←Prev   Ayah al-Layl (The Night) 92:20   Next→ 

Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
but only out of a longing for the countenance of his Sustainer, the All-Highest
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
but seeking the pleasure of their Lord, the Most High.
Safi Kaskas   
but only seeking the pleasure of his Lord, the Most High.

Listen: 
Did you notice?

 You can SEARCH IslamAwakened: 

Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
إِلَّا ٱبۡتِغَاۤءَ وَجۡهِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ۝٢٠
Transliteration (2021)   
illā ib'tighāa wajhi rabbihi l-aʿl
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Except seeking (the) Countenance (of) his Lord, the Most High.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
but only out of a longing for the countenance of his Sustainer, the All-Highest
M. M. Pickthall   
Except as seeking (to fulfil) the purpose of his Lord Most High
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
But only the desire to seek for the Countenance of their Lord Most High
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
but seeking the pleasure of their Lord, the Most High.
Safi Kaskas   
but only seeking the pleasure of his Lord, the Most High.
Wahiduddin Khan   
acting only for the sake of his Lord the Most Hig
Shakir   
Except the seeking of the pleasure of his Lord, the Most High
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
but looking for the Countenance of his Lord, The Lofty,
T.B.Irving   
except through seeking the countenance of his Lord, the All-Highest
Abdul Hye   
except to seek the pleasure of his Lord, the High.
The Study Quran   
save for seeking the Face of his Lord, the Most High
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
But only seeking the countenance of his Lord, the Most High.
Talal Itani (2012)   
Only seeking the acceptance of his Lord, the Most High
Dr. Kamal Omar   
except a desire to seek the attention of his Nourisher-Sustainer, the Most High
M. Farook Malik   
except seeking the good pleasure of his Lord, the Most High
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
Except for seeking the Face of his Lord, The Most Exalted
Muhammad Sarwar   
except the pleasure of their Lord, the Most Hig
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
but (he gave his wealth in charity) only to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High
Shabbir Ahmed   
But only to seek the Approval of his Lord, the Most High
Dr. Munir Munshey   
But because he sought the pleasure of his Lord, the most High
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
But only the desire to seek the Approval of their Lord Most High (Rab-Al-A'la)
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
But only seeking the countenance of his Lord, Most High
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Except the face of His Lord, the Most High
Abdel Haleem   
but for the sake of his Lord the Most High–&ndash
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
But only seeking the Countenance of his Lord the Most High
Ahmed Ali   
Other than seeking the glory of his Lord, most high
Aisha Bewley   
desiring only the Face of their Lord Most High.
Ali Ünal   
(Rather, he spends) only in longing for the good pleasure of his Lord, the Most High
Ali Quli Qara'i   
but seeks only the pleasure of his Lord, the Most Exalted
Hamid S. Aziz   
But only desiring the face of his Lord Most High
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
except (anyone who) looks for pleasure (and attention) of his Lord, the highest,
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
But only the desire to seek for the Countenance of their Lord Most High
Musharraf Hussain   
but longed for the pleasure of His Lord, the Highest,
Maududi   
but only to seek the good pleasure of his Lord Most High
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Except the face of His Lord, the Most High.
Mohammad Shafi   
And he spends for nothing but to seek the pleasure of his Lord, the Most High

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
But he only seeks the pleasure of his Lord Who is the Most High.
Rashad Khalifa   
Seeking only his Lord, the Most High
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
seeking only the Face of his Lord, the Most High
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Except the seeking of the pleasure of his Lord, the Most High
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
Except wishing/desiring his Lord's the highest's/mightiest's/most dignified's face/front (path)
Bijan Moeinian   
They simply do it to please God
Faridul Haque   
He desires only to please his Lord, the Supreme
Sher Ali   
But solely to seek the pleasure of his Lord, the Most High
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
Rather (he spends) seeking the pleasure of his Lord, Most High
Amatul Rahman Omar   
But (he spends) only to seek the pleasure of his Lord, the Most High
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Except only the desire to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
only seeking the Face of his Lord the Most High
George Sale   
but who bestoweth the same for the sake of his Lord, the most High
Edward Henry Palmer   
but only craving the face of his Lord most High
John Medows Rodwell   
But only as seeking the face of his Lord the Most High
N J Dawood (2014)   
--(translation missing in source)-

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
it is just a desire to seek the face of his Lord, The Most-high.
Munir Mezyed   
Only seeking the countenance of his Lord, the Most High.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
But seeks the presence of his Lord the most elevated.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
except for seeking the countenance of his Lord, the Most High.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
They only want to seek the countenance of their Lord the Highest.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
except through seeking the countenance of his Lord, the All-Highest.
Samy Mahdy   
Except seeking his Lord’s face, Al-Aala (The Highest).
Sayyid Qutb   
but only out of a longing for the countenance of his Lord, the Most High.
Thomas Cleary   
but only desiring the acceptance of their Lord, the Most High,
Ahmed Hulusi   
Only for the sake of the countenance of his Rabb, the Most High!
Torres Al Haneef (partial translation)   
but only the desire to see the Face of his Lord Most High
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
But only on account of his interest, to please Allah, his Creator – the Supreme -, and to gain His welcome into His realm and be held precious in His esteem; a welcome featured by the illumination proceeding from Him and by the language spoken by His countenance
Mir Aneesuddin   
but he seeks the Attention of his Fosterer, the High.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
But only the desire to seek for the Countenance of their Lord Most High
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Except seeking (the) Countenance (of) his Lord, the Most High
OLD Transliteration   
Illa ibtighaa wajhi rabbihi al-aAAla