Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

He has successive angels before him and after him, keeping him by the command of God. God changes not what is in a people until they change what is in themselves. And when God intends evil for a people, there is no repelling it; and they have besides Him no ally.

لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِه۪ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ اَمْرِ اللّٰهِۜ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتّٰى يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِاَنْفُسِهِمْۜ وَاِذَٓا اَرَادَ اللّٰهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُٓوءاً فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۚ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِه۪ مِنْ وَالٍ
Lahu muAAaqqibatun min bayni yadayhiwamin khalfihi yahfathoonahu min amri Allahiinna Allaha la yughayyiru ma biqawmin hattayughayyiroo ma bi-anfusihim wa-itha aradaAllahu biqawmin soo-an fala maradda lahu wamalahum min doonihi min wal
#wordmeaningroot
1lahuFor him
2muʿaqqibātun(are) successive (Angels)عقب
3minfrom
4bayni(before)بين
5yadayhi(him)يدي
6waminand from
7khalfihiand behind himخلف
8yaḥfaẓūnahuwho guard himحفظ
9minby
10amri(the) commandامر
11l-lahi(of) Allah
12innaIndeed
13l-lahaAllah
14(does) not
15yughayyiruchangeغير
16(the condition)
17biqawminof a peopleقوم
18ḥattāuntil
19yughayyirūthey changeغير
20what
21bi-anfusihim(is) in themselvesنفس
22wa-idhāAnd when
23arādawillsرود
24l-lahuAllah
25biqawminfor a peopleقوم
26sūanmisfortuneسوا
27falāthen (there is) no
28maraddaturning awayردد
29lahuof it
30wamāand not
31lahumfor them
32minfrom
33dūnihibesides Himدون
34minany
35wālinprotectorولي
  • Aisha Bewley

    Everyone has a succession of angels in front of him and behind him, guarding him by Allah’s command. Allah never changes a people’s state until they change what is in themselves. When Allah desires evil for a people, there is no averting it. They have no protector apart from Him.

  • Progressive Muslims

    Present with him and behind him are retainers, they guard him by God's command. God is not to change what is in a people until they change what is within themselves. And if God wanted to harm a people, then there is no turning Him back, nor will they have any protector against Him.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    A person may think that he has helpers, perceptible (wealth etc) and imperceptible (status etc) that could preserve him from Allah's Requital. But the Law of Requital applies to individuals and nations. Verily, Allah never changes a nation's condition unless they change their inner selves (8:53). And when nations suffer Allah's Requital for their actions, there is none that can repel it, nor do they have a defender outside His Laws.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    He has successive angels before him and after him, keeping him by the command of God. God changes not what is in a people until they change what is in themselves. And when God intends evil for a people, there is no repelling it; and they have besides Him no ally.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Present with him and behind him are retainers, they preserve him from the command of God. God does not change the condition of a people until they change the condition of their souls. And if God wanted to harm a people, then there is no turning Him back, nor will they have any protector against Him.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    As if he has followers in his presence and behind him guarding him from God's command! God is not to change what is in a people until they change what is within themselves. If God wanted to harm a people, then there is no turning Him back, nor will they have any protector against Him.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Shifts (of angels) take turns, staying with each one of you - they are in front of you and behind you. They stay with you, and guard you in accordance with GOD's commands. Thus, GOD does not change the condition of any people unless they themselves make the decision to change. If GOD wills any hardship for any people, no force can stop it. For they have none beside Him as Lord and Master.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    His angels keep watch over him in succession (night and day), in front and behind, by God's command. Verily God does not change the state of a people till they change themselves. When God intends misfortune for a people no one can avert it, and no saviour will they have apart from Him.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    For each one are successive before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron.

  • Muhammad Asad

    he has hosts of helpers-both such as can be perceived by him and such as are hidden from him -that could preserve him from whatever God may have willed. Verily, God does not change men's condition unless they change their inner selves; and when God wills people to suffer evil , there is none who could avert it: for they have none who could protect them from Him.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    For him are angels ranged before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's command. Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts; and if Allah willeth misfortune for a folk there is none that can repel it, nor have they a defender beside Him.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    There are guardians over everyone, both before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's command.* Verily Allah does not change a people's condition unless they change their inner selves. And when Allah decides to make a people suffer punishment, no one can avert it. Nor can any be of help to such a people against Allah.*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Each and everyone has a succession of guardian angels guarding the whole on the fore and the back side upon Allah's high behest. Allah does not change the state of life of a given nation until they have changed the state of their innermost being. And when it is His will that a people be stricken with a misfortune or be wedded to a calamity, no expedient whatever nor anyone of singular ingenuity can avert it, and besides Him they have no tutelary protector.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    For each person, there are appointed angels who guard him from the front and the behind by the order of God. Know that God will not (order these angels to) change the condition of any people unless they, themselves, take the appropriate steps towards the change. Noël, if the Lord (for some reason) decides to impose a hardship for (a person or) a people, none can stop it as there is no lord beside the Lord.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    For him (each person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allâh. Verily! Allâh will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allâh). But when Allâh wills a people’s punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah. Allah does not change a people's lot unless they change what is in their hearts. But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    For each one there are successive angels before and behind, protecting them by Allah’s command. Indeed, Allah would never change a people’s state ˹of favour˺ until they change their own state ˹of faith˺. And if it is Allah’s Will to torment a people, it can never be averted, nor can they find a protector other than Him.

  • Taqi Usmani

    For every one (from among you) there are angels replacing one another, in front of him and behind him, who guard him under the command of Allah. Surely, Allah does not change the condition of a people unless they change themselves. When Allah intends evil for a people, there is no way to turn it back, and for them there is no patron other than Him.

  • Abdul Haleem

    each person has guardian angels before him and behind, watching over him by God’s command. God does not change the condition of a people unless they change what is in themselves, but if He wills harm on a people, no one can ward it off–– apart from Him, they have no protector.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    he has attendant angels, before him and behind him, watching over him by God's command. God changes not what is in a people, until they change what is in themselves. Whensover God desires evil for a people, there is no turning it back; apart from Him, they have no protector.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Each of them has pursuers before him and behind him, to keep guard over him at the command of God; verily, God changes not what a people has until they change it for themselves. And when God wishes evil to a people there is no averting it, nor have they a protector beside Him.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Alike among you is he who keeps secret his speech and he who broadcasts it; and he who hides by night and he who stalks abroad by day.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    For him are (angels) taking turns (on end) even before him (Literally: between his two hands) and even behind him, preserving him from the Command of Allah. Surely Allah does not change what is in a people until they change what is in themselves; and when Allah wills (to inflict) an odious (treatment) on a people, then there is no turning back for it; and apart from Him, in no way do they have any patron.

  • George Sale

    Each of them hath angels mutually succeeding each other, before him, and behind him; they watch him by the command of God. Verily God will not change his grace which is in men, until they change the disposition in their souls by sin. When God willeth evil on a people, there shall be none to avert it; neither shall they have any protector beside Him.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    For each one (human), there are (angels) one following the other, before and behind him: They guard him by the command of Allah. Surely Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change it themselves. But when Allah wills a punishment for a people, there is no holding it back; Nor will they find, anyone other than Him, to protect them.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    He (- the Messenger) has companies (of angels) successively ranged before him and behind him. They guard him by the command of Allâh. Verily, Allâh does not change the condition of a people until they (first) change their ways and their minds. When Allâh decides upon punishing a people there is no averting it. (At that time) they have no helping friend apart from Him.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    He has guardian angels, to his front and his rear, who guard him by Allah’s command. Indeed Allah does not change a people’s lot, unless they change what is in their souls. And when Allah wishes to visit ill on a people, there is nothing that can avert it, and they have no protector besides Him.