Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad
O men! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, all-aware
M. M. Pickthall
O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may ˹get to˺ know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.
Safi Kaskas
People, We created you from a male and a female and made you nations and tribes so that you may know (engage) one another. The best among you in the sight of God is the one who is most mindful of God. God is All-knowing and All-Aware.
Wahiduddin Khan
Mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into peoples and tribes, so that you might come to know each other. The noblest of you in God's sight is the one who fears God most. God is all knowing and all-aware
Shakir
O you men! surely We have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful (of his duty); surely Allah is Knowing, Aware
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
O humanity! Truly, We created you from a male and a female and made you into peoples and types that you recognize one another. Truly, the most generous of you with God is the most devout. Truly, God is Knowing, Aware.
T.B.Irving
0 mankind, We have created you from a male and female, and set you up as nations and tribes so you may recognize [and cooperate with] one another. The noblest among you with God is that one of you who best performs his duty; God is Aware, Informed.
Abdul Hye
O mankind! Surely We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Surely, the most honorable of you with Allah is the most pious of you. Surely, Allah is All-Knower, All-Aware.
The Study Quran
O mankind! Truly We created you from a male and a female, and We made you peoples and tribes that you may come to know one another. Surely the most noble of you before God are the most reverent of you. Truly God is Knowing, Aware
Talal Itani & AI (2024)
O people, We created you from a male and a female, and We made you into nations and cultures, so you may learn from each other. The most noble among you in the sight of God is the most righteous. God is All-Knowing, Expert.
Talal Itani (2012)
O people! We created you from a male and a female, and made you races and tribes, that you may know one another. The best among you in the sight of God is the most righteous. God is All-Knowing, Well-Experienced
Dr. Kamal Omar
O you mankind! Verily We, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into sub-tribes and tribes in order that you may recognise each other. Verily, more honourable of you in the Sight of Allah (is that) who is more obedient amongst you. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware
O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you might get to know one another. Surely the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most righteous. Allah is All-Knowledgeable, All-Aware
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
O you mankind, surely We created you of a male and a female, and We have made you races and tribes that you may get mutually acquainted. Surely the most honorable among you in the Providence of Allah are the most pious; surely Allah is Ever-Knowing, Ever-Cognizant
Muhammad Sarwar
People, We have created you all male and female and have made you nations and tribes so that you would recognize each other. The most honorable among you in the sight of God is the most pious of you. God is All-knowing and All-aware
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into races and tribes, so that you may identify one another. Surely the noblest of you, in Allah‘s sight, is the one who is most pious of you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware
Shabbir Ahmed
O Mankind! Behold, We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes so that you might (affectionately) come to know one another. Verily, the most honored among you, in the Sight of Allah, is the one who lives most upright. Behold, Allah is Knower, Aware. ('Min zakarinwwa untha' = Of a kind that is male, and of a kind that is female = Male and female = Some of you are men and some of you are women. On this note I find myself in agreement with M. Pickthall)
Dr. Munir Munshey
Oh you people! We have certainly created you from one man, and a woman. Then We (multiplied you and) formed you into nations and tribes, (just) so you may identify and recognize each other. Indeed, according to Allah the nobler among you is (none other than) the one who fears Allah the most! Indeed, Allah is all-Knowing and well-Aware of everything
Syed Vickar Ahamed
O mankind! We have created you from a single (pair) of male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another (not that you may hate each other). Surely, the most honorable of you, in the Sight of Allah is (he, who is) the most righteous of you. Verily, Allah is All Knowing (Aleem) and is Well-Aware (Khabir, of all things)
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
O mankind, We created you from a male and female, and We made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Surely, the most honourable among you in the sight of God is the most righteous. God is Knowledgeable, Expert
Abdel Haleem
People, We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should recognize one another. In God’s eyes, the most honoured of you are the ones most mindful of Him: God is all knowing, all aware
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
O Humankind verily We! We have created you Of a male and female, and We have made you nations and tribes that ye might know one another. Verily the noblest of you with Allah is the most God-fearing of you; verily Allah is Knowing, Aware
Ahmed Ali
O men, We created you from a male and female, and formed you into nations and tribes that you may recognise each other. He who has more integrity has indeed greater honour with God. Surely God is all-knowing and well-informed
Aisha Bewley
Mankind! We created you from a male and female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you might come to know each other. The noblest among you in Allah´s sight is the one with the most taqwa. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.
Ali Ünal
O humankind! Surely We have created you from a single (pair of) male and female, and made you into tribes and families so that you may know one another (and so build mutuality and co-operative relationships, not so that you may take pride in your differences of race or social rank, and breed enmities). Surely the noblest, most honorable of you in God’s sight is the one best in piety, righteousness, and reverence for God. Surely God is All-Knowing, All-Aware
Ali Quli Qara'i
O mankind! Indeed We created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes that you may identify yourselves with one another. Indeed the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most Godwary among you. Indeed Allah is all-knowing, all-aware
Hamid S. Aziz
O mankind! Surely We have created you male and female (or from a single pair), and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most noble of you with Allah is the one among you most righteous (careful of his duty to Allah); sure
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
People, indeed We created you from a male and a female, and We made you into races (and nations) and tribes so that you know each other. Indeed, the more honorable of you before God are those of you who are more cautious (of God). Indeed, God is knowledgeable and well-informed.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
O humanity, We created you from a single male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Indeed the most honored of you in the sight of God, is the most conscious of you, and God has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things
Musharraf Hussain
People, We created you from a male and female; then made you into different races and tribes so you may know each other. The most honourable in the sight of Allah is the most mindful of Allah, the Knower, the Aware
Maududi
Human beings, We created you all from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Verily the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most God-fearing of you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
O people, We created you from a male and female, and We made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Surely, the most honorable among you in the sight of God is the most righteous. God is Knowledgeable, Expert
Mohammad Shafi
O mankind! Verily We have created you from one man and one woman, and made you into nations and tribes in order that you may know one another. The noblest of you with Allah is indeed the one most pious of you. Allah is indeed Omniscient, Well-informed
Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
'O people! We created you from one man and one woman and made you branches and tribes that you may recognize one another. Undoubtedly, the most respected among you in the sight of Allah is he who is more pious, verily, Allah is knowing, Aware.
O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
People, We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you might know one another. The noblest of you before Allah is the most righteous of you. Allah is the Knower, the Aware
Maulana Muhammad Ali
O mankind, surely We have created you from a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other. Surely the noblest of you with Allah is the most dutiful of you. Surely Allah is Knowing, Aware
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira
You, you the people, that We created you from a male and a female, and We made/created you (into) nations/communities and groups/tribes to know each other, that truly (the) most honoured/kind of you at God (is) your most fearing and obeying, that truly God (is) knowledgeable, expert/experienced
Bijan Moeinian
The mankind should know that I (God) created them from a man and a woman and then put you into different tribes and nations so that you may associate with each other. Know that the honorable among you in the sight of God is the most pious one and God [knows who is the pious ones as He] is the Most Knowledgeable, the Most Wise
Faridul Haque
O mankind! We have indeed created you from one man and one woman, and have made you into various nations and tribes so that you may know one another; indeed the more honourable among you, in the sight of Allah, is one who is more pious among you; indeed Allah is All Knowing, All Aware. (Piety is the basis of honour in Allah’s sight.
Sher Ali
O mankind, WE have created you from a male and a female; And WE have made you tribes and sub-tribes that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable among you, in the sight of ALLAH, is he who is the most righteous among you. Surely, ALLAH is All-Knowing, All-Aware
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
O people! We created you from a male and a female, and (divided) you into (large) peoples and tribes, so that you might recognize one another. Surely, the most honourable amongst you in the sight of Allah is he who fears Allah the most. Certainly, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware
Amatul Rahman Omar
O mankind! We have created you out of a male and a female, and We have made you tribes and sub-tribes that you may recognise (and do good to) one another. Surely the most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is he who guards against evil the most. Verily, Allah is All- knowing, All-Aware
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa (i.e. one of the Muttaqoon (pious - see V.2:2). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware
New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame
O you the mankind! Truly We have created you from a male and a female and We have made you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Truly the most graceful among you in the sight of Allah is one who reveres Him the most. Truly Allah is All-knowing, All-acquainted.
Munir Mezyed
O’ mankind, indeed, We have created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes so that you may know one another. The most honorable among you in the sight of Allâh is the one who is most pious among you. Most surely Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Aware.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
Oh mankind, We have created you from male and female and made you into clans and tribes so that you know each other. The most honoured amongst you before Allah is the most aware (of Him) amongst you, for Allah is knowing and informed.
Linda “iLHam” Barto
O Humanity, We created you from one male and one female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may get to know one another. Truly the most honorable among you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Allah has full knowledge and is well aware.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation
O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and made you into races and tribes, that you may know one another; indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah are the most mindful (of Him) among you; indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab
O mankind, We have created you from a male and female, and set you up as nations and tribes so you may recognize [and cooperate with] one another. The noblest among you with Allah (God) is that one of you who best performs his duty; Allah (God) is Aware, Informed.
Samy Mahdy
O the people! Surely, We created you from a male and a female, and set up you, nations and tribes, to let you recognize that the most honorable of you with Allah is the most pious. Surely Allah is Knowledgeable, Expert.
Ahmed Hulusi
O people... Indeed, We have (always) created you from a male and a female (no stated exception for Adam here); and made you into races-nations and communities so that you may come to know (and acquire different qualities and virtues from) each other... Indeed, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah are those who are true to themselves (their essential reality)! Indeed, Allah is the Aleem, the Habir.
Mir Aneesuddin
O mankind ! We created you from a male and a female and made you nations and tribes that you may recognize each other (as to who belongs to which nationality or tribe. But) the most honoured of you with Allah is certainly the one who guards most (against evil), Allah is certainly Knowing, Informed.
O you people; We created you from the union of a twain, male and female, and We divided you into nations and communities and dispersed you over the earth to get to know each other and not to boast your descent or rank. The one among you whom Allah values most and is held precious in His esteem is he who keeps Allah in mind and acquaints his heart with wisdom, and regards Allah with breast filled with reverential awe. Allah is Alimun, and Khabirun (intimately acquainted with all things). A tribe named Banu Asad went to Madinab, where the Messenger had emigrated, seeking relief for their families by reason whereof a famine had ensued that year. They had conformed to Islam, but they thought at that stage that they had become absorbed in the Faith, which they were not. Consequently, Allah defines to them and to the people at large the stages they go through
The Wise Quran
O mankind! Indeed, We created you of male and female, and We made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you with God is the one who fears most of you; indeed, God is knowing, aware.