Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

“That I might work righteousness in what I left behind.” No, indeed! It is but a word that he says; and behind them is a barrier until the day they are raised.

لَعَلّ۪ٓي اَعْمَلُ صَالِحاً ف۪يمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّاۜ اِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَٓائِلُهَاۜ وَمِنْ وَرَٓائِهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ اِلٰى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
LaAAallee aAAmalu salihanfeema taraktu kalla innaha kalimatun huwa qa-iluhawamin wara-ihim barzakhun ila yawmi yubAAathoon
#wordmeaningroot
1laʿallīThat I may
2aʿmaludoعمل
3ṣāliḥanrighteous (deeds)صلح
4fīmāin what
5taraktuI left behindترك
6kallāNo
7innahāIndeed, it
8kalimatun(is) a wordكلم
9huwahe
10qāiluhāspeaks itقول
11waminand before them
12warāihimand before themوري
13barzakhun(is) a barrier
14ilātill
15yawmi(the) Dayيوم
16yub'ʿathūnathey are resurrectedبعث
  • Aisha Bewley

    so that perhaps I may act rightly regarding the things I failed to do!’ No indeed! It is just words he utters. Before them there is an interspace until the Day they are raised up.

  • Progressive Muslims

    "So that I may do good in that which I have left behind. " No, it is but a word he is speaking. And there is a barrier to prevent them from going back until the Day they are all resurrected.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    That I may do good works in that I left behind! But, nay! It is a mere word of no significance that he speaks. And behind them is a barrier until the Day they are raised. (39:58).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    “That I might work righteousness in what I left behind.” No, indeed! It is but a word that he says; and behind them is a barrier until the day they are raised.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    "So that I may do good in that which I have left behind." No, it is but a word he is speaking. And there is a barrier to prevent them from going back until the Day they are all resurrected.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    "So that I may do good in what I have left behind." No, it is but a word he is speaking. There is a barrier to prevent them from going back until the day they are all resurrected.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    "I will then work righteousness in everything I left." Not true. This is a false claim that he makes. A barrier will separate his soul from this world until resurrection.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    That I may do some good I did not do (in the world). " Not so. These are only words he utters. Behind them lies the intervening barrier (stretching) to the day of their resurrection.

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

    That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind. " No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.

  • Muhammad Asad

    so that I might act righteously in whatever I have failed !" Nay, it is indeed but a word that he utters: for behind those there is a barrier until the Day when all will be raised from the dead!

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    That I may do right in that which I have left behind! But nay! It is but a word that he speaketh; and behind them is a barrier until the day when they are raised.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    that I have left behind. I am likely to do good."* Nay,* it is merely a word that he is uttering.* There is a barrier behind all of them (who are dead) until the Day* when they will be raised up.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    He says: "If given the chance" I may be able to do all I have neglected and left undone and imprint my deeds with wisdom and piety. Never. But this is a wish he expresses in words! Once the souls have been disembodied and crossed to the other world, it is then a one - way journey with no return. Behind them there is an impassable barrier barricading the passage back until the Day of Resurrection when people are then restored to life.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    What a big lie (they will go back to their old tricks, if they are returned. ) A barrier will separate them from the world till the Day of Resurrection.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    "So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!" No! It is but a word that he speaks; and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    "In order that I may work righteousness in the things I neglected." - "By no means! It is but a word he says."- Before them is a Partition till the Day they are raised up.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    so I may do good in what I left behind." Never! It is only a ˹useless˺ appeal they make. And there is a barrier behind them until the Day they are resurrected. 

  • Taqi Usmani

    so that I may act righteously in that (world) which I have left behind." Never! It is simply a word he utters, and in front of such people there is a barrier till the day when they will be resurrected.

  • Abdul Haleem

    so as to make amends for the things I neglected.’ Never! This will not go beyond his words: a barrier stands behind such people until the very Day they are resurrected.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    haply I shall do righteousness in that I forsook. ' Nay, it is but a word he speaks; and there; behind them, is a barrier until the day that they shall be raised up.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    haply I may do right in that which I have left!' Not so! - a mere word he speaks! - but behind them is a bar until the day they shall be raised.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Until when death comes to any one of them he says, "My Lord! Send me back,

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    That possibly I will do righteousness in that which I have left (behind). " Not at all! surely it is (only) a word he says, and beyond them (i.e., all mankind) is an isthmus until the Day they are made to rise again.

  • George Sale

    that I may do that which is right; in professing the true faith which I have neglected. By no means. Verily these are the words which he shall speak: But behind them there shall be a bar, until the day of resurrection.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    "So that I may work rightfully the things that I neglected. " — "By no means! It is only a word that he says." — Before them is a partition till the Day they are raised up.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    `So that I may do righteous (deeds) which I failed to do (in the worldly life). ' `Never, that can never be,' (is the answer he receives). It is but a word (of excuse) which he utters. And there is a barrier behind them which shall remain till the day when they shall be raised to life (again).

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    that I may act righteously in what I have left behind. ’ ‘By no means! These are mere words that he says.’ And ahead of them is a barrier until the day they will be resurrected