Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 57

Mufti Taqi Usmani

If they find a place of refuge or caves or any place to enter, they will turn towards it running (as) unbridled (horses).

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

If only they could find a refuge, or a cave, or any hiding-place, they would rush headlong towards it.

Ruwwad Translation Center

If they could find a refuge, or caves, or a place to hide, they would rush headlong to it.

A. J. Arberry

If they could find a shelter, or some caverns, or any place to creep into, they would turn about and bolt away to it.

Abdul Haleem

if they could find a place of refuge, or a cave, or somewhere to crawl into, they would run there with great haste.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Could they find a place of refuge or caverns or a retreating hole, they would turn round thereto rushing headlong.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If they could find a place to flee to, or caves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightaway thereto, with an obstinate rush.

Abul Ala Maududi

If they could find any shelter or any cavern, or any retreat, they would turn around and rush headlong into it.

Ahmed Ali

If they find a place of shelter or a cave or hole to hide, they will turn to it.

Ahmed Raza Khan

If they find some refuge, or caves, or a place to hide, they will break the bonds and return there.

Ali Quli Qarai

If they could find a refuge, or a hideout, or a hole [to creep into], they would turn to it in frantic haste.

Ali Ünal

If they could but find a place of refuge, or any cavern, or any place to creep into to hide, they would turn about and make a bolt for it.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Could they find a shelter or some caverns or any (other) place to enter into, they would certainly have turned thereto rushing headlong (for it).

English Literal

If they find a refuge/shelter or caves or an entrance they would have turned away to it, and they bolt/run away uncontrollably.

Faridul Haque

If they find some refuge, or caves, or a place to hide, they will break the bonds and return there.

Hamid S. Aziz

Could they but have found a refuge, or some caves, or a hiding place in which to creep, thither would they have rushed (jamaha = hastened with uncontrollable urgency, madly, obstinately).

Hilali & Khan

Should they find a refuge, or caves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And they swear by Allah that they are truly of you. And they are not of you, but they are a people who are afraid.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

If they could find a refuge or cave or a place to enter into, they would certainly have turned thereto, running away in all haste.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Had they but found a refuge, or caverns, or a place to enter, they surely had resorted thither swift as runaways.

Muhammad Sarwar

They are so afraid of you that had there been a place for them to seek refuge, a cave or some entrance in which to hide themselves from you, they would have madly rushed therein.

Qaribullah & Darwish

If they could find a shelter or caverns, or any place to creep into they will turn stampeding to it.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Should they find a refuge, or caves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush.

Wahiduddin Khan

if they could find a place of refuge, or a cave or any hiding-place, they would run there with frantic haste.

Talal Itani

Were they to find a shelter, or a cave, or a hideout, they would go to it, rushing.

Tafsir jalalayn

If they could find a shelter, in which to seek refuge, or some caverns, underground chambers, or any place to enter, they would turn and bolt away to it, they would hasten to enter it and get away from you with the undeterred speed of an indomitable steed.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَأً

Should they find a refuge,

such as a fort in which they hide and fortify themselves,

أَوْ مَغَارَاتٍ

or caves, (in some mountains),

أَوْ مُدَّخَلً

or a place of concealment,

According to the explanation given by Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah,

a tunnel or a hole in the ground,

لَّوَلَّوْاْ إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ



they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush.

away from you because they associate with you unwillingly, not because they are fond of you. They prefer that they do not have to mix with you, but necessity has its rules! It is because of this that they feel grief, sadness and sorrow, seeing Islam and its people enjoying ever more might, triumph and glory. Therefore, whatever pleases Muslims brings them grief, and this is why they prefer to disassociate themselves from the believers. Hence Allah's statement,

لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَأً أَوْ مَغَارَاتٍ

أَوْ مُدَّخَلً

لَّوَلَّوْاْ إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ


Should they find a refuge, or caves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush