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Word Analysis & Comparison
21. Surah • 28. Verse
Word Analysis
مَا
mā
what
وَمَا
wamā
and what
وَلَا
walā
and not
إِلَّا
illā
except
لِمَنِ
limani
for whom
وَهُم
wahum
And they
مِّنْ
min
from
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.,
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.
Taqi Usmani
Holy Quran Translation
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.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Holy Quran Translation
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.
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.[1]
1
These two verses refute the two reasons for which the mushriks had made the angels their deities:
Al-Hilali & Khan
Holy Quran Translation
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.
Marmaduke Pickthall
Holy Quran Translation
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.
Abdul Haleem
Holy Quran Translation
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.
Hamid S. Aziz
Holy Quran Translation
They speak not until He speaks; and they act by His command (John30).
Bijan Moeinian
Holy Quran Translation
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!
Aisha Bewley
Holy Quran Translation
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.
George Sale
Holy Quran Translation
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.
Mahmoud Ghali
Holy Quran Translation
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.
Amatul Rahman Omar
Holy Quran Translation
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.
E. Henry Palmer
Holy Quran Translation
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.
Ali Quli Qarai
Holy Quran Translation
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.
Arthur John Arberry
Holy Quran Translation
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.
Mohamed Ahmed - Samira
Holy Quran Translation
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.
Muhammad Asad
Holy Quran Translation
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 [already] graced with His goodly acceptance, since they themselves stand in reverent awe of Him.
Syed Vickar Ahamed
Holy Quran Translation
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).
Progressive Muslims
Holy Quran Translation
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.
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.
Shabbir Ahmed
Holy Quran Translation
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).
Sahih International
(Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)
He knows what is [presently] 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.
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.