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Quran 13:17

Surah Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder), verse 17 of 43 · Juz 13

أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌۢ بِقَدَرِهَا فَٱحْتَمَلَ ٱلسَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَّابِيًا ۚ وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلنَّارِ ٱبْتِغَآءَ حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَـٰعٍ زَبَدٌ مِّثْلُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَٱلْبَـٰطِلَ ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَآءً ۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ

Translations of Quran 13:17
EnglishTalal Itani

He sends down water from the sky, and riverbeds flow according to their capacity. The current carries swelling froth. And from what they heat in fire of ornaments or utensils comes a similar froth. Thus Allah exemplifies truth and falsehood. As for the froth, it is swept away, but what benefits the people remains in the ground. Thus Allah presents the analogies.

EnglishPickthall, 1930

He sendeth down water from the sky, so that valleys flow according to their measure, and the flood beareth (on its surface) swelling foam - from that which they smelt in the fire in order to make ornaments and tools riseth a foam like unto it - thus Allah coineth (the similitude of) the true and the false. Then, as for the foam, it passeth away as scum upon the banks, while, as for that which is of use to mankind, it remaineth in the earth. Thus Allah coineth the similitudes.

TurkishElmalılı Hamdi Yazır, 1935

Yukarıdan bir su indirdi de vâdiler kendi mıkdarınca seyl oldu, seyl de yüze çıkan bir köpük yüklendi, bir ziynet veya bir meta' yapmak için ateşte üzerini körükledikleri madenlerden de onun gibi bir köpük vardır, İşte Allah, hakkile batılı böyle çarpıştırır, ammâ köpük atılır gider, nâsa menfeati olan ise Arzda kalır, işte Allah, emsali böyle darbeder

FrenchKazimirski, 1840

Verses 17–18 are translated together in this edition.

Il fait descendre l’eau du ciel ; les torrents coulent dans leurs lits dans une certaine mesure ; le courant emporte l’écume qui surnage, et les métaux que les hommes fondent au feu pour en retirer des ornements et des outils produisent une écume pareille. C’est ainsi que Dieu met en parabole le vrai et le faux. L’écume s’en va rapidement, mais ce qui est utile aux hommes reste sur la terre. C’est ainsi que Dieu propose des paraboles. De belles récompenses seront à ceux qui répondent à l’appel de Dieu ; mais ceux qui n’y répondent pas, quand ils auraient tout ce que la terre contient et encore une fois autant, cela ne saurait les racheter. Leur compte sera affreux, leur demeure la géhenne. Quel affreux lit de repos !

DutchKeyzer, 1860, from Kazimirski's French

Verses 17–18 are translated together in this edition.

Hij doet water van den hemel nederdalen, en de vloeden stroomen, overeenkomstig hunne afmetingen; de stroom voert het schuim mede dat op de oppervlakte drijft, en uit de metalen, die de menschen op het vuur smelten, om daaruit versierselen of vaatwerk te vormen, rijst schuim op, dat daaraan gelijk is. Zoo maakt God waarheid en ijdelheid bekend. Maar het schuim wordt weggenomen; en datgene wat den menschen nuttig is, blijft op de aarde. Zoo brengt God gelijkenissen voort. Dengenen die hunnen Heer gehoorzamen, zal de uitnemendste belooning worden toegekend; maar zij die hem niet gehoorzamen, al bezaten zij alles wat op de geheele aarde is, en nog meer, zij zullen dit alles te vergeefs als losgeld geven. Hunne rekening zal verschrikkelijk zijn, en de hel hunne woning. Welk een vreeselijk rustbed zal dat wezen!

ItalianCalza, 1847, from Kazimirski's French

Verses 17–18 are translated together in this edition.

Fa scendere l’acqua dal cielo; i torrenti scorrono misura certa; la corrente trasporta viva la spuma che galleggia, ed (i metalli) che gli uomini fondono al fuoco per farne ornamenti, ed utensili, fanno una spuma simile. Così Dio mette in parabola il vero ed il falso. La spuma se ne va rapidamente, ma ciò che è utile all’uomo resta sulla terra. Così Dio propone le parabole. Quei che rispondono all’appello di Dio si attendano a belle ricompense; ma quei che non vi rispondono, quando anche avessero tutto ciò che la terra contiene, ed anche il doppio, con ciò non potrebbero comperarle. Il loro conto farà spavento, la loro abitazione sarà l’inferno. Che orribile luogo di riposo!

Arabic: Tanzil Project. English: Translation by Talal Itani, ClearQuran.com. Other translations: public domain editions, listed in Sources.