Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Jinn Verse 9

Mufti Taqi Usmani

and that we used to sit at places therein to listen; but if one will (try to) listen now, he will find a flame in ambush for him,

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

We used to take up positions there for eavesdropping, but whoever dares eavesdrop now will find a flare lying in wait for them.

Ruwwad Translation Center

We used to take up positions there for eavesdropping, but now anyone who eavesdrops will find a flaming fire waiting for him.

A. J. Arberry

We would sit there on seats to hear; but any listening now finds a meteor in wait for him.

Abdul Haleem

we used to sit in places there, listening, but anyone trying to listen now will find a shooting star lying in wait for him––

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And we were wont to sit on seats therein to listen; but whosoever listeneth now findeth for him a dartin meteor in wait.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

'We used, indeed, to sit there in (hidden) stations, to (steal) a hearing; but any who listen now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.

Abul Ala Maududi

and that “we would take up stations in the heaven to try to hear but anyone who now attempts to listen finds a shooting meteor in wait for him”;

Ahmed Ali

We sat in observatories to listen; but any one who listened found a shooting star in wait for him.

Ahmed Raza Khan

‘And that we sometimes used to sit in some places in the sky, to listen; so whoever now listens finds a fiery comet waiting for him.’

Ali Quli Qarai

We used to sit in its positions to eavesdrop, but anyone listening now finds a flame waiting for him.

Ali Ünal

‘We used to be established in position to overhear (its inhabitants); but now whoever attempts to listen finds a flaming fire in wait for him.

Amatul Rahman Omar

"And that we used to sit in some of the observatories to listen to something. But he that tries to listen (in order to forecast some event) now (with the advent of Islam) finds a shooting star in ambush for him.

English Literal

`And that we, we were sitting/remaining (in position) from it (in) seats/sitting places (positions) for the hearing/listening, so who hears/listens now finds for him a light from a fire source/star/flame (shooting star) watching/observing (ambushing) (him).`

Faridul Haque

‘And that we sometimes used to sit in some places in the sky, to listen; so whoever now listens finds a fiery comet waiting for him.’

Hamid S. Aziz

"And we used to sit in some high hidden places therein to steal a hearing, but he who would try to listen now would find a flame lying in wait for him:

Hilali & Khan

'And verily, we used to sit there in stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when we heard the guidance, we believed in it. So whoever believes in his Lord, he fears neither loss nor injustice:

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And that we used to sit in some of the sitting-places thereof to steal a hearing, but he who would (try to) listen now would find a flame lying in wait for him:

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And we used to sit on places (high) therein to listen. But he who listeneth now findeth a flame in wait for him;

Muhammad Sarwar

We used to sit near by and try to listen to the heavens, but shooting flames now await those who try to do that.

Qaribullah & Darwish

There, we would sit to eavesdrop, but now an eavesdropper finds a flame in wait for him.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

`And verily, we used to sit there in stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.'

Wahiduddin Khan

we used to take up a position to listen, but whoever listens now finds a flaming fire lying in wait for him --

Talal Itani

We used to take up positions to listen in; but whoever listens now finds a projectile in wait for him.

Tafsir jalalayn

And we used to, that is to say, before his Mission, sit in [certain] places therein to listen in; but anyone listening now will find a meteor lying in wait for him, aimed at him, ready to strike him.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

And we have sought to reach the heaven; but found it filled with stern guards and flaming fires. And verily, we used to sit there in stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.

meaning, whoever would like to steal some information by listening, he will find a flaming fire waiting in ambush for him. It will not pass him or miss him, but it will wipe him out and destroy him completely.

وَأَنَّا لَاأ نَدْرِي أَشَرٌّ أُرِيدَ بِمَن فِي الاْأَرْضِ أَمْ أَرَادَ بِهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ رَشَدًا