Popular Translations
Muhammad Asad
These [allegedly divine beings] are nothing but empty names which you have invented - you and your forefathers - [and] for which God has bestowed no warrant from on high. They [who worship them] follow nothing but surmise and their own wishful thinking - although right guidance has now indeed come unto them from their Sustainer
Arthur John Arberry
They are naught but names yourselves have named, and your fathers; God has sent down no authority touching them. They follow only surmise, and what the souls desire; and yet guidance has come to them from their Lord
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
These are nothing but names which ye have devised,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire!- Even though there has already come to them Guidance from their Lord
Arabic
إِنۡ هِیَ إِلَّاۤ أَسۡمَاۤءࣱ سَمَّیۡتُمُوهَاۤ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَاۤؤُكُم مَّاۤ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍۚ إِن یَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَاۤءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰۤ ٢٣
Transliteration (2021)
in hiya illā asmāon sammaytumūhā antum waābāukum mā anzala l-lahu bihā min sul'ṭānin in yattabiʿūna illā l-ẓana wamā tahwā l-anfusu walaqad jāahum min rabbihimu l-hud