The Quran

سورة الاٴحقاف

Surah Al-Ahqâf 46:24

The Sand Dunes · Verse 24 of 35

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضًا مُسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ قَالُوا هَٰذَا عَارِضٌ مُمْطِرُنَا ۚ بَلْ هُوَ مَا اسْتَعْجَلْتُمْ بِهِ ۖ رِيحٌ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Abdul Mannan Omar

Then, when they saw this (punishment they were threatened with) in the form of a cloud (spreading in the sky) heading towards their valleys, they said, `This is a cloud which will rain over us.´ (They were told,) `It is no such thing, rather it is that (punishment) which you sought to hasten. (It is) a hurricane carrying a woeful punishment.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Then, when they saw the (Penalty in the shape of) a cloud traversing the sky, coming to meet their valleys, they said, "This cloud will give us rain!" "Nay, it is the (Calamity) ye were asking to be hastened!- A wind wherein is a Grievous Penalty!

Ahmed Ali

So when they saw it as a cloud advancing towards their valleys, they said: "This is just a passing cloud that will bring us rain." "No. It is what you were trying to hasten: The wind which carries the grievous punishment!

12 more translations

Ali Unal

Then (as the events unfolded) they saw that (which they were threatened with) as a dense cloud in the sky advancing towards their valleys, and they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain." No; it is what you have (derisively) asked to be hastened: a wind bearing a painful punishment,

Daryabadi

Then when they beheld it as an overpeering cloud tending toward their valleys they said: yonder is an overpeering cloud bringing us rain. Nay it is that which ye sought to be hastened: a wind wherein is a torment afflictive.

Faridul Haque

So when they saw the punishment coming towards their valleys, spread like a cloud on the horizon, they said, “That is a cloud which will shower rain upon us”; said Hud “In fact this is what you were being impatient for; a windstorm carrying a painful punishment.”

Maulana Muhammad Ali

So when they saw it -- a cloud advancing towards their valleys, they said: This is a cloud bringing us rain. Nay, it is that which you sought to hasten, a wind wherein is painful chastisement.

Maulvi Sher Ali

Then, when they saw the punishment coming towards their valleys in the form of a cloud, they said, `This is a cloud which will give us rain.' We said, `Nay, but it is that which you sought to hasten - a wind wherein is a grievous punishment;

Muhammad Asad

And so, when they beheld it in the shape of a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they exclaimed, "This is but a heavy cloud which will bring us [welcome] rain!"

Muhammad Musin Khan

Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud coming towards their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Nay, but it is that (torment) which you were asking to be hastened! a wind wherein is a painful torment!

Muhammad Pickthall

Then, when they beheld it as a dense cloud coming toward their valleys, they said: Here is a cloud bringing us rain. Nay, but it is that which ye did seek to hasten, a wind wherein is painful torment,

Muhammad Sarwar

When they saw the torment as a cloud proceeding to their valleys, they said, "This cloud will bring us rain." He said, "No, it is the torment which you wanted to suffer immediately. It is a wind bearing and painful torment.

Muhammed ali Shakir

So when they saw it as a cloud appearing in the sky advancing towards their valleys, they said: This is a cloud which will give us rain. Nay! it is what you sought to hasten on, a blast of wind in which is a painful punishment,

Rashad Khalifa

When they saw the storm heading their way, they said, "This storm will bring to us much needed rain." Instead, this is what you challenged (Hood) to bring; violent wind wherein there is painful retribution.

Shabbir Ahmed

And so, when they saw a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they said, “Here is a dense cloud bringing us the needed rain.” Nay, this is the very thing you were asking to be hastened – a wind wherein is a grievous torment,