←Prev   Ayah Hud (Hud) 11:8   Next→ 

Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
And thus it is: if We defer their suffering until a time-limit set [by Us], they are sure to say, "What is preventing it [from coming now]?" Oh, verily, on the Day when it befalls them there will be nothing to avert it from them; and they shall be overwhelmed by the very thing which they were wont to deride
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
And if We delay their punishment until an appointed time, they will definitely say, “What is holding it back?” Indeed, on the Day it overtakes them, it will not be averted from them, and they will be overwhelmed by what they used to ridicule.
Safi Kaskas   
If We defer their suffering for a specified time, they are sure to say, "What is preventing it [from coming now]?" On the Day when it befalls them there will be nothing to divert it from them and they will be overwhelmed by the very thing they mocked.

Listen: 
Did you notice?

 You can SEARCH IslamAwakened: 

Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَلَىِٕنۡ أَخَّرۡنَا عَنۡهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابَ إِلَىٰۤ أُمَّةࣲ مَّعۡدُودَةࣲ لَّیَقُولُنَّ مَا یَحۡبِسُهُۥۤۗ أَلَا یَوۡمَ یَأۡتِیهِمۡ لَیۡسَ مَصۡرُوفًا عَنۡهُمۡ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ یَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ ۝٨
Transliteration (2021)   
wala-in akharnā ʿanhumu l-ʿadhāba ilā ummatin maʿdūdatin layaqūlunna mā yaḥbisuhu alā yawma yatīhim laysa maṣrūfan ʿanhum waḥāqa bihim mā kānū bihi yastahziūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And if We delay from them the punishment for a time determined, they will surely say, "What detains it?" No doubt! (On) the Day it comes to them not (will be) averted from them and will surround them what they used (to) at [it] mock.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
And thus it is: if We defer their suffering until a time-limit set [by Us], they are sure to say, "What is preventing it [from coming now]?" Oh, verily, on the Day when it befalls them there will be nothing to avert it from them; and they shall be overwhelmed by the very thing which they were wont to deride
M. M. Pickthall   
And if We delay for them the doom until a reckoned time, they will surely say: What withholdeth it? Verily on the day when it cometh unto them, it cannot be averted from them, and that which they derided will surround them
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
If We delay the penalty for them for a definite term, they are sure to say, "What keeps it back?" Ah! On the day it (actually) reaches them, nothing will turn it away from them, and they will be completely encircled by that which they used to mock at
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
And if We delay their punishment until an appointed time, they will definitely say, “What is holding it back?” Indeed, on the Day it overtakes them, it will not be averted from them, and they will be overwhelmed by what they used to ridicule.
Safi Kaskas   
If We defer their suffering for a specified time, they are sure to say, "What is preventing it [from coming now]?" On the Day when it befalls them there will be nothing to divert it from them and they will be overwhelmed by the very thing they mocked.
Wahiduddin Khan   
If We defer their punishment till an appointed time, they ask, What is holding it back? On the Day when it overtakes them, there will be nothing to avert it from them; and what they used to mock at shall encompass them
Shakir   
And if We hold back from them the punishment until a stated period of time, they will certainly say: What prevents it? Now surely on the day when it will come to them, it shall not be averted from them and that which they scoffed at shall beset them
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
If We postponed the punishment for them for a period of time, that which is numbered, they will, surely, say: What detains it? Certainly, the day it approaches them, there is not of that which will be turned away from them and surrounded them was what they had been ridiculing of it.
T.B.Irving   
If We postponed torment for them till a period to be counted out, they would say: "What is delaying it?" On the day when it comes to them, there will be no means them to dodge it, while whatever they had been sneering at will sweep around them.
Abdul Hye   
And if We delay the punishment for them till a determined time, they are sure to say: “What keeps it back?” Surely, on the day it reaches them, nothing will turn it away from them and they will be surrounded by what they used to mock at it!
The Study Quran   
And if We grant them reprieve from the punishment for a limited time, they will surely say, “What holds it back?” Behold! On the day when it comes upon them, it shall not be turned away from them, and that which they used to mock will beset them
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
If We postpone their punishment until a set time, they will question, “What holds it back?” On the day it reaches them, it won’t be averted from them, and they will be trapped by what they used to ridicule.
Talal Itani (2012)   
And if We postponed their punishment until a stated time, they would say, 'What holds it back?' On the Day when it reaches them, it will not be averted from them, and what they used to ridicule will besiege them
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And if We had delayed from them the torment till a determined term, they will surely say: “What keeps it back?” Beware! The Day it approaches them, then (it will) not (become) detached from them; and engulfed them that at which they used to mock
M. Farook Malik   
And if We put off their punishment till an appointed time, they are sure to ask: "What is holding it back?" Beware! When the Day of that punishment comes, nothing will hold it back from them and they will be completely encircled by that which they are ridiculing
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And indeed in case We defer the torment from them till an (already) fixed round, (Literally: already numbered nation) indeed they will definitely say, "What is detaining it?" Verily, the day it will come up to them, it will not be turned about from them, and whatever they used to mock at will redound on them
Muhammad Sarwar   
If We delay in afflicting them with Our punishment for an appointed time, they ask, "What is preventing it (the punishment) from taking place?" On the day when it (punishment) befalls them, no one will be able to escape from it and that which they have mocked will surround them from all sides
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
And if We defer the punishment for them for a certain time, they will say, .What is holding it back?. Beware, the day it will visit them, it shall not be turned back from them, and they shall be besieged by what they used to ridicule
Shabbir Ahmed   
And when We delay for them the retribution until after the Period of Respite, they will surely say, "What is keeping back the doom?" Ah! On the day it actually reaches them, nothing will turn it away from them. And their mockery will completely surround them
Dr. Munir Munshey   
When We postpone the punishment for a brief period, they taunt, "What kept it?" Beware! The day it (actually) lands on them, they will not be able to keep it away. That which they joke about, will engulf them
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
If We postpone the penalty for them for a fixed time, they are sure to say, "What keeps it back?" Verily! On the day when it reaches them, nothing will turn it away from them, and they will completely fall into what they used to joke about
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And if We hold back from them the punishment for a limited time, they will surely say, "What detains it?" Unquestionably, on the Day it comes to them, it will not be averted from them, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And if We delay for them the retribution to a near period, they will Say: "What has kept it" Alas, on the day it comes to them, nothing will turn it away from them, and what they used to mock will catch-up with them
Abdel Haleem   
If We defer their punishment for a determined time, they are sure to say, ‘What is holding it back?’ But on the Day it comes upon them, nothing will divert it from them; what they mocked will be all around them
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And if We defer from them the torment until a period determined, they say: What withholdeth it! Lo! the day it betideth them it shall not be averted from them, and shall beset them that whereat they have been mocking
Ahmed Ali   
If We defer their punishment for a certain time, they will say: "What is keeping it back?" And yet, the day it comes, they will not be able to avert it; and what they used to laugh at will encompass them
Aisha Bewley   
If We postpone the punishment for them for a limited time, they will say, ´What is holding it back?´ No, indeed! The day it reaches them it will not be averted from them and the things they mocked at will encompass them.
Ali Ünal   
Seeing that We postpone the punishment (with which We threaten them) until an appointed term, they are sure to say (in mockery): "What detains it that it does not come?" Beware! on the Day when it befalls them, it will not be averted from them, and that which they have been mocking at will overwhelm them
Ali Quli Qara'i   
And if We defer their punishment until a certain time, they will surely say, ‘What holds it back?’ Look! On the day it overtakes them it shall not be turned away from them, and they will be besieged by what they used to deride
Hamid S. Aziz   
And if We delay from them the doom to a stated time, they will surely say, "What hinders it?" Verily, on the day it comes to them there is no averting it from them and that which they mocked shall close in on them
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And if We delay the punishment from them for a limited time, they shall say: “What holds it back?” In fact, on the day when it comes to them, it will not be turned away from them, and what they used to ridicule will surround them.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
If We delay the penalty for them for a definite term, they are sure to say, “What keeps it back?” On the day it reaches them, nothing will keep it back, and they will be completely encircled by that which they used to mock
Musharraf Hussain   
And suppose We were to delay their punishment for a short while, they would say, “What is holding it back?” Isn’t it true on the day that it does come upon them, it won’t be deflected from them, and the very thing they used to mock will engulf them?
Maududi   
And were We to put off the chastisement from them for a determined period, they will cry out: 'What withholds Him from chastising?' Surely when the day of the chastisement will come, nothing will avert it and the chastisement which they had ridiculed shall encompass them.
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And if We delay for them the retribution to a near period, they will say: "What has kept it?" Alas, on the day it comes to them, nothing will turn it away from them, and they will be surrounded by that which they used to mock.
Mohammad Shafi   
And if We put off the punishment from them for a certain period of time, they will certainly say, "What holds it back?" Verily on the day when it will come to them, nothing can turn it away from them. And that which they scoffed at shall besiege them

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And if We defer from them the torment for a counted period, then they would certainly say, 'what has detained it?" Listen, 'the day when it will come to them, it shall not be averted from them, and the same torment which they used to mock at shall encompass them.
Rashad Khalifa   
And if we delay the retribution they have incurred - for we reserve it for a specific community - they say, "What is keeping Him?" In fact, once it comes to them, nothing can stop it, and their mocking will come back to haunt them.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
And if We delay the punishment till an appointed time, they will ask: 'What has detained it? ' Indeed, the Day will come to them, it will not be turned awayfrom them, and that they mocked at will encompass them
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And if We delay for them the chastisement for a stated period, they will certainly say: What prevents it? Now surely on the day when it will come to them, it will not be averted from them, and that which they scoffed at will beset them
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And if We delayed the punishment from them to a counted/numbered generation they will say (E) what prevents/withholds it ? Is it not (on that) day (when it) comes to them (it is) not diverted/sent away from them? And surrounded/encircled with them what they were with it mocking/making fun of
Bijan Moeinian   
If I [out of mercy] postpone the most severe punishment which they have earned (and is reserved for certain communities (such as Sodom & Gomorrah)), they will start making fun and say: “How come our punishment is delayed?” If they knew how their mocking will come back to haunt them, when they get their punishment
Faridul Haque   
And if We postpone the punishment upon them for a specified time, they will surely say, "What holds it back?" Pay heed! On the day when it comes upon them, it will not be averted from them, and the very punishment they mocked at will encompass them
Sher Ali   
And if WE put off their punishment until a reckoned time, they would certainly say, `What withholds it?' Now, surely, on the day it shall come unto them, it shall not be averted from them, and that which they used to mock at shall encompass them
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And if We defer their torment for a few fixed days, they will definitely say: ‘What has held it back?’ Beware! The day when that (torment) comes upon them, (then) that will not be averted from them, and that (chastisement) which they used to make fun of will beset them
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Infact, if We defer the punishment from them till a reckoned time they would certainly ask, `What is that which withholds it?' Behold! the day this (punishment) befalls them, it shall not be such as to be averted from them. And that (punishment) which they used to hold in scorn, shall overwhelm them
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And if We delay the torment for them till a determined term, they are sure to say, "What keeps it back?" Verily, on the day it reaches them, nothing will turn it away from them, and they will be surrounded by (fall in) that at which they used to mock

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
And if We postpone the chastisement from them till a reckoned moment they will say 'What is detaining it?' Surely, the day it shall come to them, it shall not be turned aside from them, and they shall be encompassed by that they mocked at
George Sale   
And verily if We defer their punishment unto a determined season, they will say, what hindreth it from falling on us? Will it not come upon them on a day, wherein there shall be none to avert it from them; and that which they scoffed at shall encompass them
Edward Henry Palmer   
and if we keep back from them the torment to a stated generation, they will surely say, 'What hinders it?' - Aye! on the day it comes to them there is no turning it away from them, but that shall close in on them at which they mocked
John Medows Rodwell   
And if we defer their chastisement to some definite time, they will exclaim, "What keepeth it back?" What! will it not come upon them on a day when there shall be none to avert it from them? And that at which they scoffed shall enclose them in on every side
N J Dawood (2014)   
And if We put off their punishment till an appointed time, they will surely say: ‘Why is it delayed?‘ On the day it overtakes them, they shall not be immune from it: the terrors at which they scoffed will encompass them

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
If We were to postpone the punishment from them till a term well counted, they would surely say, “What is holding it back?” Lo! On the day it will come to them it shall not be averted from them and [the thing] that which they used to deride will befall them.
Munir Mezyed   
If We delayed for them the (divine) retribution until a reckoned time, they would surely say: ‘What detains it?’ Verily, on the day when it will come to them, nothing can prevent it from reaching them. And they will be encompassed by that which they used to scoff.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And if We delayed the punishment for them to a fixed term, they would say: what holds it back? For sure, on the day it reaches them, it will not leave them and that which they used to make fun of will overcome them.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
And if We were to defer the punishment from them until a fixed period of time, they would most surely say, “What holds it back?” Undoubtedly, on the day when it comes to them, it is not averted from them, and they became surrounded by what they used to ridicule.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
If We delayed the penalty for them for a definite term, they would certainly say, “What is preventing it?” On the day it finally comes to them, nothing can divert it from them. They will be completely encircled by that which they used to mock.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
If We postponed torment for them till a period to be counted out, they would say: "What is delaying it?" On the day when it comes to them, there will be no means for them to dodge it, while whatever they had been sneering at will sweep around them.
Samy Mahdy   
And if we postponed, about them the torment to a counted community, they would say, “What detained it?” Verily on a Day when it comes to them, it will not be averted about them, and it banded with them what they were ridiculing with.
Sayyid Qutb   
If We defer their suffering for a definite term, they are sure to say: 'What is holding it back?' On the day when it befalls them there will be nothing to avert it from them; and they shall be overwhelmed by that which they used to deride.
Thomas Cleary   
Do they not reflect within their souls? God did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is between them but in the right way and for an appointed term: but most of humanity does not believe in the meeting with their Lord.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Indeed, if We postpone the suffering from them for a set time, they will certainly say, “What detains it?” Know with certainty! The day it comes to them, it will not be averted from them! They will be enveloped by the very thing they mock.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And if We postpone the penalty from them until a limited period of time, they will surely say: 'What prevents it ' Beware! On the day it will come to them it shall not be turned aside from them, and they will be encompassed by that which they used to mock at.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
And if We in all manner of wisdom delay their retributive punishment to a determined point of time giving them a chance to come-back to their senses, they shall say: "What keeps it back!" Indeed the Day the punishment comes about and falls to their lot, no expedient shall ever avert it, and on all sides shall they be beset by the same material and immaterial things they turned in to ridicule
Mir Aneesuddin   
And if We postpone the punishment from them for a measured period of time, they will definitely say, “What stops it? Beware ! the day it will come on them, nothing will turn it away from them and that which they used to mock at will surround them.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
If We delay the penalty for them for a definite term, they are sure to say, "What keeps it back?" Ah! On the day it (actually) reaches them, nothing will turn it away from them, and they will be completely encircled by that which they used to mock at
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And if We delay from them the punishment for a time determined, they will surely say, "What detains it?" No doubt! (On) the Day it comes to them not (will be) averted from them and will surround them what they used (to) mock at [it]
OLD Transliteration   
Wala-in akhkharna AAanhumu alAAathaba ila ommatin maAAdoodatin layaqoolunna ma yahbisuhu ala yawma ya/teehim laysa masroofan AAanhum wahaqa bihim ma kanoo bihi yastahzi-oona