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Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
[And so,] whenever the two demands [of his nature] come face to face, contending from the right and from the left
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
As the two recording-angels—˹one˺ sitting to the right, and ˹the other to˺ the left—note ˹everything˺,
Safi Kaskas   
as he receives the two recording agents, seated one on the right and one on the left.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
إِذۡ یَتَلَقَّى ٱلۡمُتَلَقِّیَانِ عَنِ ٱلۡیَمِینِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِیدࣱ ۝١٧
Transliteration (2021)   
idh yatalaqqā l-mutalaqiyāni ʿani l-yamīni waʿani l-shimāli qaʿīdu
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
When receive the two receivers on the right and on the left seated.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
[And so,] whenever the two demands [of his nature] come face to face, contending from the right and from the left
M. M. Pickthall   
When the two Receivers receive (him), seated on the right hand and on the left
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Behold, two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and noted them), one sitting on the right and one on the left
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
As the two recording-angels—˹one˺ sitting to the right, and ˹the other to˺ the left—note ˹everything˺,
Safi Kaskas   
as he receives the two recording agents, seated one on the right and one on the left.
Wahiduddin Khan   
and the two recording angels are recording, sitting on the right and the left
Shakir   
When the two receivers receive, sitting on the right and on the left
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
When the two receivers are ones who receive, seated on the right and on the left,
T.B.Irving   
When both encountering [angels] meet, seated to the right and to the left,
Abdul Hye   
(Remember!) that the 2 receivers (recording angels) receive (for each human) sitting on the right and on the left (to record actions)
The Study Quran   
When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
As the two receivers receive, seated on the right and left.
Talal Itani (2012)   
As the two receivers receive, seated to the right and to the left
Dr. Kamal Omar   
When the two Receivers (imposed angels) receive from the right and from the left in sitting posture
M. Farook Malik   
Besides this direct knowledge ,We have assigned to every one two scribes (guardian angels), the one seated on his right and the other on his left
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
As the two Receiver (Angels) receive, on the right (hand) and on the left (hand), constantly seated
Muhammad Sarwar   
Since the two scribes are sitting on each of his shoulders, he does not utter a word which is not recorded immediately by the watchful scribes
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
when the two receiving angels receive (every human act to record it), seated (one) on the right and (one) on the left
Shabbir Ahmed   
And so it may happen that two conflicting demands in his mind, sitting in opposite directions, pull him apart. (His reason, and his emotions (50:21))
Dr. Munir Munshey   
(Remember)! The two sentries, (the two angels responsible for recording deeds), _ one sitting on the right (shoulder), the other on the left _ are receiving (and recording everything)
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
(Remember) that two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his deeds) learn (and note them), one sitting on the right and one on the left
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
When the two receivers meet on the right and on the left
Abdel Haleem   
with two receptors set to record, one on his right side and one on his left
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Behold! when the two receivers receive-one on the right hand and one on the left a sitter
Ahmed Ali   
When the two (angels) who keep the account, one sitting on the right, one on the left, take it down
Aisha Bewley   
And the two recording angels are recording, sitting on the right and on the left.
Ali Ünal   
Remember that the two recording angels (appointed to record his speech and deeds), seated on the right and on the left, receive and record
Ali Quli Qara'i   
When the twin recorders record [his deeds], seated on the right hand and on the left
Hamid S. Aziz   
When the two Receivers receive him, sitting on the right and on the left
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
when the two receivers (or recorders) sitting on the right and on the left receive (and record his works),
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Imagine two guardian angels appointed to observe, one sitting on the right and one on the left
Musharraf Hussain   
When the two recording angels, one sitting on their right and the other on their left, record.
Maududi   
Moreover, there are two scribes, one each sitting on the right and the left, recording everything
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
When the two receivers meet on the right and on the left.
Mohammad Shafi   
When the two frequently confronting voices, one located on the right and one on the left, confront each othe

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
When the two receivers receive from him, one sitting on the right side and another at the left.
Rashad Khalifa   
Two recording (angels), at right and at left, are constantly recording.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
When both receivers (the angels) receive, one on his right, the other on his left
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
When the two receivers receive, sitting on the right and on the left
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
When/if the two receivers/meeters/finders meet from the right (side) and the left, protecting/guarding
Bijan Moeinian   
To each man two angles (known as right hand side and left hand side) are appointed to register his deeds
Faridul Haque   
When the two Receiving Angels receive (his deeds), one seated on the right and one on the left
Sher Ali   
When the two Recording angels record everything, sitting on his right and on his left
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
When the two receivers receive (the recording angels write down his every communication and work), sitting on the right and on the left
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Behold, the two recording (angels) sitting one on (his) right and one on (his) left go on preparing the record (of his deeds)
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
(Remember!) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being after he or she has attained the age of puberty), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions)

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
When the two angels meet together, sitting one on the right, and one on the left
George Sale   
When the two angels deputed to take account of a man's behaviour, take an account thereof; one sitting on the right hand, and the other on the left
Edward Henry Palmer   
When the two meeters meet, sitting the one on the right and the other on the left
John Medows Rodwell   
When the two angels charged with taking account shall take it, one sitting on the right hand, the other on the left
N J Dawood (2014)   
When the twin keepers receive him, seated on his right, and on his left

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
When the two angels meet one sitting on the right and the other on the left.
Munir Mezyed   
When the two recording Angels receive, sitting on the right and on the left,
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
When the two who keep meeting (him) sit on the right and the left.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
The two receivers [angelic correspondents] on the right and on the left are seated [to record his/her deeds].
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
As the two receptors receive (him), one on the right and one on the left, constantly seated.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
 When both encountering [angels] meet, seated to the right and to the left, 
Samy Mahdy   
When the two receivers receive, about the right and about the left, they are seated.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Two recording forces record from his right and from his left!
Mir Aneesuddin   
when the two receivers (while) sitting, receive from the right and from the left,
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Two angels sit as receivers by his sides, right and left, to take delivery of all that he advances of actions with reference to rendering an account of his life and conduct to Allah

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Behold, two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and noted them), one sitting on the right and one on the left
OLD Literal Word for Word   
When receive the two receivers on the right and on the left seated
OLD Transliteration   
Ith yatalaqqa almutalaqqiyani AAani alyameeni waAAani alshshimali qaAAeedun