Had it not been for a decree from God that had already gone forth, there would indeed have befallen you a tremendous chastisement on account of all [the captives] that you took
Had it not been for a prior decree from Allah, you would have certainly been disciplined with a tremendous punishment for whatever ˹ransom˺ you have taken.
Had it not been for a decree from God that had already gone forth, there would indeed have befallen you a tremendous chastisement on account of all [the captives] that you took
Were it not for an ordinance from Allah that had already gone forth, surely there would have befallen you a great chastisement for what you had taken to
Had it not been for a prior decree from Allah, you would have certainly been disciplined with a tremendous punishment for whatever ˹ransom˺ you have taken.
Had there not been a previous decree from God (concerning that gains of war are lawful and captives can be released in return for ransom), a tremendous punishment would surely have touched you because of what you took (the gains of war, and the captives taken in expectation of ransom, before the enemies’ power in the land had been sufficiently suppressed and exhausted)
Were it not for an ordinance from Allah that had gone before, there would have touched you a mighty punishment for that which you took (prisoners for ransom)
Had it not been for a prescription (Literally: a Book) that has gone before from Allah, a tremendous torment for what you have taken would indeed have touched you
Had there not been a previous sanction from Allah to take ransom, you should have been sternly punished for what you have taken
Dr. Munir Munshey
Had it not been for the preordained decree of Allah, a severe torment would have struck you because of what you took
Dr. Kamal Omar
Had it not been a written ordainment from Allah already available, a severe punishment would have touched you in what you took (as permitted in your thoughts)
If God had not pre-determined a decree, you would have been subject to a sever punishment for what you have taken [as ransom for the prisoners of the war.]
Faridul Haque
Had Allah not pre-destined a matter then, O Muslims, a terrible punishment would have come upon you due to the ransom you took from the disbelievers
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
Had there not been a previous writing from Allah, you would have been afflicted by a mighty punishment
Had there not been a prior decree (of a war at Badr) from Allah you would certainly have come to grief as a result of that which you were going to undertake (by attacking the caravan of Quraish from Syria)
Had there not been a prior decree (i.e., command for forgiveness) from Allah, a terrible torment would indeed have seized you for (the ransom) that you procured (from the prisoners of Badr)
Unless a revelation had been previously delivered from God, verily a severe punishment had been inflicted on you, for the ransom which ye took from the captives at Bedr
Had it not been for a previous decree of Allah regarding this matter, you would surely have suffered on account of the ransom you took.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli
Had it not been for a prior ordinance from Allah, there would have fallen you a great chastisement for what you had taken to (improperly)
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim
Had it not been for Allah's authoritative decree proclaimed beforehand to forgive a votary who inadvertently errs, you people would have been severely punished for what you have undertaken