Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

They ask thee concerning the Hour: “When is its arrival?” Say thou: “Knowledge thereof is but with my Lord; none reveals its time save He. It weighs heavily in the heavens and the earth; it comes not upon you save unexpectedly.” They ask thee as though thou wert privy thereto; say thou: “Knowledge thereof is but with God”; but most men know not.

يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ اَيَّانَ مُرْسٰيهَاۜ قُلْ اِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ رَبّ۪يۚ لَا يُجَلّ۪يهَا لِوَقْتِهَٓا اِلَّا هُوَۜ ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالْاَرْضِۜ لَا تَأْت۪يكُمْ اِلَّا بَغْتَةًۜ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ كَاَنَّكَ حَفِيٌّ عَنْهَاۜ قُلْ اِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ وَلٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Yas-aloonaka AAani assaAAatiayyana mursaha qul innama AAilmuhaAAinda rabbee la yujalleeha liwaqtiha illahuwa thaqulat fee assamawati wal-ardila ta/teekum illa baghtatan yas-aloonaka kaannaka hafiyyunAAanha qul innama AAilmuha AAinda Allahiwalakinna akthara annasi layaAAlamoon
#wordmeaningroot
1yasalūnakaThey ask youسال
2ʿaniabout
3l-sāʿatithe Hourسوع
4ayyānawhen will be
5mur'sāhāits appointed timeرسو
6qulSayقول
7innamāOnly
8ʿil'muhāits knowledgeعلم
9ʿinda(is) withعند
10rabbīmy Lordربب
11no (one)
12yujallīhācan reveal [it]جلو
13liwaqtihāits timeوقت
14illāexcept
15huwaHim
16thaqulatIt lays heavilyثقل
17in
18l-samāwātithe heavensسمو
19wal-arḍiand the earthارض
20Not
21tatīkumwill it come to youاتي
22illābut
23baghtatansuddenlyبغت
24yasalūnakaThey ask youسال
25ka-annakaas if you
26ḥafiyyun(were) well informedحفو
27ʿanhāabout it
28qulSayقول
29innamāOnly
30ʿil'muhāits knowledgeعلم
31ʿinda(is) withعند
32l-lahiAllah
33walākinnabut
34aktharamostكثر
35l-nāsi(of) the peopleنوس
36(do) not
37yaʿlamūnaknowعلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    They will ask you about the Hour: when is it due? Say: ‘Knowledge of it rests with my Lord alone. He alone will reveal it at its proper time. It hangs heavy in the heavens and the earth. It will not come upon you except suddenly.’ They will ask you as if you had full knowledge of it. Say: ‘Knowledge of it rests with Allah alone. But most people do not know that.’

  • Progressive Muslims

    They ask you regarding the Hour: "When will be its time" Say: "Its knowledge is with my Lord, none can reveal its coming except Him. It is heavy through the heavens and the Earth; it will not come to you except suddenly." They ask you, as if you are responsible for it! Say: "Its knowledge is with God, but most people do not know."

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (They even venture into predicting the end of the world. ) They ask you (O Messenger), about the Hour, when the end of the world will come to pass. Say, "That knowledge is only with my Lord. He alone will manifest it at the appropriate time. Heavy it is in the heavens and the earth. It will come upon you suddenly." They ask you as if you could gain insight into this mystery with persistent inquiry. Say, "The knowledge thereof is with Allah only. But most people do not know that even Messengers were not given this knowledge."

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    They ask thee concerning the Hour: “When is its arrival?” Say thou: “Knowledge thereof is but with my Lord; none reveals its time save He. It weighs heavily in the heavens and the earth; it comes not upon you save unexpectedly.” They ask thee as though thou wert privy thereto; say thou: “Knowledge thereof is but with God”; but most men know not.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    They ask you regarding the Hour: "When will be its time?" Say: "Its knowledge is with my Lord, none can reveal its coming except He. It is heavy through the heavens and the earth; it will not come to you except suddenly." They ask you, as if you are responsible for it! Say: "Its knowledge is with God, but most of the people do not know."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    They ask you regarding the moment: "When will be its time?" Say, "Its knowledge is with my Lord, none can reveal its time except Him. It is heavy through the heavens and the earth; it will not come to you except suddenly." They ask you, as if you are too curious about it! Say, "Its knowledge is with God, but most people do not know."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    They ask you about the end of the world (the Hour), and when it will come to pass. Say, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord. Only He reveals its time. Heavy it is, in the heavens and the earth. It will not come to you except suddenly." They ask you as if you are in control thereof. Say, "The knowledge thereof is with GOD," but most people do not know.,

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    They ask you about the Hour: "When is its determined time?" Say: "Only my Lord has the knowledge. No one can reveal it except He. Oppressive will it be for the heavens and the earth. When it comes, it will come unawares." They ask you about it as if you were in the know. You tell them: "Only God has the knowledge." But most people do not know.

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

    They ask you, , about the Hour: when is its arrival? Say, "Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None will reveal its time except Him. It lays heavily upon the heavens and the earth. It will not come upon you except unexpectedly." They ask you as if you are familiar with it. Say, "Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most of the people do not know."

  • Muhammad Asad

    THEY WILL ASK thee about the Last Hour: "When will it come to pass?" Say: "Verily, knowledge thereof rests with my Sustainer alone. None but He will reveal it in its time. Heavily will it weigh on the heavens and the earth; it will not fall upon you otherwise than of a sudden." They will ask thee - as if thou couldst gain insight into this by dint of persistent inquiry! Say: "Knowledge thereof rests with my Sustainer alone; but most people are unaware."

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    They ask thee of the (destined) Hour, when will it come to port. Say: Knowledge thereof is with my Lord only. He alone will manifest it at its proper time. It is heavy in the heavens and the earth. It cometh not to you save unawares. They question thee as if thou couldst be well informed thereof. Say: Knowledge thereof is with Allah only, but most of mankind know not.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    They ask you concerning the Hour, when will its coming be? Say: 'The knowledge of it is with my Lord alone: none but He will disclose it at its time. That will weigh heavily on the heavens and the earth; and it shall not come to you other than all of a sudden.' They ask you - as if you are eagerly inquisitive about it - concerning it. Say to them: 'The knowledge of it is with none except Allah. But most people are unaware of this reality.'

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    The infidels insolently call upon you O Muhammad for information relative to the point of time at which the predetermined Eventful Hour of Judgment takes place! Say to them: " it is only Allah alone Who knows when, He alone has the rightful claim to the knowledge of the how and when of here and Hereafter; no one reveals it when due but Him as His word prompts". "It weighs quite heavily on the heavens and all those within and on the earth and the hopes of all those therein, and the encounter with it is simply a sudden start of a surprise". They ask you about it as if you are anxious to know the how and when and as a result you have been informed. Say to them: " Rest assured that it is only Allah alone Who does know when, but most people do not realize this fact".

  • Bijan Moeinian

    They ask you when the world will end; say: "Only God knows and He will disclose it at the proper time. It will be too heavy of a burden for the universe to stand it and will happen all of a sudden." They approach you presuming that you have knowledge about this subject. Say: "Only God knows it but most people do not realize it "

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    They ask you about the Hour (Day of Resurrection): "When will be its appointed time?" Say: "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord (Alone). None can reveal its time but He. Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you except all of a sudden." They ask you as if you have a good knowledge of it. Say: "The knowledge thereof is with Allâh (Alone), but most of mankind know not."

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    They ask thee about the (final) Hour - when will be its appointed time? Say: "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord (alone): None but He can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy were its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only, all of a sudden will it come to you." They ask thee as if thou Wert eager in search thereof: Say: "The knowledge thereof is with Allah (alone), but most men know not."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ regarding the Hour, "When will it be?" Say, “That knowledge is only with my Lord. He alone will reveal it when the time comes. It is too tremendous for the heavens and the earth and will only take you by surprise.” They ask you as if you had full knowledge of it. Say, “That knowledge is only with Allah, but most people do not know.”

  • Taqi Usmani

    They ask you about the Hour (i.e. the Doomsday), "When is it due to happen?" Say, “Its knowledge is only with my Lord. No one can unfold it except He at its time. It shall weigh heavy in the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you but suddenly.” They ask you as if you were aware of it. Say, “Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most of the people do not know.”

  • Abdul Haleem

    They ask you about the Hour, ‘When will it happen?’ Say, ‘My Lord alone has knowledge of it: He alone will reveal when its time will come, a time that is momentous in both the heavens and earth. All too suddenly it will come upon you.’ They ask you about it as if you were eager . Say, ‘God alone has knowledge of , though most people do not realize it.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    They will question thee concerning the Hour, when it shall berth. Say: 'The knowledge of it is only with my Lord; none shall reveal it at its proper time, but He. Heavy is it in the heavens and the earth; it will not come on you but suddenly!' They will question thee, as though thou art well-informed of it. Say: 'The knowledge of it is only with God, but most men know not.'

  • E. Henry Palmer

    They will ask you about the Hour, for what time it is fixed? - say, 'The knowledge thereof is only with my Lord; none shall manifest it at its time but He; it is heavy in the heavens and the earth, it will not come to you save on a sudden. ' They will ask as though thou wert privy to it, say, 'The knowledge thereof is only with God,' - but most folk do not know.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    They will ask you about the (final) Hour, for what time it is fixed? - Say, "The knowledge thereof is only with my Lord; none shall manifest it at its time but He. Heavy is its burden in the heavens and the earth. It will come to you suddenly and unawares." They question you as though you were informed of it (or eagerly searching for it). Say," Knowledge thereof is with Allah only, but most people know not."

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    They ask you concerning the Hour, when it will have its anchorage. (i.e., when it will take place) Say, "Surely the knowledge of it is only in the Providence of my Lord; none will manifest it at its (proper) time except He. It is heavy in the heavens and the earth. It will not come up to you except suddenly!" They ask you, as if you were thoroughly (acquainted) with it. Say, "Surely the knowledge of it is only in the Providence of Allah, but most of mankind do not know.".

  • George Sale

    They ask thee about the Hour; 'When it will come to pass?' Say, 'The knowledge thereof is only with my Lord. None can manifest it at its time but He. It lies heavy on the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you but of a sudden.' They ask thee as if thou were well-acquainted therewith. Say, 'The knowledge thereof is only with Allah; but most men do not know.'

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    They ask you about the (final) Hour, (Resurrection)— When is its appointed time? Say: "Its knowledge is with my Lord (alone): No one except He can say when it will happen. Its burden was heavy through the heavens and the earth. Only, all of a sudden it will come to you." They ask you as if you were eager in search of it: Say: "Its knowledge is with Allah (alone), but most men do not know."

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    They ask you about the Hour, when it will come to pass. Say, `Surely, the knowledge thereof is with my Lord. He alone will reveal it at its proper time. It shall be heavy on the heavens and on the earth. It shall not come upon you but all of a sudden.' They ask you (about it) as if you were curiously solicitous about it (from Allâh). Say, `The knowledge of it is only with Allâh, but most people do not know (this fact).'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    They question you concerning the Hour, when will it set in? Say, ‘Its knowledge is only with my Lord: none except Him shall manifest it at its time. It will weigh heavy on the heavens and the earth. It will not overtake you but suddenly.’ They ask you as if you were in the know of it. Say, ‘Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most people do not know.’