Popular Translations
Muhammad Asad
[To this end,] God sets forth a parable: A man who has for his masters several partners, [all of them] at variance with one another, and a man depending wholly on one person: can these two be deemed equal as regards their condition? [Nay,] all praise is due to God [alone]: but most of them do not understand this
Arthur John Arberry
God has struck a similitude -- a man in whom partners disagreeing share, and a man the property of one man. Are the two equal in likeness? Praise belongs to God! Nay, but most of them do not know
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
Allah puts forth a Parable a man belonging to many partners at variance with each other, and a man belonging entirely to one master: are those two equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah! but most of them have no knowledge
Arabic
ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلࣰا رَّجُلࣰا فِیهِ شُرَكَاۤءُ مُتَشَـٰكِسُونَ وَرَجُلࣰا سَلَمࣰا لِّرَجُلٍ هَلۡ یَسۡتَوِیَانِ مَثَلًاۚ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِۚ بَلۡ أَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُونَ ٢٩
Transliteration (2021)
ḍaraba l-lahu mathalan rajulan fīhi shurakāu mutashākisūna warajulan salaman lirajulin hal yastawiyāni mathalan l-ḥamdu lillahi bal aktharuhum lā yaʿlamūn