Popular Translations
Muhammad Asad
for, what is there to keep people from attaining to faith now that guidance has come unto them, and from asking their Sustainer to forgive them their sins - unless it be [their wish] that the fate of the [sinful] people of ancient times should befall them [as well], or that the [ultimate] suffering should befall them in the hereafter
Arthur John Arberry
And naught prevented men from believing when the guidance came unto them, and seeking their Lord's forgiveness, but that the wont of the ancients should come upon them, or that the chastisement should come upon them face to face
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
And what is there to keep back men from believing, now that Guidance has come to them, nor from praying for forgiveness from their Lord, but that (they ask that) the ways of the ancients be repeated with them, or the Wrath be brought to them face to face
Arabic
وَمَا مَنَعَ ٱلنَّاسَ أَن یُؤۡمِنُوۤا۟ إِذۡ جَاۤءَهُمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَیَسۡتَغۡفِرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمۡ إِلَّاۤ أَن تَأۡتِیَهُمۡ سُنَّةُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ أَوۡ یَأۡتِیَهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ قُبُلࣰا ٥٥
Transliteration (2021)
wamā manaʿa l-nāsa an yu'minū idh jāahumu l-hudā wayastaghfirū rabbahum illā an tatiyahum sunnatu l-awalīna aw yatiyahumu l-ʿadhābu qubula