Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 98

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And among the Bedouins there are those who take what they spend as a fine, and they look forward to the cycles of time to turn against you. Upon those is the evil cycle. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And among the nomads are those who consider what they donate to be a loss and await your misfortune. May ill-fortune befall them! And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Among the Bedouins are some who consider what they spend as a loss and await some misfortune to befall you. May ill-fortune befall them! And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

A. J. Arberry

Some of the Bedouins take what they expend for a fine, and await the turns of fortune to go against you. Theirs shall be the evil turn; God is All-hearing, All-knowing.

Abdul Haleem

Some of the desert Arabs consider what they give to be an imposition; they are waiting for fortune to turn against you, but fortune will turn against them. God is all hearing and all knowing.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And of the dwellers of the desert is one who taketh that which he expen deth as a fine, and waiteth for evil turns of fortune for you. Upon them shall be the evil turn of fortune. And Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Some of the desert Arabs look upon their payments as a fine, and watch for disasters for you; on them be the disaster of evil; for Allah is He That heareth and knoweth (all things).

Abul Ala Maududi

And among the bedouin Arabs there are such as regard whatever they spend (in the Way of Allah) as a fine and wait for some misfortune to befall you. May ill fortune befall them! Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Ahmed Ali

Some of these rustics take whatever they spend in the way of God as a penalty, and wait for an adverse turn in your fortune. For them will be the adverse change, as God hears all and knows everything.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And some of the ignorant are those who when spending in Allah's cause consider it a ransom, and await the coming of the cycles (of misfortunes) upon you; upon them only is the evil cycle of misfortune; and Allah is All Hearing, All Knowing.

Ali Quli Qarai

Among the Bedouins are those who regard what they spend as a loss, and they watch for a reversal of your fortunes. Theirs shall be an adverse turn of fortune, and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

Ali Ünal

Among the Bedouin Arabs there are such as take what they spend (as Prescribed Alms and the contributions they are called on to make in God’s cause) as a fine, and wait for some misfortune to befall you; theirs will be the evil turn. God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And some of the Arabs of the desert regard whatever they spend (in the cause of Allâh) as an undue fine, and they wait for the calamities to (befall) you. On themselves (shall fall) an even worse calamity. And Allâh is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

English Literal

And from the Arabs who takes what he spends (as) an obligated burden/monetary harm/loss , and he waits/remains with you the circles/disasters; on them (is) the bad/evil circle/disaster, and God (is) hearing/listening, knowledgeable.

Faridul Haque

And some of the ignorant are those who when spending in Allah´s cause consider it a ransom, and await the coming of the cycles (of misfortunes) upon you; upon them only is the evil cycle of misfortune; and Allah is All Hearing, All Knowing.

Hamid S. Aziz

And of the wandering Arabs of the desert are some who take what they spend (in the cause of Allah) to be a loss (or a fine, punishment), and they wait for a turn of fortune against you; but the turn of evil fortune shall be against them. Allah is Hearer and Knower.

Hilali & Khan

And of the bedouins there are some who look upon what they spend (in Allah's Cause) as a fine and watch for calamities for you, on them be the calamity of evil. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

The dwellers of the desert are hardest in disbelief and hypocrisy, and most disposed not to know the limits of what Allah has revealed to His Messenger. And Allah is Knowing, Wise.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And of the dwellers of the desert are those who take what they spend to be a fine, and they wait (the befalling of) calamities to you; on them (will be) the evil calamity; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And of the wandering Arabs there is he who taketh that which he expendeth (for the cause of Allah) as a loss, and awaiteth (evil) turns of fortune for you (that he may be rid of it). The evil turn of fortune will be theirs. Allah is Hearer, Knower.

Muhammad Sarwar

Whatever some of the desert dwelling Arabs spend for the cause of God, they consider it a loss to themselves. They wish to see you in trouble. Trouble has struck them already. God is All-hearing and All-knowing.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Some Arabs (Banu Asad and Ghatfan tribes) regard what they spend as a (compulsory) fine and wait for some misfortune to befall you. Theirs shall be the evil turn! Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And of the bedouins there are some who look upon what they spend (in Allah's cause) as a fine and watch for calamities for you, on them be the calamity of evil. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Wahiduddin Khan

Some desert Arabs regard what they give for the cause of God as a fine and wait for some misfortune to befall you. May ill-fortune befall them! God hears all and knows all.

Talal Itani

And among the Desert-Arabs are those who consider their contribution to be a fine. And they wait for a reversal of your fortunes. Upon them will fall the cycle of misfortune. God is Hearing and Knowing.

Tafsir jalalayn

And of the Bedouins there is he who takes what he expends, in the way of God, as a penalty, as a liability and a [financial] loss, because he does not aspire to be rewarded for it, but expends it out of fear; these were Ban Asad and [Ban] Ghatafn; and awaits for you [evil] turns of fortune, the fortunes of time, for you, that these should turn against you, and so be rid [of you]. Theirs shall be the evil (read as al-s`, or al- saw`) turn of fortune, that is, chastisement and destruction shall turn on them, not on you. And God is Hearer, of the sayings of His servants, Knower, of their actions.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَمِنَ الَاعْرَابِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ

And of the Bedouins there are some who look upon what they spend,

in Allah's cause),

مَغْرَمًا

as a fine,

as a loss and a burden,

وَيَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمُ الدَّوَايِرَ

and watch for calamities for you,

awaiting afflictions and disasters to strike you,

عَلَيْهِمْ دَايِرَةُ السَّوْءِ

on them be the calamity of evil,

evil will touch them instead,

وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ



And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Allah hears the invocation of His servants and knows who deserves victory, who deserve failure.

Allah's said