Popular Translations
Muhammad Asad
[As for your adopted children,] call them by their [real] fathers’ names: this is more equitable in the sight of God; and if you know not who their fathers were, [call them] your brethren in faith and your friends. However, you will incur no sin if you err in this respect: [what really matters is] but what your hearts intend - for God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace
Arthur John Arberry
Call them after their true fathers; that is more equitable in the sight of God. If you know not who their fathers were, then they are your brothers in religion, and your clients. There is no fault in you if you make mistakes, but only in what your hearts premeditate. God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
Call them by (the names of) their fathers: that is juster in the sight of Allah. But if ye know not their father's (names, call them) your Brothers in faith, or your maulas. But there is no blame on you if ye make a mistake therein: (what counts is) the intention of your hearts: and Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful
Arabic
ٱدۡعُوهُمۡ لِءَابَاۤىِٕهِمۡ هُوَ أَقۡسَطُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِۚ فَإِن لَّمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۤا۟ ءَابَاۤءَهُمۡ فَإِخۡوَ ٰنُكُمۡ فِی ٱلدِّینِ وَمَوَ ٰلِیكُمۡۚ وَلَیۡسَ عَلَیۡكُمۡ جُنَاحࣱ فِیمَاۤ أَخۡطَأۡتُم بِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن مَّا تَعَمَّدَتۡ قُلُوبُكُمۡۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورࣰا رَّحِیمًا ٥
Transliteration (2021)
id'ʿūhum liābāihim huwa aqsaṭu ʿinda l-lahi fa-in lam taʿlamū ābāahum fa-ikh'wānukum fī l-dīni wamawālīkum walaysa ʿalaykum junāḥun fīmā akhṭatum bihi walākin mā taʿammadat qulūbukum wakāna l-lahu ghafūran raḥīma