Marked words appear in this translation and in no other English translation of this verse. Common small words and older spellings are not marked. The marks show where the wording differs, not where the meaning does.
Talal Itani· published 2012
We did not send before you except men, whom We inspired. Ask the people of knowledge, if you do not know.
Translation Talal Itani, ClearQuran·Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall1875–1936 · published 1930
And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men, whom We inspired. Ask the followers of the Reminder if ye know not
Sources
Translation Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran·Public domain — copyright term expired
Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran·1930 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work
·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026
Edward Henry Palmer1840–1882 · published 1880
Nor did we send before them any but men whom we inspired? Ask ye the people of the Scriptures if ye do not know
Sources
Translation Edward Henry Palmer, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired
We sent none as our apostles before thee, other than men, unto whom We revealed our will. Ask those who are acquainted with the scripture, if ye know not this
Sources
Translation George Sale, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired
George Sale, English translation of the Qur'an·1734 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work
·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026
Other languages (18)Shqip · Albanian
Ne dërguam para teje vetëm burra, të cilëve ua dhamë shpalljen, andaj pyetni ithtarët e Librit, nëse nuk e dini.
Translated by the team of Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.5
বাংলা · Bengali
আর (হে রাসূল!) আমি তোমার পূর্বে শুধু পুরুষ মানুষদের নিকটই ওয়াহী পাঠিয়েছি।(২) সুতরাং তোমরা (পূর্বেকার কিতাবধারী) জ্ঞানীদেরকে জিজ্ঞাসা করো, যদি তোমরা না জানো।
Translated by the team of Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Dawah Association in Rabwah, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.1.2
Bosanski · Bosnian
I prije tebe smo samo ljude slali kojima smo objavljivali, zato pitajte sljedbenike Knjige ako ne znate vi!
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 2.0.4
Hrvatski · Croatian
I prije tebe smo samo ljude slali kojima smo objavljivali, zato pitajte sljedbenike Knjige ako ne znate vi!
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.1
Fulfulde · Fulani
Min Nulaani ado maaɗa si wonaa worɓe Min Wahayina e maɓɓe, lanndee yimɓe defte ɓe si tawii wonii on anndaa.
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.2
ქართული · Georgian
[ალლაჰი ამბობს პასუხად]: და არავინ წარგვიგზავნია შენზე უწინ [ო, მუჰამმად], გარდა მამაკაცებისა [ადამიანი და არა ანგელოზი], რომელთაც ზეშთავაგონეთ. თუ თქვენ არ იცით, ჰკითხეთ ცოდნის მქონეთ [ადამიანებს, რომელთაც ცოდნა აქვთ ადრე გარდმოვლენილი წიგნების შესახებ].
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.7
Deutsch · German
Und Wir haben vor dir (ja) nur Männer gesandt, denen Wir (Offenbarungen) eingegeben haben. So fragt die Leute der Ermahnung, wenn ihr (etwas) nicht wisst.
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.15
Ελληνικά · Greek
Πράγματι, δε στείλαμε πριν από σένα (ω, Μωχάμμαντ) παρά μόνο άνδρες (Αγγελιαφόρους), στους οποίους αποκαλύψαμε. Ρωτήστε λοιπόν (ω, άπιστοι) εκείνους των προηγούμενων Θείων Βιβλίων (της Τοράς και του Ιν-τζήλ -του πρωτότυπου Ευαγγελίου του Ιησού- αν οι Αγγελιαφόροι που τους έστειλε ο Αλλάχ πριν, ήταν άνθρωποι ή Άγγελοι), αν δε γνωρίζετε!
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.2
हिन्दी · Hindi
और (ऐ नबी!) हमने आपसे पहले पुरुषों ही को रसूल बनाकर भेजे, जिनकी ओर हम वह़्य (प्रकाशना) करते थे। अतः तुम ज़िक्र (किताब) वालों[6] से पूछ लो, यदि तुम (स्वयं) नहीं जानते हो।
Translated by Azizul Haq Al-Omari
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.1.5
Italiano · Italian
E non inviammo, prima di te, se non uomini da Noi ispirati. Chiedete ai sapienti, se non lo sapete!
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.2
Lietuvių · Lithuanian
7. Ir Mes nesiuntėme anksčiau tavęs (Muchammedai ﷺ) bet tik žmones, kuriems Mes apreiškėme. Taigi klausk Priminimo [Raštų – Taurato (Toros) ir Indžylio (Evangelijos)] žmonių, jei tu nežinai.
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.8
Afaan Oromoo · Oromo
Si dura dhiirota wahyii gara isaanii goonu malee hin ergine, Yoo kan hin beekne taatan warra beekumsaa gaafadhaa.[2]
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.0
Русский · Russian
И Мы не посылали до тебя никого, кроме мужчин, которым Мы внушали откровение. Так спросите же людей Напоминания, если вы не знаете.
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.1
Српски · Serbian
И пре тебе смо само људе као посланике слали и објављивали смо им, зато питајте следбенике Књиге, ако ви не знате!
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.4
Kiswahili · Swahili
Na hatukuwatuma kabla yako isipokuwa wanaume tuliowafunulia ufunuo (wahyi). Basi waulizeni wenye elimu ikiwa nyinyi hamjui.
Issued by the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.5
Svenska · Swedish
De som vi sände före dig var män till vilka vi gav vår uppenbarelse. Om ni själva saknar kunskap, fråga då de skriftkunniga.
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.2
Türkçe · Turkish
Senden önce de ancak kendilerine vahyettiğimiz birtakım erkekleri peygamber gönderdik. Eğer bilmiyorsanız ilim sahiplerine sorun.
Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.4
اردو · Urdu
تجھ سے پہلے جتنے پیغمبر ہم نے بھیجے سبھی مرد تھے[1] جن کی طرف ہم وحی اتارتے تھے پس تم اہل کتاب سے پوچھ لو اگر خود تمہیں علم نہ ہو.[2]
Translated by Muhammad Ibrahim Junagarhi, developed under the supervision of the Rowwad Translation Center. The original translation is available for the purpose of expressing opinion, evaluation, and continuous development.
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.1.3
About these translations
5 cleared translations, newest first, by year of publication, so the modern English comes before the historical ones. That is an ordering by date, not a judgement. Each is shown complete — this platform never excerpts a translation — and each renders under its translator's name. No translation here is marked as the correct one.
Which translations appear here is set by copyright: they are the ones whose rights could be documented and cleared. The selection is not a judgement that these are the best.
About easy-read
Easy-read
Easy-read is a simplified pronunciation,
not authoritative — a rule-by-rule romanisation, not a reading.
Each verse ends in its pause form, as it is said when you stop there. Pauses inside a verse and other tajwid rules are not shown. It is derived from the Tanzil
Simple edition, while the Arabic above is the
Uthmani edition; both are cleared, but they are not the
same edition and their orthography differs.
Easy-read (simplified)bal qaaloo adghaathu ahlaamin bali ftaraahu bal huwa shaa'irun falya'tinaa bi'aayatin kamaa ursila l-'awwaloon
DIN 31635bal qālū ʾaḍġāṯu ʾaḥlāmin bali ftarāhu bal huwa šāʿirun falyaʾtinā biʾāyatin kamā ʾursila l-ʾawwalūna
Talal Itani2012 And they said, "A jumble of dreams," and, "He made it up," and, "He is a poet," "let him bring us a sign, like those sent to the ancients."
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall1930 Nay, say they, (these are but) muddled dreams; nay, he hath but invented it; nay, he is but a poet. Let him bring us a portent even as those of old (who were Allah's messengers) were sent (with portents)
Edward Henry Palmer1880 Nay!' they say, 'a jumble of dreams; nay! he has forged it; nay! he is a poet; but let him bring us a sign as those of yore were sent
John Medows Rodwell1861 Nay," say they, "it is the medley of dreams: nay, he hath forged it: nay, he is a poet: let him come to us with a sign as the prophets of old were sent
George Sale1734 But they say, the Koran is a confused heap of dreams: Nay, he hath forged it; nay, he is a poet: Let him come unto us therefore with some miracle, in like manner as the former prophets were sent
Easy-read (simplified)maa aamanat qablahum min qaryatin ahlaknaahaa afahum yu'minoon
DIN 31635mā ʾāmanat qablahum min qaryatin ʾahlaknāhā ʾafahum yuʾminūna
Talal Itani2012 None of the towns We destroyed before them had believed. Will they, then, believe?
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall1930 Not a township believed of those which We destroyed before them (though We sent them portents): would they then believe
Edward Henry Palmer1880 No city before them which we destroyed believed - how will they believe
John Medows Rodwell1861 Before their time, none of the cities which we have destroyed, believed: will these men, then, believe
George Sale1734 None of the cities which We have destroyed, believed the miracles which they saw performed, before them: Will these therefore believe, if they see a miracle
DIN 31635ṯumma ṣadaqnāhumu l-waʿda faʾanǧaynāhum waman našāʾu waʾahlaknā l-musrifīna
Talal Itani2012 Then We fulfilled Our promise to them, and We saved them together with whomever We willed, and We destroyed the extravagant.
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall1930 Then we fulfilled the promise unto them. So we delivered them and whom We would, and We destroyed the prodigals
Edward Henry Palmer1880 Yet we made our promise to them good, and we saved them and whom we pleased; but we destroyed those who committed excesses
John Medows Rodwell1861 Then made we good our promise to them; and we delivered them and whom we pleased, and we destroyed the transgressors
George Sale1734 But We made good our promise unto them: Wherefore We delivered them, and those whom We pleased; but We destroyed the exorbitant transgressors
These figures count the words the translations share. They measure wording, not meaning, and they do not say which translation is right.
Derived measure: mean pairwise Jaccard distance over the
lowercased word sets of the 5 renderings above —
0.63 on a scale
where 0 means identical wording and 1 means no shared words. It is
computed, not judged.
The page says a verse is worded differently only above the cut below. The cut is a stated convention, not a property of the text, and it can be changed.
The cut
0.644
Share of measured verses above it
33%
Verses above it
2,079
Verses measured
6,236
Talal Itani · George Sale0.76
Edward Henry Palmer · George Sale0.74
Talal Itani · John Medows Rodwell0.74
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · John Medows Rodwell0.67
Edward Henry Palmer · John Medows Rodwell0.66
Talal Itani · Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall0.62
John Medows Rodwell · George Sale0.62
Edward Henry Palmer · Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall0.61
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · George Sale0.53
Talal Itani · Edward Henry Palmer0.38
One bar per pair of renderings, longest bar for the pair
sharing fewest words. Every pair is shown; none is singled out.
Method Wording differences — derived 13 September 2026
Method
Mean pairwise Jaccard distance over the lowercased word sets of the cleared translations of each verse. A verse is marked as worded differently when its score falls in the top third of the corpus — the cut set out in Analysis details.
As at
13 September 2026, 10:56 UTC
Gate
verify/divergence_gate.py re-derives and fails on drift
The platform does not say which is right, and does not
characterise what the difference means. The renderings are placed
together so the difference is visible; reading it is the reader's work.
7 sources
stand behind this page. Each is listed once, in the order the page first
cites it, with the licence it was cleared under and what was actually read.
Nothing on this page rests on a source that is not here.
Source Tanzil Qur'an text (Uthmani) · Uthmani, Version 1.1
Hafs/Kufan verse numbering, 6236 ayahs. The bismillah is delivered as a separate `bismillah` attribute on ayah 1 and is NOT fused into the ayah text. 112 surahs carry one: every surah except al-Fatiha, where the bismillah is ayah 1:1 itself, and at-Tawba, which has none. Sourced from the XML output; the plain-text output of the same release DOES fuse it, which is defect D1.
CLEARED. Licence read verbatim from the block embedded in this very file. Ingested exactly as shipped: no normalisation, no stripping of marks, no Unicode recomposition.
Parsed structurally from the EPUB: an h3 names the surah, one p per verse with its number in its own span. An unnumbered p is the basmala and is not a verse, except in surah 1 where the basmala IS verse 1. 112 unnumbered paragraphs were found, which is 114 surahs less surah 1 and surah 9. Text is stored VERBATIM: NFC normalisation and XML entity unescaping only, because CC BY-ND forbids modification.
CLEARED on a licence read first-hand from the translator's own download page, not from an aggregator. Tanzil also hosts this translation, but under a blanket "non-commercial purposes only" term that directs the user to the translator or publisher for permission - a hosting disclaimer, not a grant - so the grant was taken from the licensor directly. The "God" edition was ingested; ClearQuran also publishes an "Allah" edition, differing in how the divine name is rendered, which is not ingested.
CLEARED ON THE WORK, WITH TWO RECORDED CAVEATS ON THIS COPY. (1) Rights basis is the expired copyright term, NOT the redistributing repository's licence. That repository dedicates its contents to the public domain under the Unlicense while also redistributing plainly in-copyright translations (Abdel Haleem, Saheeh International, The Study Quran), so it is dedicating rights it cannot hold and its blanket grant is not relied upon here. (2) The file declares its own upstream as tanzil.net, and Tanzil attaches a non-commercial condition to its TRANSLATION distributions, though not to its Qur'anic text. Since Pickthall's copyright has expired, nobody holds rights in these words and no licence is required from anyone; Tanzil's terms are a contract binding those who download from Tanzil, which we did not. The chain is nonetheless not spotless and Anwar may prefer a clean digitisation of the 1930 printing. NOT VERIFIED: that this digital text matches the 1930 first printing rather than a later revised edition. No page images were collated. Recorded as unverified rather than presented as established. SERVED TEXT DIFFERS FROM THE CITED FILE AT ONE VERSE, 37:97: the file reads "red-hotfire" (a glued token, also in Gutenberg #16955); the served row reads "red-hot fire", restored 2026-09-13 from Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (London: George Allen & Unwin, printed for Alfred A. Knopf; 1930), p. 460, XXXVII 97 - scan archive.org in.ernet.dli.2015.216140, PDF page 475; banked data/derivation-sources/pickthall-1930-dli-2015.216140-text.pdf (sha256 70e81146c97fa3a590243a82e04e349108546074787e2551a78c616202138870) on Anwar Malik's grant.
Hafs/Kufan verse numbering, 6236 verses, keyed to mushaf order. The
bismillah is not fused into ayah 1: 1:1 carries it and no other verse
does. Verified against content check C3 at ingest.
CLEARED ON THE WORK. Term expired by every measure. The digital edition's upstream is not stated by the redistributor and the printing is unverified. No statement of purpose is recorded for Palmer because none was sourced from his own preface in this pass; nothing is asserted on his behalf.
Hafs/Kufan verse numbering, 6236 verses, keyed to mushaf order. The
bismillah is not fused into ayah 1: 1:1 carries it and no other verse
does. Verified against content check C3 at ingest.
CLEARED ON THE WORK. Term expired by every measure. TWO edition caveats. (1) The upstream is not stated by the redistributor. (2) Rodwell's own edition PRESENTS THE SURAHS IN HIS OWN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, not the mushaf order — he says so in his preface. This digital text is keyed to mushaf order, so it derives from a restored-order printing (such as the Everyman edition) rather than from Rodwell's own arrangement. Which printing is not stated and has not been established.
Hafs/Kufan verse numbering, 6236 verses, keyed to mushaf order. The
bismillah is not fused into ayah 1: 1:1 carries it and no other verse
does. Verified against content check C3 at ingest.
CLEARED ON THE WORK. Term expired by every measure. The digital edition's upstream is NOT STATED by the redistributor, so the printing it represents is unverified; Sale's text was reprinted and re-edited many times between 1734 and 1900. Recorded as unverified rather than assumed to be the first edition.
Hafs/Kufan verse numbering, 6236 ayahs. The bismillah is delivered as a separate `bismillah` attribute on ayah 1 and is NOT fused into the ayah text. 112 surahs carry one: every surah except al-Fatiha, where the bismillah is ayah 1:1 itself, and at-Tawba, which has none. Sourced from the XML output; the plain-text output of the same release DOES fuse it, which is defect D1.
CLEARED. Parallel edition, held in ayah_text_variants. It sits alongside the Uthmani spine for search normalisation and is never used to correct it.