Popular Translations
Muhammad Asad
without (adding), "if God so wills." And if thou shouldst forget [thyself at the time, and become aware of it later], call thy Sustainer to mind and say: "I pray that my Sustainer guide me, even closer than this, to a consciousness of what is right!"
Arthur John Arberry
but only, 'If God will'; and mention thy Lord, when thou forgettest, and say, 'It may be that my Lord will guide me unto something nearer to rectitude than this.'
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
Without adding, "So please Allah!" and call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say, "I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road."
Arabic
إِلَّاۤ أَن یَشَاۤءَ ٱللَّهُۚ وَٱذۡكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِیتَ وَقُلۡ عَسَىٰۤ أَن یَهۡدِیَنِ رَبِّی لِأَقۡرَبَ مِنۡ هَـٰذَا رَشَدࣰا ٢٤
Transliteration (2021)
illā an yashāa l-lahu wa-udh'kur rabbaka idhā nasīta waqul ʿasā an yahdiyani rabbī li-aqraba min hādhā rashada