Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad
And for all people a term has been set: and when [the end of] their term approaches, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor can they hasten it
M. M. Pickthall
And every nation hath its term, and when its term cometh, they cannot put it off an hour nor yet advance (it)
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
To every people is a term appointed: when their term is reached, not an hour can they cause delay, nor (an hour) can they advance (it in anticipation)
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
For each community there is an appointed term. When their time arrives, they can neither delay it for a moment, nor could they advance it.
Safi Kaskas
A term has been set for every nation, and when the end of their term approaches, they can neither delay it nor hasten it by a single moment.
Wahiduddin Khan
For all people a term has been set: and when [the end of] their term approaches, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor can they advance it
Shakir
And for every nation there is a doom, so when their doom is come they shall not remain behind the least while, nor shall they go before
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
And for every community there is a term. And when their term drew near, they will not delay it by an hour, nor press it forward.
T.B.Irving
Every nation has its term; so whenever their deadline comes, they will not postpone it for an hour, nor will they advance it.
Abdul Hye
For every nation there is a fixed term; when their term is reached, neither can they delay for a moment nor they can bring it earlier.”
The Study Quran
And for every community there is a term appointed. When their term comes, they shall not delay it by a single hour, nor shall they advance it
Talal Itani & AI (2024)
Every nation has an appointed time. When their appointed time comes, they won’t be able to delay it by a single hour. nor will they be able to advance it.
Talal Itani (2012)
For every nation is an appointed time. When their time has come, they cannot delay it by one hour, nor can they advance it
Dr. Kamal Omar
And for every Ummah is (allotted) a specified term. So when (the end) of their terms has approached — they delay not a moment and they do not advance (the approach of the end)
For every nation there is a fixed term, when their term expires, it can neither be delayed for a moment nor can it be made to come early."
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
And to every nation (there is) a term; so when their term comes, they will not (be able to) postpone (it) by a (single) hour, nor will they put (it) forward
Muhammad Sarwar
All people can only live for an appointed time. When their term ends, they will not remain (alive) even for a single hour, nor will they die before the appointed time
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
For every people there is an appointed time. So, when their appointed time will come, they cannot be late for a moment, nor will they get ahead
Shabbir Ahmed
All nations and communities determine the terms of their Rise and Fall in accordance with these Divine Laws. And these Laws work with meticulous timing, without delay and without hastening
Dr. Munir Munshey
Every nation has been ordained a (fixed) time (to accept or reject the divine truth). Once their time has come, they cannot delay nor advance it by (even as much as) an hour
Syed Vickar Ahamed
To every People is a time period fixed: When their time ends, they cannot delay an hour, and not (an hour) can they advance (the end)
And for every nation is a [specified] term. So when their time has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it]
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
And for every nation will be an allotted time; when their time is reached, they will not delay by one hour nor advance
Abdel Haleem
There is a time set for every people: they cannot hasten it, nor, when it comes, will they be able to delay it for a single moment
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
And for every community there is an appointed term; then when its term shall arrive, not an hour will they stay behind or go in advance
Ahmed Ali
A term is fixed for every people; and when their appointed time is come there will neither be a moment's delay nor haste
Aisha Bewley
Every nation has an appointed time. When their time comes, they cannot delay it a single hour or bring it forward.
Ali Ünal
And (know that) for every community there is a term appointed (by God considering their free will); and when the end of the term falls, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor can they hasten it
Ali Quli Qara'i
There is a [preordained] time for every nation: when their time comes, they shall not defer it by a single hour nor shall they advance it
Hamid S. Aziz
Every nation (or community) has its appointed term, and when their appointed term is completed they cannot delay it an hour, nor can they advance it
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
For every group there is an appointed time (to believe), and when their appointed time comes, they cannot put it back an hour nor put it forward.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
To every people is a term appointed. When their term is reached not an hour can they delay or advance it
Musharraf Hussain
Every community has an allotted term, and when their allotted term comes to an end , they can neither delay it by a single hour, nor can they hasten it
Maududi
For every community there is an appointed term; and when its term arrives, they cannot tarry behind a moment, nor can they get ahead
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
And for every nation will be an appointed time; when their time is reached, they will not delay by one hour nor advance.
Mohammad Shafi
And for every community there is an end. So when their end comes, not a moment can they delay it nor advance it
Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
And for every people there is a promise (been), then when their term will come, they cannot remain behind for an hour nor they get ahead of it.
For each community, there is a predetermined life span. Once their interim comes to an end, they cannot delay it by one hour, nor advance it.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
To every nation a term; when their term comes they shall not delay it by a single hour, nor yet hasten it
Maulana Muhammad Ali
And every nation has a term; so when its term comes, they cannot remain behind the least while, nor can they precede (it)
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira
And to every nation (is) a term/time, so if their term/time came, they do not delay/lag behind an hour, and they do not advance
Bijan Moeinian
Know that each nation [like every individual] has a destiny and none can accelerate or postpone its death
Faridul Haque
And every group has a promise; so when its promise comes, it cannot be postponed for a moment or brought forward
Sher Ali
And for every people there is a term, and when their term is come, they cannot remain behind a single moment, nor can they get ahead of it
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
And a term (has been appointed) for every people, and when their (fixed) hour approaches, they can neither hold back nor advance (even) for a single moment
Amatul Rahman Omar
For (the end of) every nation there is a term fixed, so that when their term comes, they cannot delay a single moment (to avoid it) nor can they get ahead (of it to escape from it)
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
And every nation has its appointed term; when their term is reached, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment)
New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame
And for every nation there is a term. And when their term comes, they cannot delay an hour nor can they advance.
Munir Mezyed
And every nation has an appointed term. And when its term comes, they can neither delay it for a moment, nor advance it.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
And for every community there is a fixed term, then when its term is up, they will not delay it for an hour nor speed it up.
Linda “iLHam” Barto
To every people is a term appointed. When their term is reached, they cannot cause an hour in delay or progress.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation
And for every community there is an appointed term. So when their term has arrived, they cannot then delay by one hour nor can they advance.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab
Every nation has its term; so whenever their deadline comes, they will not postpone it for an hour, nor will they advance it.
Samy Mahdy
For each community is a term. So, if their term has come, they cannot delay it one hour, nor can they advance it.
Sayyid Qutb
For every community a term has been set. When [the end of] their term approaches, they can neither delay nor hasten it by a single moment.
Ahmed Hulusi
And for all people a specified term (lifespan) is set. So when the end of their time has come, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor can they hasten it.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli
And for every people there is (an appointed) term, so when their term comes they cannot put it back the least while nor can they advance it
And to every people, all and each, We have ordained a definite point of time, and when their time is fulfilled never shall they be able to delay it or anticipate for one hour or infinitely les
Mir Aneesuddin
And for every community there is a (fixed) term, so when (the end of) their term comes they will neither be able to postpone the time nor advance it.
The Wise Quran
And to every nation a term; so when their term comes they cannot keep it back an hour nor bring it on.