Ali Quli Qarai, The Qur’ān with a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation (2005)

do not say to them, ‘Fie!’1
And do not chide them,
but speak to them noble words.
Lower the wing of humility to them,
out of mercy,
and say, ‘My Lord! Have mercy on them,
just as they reared me when I was [a] small [child]!’
25 Your Lord knows best what is in your hearts.
Should you be righteous,
He is indeed most forgiving toward penitents.
26 Give the relatives their [due] right,
and the needy and the traveller [as well],
but do not squander wastefully.
27 Indeed the wasteful are brothers of satans,
and Satan is ungrateful to his Lord.
28 And if you have to overlook them [for now],
seeking the mercy of your Lord
which you expect [in the future],
speak to them gentle words.
29 Do not keep your hand chained
to your neck,
nor open it altogether,2
or you will sit blameworthy, regretful.
30 Indeed your Lord expands the provision
for whomever He wishes,
and tightens it.
Indeed He is well aware and percipient of His servants.

1 That is, do not grumble or speak to them in an ill-tempered manner. Uff is an interjection expressing displeasure and exasperation, indicating that one has been put out of patience.

2 That is, neither be miserly nor be a spendthrift.

Cite this page

Ali Quli Qarai, The Qur’ān with a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation, Islamic College for Advance Studies Press (ICAS), London (Distributed by The Centre for Translation of the Holy Qur’ān, Qom, Iran), Consulted online at “Quran Archive - Texts and Studies on the Quran” on 28 Mar. 2024: http://quran-archive.org/explorer/ali-quli-qarai/2005?page=424