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
God cites the example of a man shared by partners at odds, and a man belonging exclusively to one man. Are they equal in status? Praise be to God, but most of them do not know.
Translation Talal Itani, ClearQuran·Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall1875–1936 · published 1930
Allahcoineth a similitude: A man in relation to whom are several part-owners, quarrelling, and a man belonging wholly to one man. Are the two equal in similitude? Praise be to Allah! But most of them 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
God has struck out a parable, a man who has partners who oppose each other and a man who is wholly given up to another; shall they be deemed equal in similitude? praise be to God! nay, but most of them know not
Sources
Translation Edward Henry Palmer, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired
God settethforth the comparison of a man with associates at variance among themselves, and of a man devoted wholly to a man. Are these to be held alike? No, praise be to God! But the greater part of them understand not
Sources
Translation John Medows Rodwell, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired
God propoundeth as a parable a man who hath several companions which are at mutual variance, and a man who committeth himself wholly to one person: Shall these be held in equal comparison? God forbid! But the greater part of them do not understand
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
Allahu sjell një shembull: një njeri që u shërben disa ortakëve që grinden mes vete dhe një njeri tjetër që i përket vetëm një zotërie. A janë të barabartë në gjendje? I gjithë lavdërimi i takon Allahut, por shumica e tyre nuk e dinë.
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
আল্লাহ (মুশরিক ও একত্ববাদীর) একটি দৃষ্টান্ত উপস্থাপন করেছেন: এক ব্যক্তি যার মনিব অনেক, যারা পরস্পর বিরোধী; পক্ষান্তরে আরেক ব্যক্তি, যে এক মনিবের অনুগত, এ দু’জনের অবস্থা কি সমান? সকল প্রশংসা আল্লাহর; কিন্তু তাদের অধিকাংশই জানে না।
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
Allah navodi kao primjer čovjeka koji je u vlasti ortakā oko koga se oni otimaju i čovjeka koji je u vlasti samo jednog čovjeka – je li položaj njih dvojice isti? Hvaljen neka je Allah, nije, ali većina njih ne zna.
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
Allah navodi kao primjer čovjeka koji je u vlasti ortakā oko koga se oni otimaju i čovjeka koji je u vlasti samo jednog čovjeka – je li položaj njih dvojice isti? Hvaljen neka je Allah, nije, ali većina njih ne zna.
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
Allah waɗii yeru, gorko mo lurruɓe hawti ɗum, heɓe pooɗondira mo, e gorko laaɓanɗo gorko [goo]: Hara ɓen ɗiɗo fotay e misal? Yettoore woodanii Allah! Kono ɓurɓe ɗuuɗude e maɓɓe, ɓe nganndaa.
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
ალლაჰს მოჰყავს მაგალითი: კაცისა [მონა], რომელსაც ერთდროულად რამდენიმე ბატონი ჰყავს და რომელზეც ეს თანამფლობელები ერთმანეთს ედავებიან (და ეს მონა დაბნეულია, როგორ დააკმაყოფილოს ისინი ყველანი), და კაცი [მონა], რომელიც ეკუთვნის მხოლოდ ერთ ადამიანს (და ზუსტად იცის, რა სურს მის ბატონს). თანასწორნი არიან ისინი მაგალითით? დიდება ალლაჰს! მაგრამ მათ [მრავალღმერთიანთა] უმრავლესობამ არ იცის!
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
Allah führte das Gleichnis eines Mannes an, den sich (mehrere) Herren (als Eigentümer) teilen, die sich miteinander nicht vertragen, und eines (anderen) Mannes, der nur einem Herrn gehört. Sind die beiden im Gleichnis etwa gleich? (Alles) Lob gehört Allah! Aber die meisten von ihnen wissen nicht.
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
Ο Αλλάχ παρουσιάζει ένα παράδειγμα ενός σκλάβου, ο οποίος ανήκει σε διαφορετικά αφεντικά που διαφωνούν μεταξύ τους (και έτσι δεν μπορεί να τους υπακούσει όλους μαζί), και ενός σκλάβου που ανήκει μόνο σε έναν αφέντη. Είναι ίσοι (οι δύο σκλάβοι) σε σύγκριση; Όλος ο έπαινος ανήκει στον Αλλάχ! Αλλά οι περισσότεροι δεν ξέρουν (και γι' αυτό αποδίδουν στον Αλλάχ εταίρους στη λατρεία).
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
अल्लाह ने एक व्यक्ति का उदाहरण दिया है, जिसमें कई परस्पर विरोधी साझी हैं तथा एक और व्यक्ति का, जो पूरा एक ही व्यक्ति का (दास) है। क्या दोनों की स्थिति समान हैं?[5] सब प्रशंसा अल्लाह के लिए है। बल्कि उनमें से अधिकतर लोग नहीं जानते।
Translated by Azizul Haq Al-Omari
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.1.5
Italiano · Italian
Allāh ha mostrato come esempio uno schiavo di compagni in discordia, e un altro appartenente a uno solo: loro sono forse uguali? Sia lode ad Allāh! + Ma molti di loro non lo sanno.
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
29. Allahas parodo panašumą: (vergas) žmogus, priklausantis daugybei partnerių (panašiai kaip tie, kurie garbina kitus šalia Allaho), besiginčijančių vienas su kitu, ir (vergas) žmogus, priklausantis vien tik vienam šeimininkui (kaip tie, kurie garbina Allahą Vienintelį). Ar tie du panašūs lyginant? Visa šlovė ir padėka Allahui. Tačiau dauguma iš jų nežino.
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
Rabbiin ‘nama tokko kan shariikkan (isa irratti) wal hin taane waliin qabaniifi kan namni tokko qofti qabu fakkeenya godhe. Isaan kun lamaan fakkeenyaan walqixaa? (miti) Faaruun hundi kan Rabbiiti. Garuu irra hedduun isaanii hin beekanu.
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
Аллах приводит притчу о человеке, у которого несколько несговорчивых совладельцев, и человеке, который всецело принадлежит одному. Разве они равны как пример? Хвала Аллаху! Нет, напротив, большинство из них не знает.
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
Аллах наводи као пример човека који је у власти ортака и за којег се они отимају, и човека који је у власти само једног човека - да ли је положај њих двојице исти?! Сва хвала нека је Аллаху, али већина њих не зна.
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
Mwenyezi Mungu amepiga mfano wa mtu mwenye mabwana washirika wanaogombana, na wa mtu mwingine aliyehusika na bwana mmoja tu. Je, wako sawa katika hali zao? Sifa njema zote ni za Mwenyezi Mungu! Lakini wengi wao hawajui.
Issued by the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.5
Svenska · Swedish
Gud ger er en liknelse om [två män]: den ene av dem tjänar flera herrar som ständigt är i tvist med varandra medan den andre tjänar bara en. Går det att likställa dem? All lovprisning tillhör Gud! Men de flesta vet inte.
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
Allah, birbiriyle çekişen bir çok ortağa bağlı olan bir adamla, yalnız bir kişiye bağlı bir adamı örnek olarak vermiştir. Bu ikisinin durumu eşit midir? Hamt, Allah’a mahsustur. Fakat onların çoğu bilmezler.
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
اللہ تعالیٰ مثال بیان فرما رہا ہے ایک وه شخص جس میں بہت سے باہم ضد رکھنے والے ساجھی ہیں، اور دوسرا وه شخص جو صرف ایک ہی کا (غلام) ہے، کیا یہ دونوں صفت میں یکساں ہیں[1] ، اللہ تعالیٰ ہی کے لئے سب تعریف ہے[2]۔ بات یہ ہے کہ ان میں کے اکثر لوگ سمجھتے نہیں.[3]
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.
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 —
0.67 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
Edward Henry Palmer · John Medows Rodwell0.77
Edward Henry Palmer · George Sale0.72
Talal Itani · John Medows Rodwell0.70
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · John Medows Rodwell0.70
Talal Itani · George Sale0.67
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · George Sale0.67
Edward Henry Palmer · Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall0.66
Talal Itani · Edward Henry Palmer0.64
John Medows Rodwell · George Sale0.57
Talal Itani · Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall0.56
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.