Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And they ask thee to hasten the punishment! And were it not for a stated term, the punishment would have come upon them; and it will come upon them unexpectedly, when they perceive not.

وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالْعَذَابِۜ وَلَوْلَٓا اَجَلٌ مُسَمًّى لَجَٓاءَهُمُ الْعَذَابُۜ وَلَيَأْتِيَنَّهُمْ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
WayastaAAjiloonaka bilAAathabiwalawla ajalun musamman lajaahumu alAAathabuwalaya/tiyannahum baghtatan wahum la yashAAuroon
#wordmeaningroot
1wayastaʿjilūnakaAnd they ask you to hastenعجل
2bil-ʿadhābi[with] the punishmentعذب
3walawlāAnd if not
4ajalun(for) a termاجل
5musammanappointedسمو
6lajāahumusurely (would) have come to themجيا
7l-ʿadhābuthe punishmentعذب
8walayatiyannahumBut it will surely come to themاتي
9baghtatansuddenlyبغت
10wahumwhile they
11(do) not
12yashʿurūnaperceiveشعر
  • Aisha Bewley

    They ask you to hasten the punishment. If it were not for a stipulated term, the punishment would have come to them already. It will come upon them suddenly when they are not expecting it.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And they hasten you for the retribution! If it were not for a predetermined appointment, the retribution would have come to them. It will come to them suddenly, when they do not expect.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Now they challenge you to hasten the requital. And indeed, if the term had not been set for it, that requital would have come upon them. (The Law of Respite applies to all people). Certainly, it will come upon them all of a sudden, while they perceive not.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And they ask thee to hasten the punishment! And were it not for a stated term, the punishment would have come upon them; and it will come upon them unexpectedly, when they perceive not.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And they hasten you for the retribution! If it were not for an appointed term, the retribution would have come to them. Itwill come to them suddenly, when they do not expect.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    They hasten you for the retribution! If it were not for a predetermined appointment, the retribution would have come to them. It will come to them suddenly, when they do not expect.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    They challenge you to bring the retribution! If it were not for a predetermined appointment, the retribution would have come to them immediately. Certainly, it will come to them suddenly, when they least expect it.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    They want you to hasten the punishment: But for a time already determined the punishment would have come upon them. It will come upon them all too suddenly, and they will be caught unawares.

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

    And they urge you to hasten the punishment. And if not for a specified term, punishment would have reached them. But it will surely come to them suddenly while they perceive not.

  • Muhammad Asad

    Now they challenge thee to hasten the coming upon them of chastisement: and indeed, had not a term been set , that suffering would already have come upon them! But indeed, it will most certainly come upon them of a sudden, and they will be taken unawares.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    They bid thee hasten on the doom (of Allah). And if a term had not been appointed, the doom would assuredly have come unto them (ere now). And verily it will come upon them suddenly when they perceive not.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    They ask you to hasten in bringing chastisement* upon them. Had there not been an appointed term for it, the chastisement would have already visited them; in fact it will come down upon them all of a sudden (at its appointed time) while they will not be aware of it.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    And they -the infidels- challenge you -O Muhammad- to hasten on the promised retributive punishment! Had it not been for a predetermined point of time set for their reckoning -to give a chance to repent- their Hereafter would have been planted in the now. But it shall overtake them unawares when least expected.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    They make a joke of the Hereafter’s punishment and ask you to bring it upon them sooner. They will face their punishment at a pre-determined time. It will happen to them suddenly when they least expect it.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And they ask you to hasten on the torment (for them): and had it not been for a term appointed, the torment would certainly have come to them. And surely, it will come upon them suddenly while they perceive not!

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    They ask thee to hasten on the Punishment (for them): had it not been for a term (of respite) appointed, the Punishment would certainly have come to them: and it will certainly reach them,- of a sudden, while they perceive not!

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    They challenge you ˹O Prophet˺ to hasten the punishment. Had it not been for a time already set, the punishment would have certainly come to them ˹at once˺. But it will definitely take them by surprise when they least expect it.

  • Taqi Usmani

    They ask you to bring the punishment soon. Had there not been an appointed time, the punishment would have come to them. It will surely come to them suddenly while they will not be aware.

  • Abdul Haleem

    They challenge you to hasten the punishment: they would already have received a punishment if God had not set a time for it, and indeed it will come to them suddenly and catch them unawares.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    And they demand of thee to hasten the chastisement! But for a stated term the chastisement would have come upon them; but it shall come upon them suddenly, when they are not aware.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    They will wish thee to hasten on the torment; but were it not for a stated and appointed time, the torment would have come upon them suddenly, while yet they did not perceive.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Say, "Allah is sufficient witness between me and you. He knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth; and those who believe in vanities (falsehoods, frivolities) and disbelieve in Allah, they it is who are the losers."

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And they ask you to hasten the torment; and had it not been for a stated term, the torment would indeed have come to them; and indeed it will definitely come upon them suddenly, and (when) they are not aware.

  • George Sale

    They will urge thee to hasten the punishment which they defy thee to bring down upon them: If there had not been a determined time for their respite, the punishment had come upon them before this; but it shall surely overtake them suddenly, and they shall not foresee it.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And they ask you to hurry the punishment: And if it was not for a fixed time (of relief), the punishment would truly have come upon them: And it will really reach them— All of a sudden, when they are not aware!

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    They demand you to precipitate the (sign of their) punishment. Had not their term been stated (as a respite to mend their evil ways), the punishment would surely have come upon them. It shall come and will befall them unexpectedly and take them unawares.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    They ask you to hasten the punishment. Yet were it not for a specified time, the punishment would have surely overtaken them. Surely it will overtake them suddenly while they are unaware.