Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Jumu'ah Verse 11

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And when they see some merchandise or amusement, they break away to it, and leave you (O prophet,) standing. Say, “What is with Allah is much better than the amusement and the merchandise, and Allah is the best giver of sustenance.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

When they saw the fanfare along with the caravan, they ˹almost all˺ flocked to it, leaving you ˹O Prophet˺ standing ˹on the pulpit˺. Say, “What is with Allah is far better than amusement and merchandise. And Allah is the Best Provider.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

When they see some merchandise or amusement, they rush towards it and leave you standing. Say, “That which is with Allah is better than amusement and merchandise, and Allah is the Best of Providers.”

A. J. Arberry

But when they see merchandise or diversion they scatter off to it, and they leave thee standing. Say: 'What is with God is better than diversion and merchandise. God is the best of providers.'

Abdul Haleem

Yet they scatter towards trade or entertainment whenever they observe it, and leave you [Prophet] standing there. Say, ‘God’s gift is better than any entertainment or trade: God is the best provider.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And when they beheld merchandise or sport, they flocked thereto, and left thee standing. Say thou: that which is with Allah is better than sport and better than merchandise; and Allah is the Best of providers.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But when they see some bargain or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave thee standing. Say; "The (blessing) from the Presence of Allah is better than any amusement or bargain! and Allah is the Best to provide (for all needs)."

Abul Ala Maududi

Yet no sooner than they saw some trading or amusement, they flocked to it and left you standing by yourself. Tell them: “That which is with Allah is far better than amusement and trading. Allah is the Best Provider of sustenance.”

Ahmed Ali

Yet when they see some buying and selling, or some sport, they go for it, leaving you standing. Tell them: "What is with God is better than your sport and commerce. And God is the best of providers."

Ahmed Raza Khan

And when they see some trade or sport, they move towards it and leave you standing delivering the sermon; proclaim, “That which is with Allah, is better than sport and trade; and the sustenance of Allah is the best.”

Ali Quli Qarai

When they sight a deal or a diversion, they scatter off towards it and leave you standing! Say, ‘What is with Allah is better than diversion and dealing, and Allah is the best of providers.’

Ali Ünal

Yet (it happened that) when they saw (an opportunity for) business or pastime, they broke away for it and left you standing (while preaching the sermon). Say: "What is with God is better (for you) than pastimes and business. God is the Best to be sought as provider with the ultimate rank of providing."

Amatul Rahman Omar

But (Prophet!) when some people see some merchandise or any form of amusement, they run for it and leave you standing (on the pulpit), say, `That (reward of worshipping Allâh) which Allâh has (for you) is far better than any amusement or merchandise, and Allâh is the Best of Providers.

English Literal

And if they saw/understood commercial trade/buying and selling or play things/amusement , they scattered/separated to it, and they left you standing , say: "What (is) at God (is) better than the play things/amusement and from the commercial trade/buying and selling, and God (is) best (of) the providers."

Faridul Haque

And when they see some trade or sport, they move towards it and leave you standing delivering the sermon; proclaim, “That which is with Allah, is better than sport and trade; and the sustenance of Allah is the best.”

Hamid S. Aziz

And when they see merchandise (bargains or business) or sport (amusement) they break up for it, and leave you standing. Say, "That which is with Allah is better than sport and better than merchandise, and Allah is the best of Sustainers."

Hilali & Khan

And when they see some merchandise or some amusement [beating of Tambur (drum) etc.] they disperse headlong to it, and leave you (Muhammad SAW) standing [while delivering Jumu'ah's religious talk (Khutbah)]. Say "That which Allah has is better than any amusement or merchandise! And Allah is the Best of providers."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

But when the prayer is ended, disperse abroad in the land and seek of Allah’s grace, and remember Allah much, that you may be successful.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when they see merchandise or sport they break up for It, and leave you standing. Say: What is with Allah is better than sport and (better) than merchandise, and Allah is the best of Sustainers.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

But when they spy some merchandise or pastime they break away to it and leave thee standing. Say: That which Allah hath is better than pastime and than merchandise, and Allah is the Best of providers.

Muhammad Sarwar

When they see some merchandise or some sport, they rush towards it and leave you alone standing. Say, "(God's rewards for good deeds) are better than merriment or merchandise; God is the best Sustainer".

Qaribullah & Darwish

Yet when they see some commerce or amusement they flock to it, leaving you standing. Say: 'That which is with Allah is better than the amusement and commerce. Allah is the Best of Providers'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And when they see some merchandise or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave you standing. Say: "That which Allah has is better than any amusement or merchandise! And Allah is the best of providers."

Wahiduddin Khan

Yet when they see some merchandise or entertainment, they break away to go to it and leave you standing. Say, "That which God has in store is far better than any merchandise or entertainment." God is the most munificent Giver.

Talal Itani

Yet whenever they come across some business, or some entertainment, they scramble towards it, and leave you standing. Say, “What is with God is better than entertainment and business; and God is the Best of providers.”

Tafsir jalalayn

On one occasion the Prophet (s) was delivering the Friday sermon when a caravan arrived and so, as was the custom, drums were beaten to announce its arrival, whereat the people began to leave the mosque [to go to it], all except for twelve men. The following [verse] was then revealed; But when they sight some [opportunity for] business or a diversion, they scatter off towards it, that is, towards the business, since it is what they seek more than diversion, and leave you, during the sermon, standing. Say; `That which is with God, in the way of reward, is better, for those who believe, than diversion and commerce. And God is the best of providers'. They say that every person `provides for' (yarzuqu) his dependants, [by which they mean that such a person does so] by means of the provision given by God (min rizqi'Llhi), exalted be He. Medinese, consisting of 11 verses.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Prohibition of leaving the Masjid while the Imam is delivering the Friday Sermon

Allah criticizes what happened during one Friday sermon, when a caravan arrived at Al-Madinah and the people rushed out to the merchandise.

Allah said,

وَإِذَا رَأَوْا تِجَارَةً أَوْ لَهْوًا انفَضُّوا إِلَيْهَا وَتَرَكُوكَ قَايِمًا


And when they see some merchandise or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave you standing.

meaning, on the Minbar, delivering the Khutbah.

Several of the Tabi`in said this, such as Abu Al-Aliyah, Al-Hasan, Zayd bin Aslam and Qatadah. Muqatil bin Hayyan said that the caravan belonged to Dihyah bin Khalifah before he became a Muslim, and there were drums accompanying it. So they rushed to the caravan and left Allah's Messenger standing on the Minbar. Only a few remained.

According to the authentic Hadith that Imam Ahmad recorded that Jabir said,

"Once, a caravan arrived at Al-Madinah while Allah's Messenger was giving a Khutbah. So, the people left, and only twelve men remained (with the Messenger). Then Allah sent down this Ayah,
وَإِذَا رَأَوْا تِجَارَةً أَوْ لَهْوًا انفَضُّوا إِلَيْهَا
(And when they see some merchandise or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it),"

The Two Sahihs also recorded this Hadith.

Allah's statement,
وَتَرَكُوكَ قَايِمًا
(And leave you standing), proves that the Imam should deliver the speech on Friday while standing.

In his Sahih, Imam Muslim recorded that Jabir bin Samurah said,

"(During Jumu`ah,) the Prophet gave two speeches, and he used to sit between them. The Prophet would recite the Qur'an and remind the people (of Allah)."

Allah's statement,

قُلْ مَا عِندَ اللَّهِ

Say;"That which Allah has..."

means the reward that is with Allah in the Hereafter,

خَيْرٌ مِّنَ اللَّهْوِ وَمِنَ التِّجَارَةِ

وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ



is better than any amusement or merchandise! And Allah is the best of providers.

means, for those who trust in Him and seek His provisions when they are allowed to do so.

This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Al-Jumu`ah. All praise and thanks are due to Allah and from Him comes the success and immunity from error