Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad
O you who have attained to faith! Do not deprive your charitable deeds of all worth by stressing your own benevolence and hurting [the feelings of the needy], as does he who spends his wealth only to be seen and praised by men, and believes not in God and the Last Day: for his parable is that of a smooth rock with [a little] earth upon it - and then a rainstorm smites it and leaves it hard and bare. Such as these shall have no gain whatever from all their [good] works: for God does not guide people who refuse to acknowledge the truth
M. M. Pickthall
O ye who believe! Render not vain your almsgiving by reproach and injury, like him who spendeth his wealth only to be seen of men and believeth not in Allah and the Last Day. His likeness is as the likeness of a rock whereon is dust of earth; a rainstorm smiteth it, leaving it smooth and bare. They have no control of aught of that which they have gained. Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
O ye who believe! cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury,- like those who spend their substance to be seen of men, but believe neither in Allah nor in the Last Day. They are in parable like a hard, barren rock, on which is a little soil: on it falls heavy rain, which leaves it (Just) a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing with aught they have earned. And Allah guideth not those who reject faith
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
O believers! Do not waste your charity with reminders ˹of your generosity˺ or hurtful words, like those who donate their wealth just to show off and do not believe in Allah or the Last Day. Their example is that of a hard barren rock covered with a thin layer of soil hit by a strong rain—leaving it just a bare stone. Such people are unable to preserve the reward of their charity. Allah does not guide ˹such˺ disbelieving people.
Safi Kaskas
Believers do not ruin your charitable deeds with reproach and harm like one who does not believe in God or the Last Day and contributes his money so people will see him. He is like a rock with dirt on it that was rained upon heavily and became hard and bare. Such people can do nothing with what they earned. God does not guide disbelieving people.
Wahiduddin Khan
Believers, do not cancel out your charitable deeds with reminders and hurtful words, like one who spends his wealth only to be seen by people, and not believing in God and the Last Day. Such men are like a rock covered with earth: a shower falls upon it and leaves it hard and bare. They will gain nothing from their works. God does not guide those who deny the truth
Shakir
O you who believe! do not make your charity worthless by reproach and injury, like him who spends his property to be seen of men and does not believe in Allah and the last day; so his parable is as the parable of a smooth rock with earth upon it, then a heavy rain falls upon it, so it leaves it bare; they shall not be able to gain anything of what they have earned; and Allah does not guide the unbelieving people
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
O those who believed! Render not untrue your charities with reproachful reminders nor injury like he who spends of his wealth to show off to humanity, and believes not in God and the Last Day. His parable is like the parable of a smooth rock. Over it is earth dust. A heavy downpour lit on it, and left it bare. They have no power over anything of what they earned and God guides not the ungrateful folk.
T.B.Irving
You who believe, do not cancel your acts of charity by [making] any reproach or scolding like someone who spends his money simply for people to see it while he does not believe in God and the Last Day. He may be compared to a boulder covered with some soil which a rainstorm strikes and leaves bare. They cannot do anything with whatever they have earned. God does not guide such disbelieving folk.
Abdul Hye
O you who believe! Don’t render in vain your charity by reminder of generosity or by injury (feelings of recipients), like those who spend their wealth to be seen by people, and don’t believe in Allah, nor the Last Day. Their example is like a smooth rock with dust over it; and when heavy rain falls on it, leaves it bare. They have no control over anything (reward) which they have earned. Allah does not guide the disbelievers.
The Study Quran
O you who believe! Do not annul your acts of charity through preening and injury, like he who spends his wealth to be seen of men and believes not in God and the Last Day. His parable is that of a smooth rock with dust upon it: a downpour strikes it, and leaves it barren. They have no power over anything of what they earned. And God guides not the disbelieving people
Talal Itani & AI (2024)
O you who believe, don’t invalidate your charitable deeds with reminders or harm, like the one who spends his wealth to be seen by people, and doesn’t believe in God or the Last Day. His example is like a hard, barren rock covered with dust; a downpour strikes it and leaves it bare. They gain nothing from their efforts. God does not guide the disbelieving people.
Talal Itani (2012)
O you who believe! Do not nullify your charitable deeds with reminders and hurtful words, like him who spends his wealth to be seen by the people, and does not believe in God and the Last Day. His likeness is that of a smooth rock covered with soil: a downpour strikes it, and leaves it bare—they gain nothing from their efforts. God does not guide the disbelieving people
Dr. Kamal Omar
O you people who have Believed! Do not make of no effect your Sadaqat by reminders of generosity or acts of insult: like that who spends his wealth to be seen of men and he does not Believe in Allah and the Last Day. His likeness is the likeness of a smooth rock on which is dust; on it fell heavy rain which left it bare. They will not be able to utilize anything out of what they earned. And Allah guides not the nation of disbelievers
O believers! Do not make your charity worthless by reminders of your generosity or by injury to the recipients feelings, like those who spend their wealth to be seen by people and believe neither in Allah nor in the Last Day. Their parable is like a hard barren rock covered with a thin layer of soil; a heavy rain falls, leaving it just a bare stone. Such people will not gain any reward that they thought they had earned. Allah does not guide the unbelievers
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
O you have believed, do not void your donations with obliging (reproach) and hurt, as one who expends his wealth (for the sake) of showing off to mankind and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. So, the likeness of him is as the likeness of a smooth rock on which is dust, then a shower hits (Literally: afflicts) it; so it leaves (the rock) solid. They are unable (to do) anything with whatever they have earned; and Allah does not guide the disbelieving people
Muhammad Sarwar
Believers, do not make your charities fruitless by reproachfully reminding the recipient of your favor or making them feel insulted, like the one who spends his property to show off and who has no faith in God or belief in the Day of Judgment. The example of his deed is as though some soil has gathered on a rock and after a rain fall it turns hard and barren. Such people can not benefit from what they have earned. God does not guide the unbelievers
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
O you who believe, do not nullify your acts of charity by boasting about (doing people a) favour and by causing (them) hurt, like the one who spends his wealth to show off before people and does not believe in Allah and in the Last Day. So, his example is like a rock on which there is dust, then a heavy rain came over it and left it barren. They have no ability to gain anything out of what they have done, and Allah does not give guidance to the people who disbelieve
Shabbir Ahmed
O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injuring the self-respect of the recipients; like those who spend their wealth for show-off. This kind of behavior contradicts the true belief in Allah and His Law of Recompense. Charity has been ordained to help individuals and not to hurt them (93:10), and Allah has promised you manifold reward. But, a seed won't grow on a dusty rock, upon which rain falls and washes it clean. Even Allah won't guide those who deny such simple realities
Dr. Munir Munshey
Oh you who believe! Do not mar (and void) your charity by stressing your generosity, and by inflicting (emotional) abuse. Do not be like those who spend their wealth (in charity) solely to be seen _ (to gain public esteem). They neither believe in Allah nor in the life-to-come. Their example is that of the boulder covered by a thin layer of topsoil. When a rainstorm strikes, (the topsoil washes off and) the rock is left bare. They won´t be able to benefit from the good deeds they earn. Allah does not guide the nation of unbelievers
Syed Vickar Ahamed
O you who believe! Cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity, or by injury— Like those who spend what they own to be seen of men, but believe neither in Allah nor in the Last Day. They are in the parable like a hard, barren rock, on which is a little soil; On it falls heavy rain which leaves it (just) a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing with the little they have earned. And Allah does not guide those who reject faith
O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury as does one who spends his wealth [only] to be seen by the people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. His example is like that of a [large] smooth stone upon which is dust and is hit by a downpour that leaves it bare. They are unable [to keep] anything of what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
O you who believe, do not nullify your charities with insult and harm; like the one who spends his money in vanity to show the people, and he does not believe in God and the Last Day. His example is like a stone on which there is dust, then it is subjected to heavy rain which leaves it bare. They cannot do anything with what they earned; and God does not guide the rejecting people
Abdel Haleem
You who believe, do not cancel out your charitable deeds with reminders and hurtful words, like someone who spends his wealth only to be seen by people, not believing in God and the Last Day. Such a person is like a rock with earth on it: heavy rain falls and leaves it completely bare. Such people get no rewards for their works: God does not guide the disbelievers
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
O O Ye who believe! make not your alms void by laying an obligation and by hurt, like unto him who expendeth his substance to be seen of men, and believeth not in Allah and the Last Day. The likeness of him is as the likeness of a smooth stone whereon is dust; a heavy rain falleth upon it, and leaveth it bare. They shall not have power over aught of that which they have earned and Allah shall not guide the disbelieving people
Ahmed Ali
O believers, do not nullify your charity by giving to oblige and flaunting (your favours) like a man who spends of his wealth only to show off, but does not believe in God and the Last Day. His semblance is that of a rock covered with earth which is washed away by rain exposing the hard rock bare. So they gain nothing from their earnings. God does not guide a people who do not believe
Aisha Bewley
You who have iman! do not nullify your sadaqa by demands for gratitude or insulting words, like him who spends his wealth, showing off to people and not having iman in Allah and the Last Day. His likeness is that of a smooth rock coated with soil, which, when heavy rain falls on it, is left stripped bare. They have no power over anything they have earned. Allah does not guide kafir people.
Ali Ünal
O you who believe! Render not vain your almsgiving by putting (the receiver) under an obligation and taunting – like him who spends his wealth to show off to people and be praised by them, and believes not in God and the Last Day. The parable of his spending is that of a rock on which there is soil; a heavy rain falls upon it, and leaves it barren. They have no power (control) over what they have earned. God guides not such disbelieving people (to attain their goals)
Ali Quli Qara'i
O you who have faith! Do not render your charities void by reproaches and affronts, like those who spend their wealth to be seen by people and have no faith in Allah and the Last Day. Their parable is that of a rock covered with soil: a downpour strikes it, leaving it bare. They have no power over anything of what they have earned, and Allah does not guide the faithless lot
Hamid S. Aziz
O you who believe! Make not your almsgiving vain by reproach (or reminders of your generosity) and injury, like him who expends what he has for the sake of appearances before men, and believes not in Allah and the Last Day; for his likeness is as the lik
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
You who believe, do not make your charities worthless by bragging and insult (and annoyance), like someone who spends his wealth to be seen by people while he does not believe in God and the Last Day. His example is like a smooth rock with dust on it, then a heavy rain falls on it and leaves it bare (with no dust on it), they are not able (to benefit) from anything that they have done. And God does not guide the disbelieving people.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
O you who believe, do not cancel out your charity with reminders of your generosity or by insults, like one who gives their sustenance to be seen by people, but believe neither in God nor in the Last Day. His similitude is like a hard, barren rock, on which is a little soil. On it falls heavy rain which leaves it a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing with what they have earned, and God does not guide those who do not believe
Musharraf Hussain
Believers, do not invalidate your charity by reminders of favours done or by insulting, like the one who spends his wealth to show off in front of people and does not truly believe in Allah and the Last Day; he is like a rock with a layer of soil on the top, when heavy rain comes, it is left clean and bare. They will get nothing from their efforts. Allah does not guide the disbelievers
Maududi
O Believers, do not spoil your charity by taunts and injury to the recipients like the one who practises charity to be seen by men, while he neither believes in Allah nor in the Last Day. His charity may be likened to the rainfall on a rock which had only a thin layer of soil upon it. When heavy rain fell on it, the whole of the soil washed away and the rock was left bare Such people do not gain the reward they imagine they have earned by their seeming charity; Allah does not show the Right Way to the ungrateful
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
O you who believe, do not nullify your charities with insult and harm; like the one who spends his money in vanity to show off to the people, and he does not believe in God and the Last Day. His example is like a stone on which there is dust, then it is subjected to a heavy rain which leaves it bare. They cannot do anything with what they have earned; and God does not guide the rejecting people.
Mohammad Shafi
O you believers! Make not your offerings of obligatory charity null and void with boastfulness/bragging and insulth, like he who spends his wealth only to show off to people and who believes neither in Allah nor in the Last Day. His simile is like a barren rock covered with soil; then a heavy shower of rain lashes it and leaves it bare. Such people can do nothing with what they have earned.hAnd Allah does not guide the people who suppress the Truth
Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
O Believers! Void not your charities by boasting of your favours conferred and injuring, like him who spent his wealth for showing to people and believes not in Allah and Last Day. Then the example of him is like that of a smooth rock on which is dust of earth; now a heavy rain fell upon it leaving it a bare stone. They shall have no control on anything of what they have earned and Allah guides not the infidels.
O you who believe, do not nullify your charities by inflicting reproach and insult, like one who spends his money to show off, while disbelieving in GOD and the Last Day. His example is like a rock covered with a thin layer of soil; as soon as heavy rain falls, it washes off the soil, leaving it a useless rock. They gain nothing from their efforts. GOD does not guide disbelieving people.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
Believers, do not annul your charitable giving with reproach and hurt, like he who spends his wealth to show off to the people and believes neither in Allah nor in the Last Day. His likeness is as a smooth rock covered with dust, if a heavy rain strikes it, it leaves it bare. They have no power over what they have earned. Allah does not guide the nation, the unbelievers
Maulana Muhammad Ali
O you who believe, make not your charity worthless by reproach and injury, like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men and believes not in Allah and the Last Day. So His parable is as the parable of a smooth rock with earth upon it, then heavy rain falls upon it, so it leaves it bare! They are not able to gain anything of that which they earn. And Allah guides not the disbelieving people
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira
You, you those who believed, do not waste/cancel your charities with the bragging and the mild harm, as that who spends his property/wealth showing off/pretending (to) the people, and does not believe with God, and the Day the Last/Resurrection Day, so his example/proverb (is as the) example (of) a smooth rock , on it (is) dust/earth, so struck it a heavy rain , so it left it hard/smooth , they are not capable on a thing from what they gathered/earned , and God does not guide the nation, the disbelieving
Bijan Moeinian
A believer should not spoil his charity by making a big deal of it up to the point that it hurts its receiver. Those who spend on charity in order to be seen in fact do not believe neither in God nor the Day of Resurrection. They are as barren as a rock with a little bit of soil on which looses its productive capacity once the rain washes the soil. They gain nothing from their charity as God does not guide the disbelievers
Faridul Haque
O People who Believe! Do not invalidate your charity by expressing favour and causing injury - like one who spends his wealth for people to see, and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day; his example is similar to that of a rock covered with dust and hard rain fell on it, leaving it as a bare rock; they shall get no control over (or benefit from) anything they have earned; and Allah does not guide the disbelievers
Sher Ali
O ye who believe ! render not vain your alms by reproach and injury like him who spends his wealth to be seen by men, and he believes not in ALLAH and the Last Day. His case is like the case of a smooth rock covered with earth, on which heavy rain falls, leaving it bare and hard, They shall not secure aught of what they earn. And ALLAH guides not the disbelieving people
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
O believers! Do not ruin your charity donations (later) by taunts of doing favour and hurting feelings like the one who gives charity to show off his wealth to the people and believes in neither Allah nor the Last Day. His case is like a smooth rock covered with a thin coat of soil. Then heavy rain falls on it, washes it clean and leaves it (the same) bare and hard (rock). So these (pretentious people) shall get nothing out of their earning. And Allah does not guide the disbelievers
Amatul Rahman Omar
O you who believe! Do not render void your charities by (a show of) obligation and injury, like him who spends his wealth to be seen by people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. So his case is like the case of a smooth rock with some soil thereon, when heavy rain hits it leaves it bare and hard. They shall not be able to gain anything of what they accomplished. And Allah does not guide such disbelieving people to the way of success
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men, and he does not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day. His likeness is the likeness of a smooth rock on which is a little dust; on it falls heavy rain which leaves it bare. They are not able to do anything with what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people
New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame
O you who believe! Do not void your charities by the bragging and the injurious statements; like one who spends his wealth for show off to men and does not believe in Allah and in the last day. So his likeness is like that of a rock whereupon there is dust and heavy torrent hits it and leaves it bare and smooth. They have no power in aught over all that they had earned and Allah does not guide the people who are the disbelievers.
Munir Mezyed
O’ you who live by Faith! do not invalidate your Alms by reproach or injury like the one who spends his wealth in order to impress the people while he does not believe in Allâh and the Last Day. His parable is as the parable of a smooth rock with dust upon it, and then heavy rain falls upon it, leaving it smooth and bare. And Allâh holds back the light of His Word from those who are spiritually dead and blind.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
Oh you believers, do not spoil your charity with reproach and insult like the one who spends his wealth to be seen by people and does not believe in Allah and the last day. His example is like that of a rock covered with soil hit by a torrent, which leaves it arid. They have no power over anything they earn, and Allah does not guide ungrateful people.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation
O you who have attained faith, do not nullify your donations with reminders and hurtfulness, like one who spends his wealth for show in front of people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. His likeness is that of a smooth rock with dust upon it, then a heavy rain struck it and left it bare. They have no power to retain anything of what they have earned. For Allah does not guide the denying people.
Linda “iLHam” Barto
O Believers, do not void your acts of charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury. Don’t be like those who donate in order to be seen by others and do not even believe in Allah or the last day. They are, in simile, a hard, barren rock on which is a little soil. Heavy rain falls on it, and nothing is left but a bare stone. They will not be able to do any good with their earnings. Allah does not guide those who reject faith.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab
You who believe, do not cancel your acts of charity by [making] any reminders of generosity or injury like someone who spends his money simply for people to see it while he does not believe in Allah (God) and the Last Day. He may be compared to a boulder covered with some soil which a rainstorm strikes and leaves bare. They cannot do anything with whatever they have earned. Allah (God) does not guide such disbelieving folk.
Samy Mahdy
O you who believed! Do not invalidate your alms with reminders of your generosity and hurt, like him who spends his money for the people’s pretension and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. So, his example is like a smooth stone covered with soil: so, a downpour inflicts it, so it quits it hard, they are not capable of a thing from what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the infidel kinfolk.
Thomas Cleary
Believers, do not nullify your charities by reminders of your generosity, or by abusive behavior, as do those who spend their wealth to be seen by the people, without believing in God and the last day. And what that is like is a hard stone with dust on it
Ahmed Hulusi
O believers, do not cancel your charities by taunting and hurting people with it, as do those who spend their wealth only to be seen (to make a name) and do not believe in Allah and the eternal life to come with the meaning of the letter B. Their example is like a rock covered with some earth, and when it rains the earth is gone and the rock is left bare. They will gain nothing from what they earn. Allah does not guide (enable the realization of their essential reality) those who deny the truth.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli
O' you who have Faith! do not nullify your charities by reproach and injury, like the one who spends his property to be seen by people and does not believe in Allah and the last Day; so his likeness is as the likeness of a rock whereon is (a little) soil, then a heavy rain falls upon it and leaves it just a bare stone. They shall not be able to gain anything of what they have earned; and Allah does not guide the disbelieving people
O you whose hearts truly believe: Do not cancel the divine reward you merit for your benevolence by the reminders of your generosity or inducing mental anguish. You are then like he who spends his wealth ostentatiously under the guise of benevolence only to attract attention and win people’s admiration while truthfully, he believes neither in Allah nor in the Last Day. His similitude is that of a rock covered with dust and fertile soil which has been exposed to torrential rain stripping it of its soil leaving it completely bare. Such persons have lost; unable to reclaim anything they had falsely earned. And Allah does not guide those who deny Him to His path of righteousness
Mir Aneesuddin
O you who believe ! do not make your charity worthless by stressing your obligation and annoying (those whom you give charity), like him who spends his wealth to be seen by people and does not believe in Allah and the period hereafter; then the likeness of him is like the likeness of the rock over which is soil, when heavy rain falls on it, then it leaves it smooth. They will not have power over anything of that which they earned (that is, their charity will be worthless), and Allah does not guide a people who are infidels.
The Wise Quran
O those who believed! Do not make your charities vain by taunts and annoyance, like the one who spends his wealth to be seen of mankind, and does not believe in God and the Last Day; and his similitude is as the similitude of a flint with soil upon it, then a heavy shower falls on it and leaves it bare rock; they can do nothing with what they earn, and God does not guide the disbelieving people.