those who associate partners with Allah will say, “If Allah had willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have associated anything with Him, nor would we have made anything forbidden.” Likewise, those who came before them rejected the truth until they tasted Our punishment. Say, “Do you have any knowledge that you can present to us? You follow nothing but assumption and you do nothing but lie.

A. J. Arberry

The idolaters will say, 'Had God willed, we would not have been idolaters, neither our fathers, nor would we have forbidden aught.' Even so the people before them cried lies until they tasted Our might. Say: 'Have you any knowledge, for you to bring forth for us? You follow only surmise, merely conjecturing.'

Abdul Haleem

The idolaters will say, ‘If God had willed, we would not have ascribed partners to Him- nor would our fathers- or have declared anything forbidden.’ In the same way, those before them continually denied [the truth] until they tasted Our punishment. Say, ‘Have you any knowledge that you can show us? You follow only supposition and tell only lies.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Anon will those who associate had God willed, we would not say: have associated, nor our fathers; neither could we have forbidden aught. Even so belied those before them, until they tasted Our wrath. Say thou: is there with you any authority, that ye may bring unto us? ye but follow your fancy, and only conjecture.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Those who give partners (to Allah) will say; "If Allah had wished, we should not have given partners to Him nor would our fathers; nor should we have had any taboos." So did their ancestors argue falsely, until they tasted of Our wrath. Say; "Have ye any (certain) knowledge? If so, produce it before us. Ye follow nothing but conjecture; ye do nothing but lie."

Abul Ala Maududi

Those who associate others with Allah in His divinity will now surely say: 'Had Allah willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have associated others with Allah in His divinity, nor would we have declared anything (which Allah did not forbid) as forbidden.' Even so those who had lived before them gave the lie (to the Truth) until they tasted Our chastisement. Tell them: 'Have you any sure knowledge that you can produce before us? In fact you are only following idle fancies, merely conjecturing.'

Ahmed Ali

But the idolaters say: "If God had so willed we would not have associated (others with Him), nor would have our fathers, nor would we have forbidden any thing." So had others denied before them, and had to taste Our punishment in the end. Ask them: "Have you any knowledge? Then display it. You follow nothing but conjecture, and are nothing but liars."

Ahmed Raza Khan

The polytheists will now say, “Had Allah willed, we would not have ascribed partners (to Him) nor would have our forefathers, nor would we have forbidden anything”; similarly those before them had denied, till the time they tasted Our punishment; say, “Do you have any knowledge so you can offer it to us? You follow only assumptions and only make guesses.”

Ali Quli Qarai

The polytheists will say, ‘Had Allah wished we would not have ascribed any partner [to Him], nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything.’ Those who were before them had denied likewise until they tasted Our punishment. Say, ‘Do you have any [revealed] knowledge that you can produce before us? You follow nothing but conjectures, and you do nothing but surmise.’

Ali Ünal

Those who persist in associating partners with God will say: "Had God willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have associated partners with Him, nor would we have declared anything (which God has made lawful) unlawful." Even so did those who lived before them deny (their Prophets with similar false excuses) until they tasted Our mighty punishment. Say (to them): "Do you have any sound, authoritative knowledge (to support your claim)? (If you have) then bring it out for us! In fact you follow only conjecture, and you yourselves are only making false surmises (you pronounce judgments and act only according to your fancies, interests and personal value judgments)."

Amatul Rahman Omar

Now those who associate partners (with Allâh) say, `If Allâh had (so) willed we would not have associated partners (with Him), nor would have our forefathers, nor would we have made anything unlawful (of our own);´ just as (they deny you) their predecessors cried lies (to their apostles of God) until they suffered Our punishment. Say, `Have you any knowledge (about it)? Then present it before us. You follow naught but mere conjectures, and you do nothing but tell lies.´

English Literal

Those who shared/made partners (with God) will say: "If God wanted/willed, we would not (have) made partners (with God), and nor our fathers, and nor forbade from a thing." Like that those from before them lied/denied until they tasted/experienced Our might/power , say: "Is at you from knowledge, so you bring it out for us? That you follow except the assumption/suspicion, and that truly you are except lying/speculating."

Faridul Haque

The polytheists will now say, “Had Allah willed, we would not have ascribed partners (to Him) nor would have our forefathers, nor would we have forbidden anything”; similarly those before them had denied, till the time they tasted Our punishment; say, “Do you have any knowledge so you can offer it to us? You follow only assumptions and only make guesses.”

Hamid S. Aziz

Those who associate partners with Allah will say, "Had Allah pleased, we would not associated partners (with Him), nor our fathers; nor should we have forbidden aught." Thus did they give the lie to those who came before them, until they tasted of Our wrath! Say, "Have you any knowledge (proving this)? If so, bring it forth to us: you only follow opinion, and you do but guess (conjecture, speculate)."

Hilali & Khan

Those who took partners (in worship) with Allah will say: "If Allah had willed, we would not have taken partners (in worship) with Him, nor would our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything (against His Will)." Likewise belied those who were before them, (they argued falsely with Allah's Messengers), till they tasted of Our Wrath. Say: "Have you any knowledge (proof) that you can produce before us? Verily, you follow nothing but guess and you do nothing but lie."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

But if they give thee the lie, then say: Your Lord is the Lord of all-encompassing mercy; and His punishment cannot be averted from the guilty people.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Those who are polytheists will say: If Allah had pleased we would not have associated (aught with Him) nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden (to ourselves) anything; even so did those before them reject until they tasted Our punishment. Say: Have you any knowledge with you so you should bring it forth to us? You only follow a conjecture and you only tell lies.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

They who are idolaters will say: Had Allah willed, we had not ascribed (unto Him) partners neither had our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught. Thus did those who were before them give the lie (to Allah's messengers) till they tasted of the fear of Us. Say: Have ye any knowledge that ye can adduce for Us? Lo! ye follow naught but an opinion, Lo! ye do but guess.

Muhammad Sarwar

The pagans will say, "Had God wanted, we would not have worshipped idols, nor would our fathers, nor would we have made anything unlawful." Others before them had also spoken such lies until they experienced the severity of Our wrath. (Muhammad), ask them, "Do you possess any knowledge? If so, tell us about it. You follow only conjectures and preach falsehood."

Qaribullah & Darwish

The idolaters will say: 'Had Allah willed, neither we nor our fathers would have associated (idols), nor would we have forbidden anything. As such, those who have gone before them belied until they tasted Our Might. Say: 'Have you any knowledge you can bring forth to us? You follow nothing but guessing and you are only speakers of conjecture'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Those who committed Shirk say: "If Allah had willed, we would not have commited Shirk, nor would our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything (against His will)." Likewise belied those who were before them, till they tasted Our wrath. Say: "Have you any knowledge (proof) that you can produce before us Verily, you follow the Zann and you do nothing but lie."

Wahiduddin Khan

Those who associate partners with God will surely say, "Had God pleased, neither we nor our fathers would have served other gods besides Him; nor would we have made anything unlawful." Likewise those who lived before them argued falsely until they came to taste Our punishment! Say, "Have you any knowledge? If so, produce it before us. You follow nothing but conjecture. You are merely guessing."

Talal Itani

The polytheists will say, “Had God willed, we would not have practiced idolatry, nor would have our forefathers, nor would we have prohibited anything.” Likewise those before them lied, until they tasted Our might. Say, “Do you have any knowledge that you can produce for us? You follow nothing but conjecture, and you only guess.”

Tafsir jalalayn

The idolaters will say, `Had God willed, we would not have been idolaters, neither, we [nor], our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything', in other words, our idolatry and our forbidding [of things] are by His will, and so He must be satisfied with it. God, exalted be He, says; So, in the same way that these have lied, those who were before them gave the lie, to their prophets, until they tasted Our might, Our chastisement. Say; `Have you any knowledge, that God is satisfied with this, such that you can adduce for us?, that is, you have no such knowledge. You follow only supposition, in this [matter], merely guessing', telling lies therein.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

A False Notion and its Rebuttal

Allah tells;

سَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ

Those who committed Shirk say;

Here Allah mentioned a debate with the idolators, refuting a false notion they have over their Shirk and the things that they prohibited.

They said, surely, Allah has full knowledge of the Shirk we indulge in, and that we forbid some kinds of wealth. Allah is able to change this Shirk by directing us to the faith, - they claimed - and prevent us from falling into disbelief, but He did not do that. Therefore - they said Allah indicated that He willed, decided and agreed that we do all this. They said,

لَوْ شَاء اللّهُ مَا أَشْرَكْنَا وَلَا ابَاوُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمْنَا مِن شَيْءٍ

"If Allah had willed, we would not have taken partners (in worship) with Him, nor would our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything."

Allah said in another Ayah,

وَقَالُواْ لَوْ شَأءَ الرَّحْمَـنُ مَا عَبَدْنَـهُمْ

And they said;"If it had been the will of the Most Gracious (Allah), we should not have worshipped them (false deities)." (43;20)

Similar is mentioned in Surah An-Nahl.

Allah said next,

كَذَلِكَ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم

Likewise belied those who were before them,

for by using and relying on this understanding, the misguided ones before them were led astray. This notion is false and ungrounded, for had it been true, Allah would not have harmed them, destroyed them, aided His honorable Messengers over them, and made them taste His painful punishment.

حَتَّى ذَاقُواْ بَأْسَنَا

till they tasted Our wrath.

قُلْ هَلْ عِندَكُم مِّنْ عِلْمٍ

Say;"Have you any knowledge..."

that Allah is pleased with you and with your ways,

فَتُخْرِجُوهُ لَنَا

that you can produce before us.

and make it plain, apparent and clear for us.

However,

إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ الظَّنَّ

Verily, you only follow the Zann,

doubts and wishful thinking,

وَإِنْ أَنتُمْ إَلاَّ تَخْرُصُونَ



and you do nothing but lie.

about Allah in the false claims that you utter.

Allah said next,

قُلْ فَلِلّهِ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَالِغَةُ فَلَوْ شَاء لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ