←Prev   Ayah al-Ahzab (The Clans, The Coalition, The Combined Forces, The Allies) 33:20   Next→ 

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Muhammad Asad   
They think that the Confederates have not [really] withdrawn; and should the Confederates return, these [hypocrites] would prefer to be in the desert, among the bedouin, asking for news about you, [O believers, from far away;] and even were they to find themselves in your midst, they would but make a pretence at fighting [by your side]
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
They ˹still˺ think that the enemy alliance has not ˹yet˺ withdrawn. And if the allies were to come ˹again˺, the hypocrites would wish to be away in the desert among nomadic Arabs, ˹only˺ asking for news about you ˹believers˺. And if the hypocrites were in your midst, they would hardly take part in the fight.
Safi Kaskas   
They think the war parties have not [yet] withdrawn, and, if the war parties should come [again], they would wish they were in the desert among the Bedouins, seeking news about you [from a safe distance]. Even if they were among you, they would hardly fight at all.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
یَحۡسَبُونَ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابَ لَمۡ یَذۡهَبُوا۟ۖ وَإِن یَأۡتِ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابُ یَوَدُّوا۟ لَوۡ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِی ٱلۡأَعۡرَابِ یَسۡءَلُونَ عَنۡ أَنۢبَاۤىِٕكُمۡۖ وَلَوۡ كَانُوا۟ فِیكُم مَّا قَـٰتَلُوۤا۟ إِلَّا قَلِیلࣰا ۝٢٠
Transliteration (2021)   
yaḥsabūna l-aḥzāba lam yadhhabū wa-in yati l-aḥzābu yawaddū law annahum bādūna fī l-aʿrābi yasalūna ʿan anbāikum walaw kānū fīkum mā qātalū illā qalīla
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
They think the confederates (have) not withdrawn. And if (should) come the confederates they would wish if that they (were) living in (the) desert among the Bedouins, asking about your news. And if they were among you not they would fight except a little.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
They think that the Confederates have not [really] withdrawn; and should the Confederates return, these [hypocrites] would prefer to be in the desert, among the bedouin, asking for news about you, [O believers, from far away;] and even were they to find themselves in your midst, they would but make a pretence at fighting [by your side]
M. M. Pickthall   
They hold that the clans have not retired (for good); and if the clans should advance (again), they would fain be in the desert with the wandering Arabs, asking for the news of you; and if they were among you, they would not give battle, save a little
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
They think that the Confederates have not withdrawn; and if the Confederates should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the Bedouins, and seeking news about you (from a safe distance); and if they were in your midst, they would fight but little
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
They ˹still˺ think that the enemy alliance has not ˹yet˺ withdrawn. And if the allies were to come ˹again˺, the hypocrites would wish to be away in the desert among nomadic Arabs, ˹only˺ asking for news about you ˹believers˺. And if the hypocrites were in your midst, they would hardly take part in the fight.
Safi Kaskas   
They think the war parties have not [yet] withdrawn, and, if the war parties should come [again], they would wish they were in the desert among the Bedouins, seeking news about you [from a safe distance]. Even if they were among you, they would hardly fight at all.
Wahiduddin Khan   
They thought the confederate tribes would never withdraw. Indeed, if the confederates should come again, they would prefer to be in the desert, among the Bedouins. There they would ask news of you [from a distance]. But if they were with you, they would take very little part in the fighting
Shakir   
They think the allies are not gone, and if the allies should come (again) they would fain be in the deserts with the desert Arabs asking for news about you, and if they were among you they would not fight save a little
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
They assume the confederates go not, withdrawing. And if the confederates approach you, returning, they would wish they were nomads among the ones who are desert dwellers, asking tidings about you. And if they had been among you, they would fight but a little.
T.B.Irving   
They reckon the Coalition will not go away. If the Coalition should come [again], they would like to be wandering around far away among the [desert] Arabs, asking for news about you. Yet even if they were among you, they would only fight a little.
Abdul Hye   
They thought that the confederates would not withdraw. If the confederates should come again, they would wish if they were in the deserts (wandering) among the Bedouins and ask about your news (from a safe distance); and if they happen to be among you, they would not fight but a little.
The Study Quran   
They suppose that the parties have not withdrawn, and if the parties were to come, they would wish they were in the desert among the Bedouin, seeking news of you. And were they among you, they would not fight, save a little
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
They assumed that the Confederates wouldn’t retreat. If the Confederates were to return, they would wish they were amongst the Bedouins in the desert, seeking news about you. If they were with you, they would hardly engage in battle.
Talal Itani (2012)   
They assumed that the confederates had not withdrawn. But were the confederates to advance, they would wish they were in the desert with the Bedouins, inquiring about your news. And if they were among you, they would have done little fighting
Dr. Kamal Omar   
They think that Al-Ahzab [the allied forces (jointly set by all the groups enemical to Islam)] have not yet withdrawn. And if the allied forces assault again, they would wish, perchance they were wandering in the deserts among the bedouins. They would seek news about you (Muslims), and if they happened to be amongst you, they would not fight except very little
M. Farook Malik   
They thought that the confederates would never withdraw. Indeed, if the confederates should come again, they would wish to be among the beduins and seek news about you from a safe distance; and if they happened to be with you, they would take but a little part in the fighting
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
They reckon that the (allied) parties have not gone away. And in case the (allied) parties come up, they would prefer if they were frequenters among the Arabs (Or: desert dwellers) (of the desert) asking for information about you. And if they were among you, in no way would they fight except a little
Muhammad Sarwar   
They think that the confederate tribes have not yet gone. If the confederate tribes were to attack them, they would have wished to be left alone among the bedouin Arabs where they would only follow the news about you. Even if they were with you, only a few of them would take part in the fight
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
They think that the coalition forces have not (yet) gone. And should the coalition forces come (again), they would like to be living in countryside among the Bedouins, asking (others) about your news. And even if they were to remain among you, they would not fight, but a little
Shabbir Ahmed   
They think that the enemy clans have not withdrawn. And if the confederate clans come back, these (hypocrites) would prefer to be in the desert with the Bedouins, asking for news about you, from far away. And if they were among you, they would only pretend to fight
Dr. Munir Munshey   
They think the (enemy) groups have not yet withdrawn completely. If the troops came back (to attack), they would rather like to be living among the nomadic Bedouins, keeping abreast of the news about you from afar. Even if they happened to be with you, they would hardly join the battle
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
They think that the groups (opposing Islam) have not (lost and) withdrawn; And if those groups should come (again), they wish they were in the deserts together with the (wandering) Bedouins, and trying to find news about you (from far); And if they were in among you, they will fight very little
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
They think the companies have not [yet] withdrawn. And if the companies should come [again], they would wish they were in the desert among the bedouins, inquiring [from afar] about your news. And if they should be among you, they would not fight except for a little
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
They thought that the opponents had not yet mobilized. And if the opponents do appear, they wish that they were out in the desert, seeking out news for you. Even if they were among you, they would not have fought except very little
Abdel Haleem   
They think the joint forces have not gone, and if the joint forces did come again they would wish they were in the desert, wandering among the Bedouin and seeking news about you [from a safe distance]. Even if they were with you [believers], they would hardly fight at all
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
They deem that the confederates have not yet departed; and if the confederates should come, they would fain to be in the desert with the wandering Arabs inquiring for tidings of you. And if they happen to be amongst you, they would fight but little
Ahmed Ali   
They think the allied tribes have not withdrawn; and if the allied tribes had advanced they would have wished that they were rather with the Arabs of the desert asking news of you; and had they been among you they would have fought but just a little
Aisha Bewley   
They think that the Confederates have not departed and if the Confederates did appear then they would wish they were out in the desert with the Arabs, asking for news of you. If they were with you they would only fight a very little.
Ali Ünal   
(They are so fearful that) they think that the Confederates have not (really) retreated. Should the Confederates come once more, they would much rather be among the Bedouins in the deserts and ask for news about you (than remain in Madinah and face the battle). Even if they were among you, they would fight only a little
Ali Quli Qara'i   
They suppose the confederates have not left yet, and were the confederates to come [again], they would wish they were in the desert with the Bedouins asking about your news, and if they were with you they would fight but a little
Hamid S. Aziz   
They think the confederates (enemy clans) have not gone, and if the confederates should come (again) they would fain be in the deserts with the wandering Arabs (Bedouins) asking for news about you, and if they were among you they would not fight save a l
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
They think that the (warring) parties did not go away, and if the (warring) parties come they wish they were nomads among the desert Arabs asking about your news, and if they were among you, they would have fought a little.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
They think that the confederates have not withdrawn, and if the confederates should come again, they would wish they were in the deserts wandering among the Bedouins, and seeking news about you from a safe distance, and if they were in your presence, they would fight only a little while
Musharraf Hussain   
They reckon the confederates haven’t gone yet; and if the confederates should return, they would then love to be mingling with the Bedouins, seeking news about you. Even if they were on your side, they would barely fight
Maududi   
They think that the invading confederates have not yet gone. But if the confederates were to mount another assault, they would wish to be in the desert among the bedouins and keep themselves informed about you from there. But even if they remained in your midst, hardly would they fight
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
They thought that the Confederates had not yet mobilized. And if the Confederates do appear, they wish that they were out with the Nomads, seeking out news for you. Even if they were among you, they would not have fought except very little.
Mohammad Shafi   
They (hypocrites) think the confederates are not gone. And should the confederates come again, they would like to be in the deserts with the Bedouins asking for news about you. And were they to be with you, they would hardly fight

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
They are thinking that the armies of the infidels have not yet gone, and if the armies come again, they would have wished them that anyhow being out in the village would enquire about your news. If they would have been among you, even then they would not have fought but a little.
Rashad Khalifa   
They thought that the parties might come back. In that case, they would wish that they were lost in the desert, asking about your news from afar. Had the parties attacked you while they were with you, they would rarely support you.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
They think the confederates have not departed. Indeed, if the confederates should come again they would sooner be in the desert among the Bedouins asking news of you. If they were among you, they would fight but a little
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in Allah and the Latter day, and remembers Allah much
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
They suppose (that) the groups/parties did not go and if the groups/parties come, they wish/love if that they truly are desert dwellers in the Arabs, they ask/question about your information/news, and if they were in (between) you, they would not have fought/killed except a little/few
Bijan Moeinian   
They cannot believe their eyes that the enemy’s army has gone away. If it happened such that the enemy returns, they will prefer to be in a small village in the middle of the desert and hear about you from there! They would definitely take the least part in the battle, if the enemy had to return
Faridul Haque   
They assume that the armies of the disbelievers have not gone away; and were the armies to come again, their wish would be to go out to the villages seeking information about you; and were they to stay among you even then they would not fight, except a few
Sher Ali   
They still hope that the Confederates may not have gone away; and if the Confederates should come again, they would wish to be among the nomad Arabs in the desert, asking for news about you, they would fight but little
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
They (still) imagine that the disbelievers’ troops have not yet gone (back), and if those troops should come (again), they would wish them join villagers settling as nomads and (conduct surveillance to) collect news about you. And even if they were amongst you, they would not fight except a very few
Amatul Rahman Omar   
They (still) think that the (invading) confederates have not yet withdrawn. Should the confederates come (again) they would wish to be (desert dwellers) among the bedouins in the desert asking for news about you (whether you were safe or destroyed). And had they been among you they would not have fought (along with you), save a few
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
They think that AlAhzab (the Confederates) have not yet withdrawn, and if AlAhzab (the Confederates) should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the bedouins, seeking news about you (from a far place); and if they (happen) to be among you, they would not fight but little

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
They think the Confederates have not departed; and if the Confederates come, they will wish that they were desert-dwellers among the Bedoums asking for news of you. If they were among you, they would fight but little
George Sale   
They imagined that the confederates would not depart and raise the siege: And if the confederates should come another time, they would wish to live in the deserts among the Arabs who dwell in tents, and there to inquire after news concerning you; and although they were with you this time, yet they fought not, except a little
Edward Henry Palmer   
They reckoned that the confederates would never go away; and if the confederates should come they would fain be in the desert with the Arabs, asking for news of you! and if they were amongst you they would fight but little
John Medows Rodwell   
They thought that the CONFEDERATES would never retire; and were the confederates to come again, they would fain be dwelling among the Arabs of the desert, and there ask news about you! for though they were with you, they fought not except a little
N J Dawood (2014)   
They thought the confederates would never withdraw. Indeed, if the confederates should come again, they would sooner be in the desert among the wandering Arabs. There they would ask news of you, but were they with you they would take but little part in the fighting

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
They expect that the confederates are not gone and if the confederates do come, they will wish that they were out in the desert with the Bedouins asking news about you and had they been among you, they would not have fought but a little.
Munir Mezyed   
They think that the confederate tribes have not yet withdrawn. Verily, if it should happen that the confederate tribes would advance (again), they would wish they were in the desert among the Bedouin Arabs, asking for news about you. Even if they were among you, only a few of them would join the fight.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
They think that the allies had not gone, and if the allies came, they wish they could hide amongst the desert Arabs asking for news about you, and if they were amongst you, they would not fight much.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
They think that the opposition has not withdrawn. If the opposition comes, they would wish they were in the deserts with the Bedouins and seeking news of you. If they were in your midst, they would fight only a little.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
They assume that the parties have not gone away. But were the parties to come (again), they would wish they were in the desert with the nomadic Arabs, asking about yourpl news. And if they were among you, they would not combat but a little.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
They think the Coalition will not go away. If the Coalition should come [again], they would like to be wandering around far away among the [desert] Arabs, asking for news about you. Yet even if they were among you, they would only fight a little.
Samy Mahdy   
They consider that parties have not gone. And if the parties should come, they would wish they were in the desert within the Bedouins, asking about your news. And if they were within you, they would not fight except a little.
Sayyid Qutb   
They think that the Confederates have not withdrawn. Should the Confederates return, they would wish they were in the desert, among the Bedouins, asking for news about you. Even if they were with you, they would take but little part in the fighting.
Ahmed Hulusi   
They think the confederates (Ahzab – supporting forces in combat) have not gone... If the confederates should come, they would prefer to stay in the desert with the Bedouins, contending themselves with your news! Even if they were among you, they would take very little part in fighting.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
They think that the clans have not withdrawn, and if the clans should come (again) they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the Bedouins, and seeking news about you, and if they were in your midst, they would fight not but a little
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
They -these hypocrites- think that the confederates have not yet lifted the seige nor have they withdrawn. And should the confederates lay seige again (to Madina). they will wish they were wandering among the Bedouins in the desert and then they will learn of your news and events while at a safe distance. Had these people been among you in combat they would not have engaged in fighting but a little
Mir Aneesuddin   
They think that the armies of enemies have not gone away. And if the armies of enemies should come (again) they would love to be (away) in the desert among the desert Arabs, asking for news about you, and had they been among you they would not have fought, except a little.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
They think that the Confederates have not withdrawn; and if the Confederates should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts (wandering) among the Bedouins, and seeking news about you (from a safe distance); and if they were in y our midst, they would fight but little
OLD Literal Word for Word   
They think the confederates (have) not withdrawn. And if (should) come the confederates they would wish if that they (were) living in (the) desert among the Bedouins, asking about your news. And if they were among you not they would fight except a little
OLD Transliteration   
Yahsaboona al-ahzaba lam yathhaboo wa-in ya/ti al-ahzabu yawaddoo law annahum badoona fee al-aAArabi yas-aloona AAan anba-ikum walaw kanoo feekum ma qataloo illa qaleelan