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Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
[thinking that] he has hosts of helpers-both such as can be perceived by him and such as are hidden from him -that could preserve him from whatever God may have willed. Verily, God does not change men's condition unless they change their inner selves; and when God wills people to suffer evil [in consequence of their own evil deeds], there is none who could avert it: for they have none who could protect them from Him
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
For each one there are successive angels before and behind, protecting them by Allah’s command. Indeed, Allah would never change a people’s state ˹of favour˺ until they change their own state ˹of faith˺. And if it is Allah’s Will to torment a people, it can never be averted, nor can they find a protector other than Him.
Safi Kaskas   
Each [person] has [angels arrayed] before and behind him to protect him by God's command. God does not change the condition of a people unless they change what is in themselves. And when God intends ill for a people, there is no avoiding it. Apart from Him, they have no protector.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَـٰتࣱ مِّنۢ بَیۡنِ یَدَیۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِۦ یَحۡفَظُونَهُۥ مِنۡ أَمۡرِ ٱللَّهِۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا یُغَیِّرُ مَا بِقَوۡمٍ حَتَّىٰ یُغَیِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمۡۗ وَإِذَاۤ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِقَوۡمࣲ سُوۤءࣰا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ ۝١١
Transliteration (2021)   
lahu muʿaqqibātun min bayni yadayhi wamin khalfihi yaḥfaẓūnahu min amri l-lahi inna l-laha lā yughayyiru mā biqawmin ḥattā yughayyirū mā bi-anfusihim wa-idhā arāda l-lahu biqawmin sūan falā maradda lahu wamā lahum min dūnihi min wāli
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
For him (are) successive (Angels) from (from) between his hands and from behind him, who guard him by (the) Command (of) Allah. Indeed, Allah (does) not change (that) the condition of a people, until they change what (is) in themselves. And when wills Allah for a people misfortune, then (there is) no turning away of it, and not for them from besides Him any protector.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
[thinking that] he has hosts of helpers-both such as can be perceived by him and such as are hidden from him -that could preserve him from whatever God may have willed. Verily, God does not change men's condition unless they change their inner selves; and when God wills people to suffer evil [in consequence of their own evil deeds], there is none who could avert it: for they have none who could protect them from Him
M. M. Pickthall   
For him are angels ranged before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's command. Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts; and if Allah willeth misfortune for a folk there is none that can repel it, nor have they a defender beside Him
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah. Allah does not change a people's lot unless they change what is in their hearts. But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
For each one there are successive angels before and behind, protecting them by Allah’s command. Indeed, Allah would never change a people’s state ˹of favour˺ until they change their own state ˹of faith˺. And if it is Allah’s Will to torment a people, it can never be averted, nor can they find a protector other than Him.
Safi Kaskas   
Each [person] has [angels arrayed] before and behind him to protect him by God's command. God does not change the condition of a people unless they change what is in themselves. And when God intends ill for a people, there is no avoiding it. Apart from Him, they have no protector.
Wahiduddin Khan   
Each has guardian angels before him and behind him, who watch him at God's command. God does not change the condition of a peoples lot, unless they change what is in their hearts. But when God decrees punishment for a people, none can ward it off. Besides Him, they have no protector
Shakir   
For his sake there are angels following one another, before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's commandment; surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition; and when Allah intends evil to a people, there is no averting it, and besides Him they have no protector
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
For him there are Ones Who Postpone from before him and from behind him to keep him safe by the command of God. Truly, God alters not a folk until they alter what is within themselves. And when God wanted evil for a folk, then, there is no turning it back. And there is not for them other than He anyone who is a safeguarder.
T.B.Irving   
he has [angels] checking from both before him and behind him; they guard him at God´s command. God does not change what any people may have until they change whatever they themselves have. Whenever God wants something bad [to happen] to any people, there is no way to avert it nor have they any patron except for Him.
Abdul Hye   
For him, there are angels in succession, before and behind. They guard him by the command of Allah. Surely, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. When Allah wills for a people misfortune, there can be no turning away of it, and there is no protector for them besides Him (Allah).
The Study Quran   
For him there are attendant angels to his front and to his rear, guarding him by God’s Command. Truly God alters not what is in a people until they alter what is in themselves. And when God desires evil for a people, there is no repelling it; and apart from Him they have no protector
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Guardians are stationed before and behind him, safeguarding him by God’s command. God won’t change people’s condition until they change what’s within themselves. If God intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it, and they have no defender or supporter besides Him.
Talal Itani (2012)   
He has a succession; before him and behind him, protecting him by God's command. God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves. And if God wills any hardship for a people, there is no turning it back;, and apart from Him they have no protector
Dr. Kamal Omar   
For him, there are (angel-) escorts inbetween his two hands (i.e., exactly on his front, just like a body-shield) and on his back. They guard him under command of Allah. Verily, Allah does not substitute whatever is in possession of a nation until they (themselves) substitute whatever is in possession of their selves. And when Allah intended about a nation (to inflict them with) evil, then there is not a way of return for this (punishment), and there is not for them, besides Him, out of a Protector
M. Farook Malik   
Each person has been assigned guardian angels before him and behind him, who watch him by the command of Allah. The fact is that Allah never changes the condition of a people until they intend to change it themselves. If Allah wants to afflict a people with misfortune, none can ward it off, nor they can find any protector besides Him
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
For him are (angels) taking turns (on end) even before him (Literally: between his two hands) and even behind him, preserving him from the Command of Allah. Surely Allah does not change what is in a people until they change what is in themselves; and when Allah wills (to inflict) an odious (treatment) on a people, then there is no turning back for it; and apart from Him, in no way do they have any patron
Muhammad Sarwar   
Everyone is guarded and protected on all sides by the order of God. God does not change the condition of a nation unless it changes what is in its heart. When God wants to punish a people, there is no way to escape from it and no one besides God will protect them from it
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
For every one (from among you) there are angels replacing one another, in front of him and behind him, who guard him under the command of Allah. Surely, Allah does not change the condition of a people unless they change themselves. When Allah intends evil for a people, there is no way to turn it back, and for them there is no patron other than Him
Shabbir Ahmed   
A person may think that he has helpers, perceptible (wealth etc) and imperceptible (status etc) that could preserve him from Allah's Requital. But the Law of Requital applies to individuals and nations. Verily, Allah never changes a nation's condition unless they change their inner selves (8:53). And when nations suffer Allah's Requital for their actions, there is none that can repel it, nor do they have a defender outside His Laws
Dr. Munir Munshey   
By the orders of Allah, the guardian angels accord protection. They keep watch in front of and behind everyone. Surely, Allah does not alter the fate of a nation till they change their own selves. If Allah intends evil for a people, there is no escape from it. They have no guardian besides Allah
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
For each one (human), there are (angels) one following the other, before and behind him: They guard him by the command of Allah. Surely Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change it themselves. But when Allah wills a punishment for a people, there is no holding it back; Nor will they find, anyone other than Him, to protect them
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah . Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Present with him and behind him are retainers, they guard him by God's command. God is not to change what is in a people until they change what is within themselves. And if God wanted to harm a people, then there is no turning Him back, nor will they have any protector against Him
Abdel Haleem   
each person has guardian angels before him and behind, watching over him by God’s command. God does not change the condition of a people [for the worse] unless they change what is in themselves, but if He wills harm on a people, no one can ward it off–– apart from Him, they have no protector
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
For him are angels in succession, before him and behind him; they guard him with Allah's command. Verily Allah altereth not that which is with a people until they alter that which is with themselves. And when Allah intendeth evil unto a people there is no turning it back; nor is for them, beside Him, any patron
Ahmed Ali   
His angels keep watch over him in succession (night and day), in front and behind, by God's command. Verily God does not change the state of a people till they change themselves. When God intends misfortune for a people no one can avert it, and no saviour will they have apart from Him
Aisha Bewley   
Everyone has a succession of angels in front of him and behind him, guarding him by Allah´s command. Allah never changes a people´s state until they change what is in themselves. When Allah desires evil for a people, there is no averting it. They have no protector apart from Him.
Ali Ünal   
(Every person advances through varying states before and after, and) by God’s command attendant angels succeeding one another accompany him before and after him to guard him (and record his deeds). God does not change the condition of a people unless they change what is in themselves. When God wills evil for a people (in consequence of their own evil deeds), it cannot be averted, and apart from Him, they have no protector
Ali Quli Qara'i   
He has guardian angels, to his front and his rear, who guard him by Allah’s command. Indeed Allah does not change a people’s lot, unless they change what is in their souls. And when Allah wishes to visit ill on a people, there is nothing that can avert it, and they have no protector besides Him
Hamid S. Aziz   
Each of them has a succession (of angels) before him and behind him, to keep guard over him at the command of Allah; verily, Allah changes not the condition of a people until they change that which is in their heart (or in their souls or change it for th
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
For each (person) there are followers in front of him and behind him which observe him by God’s command. Indeed, God does not change condition of any people until they change what is in themselves. And when God wants something bad for a people, there is no turning it away and they have no protector besides Him.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
For each there are others in succession before and behind him. They guard him by command of God. Certainly God will never change the condition of a people until they change themselves. But when God wills a people’s punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find besides Him any to protect
Musharraf Hussain   
A chain of angels in front and behind him is assigned by Allah to watch over him. Allah never changes the condition of a nation until they change what is in themselves, and if Allah wanted to destroy people, no one could stop Him, and they would have no protector besides Him.
Maududi   
There are guardians over everyone, both before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah´s command. Verily Allah does not change a people´s condition unless they change their inner selves. And when Allah decides to make a people suffer punishment, no one can avert it. Nor can any be of help to such a people against Allah
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Present with him and behind him are retainers, they preserve him from the command of God. God does not change the condition of a people until they change the condition of their souls. And if God wanted to harm a people, then there is no turning Him back, nor will they have any protector against Him
Mohammad Shafi   
For every human being there are angels who take turns, in front of him/her and behind, to guard him/her by Allah's command. Allah does indeed not change the condition of a people until they themselves change it. And when Allah wills adversity on a people, there is no averting it. And besides Him they have no ruling authority to defend and take care of them

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
For man there are angels in succession before and behind him that they watch him by Allah's command, verily Allah alters not His blessing from any people until they themselves alter their condition. And when Allah desires evil to a people, then it cannot be turned back, and besides Him they have no supporter.
Rashad Khalifa   
Shifts (of angels) take turns, staying with each one of you - they are in front of you and behind you. They stay with you, and guard you in accordance with GOD's commands. Thus, GOD does not change the condition of any people unless they themselves make the decision to change. If GOD wills any hardship for any people, no force can stop it. For they have none beside Him as Lord and Master.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
he has attendant angels before him and behind him, who, by the Command of Allah watch over him. Allah does not change what is in a nation unless they change what is in themselves. Whenever Allah wants evil for a nation, none can ward it off. Other than Him, they have no guardian
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
For him are (angels) guarding the consequences (of his deeds), before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah’s command. Surely Allah changes not the condition of a people, until they change their own condition. And when Allah intends evil to a people, there is no averting it, and besides Him they have no protector
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
For him (are) successive angels/glorifications from between his hands and from behind him they protect/guard him from God's order/command (punishment upon his nation's evil ones), that God does not change what (is) with a nation until they change what (is) with themselves, and if God willed/wanted bad/evil/harm with a nation, so (there is) no return (protection) to (from) it, and (there is) no (one) for them from other than Him from aguardian/victorior
Bijan Moeinian   
For each person, there are appointed angels who guard him from the front and the behind by the order of God. Know that God will not (order these angels to) change the condition of any people unless they, themselves, take the appropriate steps towards the change. No, if the Lord (for some reason) decides to impose a hardship for (a person or) a people, none can stop it as there is no lord beside the Lord
Faridul Haque   
For man are angels of alternating duties, in front and behind him, who guard him by Allah’s command; indeed Allah does not change His favour upon any nation until they change their own condition; and when Allah wills misfortune for a nation, it cannot be repelled; and they do not have any supporter besides Him
Sher Ali   
For him (the Messenger) is a succession of angels before him and behind him; they guard him by the command of ALLAH. Surely, ALLAH changes not the condition of a people until they change that which is in their hearts. And when ALLAH decides to punish a people, there is no repelling it, nor have they any helper besides HIM
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
For (every) human being there are (angels) coming in succession who, before him and behind him, guard him by the command of Allah. Verily, Allah does not change the state of a people until they bring about a change in themselves. And when Allah intends to torment a people (due to their own evil works), then none can avert it. Nor is there any helper for them apart from Allah
Amatul Rahman Omar   
He (- the Messenger) has companies (of angels) successively ranged before him and behind him. They guard him by the command of Allah. Verily, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they (first) change their ways and their minds. When Allah decides upon punishing a people there is no averting it. (At that time) they have no helping friend apart from Him
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
For each (person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allah. Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah). But when Allah wills a peoples punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
he has attendant angels, before him and behind him, watching over him by God's command. God changes not what is in a people, until they change what is in themselves. Whensover God desires evil for a people, there is no turning it back; apart from Him, they have no protector
George Sale   
Each of them hath angels mutually succeeding each other, before him, and behind him; they watch him by the command of God. Verily God will not change his grace which is in men, until they change the disposition in their souls by sin. When God willeth evil on a people, there shall be none to avert it; neither shall they have any protector beside Him
Edward Henry Palmer   
Each of them has pursuers before him and behind him, to keep guard over him at the command of God; verily, God changes not what a people has until they change it for themselves. And when God wishes evil to a people there is no averting it, nor have they a protector beside Him
John Medows Rodwell   
Each hath a succession of Angels before him and behind him, who watch over him by God's behest. Verily, God will not change his gifts to men, till they change what is in themselves: and when God willeth evil unto men, there is none can turn it away, nor have they any protector beside Him
N J Dawood (2014)   
Each has guardian angels before him and behind him, who preserve him by God‘s command. God does not change a people‘s lot unless they change what is in their hearts. If God seeks to afflict them with a misfortune, none can ward it off. Besides Him, they have no protector

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
Before him and behind him are angels who take turns. They protect him from the commandment of Allah. Allah does not change the state of a people until they change the state of their souls and when Allah wills to bring harm to a people there is none who can turn it away. They will have no one to be an ally for them besides Him.
Munir Mezyed   
For each one, there are successive (Angels) before and behind him. They protect him by the Command of Allâh. Verily, Allâh will never change the condition of a people unless they intend to change what is in their hearts. And If Allâh intends to inflict punishment on a people, it will be (impossible) to prevent it, nor can they find a protector other than Him.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
He is accompanied ahead of him and behind him by those who guard him by the command of Allah, for Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition, and if Allah wants harm for people, then it cannot be averted, and they have no protection besides Him.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
For each person, angels trail before and behind and guard him/her by the command of Allah. Truly, Allah will never change the condition of a people until they change it themselves. When Allah wills a people’s punishment, however, there can be no avoiding it, and they will find no one to protect them except Him.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
For each one there is a succession (of angels) before him and behind him, preserving him from Allah’s command. Indeed, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves. And if Allah wants an evil for a people, there is no turning it back, and apart from Him they have no guardian.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
he has [angels] checking from both before him and behind him; they guard him at Allah (God)'s command. Allah (God) does not change what any people may have until they change whatever they themselves have. Whenever Allah (God) wants something bad [to happen] to any people, there is no way to avert it nor have they any patron except for Him.
Samy Mahdy   
For him trackers (Angels); between his hands and from behind him, keeping him from Allah’s command. Surely Allah does not change what is within a kinfolk until they are changing what is within themselves. And if Allah wanted with kinfolk a badness, so there is no repelling for it.; and they have no guardian without Him.
Sayyid Qutb   
Each has guardian angels before him and behind him, who watch him by God's command. Indeed God does not change a people's conditions unless they first change what is in their hearts. When God wills people to suffer some misfortune, none can avert it. Besides Him, they have none to protect them.
Ahmed Hulusi   
He has (over all His manifestations) a system of continual/uninterrupted observation (forces – angels) who protect them, from front and back, by the decree of Allah... Indeed, Allah will not change the lifestyle of a people until they change themselves (their understanding and value judgments)! And if Allah wills a disaster for a people, there is no repelling it! Besides Allah, there is no helping friend for them.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
There are (angels) in succession, before him and behind him, who protect him by Allah's command. Verily, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition. And if Allah intends evil upon a people, there is no turning it back; and they have, apart from Him, no protector.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Each and everyone has a succession of guardian angels guarding the whole on the fore and the back side upon Allah's high behest. Allah does not change the state of life of a given nation until they have changed the state of their innermost being. And when it is His will that a people be stricken with a misfortune or be wedded to a calamity, no expedient whatever nor anyone of singular ingenuity can avert it, and besides Him they have no tutelary protector
Mir Aneesuddin   
For him there are (angels) following him closely, before him and behind him, protecting him by the command of Allah. Allah certainly does not change (the condition) in which a people are, until they change that which is in their souls. And when Allah intends evil for a people then there is no turning it back, and besides Him there is no guardian for them.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of God. Verily never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls). But when (once) Go d willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect
OLD Literal Word for Word   
For him (are) successive (Angels) before him and behind him, who guard him by (the) Command of Allah. Indeed, Allah (does) not change the condition of a people, until they change what (is) in themselves. And when Allah wills for a people misfortune, then (there is) no turning away of it, and not for them besides Him any protector
OLD Transliteration   
Lahu muAAaqqibatun min bayni yadayhi wamin khalfihi yahfathoonahu min amri Allahi inna Allaha la yughayyiru ma biqawmin hatta yughayyiroo ma bi-anfusihim wa-itha arada Allahu biqawmin soo-an fala maradda lahu wama lahum min doonihi min walin