Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad
Why - [how could we be resurrected] after we have died and become mere dust? Such a return seems far-fetched indeed!”
M. M. Pickthall
When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be brought back again)? That would be a far return
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
"What! When we die and become dust, (shall we live again?) That is a (sort of) return far (from our understanding)."
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
˹Will we be returned to life,˺ when we are dead and reduced to dust? Such a return is impossible.”
Safi Kaskas
Once We have died and become dust? That is a most unlikely return."
Wahiduddin Khan
to come back to life after we have died and become dust? That is most improbable
Shakir
What! when we are dead and have become dust? That is afar (from probable) return
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
When we died and had been earth dust, that is a far-fetched returning!
T.B.Irving
Why, when we have died and become dust, that will mean such a long way to return!"
Abdul Hye
that after we are dead and have become dust (we shall be resurrected), that is a far return.”
The Study Quran
What! When we are dead and have become dust? That is a far-fetched return!
Talal Itani & AI (2024)
When we have died and become dust? Such a return seems far away.”
Talal Itani (2012)
When we have died and become dust? This is a farfetched return.'
Dr. Kamal Omar
Whether, when we are dead and we became dust (shall we be resurrected, as claimed in this Book)? That Return (to life, is something) very remote.”
that after we are dead and have become dust we shall be raised to life again, such a return is far from reason."
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
When we die and are dust (will we return)? That is a far returning!"
Muhammad Sarwar
that after we die and become dust, we shall be brought back to life again. This seems far from reality"
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
Is it when we die and become dust (that we will be brought to life again?) That is a return, far (from understanding)
Shabbir Ahmed
What! After we have died and become dust? Such a return is a thought far-fetched indeed!"
Dr. Munir Munshey
"(Would we live again) after we die and become dust? Such a return (to life) is far-fetched, (a fantasy)!"
Syed Vickar Ahamed
"When we die and become dust, (shall we live again?) that is a (sort of) return far (from our understanding)."
When we have died and have become dust, [we will return to life]? That is a distant return."
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
"Can it be that when we are dead and we become dust, that we come back later"
Abdel Haleem
To come back [to life] after we have died and become dust? That is too farfetched.’
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
Shell We be brought back when we are dead and have become dust? That is a return remote
Ahmed Ali
When we are dead and turned to dust, this returning (to life) is most far-fetched."
Aisha Bewley
When we are dead and turned to dust . . . ? That would be a most unlikely return!´
Ali Ünal
"When we have died and become dust (you say, we will be raised from the dead)? That is a far-fetched return!"
Ali Quli Qara'i
What! When we are dead and have become dust [shall we be raised again]? That is a far-fetched return!’
Hamid S. Aziz
"What! When we are dead and have become dust (shall we live again)? That is a far return (or far from probable or from our understanding)."
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
When we die and become dust (will we be raised)? This is an unlikely return.”
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
“What, when we die and become dust? That is far-fetched.
Musharraf Hussain
When we are dead and turned into dust will we be returned; a far-fetched idea .”
Maududi
What! When we are dead and reduced to mere dust, (shall we be raised to life)? Such a return is far-fetched."
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
"Can it be that when we are dead and we become dust, that we come back later?"
Mohammad Shafi
"What! When we die and have become dust, (shall we rise again to life?) That is a return far [from being ever possible]!"
Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
Will when we be dead and become dust, we be raised again to life? This return is remote.
"After we die and become dust; this is impossible."
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
What, when we are dead and turned to dust? That indeed would be an unlikely return!
Maulana Muhammad Ali
When we die and become dust -- that is a far return
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira
Is (it that) if we died and we were dust/earth? That (is) a far/distant return
Bijan Moeinian
The disbelievers wonder, how after being turned into dust, one day they will be raised to be questioned about what they have done while living on earth
Faridul Haque
“When we are dead and have turned to dust, will we be raised again? That return is impossible!”
Sher Ali
`What ! when we are dead and have become dust, shall we be raised up again? That is a return far from possible.
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
Is it that when we are dead and have become dust (then we shall become alive again)? This return is far (from understanding and perception).
Amatul Rahman Omar
`What! when we are dead and reduced to dust, (shall we be raised to life again)? This (sort of) return is highly impossible.
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
"When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be resurrected?) That is a far return."
New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame
Is it that when we have died and we have become dust [we will be returned back to life], that is a returning far from happening.”
Munir Mezyed
What! When we die and become dust, (shall we be raised up again)? That is very unlikely to happen.”
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
That when we have died and are dust, we will be brought back from beyond.
Linda “iLHam” Barto
“After we die and turn to dust, we’re supposed to live again? That is beyond our understanding.”
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation
Can it be that when we have died and become dust…? This is a far-fetched return.”
Irving & Mohamed Hegab
Why, when we have died and become dust, that will mean such a long way to return!"
Samy Mahdy
Is it when we have died and become dust? That is a farfetched return.”
Ahmed Hulusi
“Will we (be resurrected) once we have died and become dust? That is a distant return (a far-fetched claim).”
Mir Aneesuddin
What! when we are dead and become (part of the)soil, (will we then be raised to life again)? That is a return far (from probable).”
"How can We be raised after death when we have been reduced to dust?" "This idea of Resurrection, studiously sought out, is indeed far fetched."
The Wise Quran
When we die and we become dust? That is a far return.'