←Prev   Ayah az-Zumar (The Troops, Throngs, The Companies) 39:16   Next→ 

Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
Clouds of fire will they have above them, and [similar] clouds beneath them…” In this way does God imbue His servants with fear. O you servants of Mine! Be, then, conscious of Me
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
They will have layers of fire above and below them. That is what Allah warns His servants with. So fear Me, O My servants!
Safi Kaskas   
They will have curtains of fire above them and below them. With this, God puts fear into His worshipers. So be ever mindful of Me, My worshipers.

Listen: 
Did you notice?

 You can SEARCH IslamAwakened: 

Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
لَهُم مِّن فَوۡقِهِمۡ ظُلَلࣱ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَمِن تَحۡتِهِمۡ ظُلَلࣱۚ ذَ ٰلِكَ یُخَوِّفُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ عِبَادَهُۥۚ یَـٰعِبَادِ فَٱتَّقُونِ ۝١٦
Transliteration (2021)   
lahum min fawqihim ẓulalun mina l-nāri wamin taḥtihim ẓulalun dhālika yukhawwifu l-lahu bihi ʿibādahu yāʿibādi fa-ittaqūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
For them from above them coverings of the Fire and from below them coverings. (With) that threatens Allah [with it] His slaves, "O My slaves! So fear Me."

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Clouds of fire will they have above them, and [similar] clouds beneath them…” In this way does God imbue His servants with fear. O you servants of Mine! Be, then, conscious of Me
M. M. Pickthall   
They have an awning of fire above them and beneath them a dais (of fire). With this doth Allah appal His bondmen. O My bondmen, therefor fear Me
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
They shall have Layers of Fire above them, and Layers (of Fire) below them: with this doth Allah warn off his servants: "O My Servants! then fear ye Me!"
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
They will have layers of fire above and below them. That is what Allah warns His servants with. So fear Me, O My servants!
Safi Kaskas   
They will have curtains of fire above them and below them. With this, God puts fear into His worshipers. So be ever mindful of Me, My worshipers.
Wahiduddin Khan   
They will have sheets of fire above them and sheets of fire beneath them. That is how God puts fear into the hearts of His servants. Fear me, then, My servants
Shakir   
They shall have coverings of fire above them and coverings beneath them; with that Allah makes His servants to fear, so be careful of (your duty to) Me, O My servants
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
They will have overshadowings above from the fire and beneath them, overshadowings. With that, God frightens His servants. O my servants! Be Godfearing of Me!
T.B.Irving   
They will have sheets of fire above them and sheets beneath them." That is how God frightens His servants: "My servants, heed Me!"
Abdul Hye   
They shall have coverings of fire from above them and coverings (of fire) beneath them; so that with this Allah frightens His servants: “O My servants, therefore, fear Me!”
The Study Quran   
Above them they shall have canopies of fire and below them canopies; with that does God strike fear into His servants. My servants! Reverence Me
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Upon them are layers of fire, and beneath them are layers. This is how God instills fear into His beings. “O My beings, be mindful of Me.”
Talal Itani (2012)   
They will have layers of Fire above them, and layers beneath them. That is how God strikes fear into His servants—'O My servants! Beware of Me!'
Dr. Kamal Omar   
For them, from above them, (would be) covering-layers of Fire, and from beneath them, (there would also be) covering-layers (of Fire). This (is): Allah does frighten therewith His Ibad. O My Ibad! Then obey Me (Alone)
M. Farook Malik   
There shall be layers of fire above them and layers of fire beneath them. Such is the doom about which Allah wants His servants to fear, and says: "O My servants, avoid My wrath."
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
They will have above them overshadowings of the Fire, and from beneath them over-shadowings; that is wherewith Allah frightens His bondmen: "O My bondmen, so be pious towards Me!"
Muhammad Sarwar   
Above and below them their will be shadows of fire. This is how God frightens His servants. My servants have fear of Me
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
For them there are canopies of fire on top of them and canopies (of fire) underneath them. That is the thing against which Allah warns His servants. .So, O servants of Mine, fear Me
Shabbir Ahmed   
They will have fire and ashes above them, and beneath them a dais of hot ashes. In this way does Allah alert His servants: O My servants! Be mindful of My Laws
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Sheets of blazing fire will blanket them from above, and a raging fire will engulf them from below. Regarding this, Allah cautions His servants, "Oh my servants, fear Me!"
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
They shall have layers of Fire over them, and layers (of Fire) below them: With this, Allah does warn His servants: "Oh My Servants! Then you fear Me!"
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
They will have canopies of fire above them and below them, canopies. By that Allah threatens His servants. O My servants, then fear Me
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
They will have coverings of fire from above them and below them. It is as such that God makes His servants fearful: "O My servants, you shall reverence Me."
Abdel Haleem   
They will have layers of Fire above them and below.’ This is how God puts fear into His servants: My servants, beware of Me
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
For them! above them shall be coverings of Fire and beneath them coverings. Therewith Allah affrighteth His bondmen. O My bondmen! wherefore fear Me
Ahmed Ali   
Above them will be a covering of fire, below them a cloud (of flames). With this does God warn His creatures: "O My creatures, fear Me."
Aisha Bewley   
They will have awnings of Fire above them and awnings below them. By that Allah strikes fear into His slaves: ´So have taqwa, My slaves, of Me!´
Ali Ünal   
For them will be dark layers of the Fire above them, and dark layers below them. With this does God warn off His servants. O My servants, keep from disobedience to Me in reverence for Me and piety and so deserve My protection
Ali Quli Qara'i   
There will be canopies of fire above them, and [similar] canopies beneath them. With that Allah deters His servants. So, My servants, be wary of Me
Hamid S. Aziz   
They shall have coverings (layers) of fire above them and coverings (layers) beneath them; with this, Allah appals His servants, so be careful of (your duty to) Me, O My servants
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
They will have canopies of fire from above them and canopies (of fire) from beneath them. That is what God scares His servants with it. So My servants, be cautious of Me.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
They will have layers of fire above them, and layers of fire below them. With this does God warn his servants, “O My servants, be conscious of Me.
Musharraf Hussain   
Smoke of fire above and smoke beneath them; with that Allah frightens His servants, so My sincere servants, be fearful of Me.
Maududi   
There shall be sheets of fire above them and beneath them. This is the end against which Allah warns His servants. So dread My wrath, O you servants of Mine!"
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
They will have coverings of fire from above them and below them. It is as such that God makes His servants fearful: "O My servants, you shall reverence Me.
Mohammad Shafi   
For them, sheets of fire above them and sheets beneath them! This is what Allah warns His subjects against. "Fear me then, O you subjects of Mine!"

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
There are mountains of fire over them and beneath them mountains. With this, Allah warns His bondmen O My bondmen! fear you Me'.
Rashad Khalifa   
They will have masses of fire on top of them, and under them. GOD thus alerts His servants: O My servants, you shall reverence Me.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Above them they shall have layers of fire and beneath them layers. By this Allah puts fear into His worshipers. ' 'O My worshipers, fear Me!
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
They shall have coverings of fire above them and coverings beneath them. With that Allah makes His servants to fear; so keep your duty to Me, O My servants
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
For them from above them shades from the fire , and from below/beneath them shades, that God He frightens with it His worshippers/slaves , you My worshipper/slaves , so fear and obey Me
Bijan Moeinian   
The Fire will surround them from the above and from the beneath. God thus warns His servants of the awful consequence of their wrongdoings. O My servants be mindful of your Lord.”
Faridul Haque   
Above them are mountains of fire and beneath them are mountains of fire; Allah scares His bondmen with this; “O My bondmen! Fear Me!”
Sher Ali   
They will have over them coverings of fire, and beneath them similar coverings. It is this against which ALLAH warns HIS servants. `O MY servants, take ME, then, for your Protector.
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
For them there will be clouds of fire (as covers) over them and pavements of fire beneath them too. This is (the torment) with which Allah warns His servants.’ O My servants! Always fear Me
Amatul Rahman Omar   
They shall have coverings of the fire over them and (sheets of similar) coverings below them (allowing them no escape). That is (the sort of punishment) against which Allah warns His servants, `My servants! (do not invite My punishment, rather) take Me as (your) shield.
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
They shall have coverings of Fire, above them and covering (of Fire) beneath them; with this Allah does frighten His slaves: "O My slaves, therefore fear Me!"

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Above them they shall have overshadowings. of the Fire, and underneath them overshadowings; that it is wherewith God frightens His servants: "O My servants, so fear you Me!"
George Sale   
Over them shall be roofs of fire, and under them shall be floors of fire. With this doth God terrify his servants: Wherefore, O my servants, fear me
Edward Henry Palmer   
They shall have over them shades of fire, and under them shades; with that does God frighten His servants: O my servants! then fear me
John Medows Rodwell   
Canopies of fire shall be over them, and floors of fire beneath them. With this doth God alarm his servants: Fear ye me, then, O my servants
N J Dawood (2014)   
Above them there shall be sheets of fire, and sheets of fire shall be beneath them. By this, God puts fear into His servants‘ hearts.‘ Fear Me, then, My servants

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
There will be for them from above them waves from the fire and from beneath them waves [from the fire]. That is what Allah forewarns His servants with. Therefore O My servants revere Me.
Munir Mezyed   
They shall have layers of Fire above and beneath them. This is how the servants of Allâh are intimidated by Him. O’ My servants! Now, therefore, act piously.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
They will be shut off by fire from above and from below, this is what Allah scares His servants with: oh My servants, beware of Me!
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
“They shall have layers of fire above them and layers below them. With this, Allah warns His servants: ‘O My Servants, fear and obey Me!’”
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
They have layers of fire above them, and layers beneath them. That is how Allah puts fear into His servants. “O My servants, therefore, be mindful of Me!”
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
They will have sheets of fire above them and sheets beneath them." That is how Allah (God) frightens His servants: "My servants, heed Me!"
Samy Mahdy   
For them murk from the fire above them and below them murk. By that Allah causes fear with it to His slaves. O My slaves, so show the piety of Me.
Sayyid Qutb   
Above them there shall be layers of fire, and layers of fire shall be beneath them. In this way God puts fear into His servants' hearts: 'My servants! Fear Me!'
Ahmed Hulusi   
There are layers of fire above them (in respect of their consciousness) and levels beneath them (in respect of their bodies)... This is (the Truth); Allah manifests its fear in His servants! O my servants, protect yourselves from Me (for I will subject you, based on sunnatullah, the consequences of all your deeds)!
Mir Aneesuddin   
For them there will be coverings of fire from above them and coverings from below them. Allah makes His servants fear through that. O My servants! then fear Me.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Above them shall there be layers of flames of fire hanging over them like a canopy of perpetual clouds of fire and no less shall there be underneath them. This is a picture Allah uses to caution those who worship Him, as well as those who do not, against the inevitable and He exhorts them, thus: "O you people who should seek unto Me, keep in awe of Me and entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Me."
The Wise Quran   
They shall have over them shades of fire, and under them shades; with that does God frighten His servants: 'O my servants! So fear Me.'

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
They shall have Layers of Fire above them, and Layers (of Fire) below them: with this doth God warn off his servants: "O My Servants! then fear ye Me!"
OLD Literal Word for Word   
For them from above them coverings of the Fire and from below them coverings. (With) that threatens Allah [with it] His slaves, "O My slaves! So consciously revere Me.
OLD Transliteration   
Lahum min fawqihim thulalun mina alnnari wamin tahtihim thulalun thalika yukhawwifu Allahu bihi AAibadahu ya AAibadi faittaqooni