Quran 2:20 — Al-Baqara, verse 20
M. A. S. Abdel Haleem · selected translation
The lightning almost snatches away their sight: whenever it flashes on them they walk on and when darkness falls around them they stand still. If God so willed, He could take away their hearing and sight: God has power over everything.
يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَارَهُمْ ۖ كُلَّمَا أَضَاءَ لَهُمْ مَشَوْا فِيهِ وَإِذَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُوا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
yakādu l-barqu yakhṭafu abṣārahum kullamā aḍāa lahum mashaw fīhi wa-idhā aẓlama ʿalayhim qāmū walaw shāa l-lahu ladhahaba bisamʿihim wa-abṣārihim inna l-laha ʿalā kulli shayin qadīrun
Other translations
- A. J. Arberry
- the lightning wellnigh snatches away their sight; whensoever it gives them light, they walk in it, and when the darkness is over them, they halt; had God willed, He would have taken away their hearing and their sight. Truly, God is powerful over everything.
- Muhammad Asad
- The lightning well-nigh takes away their sight; whenever it gives them light, they advance therein, and whenever darkness falls around them, they stand still. And if God so willed, He could indeed take away their hearing and their sight: for, verily, God has the power to will anything.
- Sahih International
- The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Every time it lights [the way] for them, they walk therein; but when darkness comes over them, they stand [still]. And if Allāh had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
Words
| # | Word | Meaning | Root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | يَكَادُyakādu | Almost | كود |
| 2 | ٱلْبَرْقُl-barqu | the lightning | برق |
| 3 | يَخْطَفُyakhṭafu | snatches away | خطف |
| 4 | أَبْصَـٰرَهُمْ ۖabṣārahum | their sight | بصر |
| 5 | كُلَّمَآkullamā | Whenever | كلل |
| 6 | أَضَآءَaḍāa | it flashes | ضوأ |
| 7 | لَهُمlahum | for them | — |
| 8 | مَّشَوْا۟mashaw | they walk | مشي |
| 9 | فِيهِfīhi | in it | — |
| 10 | وَإِذَآwa-idhā | and when | — |
| 11 | أَظْلَمَaẓlama | it darkens | ظلم |
| 12 | عَلَيْهِمْʿalayhim | on them | — |
| 13 | قَامُوا۟ ۚqāmū | they stand (still) | قوم |
| 14 | وَلَوْwalaw | And if | — |
| 15 | شَآءَshāa | had willed | شيأ |
| 16 | ٱللَّهُl-lahu | Allah | أله |
| 17 | لَذَهَبَladhahaba | He would certainly have taken away | ذهب |
| 18 | بِسَمْعِهِمْbisamʿihim | their hearing | سمع |
| 19 | وَأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ ۚwa-abṣārihim | and their sight | بصر |
| 20 | إِنَّinna | Indeed | — |
| 21 | ٱللَّهَl-laha | Allah | أله |
| 22 | عَلَىٰʿalā | (is) on | — |
| 23 | كُلِّkulli | every | كلل |
| 24 | شَىْءٍۢshayin | thing | شيأ |
| 25 | قَدِيرٌۭqadīrun | All-Powerful | قدر |