Al-Qur'an Surah Al-A'raf Verse 168

Mufti Taqi Usmani

We divided them on the earth as separate communities. Some of them were righteous, while some others were otherwise. We tested them with good and bad times, so that they might return.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

We dispersed them through the land in groups—some were righteous, others were less so. We tested them with prosperity and adversity, so perhaps they would return ˹to the Right Path˺.

Ruwwad Translation Center

We scattered them through the land in communities – some of them were righteous and others were less so. We tested them with both prosperity and adversity, so that they would return.

A. J. Arberry

And We cut them up into nations in the earth, some of them righteous, and some of them otherwise; and We tried them with good things and evil, that haply they should return.

Abdul Haleem

We dispersed them over the earth in separate communities- some are righteous and some less so: We tested them with blessings and misfortunes, so that they might all return [to righteousness]-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And We cut them up into communities on the earth; some of them righteous, and some of them otherwise; and We proved them wifh good and evil that haply they may return.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We broke them up into sections on this earth. There are among them some that are the righteous, and some that are the opposite. We have tried them with both prosperity and adversity; In order that they might turn (to us).

Abul Ala Maududi

And We dispersed them through the earth in communities - some were righteous, others were not -and We tested them with prosperity and adversity that they may turn back (to righteousness).

Ahmed Ali

We dispersed them in groups over the earth, some righteous, some otherwise; and We tried them with good things and bad, that they may haply turn back.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And We divided them in the earth as separate groups; some of them are righteous and some are the other type; and We tested them with good (favours) and evil things (adversities) so that they may return.

Ali Quli Qarai

We dispersed them into communities around the earth: some of them were righteous, and some of them otherwise, and We tested them with good and bad [times] so that they may come back.

Ali Ünal

And We have split them up on the earth as separate communities. Among them are those who are righteous, and those who are not; and We have tested them with blessings as well as with afflictions, that they might turn back (to the right way from the misleading paths they follow).

Amatul Rahman Omar

And We broke them up into (separate) sections of peoples on the earth, of which some are the righteous and some otherwise, and We went on distinguishing the good among them from the evil ones, through prosperity and adversity (both) so that they might turn (to Us).

English Literal

And We separated/divided them in the earth/Planet Earth (into) nations, from them the correct/righteous people, and from them other than that, and We tested them with the goodnesses and the sins/crimes, maybe/perhaps they return.

Faridul Haque

And We divided them in the earth as separate groups; some of them are righteous and some are the other type; and We tested them with good (favours) and evil things (adversities) so that they may return.

Hamid S. Aziz

We broke them up into sections in the earth. Among them are some who are righteous, and among them are those who are the opposite. We have tried them with good things and with bad things, that per chance (or possibly) they may return (to Us).

Hilali & Khan

And We have broken them (i.e. the Jews) up into various separate groups on the earth, some of them are righteous and some are away from that. And We tried them with good (blessings) and evil (calamities) in order that they might turn (to Allah's Obedience).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when thy Lord declared that He would send against them to the day of Resurrection those who would subject them to severe torment. Surely thy Lord is Quick in requiting; and surely He is Forgiving, Merciful.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And We cut them up on the earth into parties, (some) of them being righteous and (others) of them falling short of that, and We tried them with blessings and misfortunes that they might turn.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And We have sundered them in the earth as (separate) nations. Some of them are righteous, and some far from that. And We have tried them with good things and evil things that haply they might return.

Muhammad Sarwar

We divided them into nations on the earth; some are righteous and others are not. We tested them with well-being and hardship so that they might return (to the right path).

Qaribullah & Darwish

We dispersed them through the earth in nations some were righteous, others were not, and tested them with good and evil in order that they return.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And We have broken them (the Jews) up into various separate groups on the earth: some of them are righteous and some are away from that. And We tried them with good (blessings) and evil (calamities) in order that they might turn (to Allah).

Wahiduddin Khan

We split them up into sections on the earth. Some of them are righteous while some of them are otherwise, and We tested them with blessings and misfortunes, so that they might return to the right path.

Talal Itani

And We scattered them into communities on earth. Some of them righteous, and some of them short of that. And We tested them with fortunes and misfortunes, so that they may return.

Tafsir jalalayn

And We divided them, We separated them, into communities, sects, in the earth. Some of them are righteous, and some of them, people [who], are otherwise, disbelievers and wicked individuals. And We tried them with good things, with graces, and evil things, with misfortunes, so that they might revert, from their wickedness.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Children of Israel scatter throughout the Land

Allah tells;

وَقَطَّعْنَاهُمْ فِي الَارْضِ أُمَمًا

And We have broken them (the Jews) up into various separate groups on the earth;

Allah states that He divided the Jews into various nations, sects and groups,

وَقُلْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِ لِبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ اسْكُنُواْ الاٌّرْضَ فَإِذَا جَأءَ وَعْدُ الاٌّخِرَةِ جِيْنَا بِكُمْ لَفِيفًا

And We said to the Children of Israel after him (after Musa died);"Dwell in the land, then, when the final and the last promise comes near, We shall bring you altogether as a mixed crowd (gathered out of various nations)." (17;104)

مِّنْهُمُ الصَّالِحُونَ وَمِنْهُمْ دُونَ ذَلِكَ

some of them are righteous and some are away from that,

some of them are led aright and some are not righteous, just as the Jinns declared,

وَأَنَّا مِنَّا الصَّـلِحُونَ وَمِنَّا دُونَ ذَلِكَ كُنَّا طَرَايِقَ قِدَداً

"There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary; we are groups having different ways (religious sects)." (72;11)

Allah said here,

وَبَلَوْنَاهُمْ

And We tried them,

and tested them,

بِالْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّيَاتِ

with good and evil,

with times of ease, difficulty, eagerness, fear, well-being and affliction,

لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ



in order that they might turn (to Allah).

Allah said next