Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nazi'at Verse 4

Mufti Taqi Usmani

then proceed forward quickly,

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

and those taking the lead vigorously,

Ruwwad Translation Center

and those who overtake one another as in a race,

A. J. Arberry

and those that outstrip suddenly

Abdul Haleem

overtaking swiftly

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And then they speed with foremost speed.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Then press forward as in a race,

Abul Ala Maududi

and vie with the others (in carrying out their Lord's behests);

Ahmed Ali

Then outpace the others swiftly

Ahmed Raza Khan

And who quickly present themselves.

Ali Quli Qarai

by those who, racing, take the lead,

Ali Ünal

And so hasten along as if in a race;

Amatul Rahman Omar

Then those who going foremost greatly excel (all others and attain the topmost positions),

English Literal

So the racing/surpassing/preceding, racing/surpassing/preceding.

Faridul Haque

And who quickly present themselves.

Hamid S. Aziz

Then press forward as in a race,

Hilali & Khan

And by those that press forward as in a race (i.e. the angels or stars or the horses, etc.).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And those regulating the Affair!

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Then those who are foremost going ahead,

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

By the angels hastening,

Muhammad Sarwar

by the angels who hasten along

Qaribullah & Darwish

and the outstrippers (angels), outstripping,

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And by the racers, racing.

Wahiduddin Khan

by those that outstrip them suddenly,

Talal Itani

And those who race swiftly.

Tafsir jalalayn

by those that race forward, [by] the angels who race forward to Paradise with the souls of believers;

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

And by the racers, racing.

It has been narrated from Ali, Masruq, Mujahid, Abu Salih, and Al-Hasan Al-Basri that this means the angels.

Then Allah says,

فَالْمُدَبِّرَاتِ أَمْرًا