←Prev   Ayah ar-Rum (The Romans, The Byzantines) 30:9   Next→ 

Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
Have they, then, never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before their time? Greater were they in power than they are; and they left a stronger impact on the earth, and built it up even better than these [are doing]; and to them [too] came their apostles with all evidence of the truth: and so, [when they rejected the truth and thereupon perished,] it was not God who wronged them, but it was they who had wronged themselves
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Have they not travelled throughout the land to see what was the end of those ˹destroyed˺ before them? They were far superior in might; they cultivated the land and developed it more than these ˹Meccans˺ ever have. Their messengers came to them with clear proofs. Allah would have never wronged them, but it was they who wronged themselves.
Safi Kaskas   
Have they not traveled through the land and seen the final fate of those before them? They had greater strength than they have, they cultivated the land and built it up more than these have, and their messengers came to them with clear evidence. God would never have wronged them, but they did themselves wrong.

Listen: 
Did you notice?

 You can SEARCH IslamAwakened: 

Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
أَوَ لَمۡ یَسِیرُوا۟ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَیَنظُرُوا۟ كَیۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۚ كَانُوۤا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنۡهُمۡ قُوَّةࣰ وَأَثَارُوا۟ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَعَمَرُوهَاۤ أَكۡثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا وَجَاۤءَتۡهُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَیِّنَـٰتِۖ فَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِیَظۡلِمَهُمۡ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوۤا۟ أَنفُسَهُمۡ یَظۡلِمُونَ ۝٩
Transliteration (2021)   
awalam yasīrū fī l-arḍi fayanẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu alladhīna min qablihim kānū ashadda min'hum quwwatan wa-athārū l-arḍa waʿamarūhā akthara mimmā ʿamarūhā wajāathum rusuluhum bil-bayināti famā kāna l-lahu liyaẓlimahum walākin kānū anfusahum yaẓlimūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Have not they traveled in the earth and observed how was (the) end (of) those from before them? They were mightier than them (in) strength, and they dug the earth and built (on) it more than what they have built (on) it. And came (to) them their Messengers with clear proofs. So not was Allah to wrong them but they were themselves (doing) wrong.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Have they, then, never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before their time? Greater were they in power than they are; and they left a stronger impact on the earth, and built it up even better than these [are doing]; and to them [too] came their apostles with all evidence of the truth: and so, [when they rejected the truth and thereupon perished,] it was not God who wronged them, but it was they who had wronged themselves
M. M. Pickthall   
Have they not travelled in the land and seen the nature of the consequence for those who were before them? They were stronger than these in power, and they dug the earth and built upon it more than these have built. Messengers of their own came unto them with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty). Surely Allah wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength: they tilled the soil and populated it in greater numbers than these have done: there came to them their messengers with Clear (Signs). (Which they rejected, to their own destruction): It was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Have they not travelled throughout the land to see what was the end of those ˹destroyed˺ before them? They were far superior in might; they cultivated the land and developed it more than these ˹Meccans˺ ever have. Their messengers came to them with clear proofs. Allah would have never wronged them, but it was they who wronged themselves.
Safi Kaskas   
Have they not traveled through the land and seen the final fate of those before them? They had greater strength than they have, they cultivated the land and built it up more than these have, and their messengers came to them with clear evidence. God would never have wronged them, but they did themselves wrong.
Wahiduddin Khan   
Have they not travelled through the land and seen what end their predecessors met? They were mightier than them: they cultivated the earth more and built more upon it than these have ever built. Their own messengers also came to them with clear signs: God did not wrong them; they wronged themselves
Shakir   
Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the end of those before them? They were stronger than these in prowess, and dug up the earth, and built on it in greater abundance than these have built on it, and there came to them their messengers with clear arguments; so it was not beseeming for Allah that He should deal with them unjustly, but they dealt unjustly with their own souls
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Or journey they not through the earth and look on how had been the Ultimate End of those who were before them? They had been superior to them in strength. And they plowed the earth and frequented it more than they frequented it. And drew near them their Messengers with the clear portents. Then, it had not been God doing wrong to them, but they had been doing wrong to themselves.
T.B.Irving   
Have they not travelled around the earth and seen what the outcome was for those who existed before them? They were even stronger than they are: they cultivated the earth and developed it more than they have ever developed it. Their messengers brought them explanations; it was not God who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.
Abdul Hye   
Don’t they travel in the land and see how the end of those before them was? They were superior to them in strength, they tilled the earth and populated it in greater numbers than what these (pagans) have populated, and there came to them their Messengers with clear signs. Surely, Allah did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves.
The Study Quran   
Have they not journeyed upon the earth and observed how those before them fared in the end? They were greater than them in strength. They tilled the earth and built upon it more than have they, and their messengers brought them clear proofs. For God would never wrong them, but themselves did they wrong
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Didn’t they travel through the earth and see how was the end of those before them? They were stronger than them. They tilled the ground and built upon it more than they have. Their messengers came to them with clear proofs. Surely, God was not to wrong them; they wronged themselves.
Talal Itani (2012)   
Have they not travelled the earth and seen how those before them ended up? They were more powerful than them, and they cultivated the land and developed it more than they developed it, and their messengers came to them with clear signs. God would never wrong them, but they used to wrong themselves
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Do they then not travel in the land that they may see what became the end of those before them? They were mightier than these in physical power; and they tilled the earth and populated it even more than what the (present) people have inhabited it. And there came to them their Messengers with Al-Bayyinat. So Allah was not (such) that He may wrong them, but they had been doing wrong to themselves
M. Farook Malik   
Have they not traveled through the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were superior in strength than these; they tilled the soil and built on it more than these have ever built. There came to them their Messengers with clear signs (but they rejected them to the detriment of their own destruction): it was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And have they not traveled in the earth, (and) so looked into how was the end of those even before them? They were more pervasive in power than themselves, and plowed (Literally: stirred up) the earth, and cultivated it more (i.e., populated it and were more eminent) than they themselves have cultivated it; and their Messengers came to them with the supreme evidence (s); so indeed in no way did Allah do (any) injustice to them, but to themselves they used to do injustice
Muhammad Sarwar   
Have they not travelled through the land to see how terrible was the end of the people who lived before them. The people who lived before them were stronger than them in might, in tilling, and in developing the earth. Our Messengers came to them with clear miracles. God did not do an injustice to them but they wronged themselves
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Have they not traveled on earth to see how was the end of those before them? They were stronger than these in power, and they had tilled the land and had made it more populous than these have made it, and their messengers had come to them with clear proofs. So Allah was not such as could do injustice to them, but they used to do injustice to themselves
Shabbir Ahmed   
(Reflecting on your own existence, the Universe, and on history can show you the Truth.) Have they not, then, traveled in the land and seen what happened in the end to those who lived before them? They were more powerful than these are, and they left a stronger impact on the earth, and built it up better than these are doing. And to them came their Messengers with all evidence of the Truth. It was not Allah Who wronged them, but it was they who used to wrong their own "Self". (35:44), (40:21
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Have they not moved about in the land, so they could observe the fate of the people before them? They were stronger, tilled the land better and populated the earth much more than these present day unbelievers have. Their messengers brought them clear proofs! Allah was not going to oppress them, but they used to treat their own selves unjustly
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Do they not travel in (and about) the earth; And see what was the end of those before them? They were superior (and) stronger than these (men): And they tilled the soil and populated it with more (men) than these (men): To them (the earlier people) came their messengers with Clear (Signs), (whom they rejected, to their own destruction): And it was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves (their own souls)
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? They were greater than them in power, and they plowed the earth and built it up more than they have built it up, and their messengers came to them with clear evidences. And Allah would not ever have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Did they not roam the Earth and see how it ended for those before them They were more powerful than them, and they cultivated the land and they built in it far more than these have built, and their messengers came to them with the proofs. God was not to wrong them, but it was they who wronged themselves
Abdel Haleem   
Have they not travelled through the land and seen how their predecessors met their end? They were mightier than them: they cultivated the earth more and built more upon it. Their own mes-sengers also came to them with clear signs: God did not wrong them; they wronged themselves
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Have they not journeyed in the land and observed what wise hath been the end of those before them? They were stronger than they in power and they brake up the earth and they inhabited it with greater affluence than these have inhabited it, and their apostles came unto them with evidences. And Allah was not one to wrong them, but themselves they were wont to wrong
Ahmed Ali   
Have they not travelled on the earth and seen how the others before them had met their end? They were far more powerful than them, furrowed the earth and colonised it far more than they; and their apostles came to them with visible signs. It was surely not for God to wrong them, they wronged themselves
Aisha Bewley   
Have they not travelled in the earth and seen the final fate of those before them? They had greater strength than them and cultivated the land and inhabited it in far greater numbers than they do. Their Messengers also came to them with the Clear Signs. Allah would never have wronged them; but they wronged themselves.
Ali Ünal   
Have they never traveled about the earth and seen what was the outcome for those before them (who also obstinately disbelieved in Our signs)? They were greater than them in power. They cultivated the soil and mined it (for minerals and water resources), and built it up more and better than these have done. And in time their Messengers came to them with clear proofs of the truth (which they rejected to their own doom). God would never wrong them, but it was they themselves who were wronging themselves
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Have they not traveled in the land so that they may observe how was the fate of those who were before them? They were more powerful than them, and they plowed the earth and developed it more than they have developed it. Their apostles brought them manifest proofs. So it was not Allah who wronged them, but it was they who used to wrong themselves
Hamid S. Aziz   
Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the end of those before them? They were stronger than these were in power and prowess, and they dug up the earth, and built on it in greater abundance than these have built. There came to them their m
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Have they not traveled throughout the earth to see what the end of those before them was? They were more powerful than them and affected the earth more, and developed it more than they developed it, and their messengers brought them clear evidences. It was not God who wronged them, but they were doing wrong to themselves.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Do they not travel through the earth, and see what the end of those before them was? They were superior to them in strength. They tilled the soil and populated it in greater numbers than these have. There came to them their messengers with guidance which they rejected to their own peril. It was not God Who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls
Musharraf Hussain   
Haven’t they travelled around and seen what happened to those before them? They were more powerful than them; they farmed the land and populated it even more than it is now, and their messengers came to them with clear proofs. Allah did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves;
Maududi   
Have they not travelled through the earth that they may observe what was the end of their predecessors who were far mightier and tilled the land and built upon it more than these have ever built? And Allah´s Messengers came to them with Clear Signs. It was not Allah Who wronged them, but it is they who wronged themselves
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Did they not roam the earth and see how it ended for those before them? They were more powerful than them, and they cultivated the land and they built in it far more than these have built, and their messengers came to them with the proofs. God was not to wrong them, but it was they who wronged themselves
Mohammad Shafi   
Have they not travelled on the earth and seen what end those who lived before them met with? They were more powerful than these are, and they dug up the earth and built it up more than these are doing. And to them came their Messengers with clear signs. It was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And have they not traveled in the land so that they might see how was the end of those before them? They were more powerful than these, and they tilled the soil and populated it. And their Messengers brought to them bright signs. Then it was not befitting to the dignity of Allah Who would oppress them; yes they used to oppress themselves.
Rashad Khalifa   
Have they not roamed the earth and noted the consequences for those who preceded them? They used to be more powerful, more prosperous, and more productive on earth. Their messengers went to them with clear signs. Consequently, GOD was not the One who wronged them; they are the ones who wronged their own souls.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
What, have they never journeyed in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? They were stronger in might than themselves, and they plowed the land and cultivated it more than they themselves have cultivated it. And to them, their Messengers came with clear signs, and Allah did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Have they not travelled in the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were stronger than these in prowess, and dug up the earth, and built on it more than these have built. And their messengers came to them with clear arguments. So it was not Allah, Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
Do they not walk/move/ride in the earth/Planet Earth, so they look/wonder about how was those from before them's end/turn (result)? They were stronger than them (in) strength/power, and they erupted and spread/plowed the earth/Planet Earth and they inhabited/built it more than what they inhabited/built it , and their messengers came to them with the evidences, so God was not to cause injustice to/oppress them, and but they were themselves causing injustice/oppression
Bijan Moeinian   
Do the people not travel and see what happened to the disbelievers before them? They used to be more powerful, more prosperous and more advanced. It was not God who was unjust to them. [On the contrary,] God [out of His mercy] sent them Prophets with undeniable miracles [to guide them to the right path.] It was they who were unjust to their own soul [and chose the wrong path.]
Faridul Haque   
And did they not travel in the land to see what sort of fate befell those before them? They were stronger than them, and they cultivated the land and inhabited it more than them, and their Noble Messengers came to them with clear proofs; so it did not befit Allah’s Majesty to oppress them, but it was they who used to wrong themselves
Sher Ali   
Have they not traveled in the earth so that they might see how evil was the end of those who were before them? They were stronger than these in power, and they tilled the soil and populated it more and better than these have populated it. And their Messengers came to them with manifest Signs. And ALLAH would not wrong them, but they wronged their own souls
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
Have they not travelled in the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were more powerful than them. And they cultivated the earth, and inhabited it far more than these people have done. Then their Messengers came to them with clear signs. So Allah would not wrong them but they wronged their souls themselves
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Have they not travelled through the land and seen how (evil) was the end of those who were before them? They (- their predecessors) were superior to them in prowess and strength. They tilled the land (built structures and dug up minerals from it), and populated it more and better than these have populated it. And their Messengers (of God) had come to them with manifest signs (but they denied them and were destroyed). It was indeed far from Allah to have done injustice to them but they themselves wronged their own souls
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Do they not travel in the land, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength, and they tilled the earth and populated it in greater numbers than these (pagans) have done, and there came to them their Messengers with clear proofs. Surely, Allah wronged them not, but they used to wrong themselves

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
What, have they not journeyed in the land and beheld how was the end of those before them? They were stronger than themselves in might, and they ploughed up the earth and cultivated it more than they themselves have cultivated it; and their Messengers came to them with the clear signs; and God would never wrong them, but themselves they wronged
George Sale   
Do they not pass through the earth, and see what hath been the end of those who were before them? They excelled the Meccans in strength, and broke up the earth, and inhabited it in greater affluence and prosperity than they inhabit the same: And their apostles came unto them with evident miracles; and God was not disposed to treat them unjustly, but they injured their own souls by their obstinate infidelity
Edward Henry Palmer   
Have they not journeyed on in the land and seen how was the end of those before them who were stronger than they, and who turned up the ground and cultivated it more than they do cultivate it? and there came to them their apostles with manifest signs; for God would never wrong them: it was themselves they wronged
John Medows Rodwell   
Have they never journeyed through the land, and seen what hath been the end of those who were before them? Mightier were they than these in strength; and they broke up the land, and dwelt in it in greater numbers than they who dwell there now; and their apostles came to them with proofs of their mission: and it was not God who would wrong them, but they wronged themselves
N J Dawood (2014)   
Have they never journeyed through the land and seen what was the fate of their forebears? Far mightier were they; they tilled the land and built upon it more than these have ever built. And to them, too, their apostles came with undoubted signs. God did not wrong them but they wronged themselves

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
Have they not travelled in the earth and looked at how was the end of those before them? They used to be more formidable in power than them and they ploughed the earth and they built it more than they built it and their messengers came to them with clear signs. But Allah was not to wrong them but they used to wrong their own souls.
Munir Mezyed   
Have they not travelled through the land and seen what was the (dreadful) end of those before them? They were more powerful than them -.(the Quraysh Tribe of Mecca). They tilled the land and built on it more than what they- (the Quraysh Tribe of Mecca) - have built on it. Their Messengers came to them with irrefutable Signs. So it was not Allâh Who wronged them, but they used to be unfair to their own selves (when they have voluntarily and consciously abandoned the Full Knowledge of the Truth in favour of their own whims).
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
Do they not travel on earth and see what the outcome of those before them was? They were stronger than them in power and made their mark on the earth and cultivated it more than these cultivated it, and their messengers came to them with clear proofs, so Allah did not wrong them but they wronged themselves.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
Have they not journeyed through the earth and looked at what the outcome was for those before them? They were more powerful than them, and they cultivated the land and developed it more than they developed it, and their messengers came to them with evident proofs. For never would Allah do them any injustice, but to themselves they used to do injustice.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Do they not travel throughout the earth and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength, they tilled the soil. They populated in greater numbers than these [unbelievers] have done. Their messengers came to them with evidence, which they rejected. Allah did not wrong them, but they wronged their own souls.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Have they not travelled around the earth and seen what the outcome was for those who existed before them? They were even stronger than they are: they cultivated the earth and developed it more than they have ever developed it. Their messengers brought them explanations; it was not Allah (God) who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.
Samy Mahdy   
Have they not walked on the earth so observe how those before them their consequence was? They were more powerful than them, and they plowed the earth and live-longed it more than they live-longed it, and their messengers came to them with the proof. So, Allah would never oppress them, but they were themselves oppressing.
Sayyid Qutb   
Have they never travelled around the world and seen what was the fate of those who lived before their time? Superior were those in power than they are, and they cultivated the earth and built it up even better than these are doing. To them also came their messengers with all evidence of the truth. Yet, it was not God who wronged them, but it was they who had wronged themselves.
Thomas Cleary   
And do they not travel the earth and see how those before them ended up? They were more powerful than these, and tilled the earth, and populated it, more densely than have these. And there came to them Messengers to them with clarifications. And God would not wrong them, but they have wronged themselves.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Do they not travel the earth and see the end their predecessors met? They (the predecessors) were mightier than them (the present people)... They cultivated the earth more and built upon it more than these have built... Their Rasul also came to them as clear proofs. So, it was not Allah who did wrong to them, but it was they who wronged themselves.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the end of these before them? They were stronger than them in strength, and they ploughed up the earth and cultivated it more than they themselves have cultivated it; and their messenger came to them with clear proofs (miracles) (which they rejected, to their own destruction); so Allah would never deal with them unjustly, but they dealt unjustly with their own selves
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Have they -the Meccans- not journeyed through the land and looked with their minds' eyes to see what was the end of those who preceded them, who wore far mightier and their diligence never wearied! They broke up the earth and turned over the soil and populated and peopled the land far more than these people have done! Their Messengers presented them with convincing divine signs and revelations -but they closed their, minds' eyes and counselled deaf-. Therefore it was not Allah Who would wrong them but it was they who wronged themselves
Mir Aneesuddin   
Did they not travel in the earth and see how the end of those before them was (brought about)? They were more severe than them in strength and they dug the earth and built upon it more than these have built upon it. And their messengers came to them with clear proofs, so it was not Allah Who was unjust to them but they were unjust to themselves.
The Wise Quran   
Have they not travelled in the land and seen how was the end of those before them? They were stronger than them in strength, and they ploughed the earth and cultivated it more than they have cultivated it; and their messengers came to them with the clear proofs; and God wronged them not but they wronged themselves.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength: they tilled the soil and populated it in greater numbers than these have done: there came to them their apostles with Clear (Signs). (Which they rejected, to their own destruction): It was not God Who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Have not they traveled in the earth and observed how was (the) end (of) those before them? They were mightier than them (in) strength, and they dug the earth and built (on) it more than what they have built (on) it. And came (to) them their Messengers with clear proofs. So not was Allah to wrong them but they were themselves (doing) wrong
OLD Transliteration   
Awa lam yaseeroo fee al-ardi fayanthuroo kayfa kana AAaqibatu allatheena min qablihim kanoo ashadda minhum quwwatan waatharoo al-arda waAAamarooha akthara mimma AAamarooha wajaat-hum rusuluhum bialbayyinati fama kana Allahu liyathlimahum walakin kanoo anfusahum yathlimoona