Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And were it not for a word that preceded from thy Lord and a stated term it would have been requisite.

وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِنْ رَبِّكَ لَكَانَ لِزَاماً وَاَجَلٌ مُسَمًّىۜ
Walawla kalimatun sabaqat minrabbika lakana lizaman waajalun musamma
#wordmeaningroot
1walawlāAnd if not
2kalimatun(for) a Wordكلم
3sabaqat(that) precededسبق
4minfrom
5rabbikayour Lordربب
6lakānasurely (would) have beenكون
7lizāmanan obligationلزم
8wa-ajalunand a termاجل
9musammandeterminedسمو
  • Aisha Bewley

    And were it not for a prior word from your Lord, and a specified term, it would inevitably have already taken place.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And had it not been for a word already given by your Lord, they would have been held to account immediately.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Now if it were not for a decree that has already been issued by your Lord, setting a term, (the Law of Respite), the Ultimate Requital would have come upon them at once.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And were it not for a word that preceded from thy Lord and a stated term it would have been requisite.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And had it not been for a word already given by your Lord, they would have been held to account immediately.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Had it not been for a word already given by your Lord, they would have been held to account immediately.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    If it were not for your Lord's predetermined plan, they would have been judged immediately.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    If the decree (of respite) had not been pronounced by your Lord, (the inevitable judgement would have ensued); but a term is fixed (for everything).

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

    And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, punishment would have been an obligation , and a specified term .

  • Muhammad Asad

    Now were it not for a decree that has already gone forth from thy Sustainer, setting a term , it would inescapably follow .

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And but for a decree that had already gone forth from thy Lord, and a term already fixed, the judgment would have been inevitable (in this world).

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Were it not for a word already gone from your Lord, the decree (of their destruction) would have come to pass.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Had it not been for Allah's word proclaimed beforehand -to put punishment in respite- it would have been timely to plant their Hereafter in the now, but We grant them respite up to a predetermined point of time.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    If it was not in account of a pre-determined plan of your Lord (to give man some time and try him in his freedom of choice, ) they would have immediately been sentenced.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And had it not been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, and a term determined, (their punishment) must necessarily have come (in this world).

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from thy Lord, (their punishment) must necessarily have come; but there is a Term appointed (for respite).

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Had it not been for a prior decree from your Lord ˹O Prophet˺ and a term already set, their ˹instant˺ doom would have been inevitable.

  • Taqi Usmani

    But for a word from your Lord that had passed earlier, and an appointed time that had been fixed, it (the punishment) would have been inevitable (for them).

  • Abdul Haleem

    If it were not for a preordained Word from your Lord , they would already have been destroyed. Their time has been set,

  • Arthur John Arberry

    And but for a word that preceded from thy Lord, and a stated term, it had been fastened.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    And had it not been for thy Lord's word already passed (the punishment) would have been inevitable and (at) an appointed time.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Is it not guidance for them to know how many generations We have destroyed before them, amidst whose dwelling-places they walk? Verily, in that are signs to men of thought (or intelligence).

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And had it not been for a Word that had gone before from your Lord and a stated term, indeed (torment) (i. e., torment for disobedience) would have been an imposition.

  • George Sale

    And unless a decree had previously gone forth from thy Lord for their respite, verily their destruction had necessarily followed: But there is a certain time determined by God for their punishment.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And if it was not for a Word that came before from your Lord, (the punishment) must necessarily have come: But there is a time appointed (for respite).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    But for a word (of promise) already made by your Lord and the term (already) fixed (for them), the inevitable would surely have befallen them by now.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    And were it not for a prior decree of your Lord and a specified time, it was inevitable.