سورة النِّسَاء
Surah Al-Nisâ’ 4:46
The Women · Verse 46 of 176
مِنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُوا يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَاسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَاعِنَا لَيًّا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِي الدِّينِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَاسْمَعْ وَانْظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَٰكِنْ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Abdul Mannan Omar
(These enemies of yours are) of those who are judaised. They tear the words from their context and say, `We hear and we disobey,´ and (say), `Lend us an ear, O you to whom no one would lend an ear!´ and (say,) `Râ`inâ´, giving a slight twist to their tongues (while pronouncing the word and thereby) slandering the true meanings (and thus making a play with the word) and seeking to injure the Faith. It would have been better and more upright on their part to have said, `We hear and we obey;´ and `Lend us an ear;´ and `Unzurnâ´ (we beg your attention)´. Allâh has disapproved of them because of their disbelief so that they will not believe, excepting a few (of them).
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Of the Jews there are those who displace words from their (right) places, and say: "We hear and we disobey"; and "Hear what is not Heard"; and "Ra'ina"; with a twist of their tongues and a slander to Faith. If only they had said: "What hear and we obey"; and "Do hear"; and "Do look at us"; it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allah hath cursed them for their Unbelief; and but few of them will believe.
Ahmed Ali
Some among the Jews distort the words out of context and say (in place of the right words): "We have heard and do not obey;" and, "hear without hearing," and "listen to us," twisting their tongues and reviling the faith. But if they had said: "We have heard and obey," and, "hear and regard us," it would have been better for them and more appropriate. But God has disgraced them for their lack of belief; and so only a few of them believe.
12 more translations
Ali Unal
Among those who have become Jews (Judaized) are some who alter the words from their context to distort their meanings, and say: "We have heard and we disobey," and, "Do hear us, may you turn dumb," (while pretending to say: "Will you hearken to us, O respected one!"), and "Listen to us! May you become deaf, O shepherd!" (while pretending to say: "Attend to us!") – thus making a malicious play with their tongues and seeking to revile the (True) Religion. Had they but said, "We have heard and we obey," and "Listen to us," and "Favor us with your attention!", it would indeed have been for their own good, and more upright. But God has excluded them from His mercy because of their (willful, persistent) unbelief, and, but for a few, scarcely do they believe.
Daryabadi
Of those who are Judaised, are they who pervert Words from their meanings and say: We hear and we disobey, and: hear thou without being made to hear, and RA´INA, twisting their tongues and scoffing at the faith! And had they said: we hear and obey, and: hear thou, and: UNZURNA, it had surely been better for them and more upright. But Allah hath cursed them for their infidelity, wherefore they shall not believe, save a few.
Faridul Haque
Some of the Jews interchange the words from their places and say, “We hear and disobey” - and they say “Hear- may you not be able to hear” - and they say “Raena (Be considerate towards us)” distorting it with their tongues and in order to slander religion; had they said, “We hear and we obey” and “Kindly listen to us, O dear Prophet,” and “Look mercifully upon us, O dear Prophet”, it would have been much better for them and more just - but Allah has cursed them for their disbelief; so they do not believe except a little.
Maulana Muhammad Ali
Some of those who are Jews alter words from their places and say, We have heard and we disobey; and (say), Hear without being made to hear, and (say), Raina, distorting with their tongues and slandering religion. And if they had said, We hear and we obey, and hearken, and unzurna, it would have been better for them and more upright; but Allah has cursed them on account of their disbelief, so they believe not but a little.
Maulvi Sher Ali
There were some among the Jews who pervert words from their proper places . And they say, `We hear and we disobey' and `hear us and may God's Word never be heard by you,' and they say, `Ra'ina.' They say all this twisting with their tongues and seeking to injure the Faith. And if they had said, `We hear and we obey,' and hear thou,' and `Unzurna,' it would have been better for them and more upright. But ALLAH has cursed them for their disbelief; so they believe but little.
Muhammad Asad
Among those of the Jewish faith there are some who distort the meaning of the [revealed] words, taking them out of their context and saying, [as it were,] "We have heard, but we disobey," and, "Hear without hearkening," and, "Hearken thou unto us, (O Muhammad)" - thus making a play with their tongues, and implying that the [true] Faith is false. And had they but said, "We have heard, and we pay heed," and "Hear [us], and have patience with us," it would indeed have been for their own good, and more upright: but God has rejected them because of their refusal to acknowledge the truth - for it is in but few things that they believe.
Muhammad Musin Khan
Among those who are Jews, there are some who displace words from (their) right places and say: "We hear your word (O Muhammad SAW ) and disobey," and "Hear and let you (O Muhammad SAW) hear nothing." And Ra'ina with a twist of their tongues and as a mockery of the religion (Islam). And if only they had said: "We hear and obey", and "Do make us understand," it would have been better for them, and more proper, but Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not except a few.
Muhammad Pickthall
Some of those who are Jews change words from their context and say: "We hear and disobey; hear thou as one who heareth not" and "Listen to us!" distorting with their tongues and slandering religion. If they had said: "We hear and we obey: hear thou, and look at us" it had been better for them, and more upright. But Allah hath cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not, save a few.
Muhammad Sarwar
Some Jews take certain words out of context and by twisting their tongues to make a jest out of the true religion, say, "We heard and (in our hearts ) disobeyed. (Muhammad) ra`ina (be kind to us) but they intend thereby (the meaning in their own language): "Listen! May God turn you deaf." They should have said, "We heard and obeyed. (Muhammad) listen and consider our question." This would have been better for them and more righteous. God has condemned them for their disbelief, thus, no one, except a few among them, will have faith.
Muhammed ali Shakir
Of those who are Jews (there are those who) alter words from their places and say: We have heard and we disobey and: Hear, may you not be made to hear! and: Raina, distorting (the word) with their tongues and taunting about religion; and if they had said (instead): We have heard and we obey, and hearken, and unzurna it would have been better for them and more upright; but Allah has cursed them on account of their unbelief, so they do not believe but a little.
Rashad Khalifa
Among those who are Jewish, some distort the words beyond the truth, and they say, "We hear, but we disobey," and "Your words are falling on deaf ears," and "Raa'ena (be our shepherd)," as they twist their tongues to mock the religion. Had they said, "We hear, and we obey," and "We hear you," and "Unzurna (watch over us)," it would have been better for them, and more righteous. Instead, they have incurred condemnation from GOD due to their disbelief. Consequently, the majority of them cannot believe.
Shabbir Ahmed
Some of those who are Jews, distort words to give a different meaning. They say, "We hear and we disobey,” and "Your words are falling on deaf ears,” and "Be our shepherd," and they twist their tongues to mock the Deen. It would have been better and more upright for them to say, “We hear and we obey,” and “We hear you,” and “Please watch over us and guide us.” Instead, they have incurred deprivation from the grace of God due to their denial of the truth. Few of them will embrace belief.
Commentary 4:46 The verb Yaqûlûnaيَقُولُونَ is derived from qâla قالَ meaning “they say.” It is used not only for speech, but also for what one expresses by ones…
مِّنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُوا يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَاسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَاعِنَا لَيًّا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِي الدِّينِ
4:46 The verb Yaqûlûnaيَقُولُونَ is derived from qâla قالَ meaning “they say.” It is used not only for speech, but also for what one expresses by ones condition or conduct. It is also used for whispering. In verse 2:30 the word qâla has been used in all these senses. The expression “you to whom no one would lend an ear” (غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ) also means, “you may not be made to hear,” “you may not hear by reason of deafness”; “you may not hear any speech or news which you would like to hear or which may please you,” or “you may not be obeyed.” For the expression râ‘ina رَاعِنَاand for the ambiguity introduced into this expression by the Jews as mentioned previously, see 2:104.