Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad
[And sometimes] he invokes [another human being] one that is far more likely to cause harm than benefit: vile, indeed, is such a patron and vile the follower
M. M. Pickthall
He calleth unto him whose harm is nearer than his benefit; verily an evil patron and verily an evil friend
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
(Perhaps) they call on one whose hurt is nearer than his profit: evil, indeed, is the patron, and evil the companion (or help)
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
They invoke those whose worship leads to harm, not benefit. What an evil patron and what an evil associate!
Safi Kaskas
He calls on one who is more likely to harm than to help [him]. How miserable are both the protector and the companion?
Wahiduddin Khan
he calls on that which would sooner harm than help. Such a patron is indeed evil and such a companion is indeed evil
Shakir
He calls upon him whose harm is nearer than his profit; evil certainly is the guardian and evil certainly is the associate
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
He calls to him whose hurting is nearer than his profiting. Miserable was the defender and miserable was the acquaintance.
T.B.Irving
he appeals to someone whose harm is closer than his benefit. How wretched is such a patron; how wretched is such a colleague!
Abdul Hye
He calls those who are more likely to harm than profit; certainly an evil patron and certainly an evil friend (chosen for help)!
The Study Quran
He calls upon one whose harm is likelier than his benefit. What an evil ally, and what an evil friend
Talal Itani & AI (2024)
He invokes one whose harm is closer than his benefit—what an evil patron and what an evil companion!
Talal Itani (2012)
He invokes one whose harm is closer than his benefit. What a miserable master. What a miserable companion
Dr. Kamal Omar
He invokes, surely, that whose harm is nearer than his profit; certainly, he (happens to be) an evil maula , and certainly, an evil friend
He is calling upon those who are more likely to harm than help; what an evil master and what an evil friend he chooses for help
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
He invokes him whose harm is indeed nearer than his proft. Miserable indeed is the patronizer and miserable indeed is the consort
Muhammad Sarwar
Their worship of such things, in which there is no hope for any benefit, can only harm them. How terrible is such a guardian and companion
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
He, rather, prays to someone whose harm is more likely than his benefit. Wretched is such a patron and wretched is such a companion
Shabbir Ahmed
He calls unto him whose harm is nearer than his benefits; verily, an evil master, and an evil follower
Dr. Munir Munshey
They pray to the one whose harm outweighs the benefits. Evil, indeed, is such a patron, and evil is such a companion
Syed Vickar Ahamed
(Perhaps) he calls on the (Evil) one whose harm is closer than his help: Truly, evil is the helper and evil the companion
He invokes one whose harm is closer than his benefit - how wretched the protector and how wretched the associate
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
He calls on those who harm him more than they benefit him. What a miserable patron, and what a miserable companion
Abdel Haleem
or invoke one whose harm is closer than his help: an evil master and an evil companion
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
He calleth upon him whose hurt is nearer than his profit: surely ill the patron! ill the comrade
Ahmed Ali
They pray to him whose bane is more imminent than his boon: How bad the protector and how bad the associate
Aisha Bewley
He calls on what is far more likely to harm than help. What an evil protector! What an evil associate!
Ali Ünal
He even invokes the being that is far more likely to cause harm than benefit: what evil a patron, and what evil an associate
Ali Quli Qara'i
He invokes someone whose harm is surely likelier than his benefit. Surely an evil ally and an evil companion
Hamid S. Aziz
He calls on him whose harm is nearer than his benefit - verily, an evil patron and an evil comrade
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
He calls on someone whose harm is closer (and more likely) than his benefit, certainly a miserable supporter (and friend) and certainly a miserable companion.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
They call on one whose harm is nearer than his profit. Harmful indeed is the protector, and harmful the companion
Musharraf Hussain
In fact , they call on that which is more likely to harm than benefit them. What wretched allies, and what wretched company!
Maududi
He invokes those that are more likely to cause him harm than benefit. Such is surely an evil patron, and an evil associate
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
He calls on those who harm him more than they benefit him. What a miserable patron, and what a miserable companion
Mohammad Shafi
He prays to him whose harm is closer than his benefit. Evil certainly is such guardian and evil certainly is such associate
Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
They worship such that whose harm is more expected than his benefit. No doubt, what an evil patron and no doubt what an evil comrade.
He idolizes what is more apt to harm him than benefit him. What a miserable lord! What a miserable companion!
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
He calls upon him whose harm is nearer than his benefit, an evil guide and an evil friend
Maulana Muhammad Ali
He calls on him whose harm is nearer than his benefit. Certainly an evil guardian and an evil associate
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira
He calls who (E) his harm (is) nearer/closer than his benefit, how bad (E) (is) the ally, and how bad (E) (is) the associate/companion
Bijan Moeinian
As a matter of fact, such “god” is more apt to hurt him rather than help him. What a miserable “lord” [to choose]; what a nasty companion to have
Faridul Haque
They worship one from whom harm is expected more than the benefit; indeed what an evil master and indeed what an evil friend
Sher Ali
He calls on him whose harm is much more likely than his benefit. Evil indeed is the patron, and evil indeed the associate
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
He worships someone whose loss is nearer than his profit. What an evil helper and what an evil companion
Amatul Rahman Omar
He calls upon him whose harm is much more likely than his good. How evil is this false god to be his patron and how evil is (he to be) his associate
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
He calls unto him whose harm is nearer than his profit; certainly, and evil Maula (patron) and certainly an evil friend
New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame
He calls on such whose harm is closer than his benefit. Truly woeful is the master and truly woeful is the folk.
Munir Mezyed
He calls upon the one whose harm is nearer than his profit- how wretched the guardian and how wretched the associate!
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
He calls on whose harm is more likely than his benefit - a bad protector and a bad friend.
Linda “iLHam” Barto
He/she may call on one who can give more harm than profit. Evil indeed is the patron, and evil indeed is the client.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation
He calls upon one whose harm is closer than his benefit; truly, what a miserable patron, and truly, what a miserable consort.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab
he appeals to someone whose harm is closer than his benefit. How wretched is such a patron; how wretched is such a colleague!
Samy Mahdy
He calls for whom his harm is closer than his benefit. How wretched is the guardian? And how wretched is the chum.
Sayyid Qutb
Indeed he invokes one that is far more likely to cause harm than benefit. Vile indeed is such a patron, and vile the friend.
Ahmed Hulusi
He turns to things that have more harm than benefit... How wretched the protector and how wretched the friend (he deifies)!
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli
He calls upon him whose harm is nearer than his profit; an evil protector indeed, he, an evil associate
He invokes an object which would sooner hurt him than profit him. How bad is the tutelary guardian and how bad is the society
Mir Aneesuddin
He prays to him whose harm is nearer than his benefit, evil is the guardian and evil is the friend.
The Wise Quran
He calls surely on him whose harm is nearer than his profit, surely, an evil sovereign and surely an evil friend.