Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nahl Verse 46

Mufti Taqi Usmani

or that He seizes them when roaming about - while they are not able to frustrate Him -

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Or that He will not seize them while they go about ˹their day˺, for then they will have no escape?

Ruwwad Translation Center

Or that He may seize them while they are going about, and they will have no escape?

A. J. Arberry

Or that He will not seize them in their going to and fro, and they will not be able to frustrate Him?

Abdul Haleem

that it will not catch them suddenly in the midst of their comings and goings- for they cannot frustrate God-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Or, thathe will not take hold of them in their going to and fro! so that they cannot escape.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Or that He may not call them to account in the midst of their goings to and fro, without a chance of their frustrating Him?-

Abul Ala Maududi

or that He will not suddenly seize them while they are going about to and fro and they will be unable to frustrate His design,

Ahmed Ali

Or that He will not seize them as they move about, and they will not be able to elude (His grasp);

Ahmed Raza Khan

Or that He may seize them while they move here and there, for they cannot escape?

Ali Quli Qarai

Or that He will not seize them in the midst of their bustle, whereupon they will not be able to frustrate [Him]?

Ali Ünal

Or that He will not seize them in the midst of their strutting about (the land in pomp and show of dominion), and they are helpless to frustrate Him?

Amatul Rahman Omar

Or (do they feel secure) that He will not seize them in their going to and fro so that they shall not be able to frustrate (Him in His designs and plans).

English Literal

Or He takes/receives/punishes them in their turning/returning so they are not with disabling/frustrating?

Faridul Haque

Or that He may seize them while they move here and there, for they cannot escape?

Hamid S. Aziz

Or that He may not call them to account in the midst of their going to and fro, without the possibility of frustrating Him?

Hilali & Khan

Or that He may catch them in the midst of their going to and fro (in their jobs), so that there be no escape for them (from Allah's Punishment)?

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Are they, then, who plan evil (plans), secure that Allah will not abase them in the earth, or that chastisement will not overtake them from whence they perceive not?

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Or that He may not seize them in the course of their journeys, then shall they not escape;

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Or that He will not seize them in their going to and fro so that there be no escape for them?

Muhammad Sarwar

Are they confident that God will not seize them while they are on a journey? They will not be able to escape from God.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Or, that He will not seize them in their going to and fro, and they will not be able to frustrate Him?

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Or that He may punish them in the midst of their going to and fro (in their livelihood), so that there be no escape for them (from Allah's punishment)

Wahiduddin Khan

Or that He will not seize them suddenly in their daily activities and they will not be able to frustrate Him?

Talal Itani

Or that He will not seize them during their activities? And they will not be able to prevent it.

Tafsir jalalayn

Or that He will not seize them in their going to and fro, during their travels for commerce, whereupon they will not be able to escape?, [whereupon] they will not be able to elude the chastisement.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ فِي تَقَلُّبِهِمْ

Or that He may punish them in the midst of their going to and fro,

meaning, when they are busy with their daily business, travel, and other distracting activities.

Qatadah and As-Suddi said;
تَقَلُّبِهِمْ
(Their going to and fro),

means their journeys."

As Allah says;

أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَى أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا بَيَـتاً وَهُمْ نَأيِمُونَ

أَوَ أَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَى أَن يَأْتِيَهُمْ بَأْسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ

Did the people of the towns feel secure against the coming of Our punishment by night while they were asleep! Or, did the people of the towns feel secure against the coming of Our punishment in the forenoon while they were playing! (7;97-98)

فَمَا هُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ



so that there be no escape for them (from Allah's punishment).

meaning, it is not impossible for Allah, no matter what their situation