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Muhammad Asad   
although ere that they had vowed before God that they would never turn their backs [on His message]: and a vow made to God must surely be answered for
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
They had already pledged to Allah earlier never to turn their backs ˹in retreat˺. And a pledge to Allah must be answered for.
Safi Kaskas   
even though they had already pledged before God not to turn back and flee. One is always responsible for a promise made before God.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَلَقَدۡ كَانُوا۟ عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن قَبۡلُ لَا یُوَلُّونَ ٱلۡأَدۡبَـٰرَۚ وَكَانَ عَهۡدُ ٱللَّهِ مَسۡءُولࣰا ۝١٥
Transliteration (2021)   
walaqad kānū ʿāhadū l-laha min qablu lā yuwallūna l-adbāra wakāna ʿahdu l-lahi masūla
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And certainly they had promised Allah from before, not they would turn their backs. And is (the) promise (to) Allah to be questioned.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
although ere that they had vowed before God that they would never turn their backs [on His message]: and a vow made to God must surely be answered for
M. M. Pickthall   
And verily they had already sworn unto Allah that they would not turn their backs (to the foe). An oath to Allah must be answered for
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
And yet they had already covenanted with Allah not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allah must (surely) be answered for
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
They had already pledged to Allah earlier never to turn their backs ˹in retreat˺. And a pledge to Allah must be answered for.
Safi Kaskas   
even though they had already pledged before God not to turn back and flee. One is always responsible for a promise made before God.
Wahiduddin Khan   
They had already vowed before God that they would never turn their backs: and a vow made to God must be answered for
Shakir   
And certainly they had made a covenant with Allah before, that) they would not turn (their) backs; and Allah's covenant shall be inquired of
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
although, certainly, they made a contract with God before that they would not turn their backs to the enemy. And about their compact with God that had been, they are ones who will be asked.
T.B.Irving   
Still they had already pledged to God that they would not turn their backs! Any oath [made] to God will be asked about.
Abdul Hye   
And indeed they had already made a covenant with Allah not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allah must be answered for.
The Study Quran   
though previously they had made a pact with God that they would not turn their backs; and the pact with God is called to account
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
They had previously made a covenant with God that they wouldn’t turn their backs. The covenant with God must be answered for.
Talal Itani (2012)   
Although they had made a pledged to God, in the past, that they will not turn their backs. A pledge to God is a responsibility
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And surely, indeed they had been giving covenant to Allah since before that they will not turn (their) backs, and a covenant made with is a questioned one (i.e., , it will have to be accounted for)
M. Farook Malik   
Even though they had made covenant with Allah not to show their backs, and the covenant with Allah must surely be answered for
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And indeed they had already covenanted with Allah earlier, that they would not turn their backs; and a covenant with Allah will be questioned
Muhammad Sarwar   
They had certainly promised God that they would not turn away. To promise God is certainly a (great) responsibility
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
despite that they had already made a covenant with Allah that they would not turn their backs; and a covenant with Allah has to be answered for
Shabbir Ahmed   
Although before that they had pledged to Allah that they would not turn their backs (to Faith and against invasion). A pledge to Allah must be answered for
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Earlier they had given Allah their word, that they will not turn their backs. Pledges made with Allah must be answered
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And indeed, they had already made a promise to Allah not to turn their backs (and run away), and a promise to Allah must be kept
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And they had already promised Allah before not to turn their backs and flee. And ever is the promise to Allah [that about which one will be] questioned
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And indeed they had pledged to God before this that they would not turn around and flee. Making a pledge to God brings great responsibility
Abdel Haleem   
Yet they had already promised God that they would not turn tail and flee, and a promise to God will be answered for
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And arruredly they had already covenanted with Allah that they would not turn their backs; verily the covenant with Allah must be questioned about
Ahmed Ali   
Whereas earlier they had made a promise to God that they would never turn their backs; and a promise made to God is answerable
Aisha Bewley   
Yet they had previously made a contract with Allah that they would never turn their backs. Contracts made with Allah will be asked about.
Ali Ünal   
Yet before that they had (in swearing allegiance to God’s Messenger) made a covenant with God, that they would never turn their backs (in the face of the enemy). Covenants with God will certainly be accounted for
Ali Quli Qara'i   
though they had certainly pledged to Allah before that they would not turn their backs [to flee], and pledges given to Allah are accountable
Hamid S. Aziz   
And certainly they had made a covenant with Allah before, that they would not turn their backs; and Allah´s covenant shall be answered for
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And they had certainly promised God in the past that they would not turn their backs (and run away). And promise to God is questioned (and is a responsibility).
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Even though they had already took a covenant with God not to turn their backs and a covenant with God must be answered for
Musharraf Hussain   
despite previously having sworn by Allah that they would not turn tail and flee. They will be questioned about the oaths sworn in Allah’s name.
Maududi   
They had earlier covenanted with Allah that they would not turn their backs in flight. And a covenant made with Allah must needs be answered for
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And indeed they had pledged to God before this that they would not turn around and flee; and making a pledge to God brings great responsibility
Mohammad Shafi   
And they did make a pledge with Allah before, that they would not turn their backs. And a pledge with Allah is bound to be questioned about

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And undoubtedly, they had already convenanted with Allah before that, that they would not turn their backs. And the covenant with Allah shall be questioned of.
Rashad Khalifa   
They had pledged to GOD in the past that they would not turn around and flee; making a pledge with GOD involves a great responsibility.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Yet before that, they made a covenant with Allah never to turn their backs. And covenants with Allah shall be questioned
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Say: Flight will not profit you, if you flee from death or slaughter, and then you will not be allowed to enjoy yourselves but a little
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And they were had been (E) they promised God from before (they had before promised God that) they do not turn away (on) the backs/ends, and God's promise was questioned
Bijan Moeinian   
These are the same people who [after their disobedience in the battle of Uhud] pledged to God [that they would make up for their failure in the future trials.] Making a pledge with God involves a great responsibility [God cannot be deceived by empty words and, just two years after the battle of Uhud, put them to this test.]
Faridul Haque   
And indeed before this they had agreed with Allah that they would not turn their backs; and the covenant of Allah will be questioned about
Sher Ali   
And truly they had already covenanted with ALLAH that they would not turn their backs. And a covenant with ALLAH will have to be answered for
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And certainly before this they had made a covenant with Allah that they would not turn their backs and run away. And the covenant made with Allah will (certainly) be asked about
Amatul Rahman Omar   
And previous to that they had made a covenant with Allah that they would not turn (their) backs. And a covenant (made) with Allah will have to be answered for
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And indeed they had already made a covenant with Allah not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allah must be answered for

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Yet they had made covenant with God before that, that they would not turn their backs; and covenants with God shall be questioned o
George Sale   
They had before made a covenant with God, that they would not turn their backs: And the performance of their covenant with God shall be examined into hereafter
Edward Henry Palmer   
They had covenanted with God before, that they would not turn their backs; and God's covenant shall be enquired o
John Medows Rodwell   
They had before pledged themselves to God that they would not turn their backs; and a pledge given to God must be enquired of
N J Dawood (2014)   
Surely before that, they swore to God never to turn their backs in flight. And an oath to God must needs be answered for

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
And they indeed had made a covenant with Allah that they will not turn their backs and indeed Allah’s covenant is going to be accounted for.
Munir Mezyed   
Verily they had already made a covenant with Allâh that they would not turn around and flee. (Making) a covenant with Allâh is a great commitment.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And they had previously promised Allah that they would not turn their backs, and the promise to Allah will be asked about.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Yet, they had already promised Allah not to turn their backs. A promise to Allah must be kept.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
And certainly, they had previously covenanted with Allah that they would not turn their backs. And Allah’s covenant must be answered for.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Still they had already pledged to Allah (God) that they would not turn their backs! Any oath [made] to Allah (God) will be asked about.
Samy Mahdy   
And they already had covenanted Allah before, that they will not be turning their backs. And ever Allah’s covenant is questioned.
Sayyid Qutb   
They had previously vowed before God that they would never turn their backs in flight. A vow made to God must surely be answered for.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Indeed, they had promised Allah before that they would not turn their backs and flee... And a promise made to Allah will be questioned (its consequence will be inescapably experienced)!
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And indeed they had made a covenant with Allah before that, that they would not turn their backs (to the enemy) and covenants with Allah shall be questioned of
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Yet they had already given their solemn promise to Allah never to defect, desert or flee the enemy. They failed to realize that an engagement entered into with Allah is indeed an immense responsibility
Mir Aneesuddin   
they had indeed made an agreement with Allah earlier, that they would not turn their backs, and (they) will be questioned regarding (the fulfillment of their) agreement with Allah.
The Wise Quran   
And certainly, they had covenanted with God before, not to turn their backs; and God's covenant shall be enquired of.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
And yet they had already covenanted with God not to turn their backs, and a covenant with God must (surely) be answered for
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And certainly they had promised Allah before, not they would turn their backs. And is (the) promise (to) Allah to be questioned
OLD Transliteration   
Walaqad kanoo AAahadoo Allaha min qablu la yuwalloona al-adbara wakana AAahdu Allahi mas-oolan