Ahmed Raza Khan: Mohammed Aqib Qadri:
They ask you, (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and
blessings be upon him), regarding the crescents; say, "They
are indicators of time for mankind and for Hajj (the
pilgrimage)"; and it is not a virtue at all that you enter the
houses by demolishing their back portions, but in reality
virtue is piety; and enter the houses using their gates - and
keep fearing Allah, hoping that you achieve success.
Yusuf Ali:
They ask thee concerning the New Moons. Say: They are but
signs to mark fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) men, and for
Pilgrimage. It is no virtue if ye enter your houses from the back: It is
virtue if ye fear Allah. Enter houses through the proper doors: And fear Allah:
That ye may prosper.
Pickthal:
They ask thee, (O Muhammad), of new moons, say: They are fixed
seasons for mankind and for the pilgrimage. It is not righteousness that ye
go to houses by the backs thereof (as do the idolaters at certain seasons),
but the righteous man is he who wardeth off (evil). So go to houses by the
gates thereof, and observe your duty to Allah, that ye may be successful.