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.
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall1875–1936 · published 1930
Had we appointed him (Our messenger) an angel, We assuredly had made him (as) a man (that he might speak to men); and (thus) obscured for them (the truth) they (now) obscure
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
And had we made him an angel, we should have made him as a man too; and we would have made perplexing for them that which they deemperplexing now
Sources
Translation Edward Henry Palmer, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired
And if we had appointed an angel, we should certainly have appointed one in the form of a man, and we should have clothed him before them in garmentslike their own
Sources
Translation John Medows Rodwell, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired
And if We had appointed as Messenger an angel, We would have made him appear as a man; and thus We would have caused to be confused to them that which they are themselves confusing
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
Edhe sikur ta bënim (të dërguarin) melek, do ta bënim burrë dhe do t'ua shkaktonim të njëjtat mëdyshje që u janë shkaktuar.
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
তাছাড়া আমি যদি কোনো ফিরিশতাকেও রাসূল করে পাঠাতাম, তবে তাঁকে পুরুষ মানুষের আকৃতিতেই পাঠাতাম।(২) আর তাদেরকে সেরকম বিভ্রান্তিতে ফেলতাম, যেরূপ বিভ্রান্তিতে তারা এখন রয়েছে।(৩)
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
A da ga melekom učinimo, opet bismo ga kao čovjeka stvorili i opet bismo im učinili nejasnim ono što im jasno nije.
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
A da ga anđelom učinimo, opet bismo ga kao čovjeka stvorili i opet bismo im učinili nejasnim ono što im jasno nije.
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
Sinno minn mbaɗno mo maleyko, Men mbaɗayno mo gorko, Men njillindirayno ɓe kadi kon ko ɓe njillindirta.
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
თუნდაც რომ იგი ანგელოზად დაგვედგინა, აუცილებლად გავხდიდით მას [ანგელოზს] ადამიანად [ადამიანის სახით], რათა შეძლებოდათ მასთან საუბარი (რადგან მათ არ შეუძლიათ ანგელოზის დანახვა მისი ანგელოზური სახით), და მაშინაც გავხდიდით მათთვის გაუგებარს იმას, რასაც ისინი თვითონ ხდიან გაუგებარს.
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 (auch) wenn Wir ihn (also den Gesandten) zu einem Engel gemacht hätten, so hätten Wir ihn (ja) gewiss zu einem Mann gemacht, und Wir hätten ihnen gewiss verdeckt, was sie zu verdecken suchten.
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
Και αν κάναμε αυτόν (τον απεσταλμένο σ' αυτούς) να ήταν ένας άγγελος, θα τον κάναμε όντως άνθρωπο (με τη μορφή ενός ανθρώπου για να μπορούν να τον βλέπουν και να τον ακούν), και έτσι, θα τους είχαμε μπερδέψει (αν είναι όντως ένας άγγελος ή ένας άνθρωπος) σ' αυτό που ήδη έχουν μπερδέψει τον εαυτό τους (σχετικά με τον Προφήτη Μωχάμμαντ αν είναι απεσταλμένος ή όχι επειδή είναι άνθρωπος).
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 यदि हम उसे फ़रिश्ता बनाते, तो निश्चय उसे आदमी (के रूप में) बनाते[11] और अवश्य उनपर वही संदेह डाल देते, जिस संदेह में वे (अब) पड़े हुए हैं।
Translated by Azizul Haq Al-Omari
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.1.5
Italiano · Italian
Se lo avessimo fatto angelo, lo avremmo reso in forma di uomo, e si sarebbero confusi.
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
9. Ir jei Mes būtume paskyrę jam angelą, Mes iš tikrųjų būtume padarę jį žmogumi, ir būtume be abejonės supainioję juos tame, kame jie jau yra susipainioję (t. y. dėl Pranašo Muchammedo ﷺ Žinios).
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
Odoma (nabiyyicha) maleykaa isa gooneeyyuu dhugumatti silaa (nama) dhiira isa taasifneeti waan isaan walitti fakkeessan isaan irratti wal fakkeesina turre.[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
Если бы Мы сделали его ангелом, то непременно сделали бы его [по облику] человеком и непременно ввергли бы их в те же сомнения, в которых они пребывают.
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
А да га анђелом учинимо, опет бисмо га као човека створили и опет бисмо им учинили нејасним оно што им није јасно.
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 kama tungelimfanya Malaika, bila ya shaka tungelimfanya kuwa mwanamume, na tungeliwatilia matatizo yale wanayoyatatiza wao.
Issued by the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages
From QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.5
Svenska · Swedish
Och om vi hade gjort honom till en ängel, skulle vi ha låtit honom framträda som människa, och då skulle det ändå ha varit oklart för dem.
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
Eğer (Rasûlü) melek kılsaydık, yine bu (meleği) bir adam şeklinde kılar ve onları yine içinde bulundukları şüpheye düşürmüş olurduk.
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
اور اگر ہم اس کو فرشتہ تجویز کرتے تو ہم اس کو آدمی ہی بناتے اور ہمارے اس فعل سے پھر ان پر وہی اشکال ہوتا جو اب اشکال کر رہے ہیں۔[1]
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.
Talal Itani2012 Had We sent down upon you a book on paper, and they had touched it with their hands, those who disbelieve would have said, "This is nothing but plain magic."
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall1930 Had we sent down unto thee (Muhammad) (actual) writing upon parchment, so that they could feel it with their hands, those who disbelieve would have said: This is naught else than mere magic
Edward Henry Palmer1880 Had we sent down to thee a book on paper, and they had touched it with their hands, still those who misbelieve would have said, 'This is naught but obvious magic
John Medows Rodwell1861 And had we sent down to thee a Book written on parchment, and they had touched it with their hands, the infidels had surely said, "This is nought but plain sorcery
George Sale1734 And if We had sent down to thee a writing upon the parchment and they had felt it with their hands even then the disbelievers would have surely said, 'This is nothing but manifest sorcery
Talal Itani2012 And they say, "Why was an angel not sent down to him." Had We sent down an angel, the matter would have been settled, and they would not have been reprieved.
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall1930 They say: Why hath not an angel been sent down unto him? If We sent down an angel, then the matter would be judged; no further time would be allowed them (for reflection)
Edward Henry Palmer1880 They say, 'Why has not an angel been sent down to him?' but if we had sent down an angel, the affair would have been decided, and then they would have had no respite
John Medows Rodwell1861 They say, too, "Unless an angel be sent down to him. . . ." But if we had sent down an angel, their judgment would have come on them at once, and they would have had no respite
George Sale1734 And they say, 'Why has not an angel been sent down to him?' And if We had sent down an angel, the matter would have been decided, and then they would have been granted no respite
Easy-read (simplified)walaqadi stuhzi'a birusulin min qablika fahaaqa billadheena sakhiroo minhum maa kaanoo bihi yastahzi'oon
DIN 31635walaqadi stuhziʾa birusulin min qablika faḥāqa billaḏīna saḫirū minhum mā kānū bihi yastahziʾūna
The translators word this verse differently
Talal Itani2012 Messengers before you were ridiculed, but those who mocked them became besieged by what they ridiculed.
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall1930 Messengers (of Allah) have been derided before thee, but that whereat they scoffed surrounded such of them as did deride
Edward Henry Palmer1880 There have been prophets before thee mocked at, but that encompassed them which the scoffers among them mocked at
John Medows Rodwell1861 Moreover, apostles before thee have been laughed to scorn: but that which they laughed to scorn encompassed the mockers among them
George Sale1734 And surely the Messengers have been mocked at before thee, but that which they mocked at encompassed those of them who scoffed at it
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 —
0.62 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
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · John Medows Rodwell0.74
John Medows Rodwell · George Sale0.71
Edward Henry Palmer · John Medows Rodwell0.69
Talal Itani · John Medows Rodwell0.69
Talal Itani · Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall0.69
Edward Henry Palmer · Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall0.58
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · George Sale0.57
Edward Henry Palmer · George Sale0.53
Talal Itani · Edward Henry Palmer0.50
Talal Itani · George Sale0.50
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.
Sources, editions and licences for everything above
ReceiptsSource fact
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.