Popular Translations
Muhammad Asad
For when they are told, "Believe in what God has bestowed from on high," they reply, "We believe [only] in what has been bestowed on us"-and they deny the truth of everything else, although it be a truth confirming the one already in their possession. Say "Why, then, did you slay God's prophets aforetime, if you were (truly] believers?"
Arthur John Arberry
And when they were told, 'Believe in that God has sent down,' they said, 'We believe in what was sent down on us'; and they disbelieve in what is beyond that, yet it is the truth confirming what is with them. Say: 'Why then were you slaying the Prophets of God in former time, if you were believers?
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
When it is said to them, "Believe in what Allah Hath sent down, "they say, "We believe in what was sent down to us:" yet they reject all besides, even if it be Truth confirming what is with them. Say: "Why then have ye slain the prophets of Allah in times gone by, if ye did indeed believe?"
Arabic
وَإِذَا قِیلَ لَهُمۡ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَاۤ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُوا۟ نُؤۡمِنُ بِمَاۤ أُنزِلَ عَلَیۡنَا وَیَكۡفُرُونَ بِمَا وَرَاۤءَهُۥ وَهُوَ ٱلۡحَقُّ مُصَدِّقࣰا لِّمَا مَعَهُمۡۗ قُلۡ فَلِمَ تَقۡتُلُونَ أَنۢبِیَاۤءَ ٱللَّهِ مِن قَبۡلُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِینَ ٩١
Transliteration (2021)
wa-idhā qīla lahum āminū bimā anzala l-lahu qālū nu'minu bimā unzila ʿalaynā wayakfurūna bimā warāahu wahuwa l-ḥaqu muṣaddiqan limā maʿahum qul falima taqtulūna anbiyāa l-lahi min qablu in kuntum mu'minīn