Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad
He knows all that lies open before them and all that is hidden from them: hence, they cannot intercede for any but those whom He has [already] graced with His goodly acceptance, since they themselves stand in reverent awe of Him
M. M. Pickthall
He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him whom He accepteth, and they quake for awe of Him
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable, and they stand in awe and reverence of His (Glory)
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
He ˹fully˺ knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them. They do not intercede except for whom He approves, and they tremble in awe of Him.
Safi Kaskas
He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede [for anyone] except with His approval, as they are in reverent awe of Him.
Wahiduddin Khan
He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede without His permission. Indeed they themselves stand in awe of Him
Shakir
He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede except for him whom He approves and for fear of Him they tremble
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
He knows what is in advance of them and what is behind them and they intercede not but for him with whom He was content. And they are dreading Him, ones who are apprehensive.
T.B.Irving
He knows what lies in front of them and what is behind them; while they do not intercede except for someone who has been approved. They are apprehensive and hence in awe of Him.
Abdul Hye
He knows what is before them, what is behind them, and they don’t intercede except for the one with whom He is pleased. They stand in awe from the fear of Him.
The Study Quran
He knows that which is before them and that which is behind them, and they intercede not, save for one with whom He is content. They are wary, for fear of Him
Talal Itani & AI (2024)
He knows their past and their future. They can’t intercede except for those He approves of. They stand in awe and reverence of Him.
Talal Itani (2012)
He knows what is before them, and what is behind them; and they do not intercede except for him whom He approves; and they tremble in awe of Him
Dr. Kamal Omar
He knows what is between their hands and what is behind them (which they will do) and those allowed to intercede shall intercede not except for whom He agreed. And they are those who stand in awe for fear of Him
He knows what is before them and what is behind them and they do not intercede except for the one whom He approves, and for fear of Him they tremble
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
He knows whatever is before them (Literally: between their hands) and whatsoever is behind them, and they do not intercede except for them with whom He is divinely satisfied, and they feel timorous in apprehension of Him
Muhammad Sarwar
He knows all that is in front of them and all that is behind them. (These servants of God) will not intercede with Him for anyone without His permission and they tremble in awe (before His greatness)
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
He knows what is in front of them and what is behind them, and they make recommendation for none but for whom He likes, and in awe of Him they are fearful
Shabbir Ahmed
He knows their future and their past. They cannot intercede, except that they may stand up as witnesses for those who have earned a bond of His Approval in the worldly life (19:87). And they stand in awe and reverence of His Glory. (6:15)
Dr. Munir Munshey
He knows everything that lies ahead of them and everything about their past. They do not intercede for anyone except for those He is pleased with. They are attentive! And stand in awe and reverence of Him
Syed Vickar Ahamed
He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they offer no mediation except for those for whom (the intercessions) are accepted, and they stand in fear and respect to His (Glory)
He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, from fear of Him, are apprehensive
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
He knows their present and their future, and they cannot intercede unless it is for those whom He is pleased with. And they stand in awe and reverence of Him
Abdel Haleem
He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede without His permission––indeed they themselves stand in awe of Him
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
He knoweth whatsoever is before them and whatsoever is behind them; and they intercede not except for him whom He approveth, and in awe of Him they are fearful
Ahmed Ali
He knows what was there before them and what came after them; and they did not intercede for any one but whom He willed, and they were filled with awe of Him
Aisha Bewley
He knows what is in front of them and what is behind them. They only intercede on behalf of those with whom He is pleased, and even they are apprehensive out of fear of Him.
Ali Ünal
He knows what lies before them and what lies after them (what lies in their future and in their past, what is known to them and what is hidden from them); and they cannot intercede for any but His believing servants, those with whom He is well-pleased, and they themselves quake for reverent awe of Him
Ali Quli Qara'i
He knows that which is before them and that which is behind them, and they do not intercede except for someone He approves of, and they are apprehensive for the fear of Him
Hamid S. Aziz
He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they can not intercede except for him whom He accepts; and they shrink through awe of Him
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
He knows what is in front of them and what is behind them, and they (the angels) do not mediate except for someone He approves, and they are afraid of His awe.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and none can intercede except for those whom He approves, and they stand in awe and reverence before Him
Musharraf Hussain
Allah knows what is in front and behind them, and they will not intercede except for him who He is pleased with, since they are in fear of Him.
Maududi
He knows whatever is before them and whatsoever is remote from them and they do not intercede except for him, intercession on whose behalf pleases Him, and they stand constantly in awe of Him
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
He knows their present and their future, and they cannot intercede unless it is for those whom He is pleased with. And, from His concern, they are worried.
Mohammad Shafi
HE knows what they know of and what they do not know of. And they intercede not except for him whom He wills and they are on their guard in awe of Him
Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
He knows whatever is before them and whatever is behind them, and they intercede not but for him whom He is pleased with, and they are fearing of His awe.
He knows their future and their past. They do not intercede, except for those already accepted by Him, and they are worried about their own necks.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
He knows what is before them and what is behind them. They intercede for none except for him whom He is well pleased, and they tremble in awe of Him
Maulana Muhammad Ali
He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they intercede not except for him whom He approves, and for fear of Him they tremble
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira
He knows what (is) between their hands and what (is) behind them, and they do not mediate except to who He accepted/approved, and they are from His fear are guarding/cautious
Bijan Moeinian
The Lord knows His Prophets inside out. They cannot intercede on behalf of none; except for the one that God will be pleased to hear a plea on his behalf. As a matter of fact, the Prophets themselves worry about their own fate
Faridul Haque
He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede except for him whom He likes, and they fear with awe of Him. (The Holy Prophets and virtuous people will be given the permission to intercede. Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him - will be the first to intercede.
Sher Ali
HE knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they intercede not except for him whom HE approves it and they tremble in awe of HIM
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
He (Allah) knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede (before His presence) but for him with whom He is pleased. And they remain fearful of His Awe and Magnificence
Amatul Rahman Omar
He knows all that is before them (- their future) and all that is behind them (- their past). And they do not intercede except for the person for whom He is pleased to accord permission. And they are full of awe and reverence out of His Majesty
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him
New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame
He knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them and they do not intercede except for one He is pleased [to intercede] while they out of deference for Him are concerned for themselves.
Munir Mezyed
He has full knowledge of whatever is before them and whatever is behind them. They cannot intercede except for one whom He approves, and they themselves tremble in awe of His (Greatness).
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
He knows what lies before them and behind them and they do not intercede except for whom it is accepted and they are anxious out of fear of Him.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation
He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede except for those whom He approves, and they tremble in awe of Him.
Linda “iLHam” Barto
He knows what is before them and what is behind them. They cannot intercede except those who are approved. They stand in awe and reverence of Him.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab
He knows what lies in front of them and what is behind them; while they do not intercede except for someone who has been approved. They are apprehensive and hence in awe of Him.
Samy Mahdy
They never precede Him with the saying, and they are by His command working.
Sayyid Qutb
He knows all that lies before them and all behind them. They do not intercede for any but those whom He has already graced with His goodly acceptance, since they themselves stand in reverent awe of Him.
Thomas Cleary
God knows what lays before them and what is behind them: and they do not intercede but for those with whom God is pleased, and they are wary for fear of God.
Ahmed Hulusi
He knows what is before them and behind them... They only intercede for those who have attained His pleasure... They shiver in awe of Him.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli
He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they (angels) do not intercede except for him with whom He is well-pleased and they tremble in awe of Him
He knows all that is before them and all that is behind them and they never intercede on behalf of anyone except on behalf of those approved by Him, those to whom He intends to be gracious. The angels- keep in awe of Him on account of the deep veneration and the profound reverence dutiful to Him
Mir Aneesuddin
They do not precede Him in speech and they act according to His command.
The Wise Quran
He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they shall not intercede except for who He is pleased with; and they are apprehensive from fear of Him.