Popular Translations
Muhammad Asad
Art thou not aware of those elders of the children of Israel, after the time of Moses, how they said unto a prophet of theirs, "Raise up a king for us, [and] we shall fight in God's cause"? Said he: "Would you, perchance, refrain from fighting if fighting is ordained for you?" They answered: "And why should we not fight in God's cause when we and our children have been driven from our homelands?" Yet, when fighting was ordained for them, they did turn back, save for a few of them; but God had full knowledge of the evildoers
Arthur John Arberry
Hast thou not regarded the Council of the Children of Israel, after Moses, when they said to a Prophet of theirs, 'Raise up for us a king, and we will fight in God's way.' He said, 'Might it be that, if fighting is prescribed for you, you will not fight?' They said, 'Why should we not fight in God's way, who have been expelled from our habitations and our children?' Yet when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned their backs except a few of them; and God has knowledge of the evildoers
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
Hast thou not Turned thy vision to the Chiefs of the Children of Israel after (the time of) Moses? they said to a prophet (That was) among them: "Appoint for us a king, that we May fight in the cause of Allah." He said: "Is it not possible, if ye were commanded to fight, that that ye will not fight?" They said: "How could we refuse to fight in the cause of Allah, seeing that we were turned out of our homes and our families?" but when they were commanded to fight, they turned back, except a small band among them. But Allah Has full knowledge of those who do wrong
Arabic
أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَإِ مِنۢ بَنِیۤ إِسۡرَ ٰۤءِیلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مُوسَىٰۤ إِذۡ قَالُوا۟ لِنَبِیࣲّ لَّهُمُ ٱبۡعَثۡ لَنَا مَلِكࣰا نُّقَـٰتِلۡ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِۖ قَالَ هَلۡ عَسَیۡتُمۡ إِن كُتِبَ عَلَیۡكُمُ ٱلۡقِتَالُ أَلَّا تُقَـٰتِلُوا۟ۖ قَالُوا۟ وَمَا لَنَاۤ أَلَّا نُقَـٰتِلَ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَدۡ أُخۡرِجۡنَا مِن دِیَـٰرِنَا وَأَبۡنَاۤىِٕنَاۖ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَیۡهِمُ ٱلۡقِتَالُ تَوَلَّوۡا۟ إِلَّا قَلِیلࣰا مِّنۡهُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِیمُۢ بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِینَ ٢٤٦
Transliteration (2021)
alam tara ilā l-mala-i min banī is'rāīla min baʿdi mūsā idh qālū linabiyyin lahumu ib'ʿath lanā malikan nuqātil fī sabīli l-lahi qāla hal ʿasaytum in kutiba ʿalaykumu l-qitālu allā tuqātilū qālū wamā lanā allā nuqātila fī sabīli l-lahi waqad ukh'rij'nā min diyārinā wa-abnāinā falammā kutiba ʿalayhimu l-qitālu tawallaw illā qalīlan min'hum wal-lahu ʿalīmun bil-ẓālimīn