Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad
so that He may forgive you some of your sins, and grant you respite until a term known [to Him alone]: but, behold, when the term appointed by God does come, it can never be put back - if you but knew it!"
M. M. Pickthall
That He may forgive you somewhat of your sins and respite you to an appointed term. Lo! the term of Allah, when it cometh, cannot be delayed, if ye but knew
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
"So He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a stated Term: for when the Term given by Allah is accomplished, it cannot be put forward: if ye only knew."
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
He will forgive your sins, and delay your end until the appointed time. Indeed, when the time set by Allah comes, it cannot be delayed, if only you knew!”
Safi Kaskas
God will forgive you of your transgressions, and reprieve you until an appointed time. When God’s appointed time arrives it cannot be postponed, if you only knew.’ ”
Wahiduddin Khan
He will forgive your sins and will grant you respite till an appointed time. When the time appointed by God arrives, it cannot be postponed, if you only knew
Shakir
He will forgive you some of your faults and grant you a delay to an appointed term; surely the term of Allah when it comes is not postponed; did you but know
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
He forgives you some of your impieties and postpones for you a term, that which is determined. Truly, when the term of God drew near, it will not be postponed if you had been but knowing.
T.B.Irving
He will forgive some of your offences for you and postpone things for you until a specific deadline. God´s deadline will never be postponed once it comes, if you only realized it."
Abdul Hye
(If you do so) He will forgive you of your sins and give you respite for an appointed term. Surely, the term of Allah when it comes, cannot be delayed, if you but knew.”
The Study Quran
that He may forgive you some of your sins and grant you reprieve until a term appointed. Truly when the term of God comes, it will not be delayed, if you but knew.
Talal Itani & AI (2024)
He will forgive your sins and delay you to a specified term. When God’s appointed time arrives, it can’t be deferred—if only you could understand.”
Talal Itani (2012)
And He will forgive you of your sins, and reprieve you until a stated term. God's term cannot be deferred once it has arrived, if you only knew.'
Dr. Kamal Omar
He will forgive you of your sins and respite you to an appointed term. Surely, the term specified by Allah — when it has approached — it is not postponed if you had been knowing (these facts).”
If you will do so, He will forgive you your sins and give you respite for an appointed term. The fact is that when the term given by Allah arrives, it cannot be deferred. If you could understand!"
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
He will forgive you (some) of your guilty deeds and defer you to a stated term; surely the term of Allah, when it comes, cannot be deferred, if you (only) know."
Muhammad Sarwar
He will forgive your sins and give you a respite for an appointed time. When the time which God has appointed arrives, none will be able to postpone it. Would that you knew this!"
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
and Allah will forgive you your sins, and will respite you to an appointed term. Indeed when Allah‘s term comes, it is not deferred, if you only know!
Shabbir Ahmed
He will then protect you from the detriment of trailing behind in humanity and respite you until a term appointed. Behold, when the term appointed by Allah comes, it cannot be delayed - if you but knew this (Law)."
Dr. Munir Munshey
"He will forgive your sins and grant you respite for a specified time. Indeed, once that time arrives, the decree of Allah cannot be delayed. If you only knew!"
Syed Vickar Ahamed
"So He will forgive you your sins and give you relief for a fixed (and written) time: Verily, when the time is finished by Allah it cannot be put forward (changed or altered): If you only knew:"
Allah will forgive you of your sins and delay you for a specified term. Indeed, the time [set by] Allah , when it comes, will not be delayed, if you only knew.' "
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
"He shall forgive your sins and delay you to a predetermined time. When God's time comes, then it cannot be delayed, if you know."
Abdel Haleem
He will forgive you your sins and spare you until your appointed time––when God’s appointed time arrives it cannot be postponed. If only you understood!’
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
He will forgive you your sins, and will defer you to an appointed term. Verily the term of Allah when it cometh shall not be deferred, if ye but knew
Ahmed Ali
That He may forgive some of your sins and prolong your term till an appointed time. Surely when God's appointed time is come it will not be put off, if only you knew
Aisha Bewley
He will forgive you your wrong actions and defer you until a specified time. When Allah´s time comes it cannot be deferred, if you only knew.´
Ali Ünal
"So that He may forgive you your sins (which you have committed so far) and grant you respite until a term appointed by Him (instead of destroying you because of your sins). The term appointed by God, when it comes, is never deferred. If you but knew!"
Ali Quli Qara'i
that He may forgive you some of your sins and respite you until a specified time. Indeed when Allah’s [appointed] time comes, it cannot be deferred, should you know.’
Hamid S. Aziz
"He will forgive you some of your faults and grant you a delay for an appointed term; surely the term of Allah when it comes is not postponed; did you but know
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
He forgives you of your sins and He postpones you for a limited period. Indeed, when God's appointed time comes, it is not postponed if you knew.”
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
“So that He may forgive you your sins, and give you respite for a stated term, for when the term given by God is accomplished, it cannot be delayed, if you only knew.
Musharraf Hussain
then He will forgive your sins and spare you until your appointed time. When Allah’s deadline comes, it cannot be delayed, I wish you understood.
Maududi
He will forgive your sins and will grant you respite until an appointed term. Indeed when Allah´s appointed term comes, it cannot be deferred; if you only knew!"
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
"He shall forgive your sins and delay you to a predetermined time. When the time of God comes, then it cannot be delayed, if you know.
Mohammad Shafi
"HE will forgive you some of your sins, and give you respite till an appointed time. When the Allah appointed time comes, it cannot be deferred, if only you knew!"
Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
He will forgive some of your sins and grant you respite till an appointed time. Undoubtedly, the promise of Allah cannot be deferred when it comes. Any how you would have known.
"He will then forgive you your sins and respite you for a predetermined period. Most assuredly, GOD's appointment can never be delayed, once it is due, if you only knew."
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
He will forgive you your sins and respite you till an appointed term. When the term of Allah arrives it cannot be deferred; if you but knew.
Maulana Muhammad Ali
He will forgive you some of your sins and grant you respite to an appointed term. Surely the term of Allah, when it comes, is not postponed. Did you but know
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira
He forgives for you from your crimes, and He delays you to a named/identified (specified) term/time, that truly God's term/time if (it) came (it) does not be delayed, if you were knowing
Bijan Moeinian
By doing so God will forgive some of your sins and will give you enough time to redeem your soul. Know that when the day comes, God will not postpone it
Faridul Haque
“He will forgive you some of your sins, and give you respite up to an appointed term; indeed the promise of Allah cannot be averted when it arrives; if only you knew.”
Sher Ali
`HE will forgive you your sins and grant you respite till an appointed time.' Verily, the time appointed by ALLAH cannot be put off when it comes, if only you knew
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
He will forgive your sins and will give you respite till an appointed term. Surely, when (the appointed) time of Allah comes, then respite is not given if only you knew.
Amatul Rahman Omar
`(If you do so,) He will protect you from (the commitment of sins and also the punishment of) your sins. And (by prolonging your lives) He will grant you reprieve till an appointed term. Verily, the time (of the divine decree) appointed by Allah cannot be held back once it falls due. If only you had been possessor of true knowledge (you would have known this).
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
"He (Allah) will forgive you of your sins and respite you to an appointed term. Verily, the term of Allah when it comes, cannot be delayed, if you but knew."
New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame
Then He will forgive you your sins and will give you respite till an appointed term. Truly when Allah’s term comes, it is not delayed if you only knew.”
Munir Mezyed
He himself will deliver you from all the consequences of your iniquitous deeds and grant you a respite till an appointed time- (your death). Surely, when the term of Allâh- (His punishment)- comes, -if you do not live by Faith- it cannot be postponed, If only knew.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
He will forgive you of your sins and give you time until a fixed date, for when the date of Allah comes, it cannot be delayed, if only you knew.
Linda “iLHam” Barto
“He will forgive you for your sins and give you respite for a definite term. When a decided term is completed by Allah, it cannot be delayed, if you only knew.”
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation
He will then forgive youpl your misdeeds and reprieve you until (you fulfill) a stated term; indeed, Allah’s term cannot be deferred once it has come, if you only knew.”
Irving & Mohamed Hegab
He will forgive some of your offences for you and postpone things for you until a specific deadline. Allah (God)'s deadline will never be postponed once it comes, if you only realized it."
Samy Mahdy
He will forgive you among your misdeeds and delay you for a named term. Surely, Allah’s term, when it comes, will not be delayed, if you were knowing. "
Ahmed Hulusi
“So that He may forgive some of your mistakes and grant you life until the end of your appointed term. Indeed, when the time set by Allah comes, it will not be delayed. If only you knew!”
Mir Aneesuddin
He will (for give and) protect you from your sins and give you time till an appointed term. When the term of Allah comes (to an end), it will certainly not be postponed, had you but known.”
"He forgives you your iniquities, extends your period of duration, and He cancels your misfortunes and your punishment", " for when Allah's fixed date for punishment is due, it shall not be postponed ever, if only you knew"
The Wise Quran
He will forgive you of your sins, and will defer you to a named term; Indeed, the term of God when it comes will not be deferred, if you know.'