| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| The kissing of hands hath been forbidden in the Book. This practice is prohibited by God, the Lord of glory and command. |
 |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Ye are forbidden in the book to kiss one another's hands. This is that whereof ye are cautioned on the part of your Lord, the mighty the controller. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
The kissing of hands is forbidden in the Book. This (kind of reverence for religious leaders) is what you were forbidden by your Lord, the Mighty, the Wise. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| To none is it permitted to seek absolution from another soul; let repentance
be between yourselves and God. He, verily, is the Pardoner, the Bounteous, the Gracious, the One Who absolveth the repentant. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| No one has the right to ask forgiveness of his sins for another, but he must repent to God of his own accord. Verily, He is the forgiver, the giver, the mighty, the pardoner. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
No one need beg forgiveness of another. Repent to God for yourselves. He is the Mighty and Relenting Giver and Forgiver. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| O ye servants of the Merciful One! Arise to serve the Cause of God, in such wise that the cares and sorrows caused by them that have disbelieved in the Dayspring of the Signs of God may not afflict you. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| O servant of the merciful! Be steadfast in the service of His cause, in such that the afflictions on the part of those who deny the dayspring of the signs will not seize upon you. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
O creatures of the Merciful One, rise to the service (khidma) of the Cause that griefs caused by those who disbelieved in the Rising-place of the Verses (al-ayat) may not overtake you.[note 1] |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| At the time when the Promise was fulfilled and the Promised One made manifest, differences have appeared amongst the kindreds of the earth and each people hath
followed its own fancy and idle imaginings. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| When the promised time came and the promised one appeared, people disagreed, end each faction took hold of that which it possessed of imagination and fancies. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
When the Promise came and the Promised One appeared, the people disagreed and each faction held to its own opinions and illusions. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Amongst the people is he who seateth himself amid the sandals by the door whilst coveting in his heart the seat of honour. Say: What manner of man art thou, O vain and
heedless one, who wouldst appear as other than thou art? |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| From amongst the people are some who seat themselves in line with the shoes, in seeking after the seat of honor. Say to them: "Who are ye? O ignorant, and seducers!" |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Some people sit in a Row of Sandals (saff al-ni'al),[note 2] seeking the seat of honour (sadr al-jalal). Say: Who art thou, O careless, conceited man (al-gharrar)? [note 3] |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| And among the people is he who layeth claim to inner knowledge, and still deeper knowledge concealed within this knowledge. Say: Thou speakest false! By God! What thou
dost possess is naught but husks which We have left to thee as bones are left to dogs. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Some of them who claim inward knowledge and pretend to understand divine mysteries, say to them: "O liars, by God, what ye have is indeed naught save husks which we have abandoned to you, as bones are abandoned to the dogs." |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Of them there is he who claims the Hidden (al-batin) and the Hidden of the Hidden. [note 4] Say: O liar, by God, what thou hast is husks. We have left it for you as bones are left for the dogs. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| By the righteousness of the one true God! Were anyone to wash the feet of all mankind, and were he to worship God in the forests, valleys, and mountains, upon high hills and
lofty peaks, to leave no rock or tree, no clod of earth, but was a witness to his worship--yet, should the fragrance of My good pleasure not be inhaled from him, his works would never be
acceptable unto God. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Lord of all. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| By God, the truth, should anyone wash the feet of the people of the world and worship God in thickets and narrow foot-paths, and upon the summits and tops of mountains and
hills, and in the neighborhood of every stone, clod or tree - all the scent of My good pleasure does not emanate from him. This is what hath been decreed by the Lord of mankind. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
By God, the Truth, if one were to wash the feet of everybody in the world and worship God in thickets and in green valleys, on mountains, hill-tops, and summits, and at
every stone, and tree, and clod, and yet the fragrance of My good pleasure be not diffused front him, he would never be accepted. This is what the Master of Mankind has ruled. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| How many a man hath secluded himself in the climes of India, denied
himself the things that God hath decreed as lawful, imposed upon himself austerities and mortifications, and hath not been remembered by God, the Revealer of Verses. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| How many servants secluded themselves on the Indian Isles, and deprived themselves of that which God hath sanctioned, and underwent mortifications and hardships and yet were not accepted by God, the revealer of the signs. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
How many a creature in the isles of India has withdrawn from the world and deprived himself of what God has made lawful for him and endured retreats and hardships; yet
these things will not be remembered by God who sends down the Verses. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Make not your deeds as snares wherewith to entrap the object of your
aspiration, and deprive not yourselves of this Ultimate Objective for which have ever yearned all such as have drawn nigh unto God. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Do not make actions a snare to hide hopes and interested motives, and deprive not yourselves of this retreat which was the sole aim of those who are near (to God)in the eternities of eternities. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Do not make deeds (al-a'mal) a snare of hopes (sharak al-amal). Do not deprive yourselves of this end which was the hope of those who drew nigh (to God) in the eternity of past eternities. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Say: The very life of all deeds is My good pleasure, and all things depend upon Mine acceptance. Read ye the Tablets that ye may know what hath been purposed in the Books of God, the All-Glorious, the Ever-Bounteous. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Say: the spirit of actions is My good pleasure and everything depends on My acceptance. Read the tablets that ye may know what is desired, in the book of God |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Say : The spirit of the deeds is my good pleasure; everything depends on my acceptance. Read the Tablets in order to know what is the purpose of the books of God, the Mighty One, the Munificent. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| He who attaineth to My love hath title to a throne of gold, to sit thereon in honour over all the world; he who is deprived thereof, though he sit upon the dust, that dust
would seek refuge with God, the Lord of all Religions. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| in the created world (seat of honor) and he who is withheld from My love, even though he sits on the earth, will be the one against whom the protection of God, the ruler of all religions will be sought by others. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Whoever attains unto My love has a right to sit on a throne of native gold in the chief seat in (the realm of) possibility. Whoever is
deprived of My love, were he to sit on the ground, it would take refuge in God, [note 1] the Possessor of Religions. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |