Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

He knows what is before them, and what following them, and they intercede not save for him with whom He is pleased; and they are from fear of Him in dread.

يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ اَيْد۪يهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يَشْفَعُونَۙ اِلَّا لِمَنِ ارْتَضٰى وَهُمْ مِنْ خَشْيَتِه۪ مُشْفِقُونَ
YaAAlamu ma bayna aydeehim wamakhalfahum wala yashfaAAoona illa limani irtadawahum min khashyatihi mushfiqoon
#wordmeaningroot
1yaʿlamuHe knowsعلم
2what
3bayna(is) before themبين
4aydīhim(is) before themيدي
5wamāand what
6khalfahum(is) behind themخلف
7walāand not
8yashfaʿūnathey (can) intercedeشفع
9illāexcept
10limanifor whom
11ir'taḍāHe approvesرضو
12wahumAnd they
13minfrom
14khashyatihifear of Himخشي
15mush'fiqūnastand in aweشفق
  • Aisha Bewley

    He knows what is in front of them and what is behind them. They only intercede on behalf of those with whom He is pleased, and even they are apprehensive out of fear of Him.

  • Progressive Muslims

    He knows their present and their future, and they cannot intercede unless it is for those whom He is pleased with. And they stand in awe and reverence of Him.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    He knows their future and their past. They cannot intercede, except that they may stand up as witnesses for those who have earned a bond of His Approval in the worldly life (19:87). And they stand in awe and reverence of His Glory. (6:15).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    He knows what is before them, and what following them, and they intercede not save for him with whom He is pleased; and they are from fear of Him in dread.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    He knows their present and their future, and they cannot intercede unless it is for those whom He is pleased with. And, from His concern, they are worried.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    He knows their present and their future, and they cannot intercede unless it is for those whom He is pleased with. They stand in awe and reverence of Him.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    He knows their future and their past. They do not intercede, except for those already accepted by Him, and they are worried about their own necks.,

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    He knows what was there before them and what came after them; and they did not intercede for any one but whom He willed, and they were filled with awe of Him.

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

    He knows what is before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, from fear of Him, are apprehensive.

  • Muhammad Asad

    He knows all that lies open before them and all that is hidden from them: hence, they cannot intercede for any but those whom He has graced with His goodly acceptance, since they themselves stand in reverent awe of Him.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him whom He accepteth, and they quake for awe of Him.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    He knows whatever is before them and whatsoever is remote from them and they do not intercede except for him, intercession on whose behalf pleases Him, and they stand constantly in awe of Him.*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    He knows all that is before them and all that is behind them and they never intercede on behalf of anyone except on behalf of those approved by Him, those to whom He intends to be gracious. The angels- keep in awe of Him on account of the deep veneration and the profound reverence dutiful to Him.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    The Lord knows His Prophets inside out. They cannot intercede on behalf of none; except for the one that God will be pleased to hear a plea on his behalf. As a matter of fact, the Prophets themselves worry about their own fate!

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable, and they stand in awe and reverence of His (Glory).

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    He ˹fully˺ knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them. They do not intercede except for whom He approves, and they tremble in awe of Him.

  • Taqi Usmani

    He knows what is in front of them and what is behind them, and they make recommendation for none but for whom He likes, and in awe of Him they are fearful.

  • Abdul Haleem

    He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede without His permission––indeed they themselves stand in awe of Him.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    He knows what is before them and behind them, and they intercede not save for him with whom He is well-pleased, and they tremble in awe of Him.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they shall not intercede except for him whom He is pleased with; and they shrink through fear.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    They speak not until He speaks; and they act by His command (John30).

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    He knows whatever is before them (Literally: between their hands) and whatsoever is behind them, and they do not intercede except for them with whom He is divinely satisfied, and they feel timorous in apprehension of Him.

  • George Sale

    He knoweth that which is before them, and that which is behind them: They shall not intercede for any, except for whom it shall please Him; and they tremble for fear of Him.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they offer no mediation except for those for whom (the intercessions) are accepted, and they stand in fear and respect to His (Glory).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    He knows all that is before them (- their future) and all that is behind them (- their past). And they do not intercede except for the person for whom He is pleased to accord permission. And they are full of awe and reverence out of His Majesty.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    He knows that which is before them and that which is behind them, and they do not intercede except for someone He approves of, and they are apprehensive for the fear of Him.