Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

He utters not a word save with him is a watcher ready.

مَا يَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ اِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَق۪يبٌ عَت۪يدٌ
Ma yalfithu min qawlinilla ladayhi raqeebun AAateed
#wordmeaningroot
1Not
2yalfiẓuhe uttersلفظ
3minany
4qawlinwordقول
5illābut
6ladayhiwith him
7raqībun(is) an observerرقب
8ʿatīdunreadyعتد
  • Aisha Bewley

    He does not utter a single word, without a watcher by him, pen in hand!

  • Progressive Muslims

    He does not utter a word except with having a constant recorder.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Not even a word can he utter but there is an ever-vigilant watcher with him. (The Law of Requital makes a meticulous record).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    He utters not a word save with him is a watcher ready.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    He does not utter a word except a watcher is constantly with him.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    He does not utter a word except with having a constant recorder.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Not an utterance does he utter without an alert witness.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    There is not a word he utters but an observer is ready (to make note of it).

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

    Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared .

  • Muhammad Asad

    not even a word can he utter but there is a watcher with him, ever-present.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    He uttereth no word but there is with him an observer ready.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    He utters not a word, but there is a vigilant watcher at hand.*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Nothing he utters and expresses in words, be it under his breath or openly disclosed but is related in writing by the two angels who keep a watchful guard.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Not even a word spoken is being missed in their registration.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him, ready (to note it).

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    not a word does a person utter without having a ˹vigilant˺ observer ready ˹to write it down˺. 

  • Taqi Usmani

    Not a single word is uttered by one but there is a watcher near him, ready (to record).

  • Abdul Haleem

    he does not utter a single word without an ever-present watcher.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    not a word he utters, but by him is an observer ready.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    not a word does he utter, but a watcher is by him ready!

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    He utters not a word but there is by him a watcher (sentinel, one who censors) at hand.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    In no way does he utter a saying except that close to him is a (Guardian) constantly ready.

  • George Sale

    He uttereth not a word, but there is with him a watcher, ready to note it.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Not a word does he (each angel) say, but there is a guard by him, ready (to note the deeds).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    He utters not a word but (it is noted down by) a guardian (angel of his who) stands ready by his side (to record his words).

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    he says no word but that there is a ready observer beside him.