Al-Qur'an Surah Al-An'am Verse 8

Mufti Taqi Usmani

They say, “Why is it that an angel has not been sent down to him?” Had We sent down an angel, the whole matter would have been closed, and thereafter no further time would have been allowed to them.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

They say, “Why has no ˹visible˺ angel come with him?” Had We sent down an angel, the matter would have certainly been settled ˹at once˺,[[ i.e., they would have been destroyed immediately upon denying the angel.]] and they would have never been given more time ˹to repent˺.

Ruwwad Translation Center

They say: Why has no angel been sent down to him? If We did send down an angel, the matter would have been decided and then they would not be given any respite.

A. J. Arberry

'Why has an angel not been sent down on him?' they say; yet had We sent down an angel, the matter would have been determined, and then no respite would be given them.

Abdul Haleem

They say, ‘Why was no angel sent down to [support] him?’ But had We sent down an angel, their judgement would have come at once with no respite given.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And they say: wherefore hath not an angel been sent down unto him? Were We to send down an angel, the affair would have been decreed and they would not be respited.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They say; "Why is not an angel sent down to him?" If we did send down an angel, the matter would be settled at once, and no respite would be granted them.

Abul Ala Maududi

They also say: 'Why has no angel been sent down to this Prophet?' Had We sent down an angel, the matter would surely have long been decided and no respite would have been granted them.

Ahmed Ali

They say: "How is it no angel was sent down to him?" Had We sent an angel down the matter would have come to end, and they would have had no respite.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And they said, “Why has not an angel been sent down to him?” And had We sent down an angel, then the matter would have been finished, and they would not get any respite.

Ali Quli Qarai

They say, ‘Why has not an angel been sent down to him?’ Were We to send down an angel, the matter would surely be decided, and then they would not be granted any respite.

Ali Ünal

"Why has not an angel been sent down on him?" they say. Yet, had We sent down an angel (i.e. one they could see, as We did to some of the previous peoples such as those of Lot), then the matter would surely have long been decided and they would have been allowed no respite (since angels coming in this way heralds the destruction).

Amatul Rahman Omar

And they said, `(If the Prophet is true and sincere in his claim) why has not an angel been sent down to (help) him?´ But if We had sent down an angel the matter would have been decided, then they would not have been respited.

English Literal

And they said: "If only (an) angel was descended on him." And if We descended an angel, the matter/affair would have been executed/ended , then they (would) not be given time/delayed .

Faridul Haque

And they said, “Why has not an angel been sent down to him?” And had We sent down an angel, then the matter would have been finished, and they would not get any respite.

Hamid S. Aziz

And had We appointed an angel, We would have had to send him in the form of a man too (that he may speak to men) and this would have made perplexing for them that which they deem perplexing now.

Hilali & Khan

And they say: "Why has not an angel been sent down to him?" Had We sent down an angel, the matter would have been judged at once, and no respite would be granted to them.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And if We had sent down to thee a writing on paper, then they had touched it with their hands, those who disbelieve would have said: This is nothing but clear enchantment.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And they say: Why has not an angel been sent down to him? And had We sent down an angel, the matter would have certainly been decided and then they would not have been respited.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

They say: Why hath not an angel been sent down unto him? If We sent down an angel, then the matter would be judged; no further time would be allowed them (for reflection).

Muhammad Sarwar

They have said, "Why has not an angel come to him (Muhammad)?" Had We sent an angel to them, the matter would have inevitably been out of their hands, and they would have been given no more time.

Qaribullah & Darwish

They ask: 'Why has no angel been sent down to him' If We had sent down an angel, their fate would have been determined and they would never have been respited.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And they say: "Why has not an angel been sent down to him" Had We sent down an angel, the matter would have been judged at once, and no respite would be granted to them.

Wahiduddin Khan

They ask, "Why has an angel not been sent down to him?" If We did send down an angel, the matter would be settled and they would not have been granted any respite.

Talal Itani

And they say, “Why was an angel not sent down to him.” Had We sent down an angel, the matter would have been settled, and they would not have been reprieved.

Tafsir jalalayn

And they say, `Why has an angel not been sent down to him?', to Muhammad (s), to confirm his truthfulness; yet had We sent down an angel, as they have requested and if they then did not believe, the matter, that they be destroyed, would have been decreed, and then they would not be given any respite, they would [not] be given any extra time for repentance or an excuse, as is God's custom [in dealing] with those before them, destroying them when they disbelieve after their request is granted.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَقَالُواْ لَوْلا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ

And they say;"Why has not an angel been sent down to him!"

to convey the Message with admonition along with him.

Allah replied,

وَلَوْ أَنزَلْنَا مَلَكًا لَّقُضِيَ الامْرُ ثُمَّ لَا يُنظَرُونَ



Had We sent down an angel, the matter would have been judged at once, and no respite would be granted to them.

Consequently, even if the angels descend, while the disbelievers still had the same attitude, then the torment will surely befall them from Allah as a consequence.

Allah said in other Ayat,

مَا نُنَزِّلُ الْمَلَـيِكَةَ إِلاَّ بِالحَقِّ وَمَا كَانُواْ إِذًا مُّنظَرِينَ

We send not the angels down except with the truth (i.e. for torment, etc.), and in that case, they (the disbelievers) would have no respite! (15;8)

and,

يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ الْمَلَـيِكَةَ لَا بُشْرَى يَوْمَيِذٍ لِّلْمُجْرِمِينَ

On the Day they will see the angels, no glad tidings will there be for the criminals that day. (25;22)

Allah's statement,

وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَاهُ مَلَكًا لَّجَعَلْنَاهُ رَجُلً وَلَلَبَسْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّا يَلْبِسُونَ