But nay, they speak as the people of olden times did speak

No indeed, (but) they said the like of what the earliest (people) said

However, they are content to say what their ancestors said.

bal qālū mith'la mā qāla l-awalūn

Nay, they say (the) like (of) what said the former (people).

But nay, they speak as the people of olden times did speak

Nay, but they say the like of that which said the men of old

On the contrary they say things similar to what the ancients said

But they ˹just˺ say what their predecessors said.

However, they are content to say what their ancestors said.

But they say the same as the ancients said

Nay, they say the like of what the ancients said

Nay! They said the like of what the ancient ones said.

Instead they say the same thing as the first men said;

But they say just like what their forefathers said.

Nay, but they say the like of that which was said by those of old

They merely repeat what was said by those before them.

But they say the like of what the ancients said

Nay, they uttered the like of what said the earlier (misled) people

On the contrary they just say what their forefathers said before them

No indeed, (but) they said the like of what the earliest (people) said

They say exactly the same thing as the people who lived before

But they say as the earlier people had said

Nay, they say what the people of the olden times used to say

But in fact, their remarks are identical to those of their forerunners _ (the unbelievers of earlier times)

To the opposite (effect), they say things similar to what the olden (people) said

Rather, they say like what the former peoples said

No, they have said the same as what the people of old had said.

But, like others before them

Aye! they say the like of that which said the ancients

And talk as did the people of old

However, they say the same as previous peoples said.

(Instead of using their reason), they only speak as the former (disbelieving) peoples spoke

Rather they say just like what the ancients said

Nay, but they say the like of that which those of yore did say

No, but they say the same as what the earlier ones said.

Instead, they say things similar to what the people in the past said

On the contrary, the Makkans say the same as their ancestors.

Nay, but they say the like of what their predecessors of yore had said

No,they have said the same as what the people of old had said

But they say the like of what the earlier peoples said

Nay, but they said what the former used to say.

They said what their ancestors said.

No, but they said what the ancients said before them

Nay, they say the like of what the ancients said

But they said similar/equal (to) what the first/beginners said

Their response (to the Lord’s invitation) is the same as their forefathers’ saying

On the contrary, they said the same as what the former people used to say

But they say things similar to what the former people said

But these people (too) utter similar words that the former (disbelievers) used to utter

But (rather than trying to understand) they repeated what the former people had said

Nay, but they say the like of what the men of old said

Nay, but they said the like of what the ancients said

But the unbelieving Meccans say as their predecessors said

Nay, but they said like that which those of yore did say

But they say, as said those of old:

Indeed they say what the ancients said before them

Rather they said the like of that which was said by people before them.

Nay, but they say things similar to what the ancients said.

But they say things similar to what the earliest communities said.

In contradiction, they say things similar to what the people of old said.

Rather, they said the like of what the ancients had said.

Instead they say the same thing as the first men said;

Nay, but they said like, of what the formers said.

But they say like the people of old times used to say.

But they said what those before them said.

Nay, but they say the like of what the ancients said

No. they express their thoughts in words identical with those uttered by their ancestors

And He it is Who gives life and causes death and the alternation of the night and the day is due to Him. Will you not then understand?

Nay, they said like what the former people said.

On the contrary they say things similar to what the ancients said

Nay, they say (the) like (of) what said the former (people)

Bal qaloo mithla ma qala al-awwaloona