Sura-3 [Al-Imran, Medina 89 ]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version

زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاء وَالْبَنِينَ...

3:14. Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women and sons;

C354. The pleasures of this world are first enumerated:

- women for love;

- sons for strength and pride;

- hoarded riches, which procure all luxuries;

- the best and finest pedigree horses;

- cattle, the measure of wealth in the ancient world, as well as the means and symbols of good farming in the modern world; and

- broad acres of well-tilled land.

By analogy, we may include, for our mechanized age, machines of all kinds -tractors, motor-cars, aeroplanes, the best internal-combustion engines, etc.

...وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ ...

heaped-up hoards of gold and silver;

In "heaped-up hoards of gold and silver," the Arabic word translated hoards is qaintir plural of qintar, which literally means a Talent of 1.200 ounces of gold. (R).

...وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ...

horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land.

...ذَلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا...

Such are the possessions of this world's life;

...وَاللّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ ﴿١٤﴾

but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (to return to)

Other versions:

3: 14

Yusuf Ali Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women and sons; heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (to return to).

Pickthall Beautified for mankind is love of the joys (that come) from women and offspring, and stored up heaps of gold and silver, and horses branded (with their mark), and cattle and land. That is comfort of the life of the world. Allah! With Him is a more excellent abode.

Transliteration Zuyyina linna_si hubbusy syahawa_ti minan nisa_'i wal banina wal qana_tiril muqantarati minaz zahabi wal fiddati wal khailil musawwamati wal an'a_mi wal hars(i), za_lika mata_'ul haya_tid dunya_, walla_hu'indahu_ husnul ma'a_b(i).