Surah Ar-Ra'd — Verse 11
The Thunder · 13:11 · 11/43
لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَـٰتٌ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوٓءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ
Lahu muAAaqqibatun min bayni yadayhiwamin khalfihi yahfathoonahu min amri Allahiinna Allaha la yughayyiru ma biqawmin hattayughayyiroo ma bi-anfusihim wa-itha aradaAllahu biqawmin soo-an fala maradda lahu wamalahum min doonihi min wal
Translations of this verse 11
Saheeh International
For him [i.e., each one] are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allāh intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron.
M.A.S. 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.
Marmaduke 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.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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.
Mufti 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.
Al-Hilali & Khan
For him (each person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allâh. Verily! Allâh 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 Allâh). But when Allâh wills a people’s punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector.
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
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.
Muhammad Asad — The Message of the Qur’an
[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.
Rowwad · source edition
For each person there are successive angels[7] in front of him and behind him, guarding him by the command of Allah. Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own attitude and conduct[8]. But if Allah intends punishment for a people[9], then it cannot be averted, nor will there be any protector for them besides Him.
Notes
[7] Angels tasked with each human; they alternate and take day and night shifts. [8] As long as people acknowledge Allah’s grace on them and are grateful to Him, He will not show them other than mercy, and vice versa. If they persist in disobedience, then let them not be fooled by the respite they are given, for Allah’s command can come at any moment. [9] Because of their sins.
Noor International · source edition
(11) For him [i.e., each one] are successive [angels][631] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allāh.[632] Indeed, Allāh will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allāh intends for a people ill,[633] there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron.
Notes
[631]- Replacing each other by turn. [632]- The phrase may also be rendered "...who guard him from [everything except] the decree of Allāh." [633]- i.e., punishment or destruction because of their sins.
Hilali and Khan · source edition
11. For him (each person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him.[1] They guard him by the Command of Allâh. Verily! Allâh 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 Allâh). But when Allâh wills a people’s punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector.
Notes
[1] (V.13:11) See the footnote (B) of (V.6:61).