The Quran

سورة سَبَإ

Surah Saba’ 34:19

Sheba · Verse 19 of 54

فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا بَاعِدْ بَيْنَ أَسْفَارِنَا وَظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ فَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ وَمَزَّقْنَاهُمْ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ

Abdul Mannan Omar

But (due to their ingratitude) they wanted (as if) to say, `Our Lord! make longer the distance between (the stages of) our journeys.´ And they did injustice to themselves. So We reduced them to mere legends and We broke them into complete disintegration (and scattered them far and wide). Behold! there are signs in this for all those who are patiently- persevering and highly grateful persons.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But they said: "Our Lord! Place longer distances between our journey-stages": but they wronged themselves (therein). At length We made them as a tale (that is told), and We dispersed them all in scattered fragments. Verily in this are Signs for every (soul that is) patiently constant and grateful.

Ahmed Ali

But they said: "O Lord, make the distance between the stages of our journeys longer;" but (by doing so) they wronged themselves. So We turned them into bygone tales, and dispersed them, scattered in all directions. Surely there are signs in this for those who endeavour and are grateful.

12 more translations

Ali Unal

But (this comfort and security spoiled them, and) they said: "Our Lord! Make the distances between our travel-stages longer!" , and they wronged themselves (by committing sins). So We caused them to become one of the legends (to circulate among later generations about the distant past), and dispersed them around in numerous fragments. Surely in that are signs (important lessons) for all who are greatly patient and perseverant (in obedience to God and in adversity for His sake), and greatly thankful (for His favors).

Daryabadi

Then they said: Our Lord make the distance between our journeys longer. And they wronged themselves. Wherefore We made them by words and dispersed them with a total dispersion. Verily herein are signs for every persevering, grateful persons.

Faridul Haque

So they said, “Our Lord! Make the stage between our journeys longer” and they wronged themselves – We therefore turned them into fables and scattered them completely with adversity; indeed in this are signs for every greatly enduring, most grateful person.

Maulana Muhammad Ali

But they said: Our Lord, make longer stages between our journeys. And they wronged themselves; so We made them stories and scattered them a total scattering. Surely there are signs in this for every patient, grateful one.

Maulvi Sher Ali

But instead of giving thanks to God, they said, `Our Lord, place longer distances between the stages of our journeys.' And they wronged themselves; so WE made them bywords and WE broke them into pieces, an utter breaking up. In that, verily, are Signs for every steadfast and grateful person.

Muhammad Asad

But now they would say, "Long has our Sustainer made the distance between our journey-stages !" for they had sinned against themselves. And in the end We caused them to become [one of those] tales [of things long past], and scattered them in countless fragments.

Muhammad Musin Khan

But they said: "Our Lord! Make the stages between our journey longer," and they wronged themselves, so We made them as tales (in the land), and We dispersed them all, totally. Verily, in this are indeed signs for every steadfast grateful (person).

Muhammad Pickthall

But they said: Our Lord! Make the stage between our journeys longer. And they wronged themselves, therefore We made them bywords (in the land) and scattered them abroad, a total scattering. Lo! herein verily are portents for each steadfast, grateful (heart).

Muhammad Sarwar

They said, "Lord, make the distances of our journeys longer." They did injustice to themselves and We turned their existence into ancient tales by making them disintegrate totally. In this there is evidence (of the truth) for every forbearing and grateful person.

Muhammed ali Shakir

And they said: O our Lord! make spaces to be longer between our journeys; and they were unjust to themselves so We made them stories and scattered them with an utter scattering; most surely there are signs in this for every patient, grateful one

Rashad Khalifa

But they (turned unappreciative and) challenged: "Our Lord, we do not care if You increase the distance of our journeys (without any stations)." They thus wronged their own souls. Consequently, we made them history, and scattered them into small communities throughout the land. This should provide lessons for those who are steadfast, appreciative.

Shabbir Ahmed

But now they would say, “Our Lord has made our journey-stages very distant.” They wronged people and thus harmed themselves. Consequently, We made them and their formidable empire, history, dispersing them in fragments (as diasporas). Herein are signs for individuals and communities who would patiently draw lessons from history and be grateful (for what they learn).

Commentary 34:19 They did not necessarily pray with the actual words,”Our Lord! Make longer the distance between our journeys”. The supplication put in their mouths is…

فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا بَاعِدْ بَيْنَ أَسْفَارِنَا وَظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ فَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ وَمَزَّقْنَاهُمْ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ ۚ

34:19 They did not necessarily pray with the actual words,”Our Lord! Make longer the distance between our journeys”. The supplication put in their mouths is descriptive of their actual condition when they disobeyed the commandments of their Lord. The prosperous and frequented routes became deserted, desolate and increasingly dangerous and as a result the time to travel the distance between one stage to another increased. There was a mass exodus of their tribes in all directions and thus they were eventually reduced to mere fables.