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Muhammad Asad   
Is it that they [who care for no more than this world] believe in forces supposed to have a share in God’s divinity, which enjoin upon them as a moral law something that God has never allowed? Now were it not for [God’s] decree on the final judgment, all would indeed have been decided between them [in this world]: but, verily, grievous suffering awaits the evildoers [in the life to come]
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Or do they have associate-gods who have ordained for them some ˹polytheistic˺ beliefs, which Allah has not authorized? Had it not been for ˹prior˺ decree on Judgment, the matter would have certainly been settled between them ˹at once˺. And surely the wrongdoers will suffer a painful punishment.
Safi Kaskas   
Or do they have partners who have ordained for them some faith that is not authorized by God? Were it not for [God's] decisive word, Judgment would have been made between them. The unjust will have a painful punishment.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَـٰۤؤُا۟ شَرَعُوا۟ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّینِ مَا لَمۡ یَأۡذَنۢ بِهِ ٱللَّهُۚ وَلَوۡلَا كَلِمَةُ ٱلۡفَصۡلِ لَقُضِیَ بَیۡنَهُمۡۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِینَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِیمࣱ ۝٢١
Transliteration (2021)   
am lahum shurakāu sharaʿū lahum mina l-dīni mā lam yadhan bihi l-lahu walawlā kalimatu l-faṣli laquḍiya baynahum wa-inna l-ẓālimīna lahum ʿadhābun alīmu
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Or for them (are) partners who have ordained for them of the religion what not has given permission of it Allah And if not (for) a word decisive, surely, it (would have) been judged between them. And indeed, the wrongdoers, for them (is a) punishment painful.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Is it that they [who care for no more than this world] believe in forces supposed to have a share in God’s divinity, which enjoin upon them as a moral law something that God has never allowed? Now were it not for [God’s] decree on the final judgment, all would indeed have been decided between them [in this world]: but, verily, grievous suffering awaits the evildoers [in the life to come]
M. M. Pickthall   
Or have they partners (of Allah) who have made lawful for them in religion that which Allah allowed not? And but for a decisive word (gone forth already), it would have been judged between them. Lo! for wrong-doers is a painful doom
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
What! have they partners (in godhead), who have established for them some religion without the permission of Allah? Had it not been for the Decree of Judgment, the matter would have been decided between them (at once). But verily the Wrong-doers will have a grievous Penalty
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Or do they have associate-gods who have ordained for them some ˹polytheistic˺ beliefs, which Allah has not authorized? Had it not been for ˹prior˺ decree on Judgment, the matter would have certainly been settled between them ˹at once˺. And surely the wrongdoers will suffer a painful punishment.
Safi Kaskas   
Or do they have partners who have ordained for them some faith that is not authorized by God? Were it not for [God's] decisive word, Judgment would have been made between them. The unjust will have a painful punishment.
Wahiduddin Khan   
Do they have associate God's who have laid down for them a religion without the permission of God? Had it not been for God's decree on the final Judgement, the matter would have been decided between them. Surely the wrongdoers shall have a painful punishment
Shakir   
Or have they associates who have prescribed for them any religion that Allah does not sanction? And were it not for the word of judgment, decision would have certainly been given between them; and surely the unjust shall have a painful punishment
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Or ascribe they associates who laid down the law of the way of life for them for which God gives not permission? Were it not for a decisive word, it would be decided among them. And, truly, the ones who are unjust, for them is a painful punishment.
T.B.Irving   
Or do they have associates who legislate for them about religion in matters which God would not sanction? If it were not for a decisive statement, things would have been decided among them. Wrongdoers will have painful torment!
Abdul Hye   
Or do they have partners (false deities), who have instituted for them from religion what Allah has not allowed? Had it not been a decisive word (already decided on the Day of Judgment), the matter would have been judged between them? Surely, for the wrongdoers, there is a painful punishment.
The Study Quran   
Or have they partners who have prescribed for them as religion that which God did not permit? Were it not for the Word of Division, judgment would have been made between them. And truly the wrongdoers shall have a painful punishment
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Or do they have partners who have legislated for them a religion not authorized by God? If not for a conclusive word, judgment would’ve been passed between them. The wrongdoers will face a grievous punishment.
Talal Itani (2012)   
Or is it that they have partners who litigate for them religious laws never authorized by God? Were it not for the conclusive decision, it would have been settled between them. The wicked will have a painful punishment
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Are there for them such associates who have prescribed for them as religion (something) what Allah has given no permission thereof? And had there not been issued a decisive statement, the matter would have been surely judged between them. And verily, the transgressors: for them is a painful punishment
M. Farook Malik   
Have they made shoraka' (partners with Allah) who, in the practice of their faith, have made lawful to them what Allah has not allowed? Had a decision of making the decision on the Day of Judgment not been issued already, the matter would have certainly been decided between them; surely the wrongdoers will have a painful punishment
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
Or even do they have associates (with Allah) who have legislated for them as the religion that which Allah has not given permission? And had it not been for the Word of Verdict, indeed it would have been decreed between them, and surely the unjust will have a painful torment
Muhammad Sarwar   
Do they have idols who have established a religion without the permission of God? Had not it been for your Lord's giving them respite for an appointed time, He would certainly have settled their differences once and for all. The unjust will certainly suffer a painful torment
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Is it that they have associate-gods who have prescribed for them a religion that is not sanctioned by Allah? Had it not been for a decisive word, the matter would have been decided between them (here in this world). And of course, for the wrongdoers there is a painful punishment (in the Hereafter)
Shabbir Ahmed   
What! Do they have 'partners' who have set up for them some religion without Allah's leave? And but for a Decisive Word (the period of Respite), all matters would have been decided between them immediately. Verily, there is an awful doom for those who relegate the Truth
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Do they have gods, the partners (of Allah), who enact the rites and rules of religion for them _ (rules) that are not approved by Allah? The verdict of Allah has been decreed; else their matter would certainly be brought to a close right away. For the evildoers there exists a painful punishment
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Or, have they ‘partners’ (the false gods) who have established for them some religion without permission of Allah? If it had not been for the Word of Judgment, (permitting them some freedom of action) the matter would have been decided between them (at once). And surely, the wrongdoers will have a grievous penalty
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Or have they other deities who have ordained for them a religion to which Allah has not consented? But if not for the decisive word, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, the wrongdoers will have a painful punishment
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Or do they have partners who decree for them a system which has not been authorized by God And if it were not for the word already given, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, the transgressors will have a painful retribution
Abdel Haleem   
How can they believe in others who ordain for them things which God has not sanctioned in the practice of their faith? If it were not for God’s decree concerning the final Decision, judgement would already have been made between them. The evildoers will have a grievous punishment
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Have they associate-gods who have instituted for them a religion which Allah hath not allowed? And had there net been a decisive Word, the affair would have been judged between them. And verily the wrong-doers? theirs shall be a torment afflictive
Ahmed Ali   
Have they other associates who have prescribed another law for them which has not been dispensed by God? But for the decisive Word (of God) a sentence would have been passed amongst them. Surely there is a grievous punishment for the ungodly
Aisha Bewley   
Or do they have partners who have laid down a deen for them for which Allah has not given any authority? Were it not for the prior Word of Decision, the judgement between them would already have been made. The wrongdoers will have a painful punishment.
Ali Ünal   
Or do they have partners with God who have prescribed for them in the Religion what God has not allowed (and so they judge and act however they wish)? Had it not been for a decree (already issued by God, postponing the final, decisive judgment) between people, it would indeed have been judged between them. Surely for the wrongdoers there is a painful punishment
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Do they have partners [besides Allah] who have ordained for them a religion which has not been permitted by Allah? Had it not been for the conclusive word, decision would have been made between them. For the wrongdoers there is indeed a painful punishment
Hamid S. Aziz   
Or have they partners for Allah who have prescribed for them a religion that Allah permits not? Had it not been for the Word of Decision judgment would have certainly been given between them; but verily the wrong-doers shall have a painful doom
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Or do they have associates who legislate part of the religion for them, which God has not allowed that? And if it was not for the decisive word (of God), it would have been judged between them. And indeed, the wrongdoers will have a painful punishment.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
What, have they partners who have established for them some way without the permission of God? Had it not been for the decree of judgment, the matter would have been decided between them. But indeed the wrongdoers will have a terrible penalty
Musharraf Hussain   
Did their idols start a religion without Allah’s permission? Had the judgement not been passed, their fate would have long been sealed, and for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment.
Maududi   
Do they have any associates (of Allah) who have laid down for them a way pertaining to faith which Allah did not sanction? But for the fact that a decree had already been made, the matter between them would have been decided once and for all. Surely a grievous chastisement awaits the wrong-doers
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Or do they have partners who decree for them a system which has not been authorized by God? And if it were not for the word already given, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, the transgressors will have a painful retribution
Mohammad Shafi   
Do they have gods, other than Allah, which enjoin upon them a religious law that Allah has not prescribed!? Had it not been for divine decree on the final judgment, their matter would indeed have been decided [in this world itself]. And, indeed, painful punishment awaits the wicked people

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Or for them there are some associates who have made for them a religion that for which Allah has given no leave. And had there not been the promise of a decision, it would have been decided between them here. And undoubtedly, for the unjust people is a painful torment.
Rashad Khalifa   
They follow idols who decree for them religious laws never authorized by GOD. If it were not for the predetermined decision, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, the transgressors have incurred a painful retribution.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Or do they have associates who have made lawful to them in religion what Allah has not permitted? Had it not been for the Decisive Word, it would have been decided between them. For the evildoers there is a painful punishment
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Or have they associates who have prescribed for them any religion that Allah does not sanction? And were it not for the word of judgment, it would have been decided between them. And surely for the wrongdoers is a painful chastisement
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
Or for them (are) partners (with God who) explained/showed to them from the religion what God did not permit/allow with it? Where it not for the judgment's/decision's word/expression , (it) would have been judged/executed between them, and that truly the unjust/oppressive, for them (is) a painful torture
Bijan Moeinian   
How dare some to adopt a way of life [such as Western way of life these days] laid by those whom they are fascinated with and not sanctioned by God. If I (God) had not predetermined to reserve my judgment for the Day of Judgment, I would have dealt with them immediately. For such wrongdoers, for sure there is a painful punishment in reserve
Faridul Haque   
Or do they have associate deities who have appointed for them a religion, which Allah has not permitted? And were it not for a Word that had already been decided, the judgement would have been passed between them here itself; and indeed for the unjust is a painful punishment
Sher Ali   
Have they such associates of ALLAH as have made lawful for them in religion that which ALLAH has not allowed? And but for Our word about the final judgment, the matter would have been decided by now between them. And, surely, the wrongdoers will have a grievous punishment
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
Have they any (such) partners that have established for them a path of din (religion) about which Allah has not given any command? And had the command of judgment not (gone forth) already, the matter between them would have been settled. And surely, there is a painful torment for the wrongdoers
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Do these (disbelievers) have such associate partners (with Allah) who have decreed a law which is contrary to (the law) Allah has sanctioned? Had We not given (Our) verdict (about the respited time) of (the final) judgment, the orders (of destruction) would have long been passed between them. Indeed, there awaits the wrongdoers a woeful punishment
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Or have they partners with Allah (false gods), who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed. And had it not been for a decisive Word (gone forth already), the matter would have been judged between them. And verily, for the Zalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers), there is a painful torment

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Or have they associates who have laid down for them as religion that for which God gave not leave? But for the Word of Decision, it had been decided between them. For the evildoers there awaits a painful chastisement
George Sale   
Have the idolaters deities which ordain them a religion which God hath not allowed? But had it not been for the decree of respiting their punishment to the day of separating the infidels from the true believers, judgment had been already given between them: For the unjust shall surely suffer a painful torment
Edward Henry Palmer   
Have they associates who have enjoined any religion on them which God permits not?- but were it not for the word of decision it would have been decreed to them. Verily, the unjust,- for them is grievous woe
John Medows Rodwell   
Is it that they have gods who have sanctioned for them aught in the matter of religion which God hath not allowed? But had it not been for a decree of respite till the day of severance, judgment had ere now taken place among them; and assuredly the impious shall undergo a painful torment
N J Dawood (2014)   
Have they idols which in the practice of their faith have made lawful to them what God has not allowed? Had the Decisive Word not been pronounced already, judgement would have been passed among them. Woeful punishment awaits the wrongdoers

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
Or is it that they have ascribed partners to Allah who have instituted for them something of the religion for which Allah has not given permission and had it not been for the word of final judgment, truly the matter would have been decreed between them and truly for the wrongdoers there will be a painful punishment.
Munir Mezyed   
Or do they have partners of Allâh -(deities)-, who have made lawful for them in religion that which Allâh did not permit? Had it not been for the decisive Word, the whole issue would have been settled between them. Indeed, as for those who have voluntarily and consciously abandoned the Full Knowledge of the Truth in favour of their own whims will be subjected to a painful punishment.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
Or do they have partners who ordain for them in the religion what Allah did not permit? And if it had not been for the promise of judgement, it would have been decided between them, and for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Do they have partners who have made for them a religion not allowed by Allah? If it were not for the decree of judgment, the matter would have been decided among them. Truly, the sinners will have a horrible punishment.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
Or is it that they have associates who have legislated for them as religion that which Allah has not given permission? And were it not for the conclusive decision, it would have been settled between them. For indeed, there is a painful punishment for the unjust.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Or do they have associates who legislate for them about religion in matters which Allah (God) would not sanction? If it were not for a decisive statement, things would have been decided among them. Wrongdoers will have painful torment!
Samy Mahdy   
Or they have associates who legalize for them from the religion which is not permitted with it by Allah? And if not the decisive adjudication word, it would have been decreed between them. And surely the oppressors for them is a painful torment.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Or do they have partners in religion who validate for them the things that Allah forbids? If it were not for the word regarding division at a specified time, it would surely have been concluded between them... As for the wrongdoers, there is intense suffering for them.
Mir Aneesuddin   
Or have they partners who have made a law of religion for them, for which Allah has not given ( any ) permission? And had a decisive statement not been made, it would have been judged between them and for those who are unjust, there will certainly be a painful punishment.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Or do they have deities who share with Allah His Divine Nature, who ordained for them a particular system of faith and worship other than that Allah has authorized? Had it not been for His word proclaimed beforehand to put punishment in respite to a determined point of time, their Hereafter would have been planted in the now; but the wrongful of actions shall suffer a condign punishment

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
What! have they partners (in godhead), who have established for them some religion without the permission of God? Had it not been for the Decree of Judgment, the matter would have been decided between them (at once). But verily the Wrong- doers will have a grievous Penalty
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Or for them (are) partners who have ordained for them of the religion what not Allah has given permission of And if not (for) a word decisive, surely, it (would have) been j between them. And indeed, the wrongdoers, for them (is a) punishment painful
OLD Transliteration   
Am lahum shurakao sharaAAoo lahum mina alddeeni ma lam ya/than bihi Allahu walawla kalimatu alfasli laqudiya baynahum wa-inna alththalimeena lahum AAathabun aleemun