← Verse 17 | Verse 19 →

فَهَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ اِلَّا السَّاعَةَ اَنْ تَأْتِيَهُمْ بَغْتَةًۚ فَقَدْ جَٓاءَ اَشْرَاطُهَاۚ فَاَنّٰى لَهُمْ اِذَا جَٓاءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرٰيهُمْ

Fahal yanthuroona illaassaAAata an ta/tiyahum baghtatan faqad jaaashratuha faanna lahum itha jaat-humthikrahum

What are they awaiting but for the Hour to come upon them suddenly? Its Signs have already come. What good will their Reminder be to them when it does arrive?

  • Progressive Muslims

    So are they waiting until the Hour comes to them suddenly For its conditions have already been met. But once it comes to them, how will they benefit from their message

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Are they, then, waiting for the Hour that may come upon them suddenly? And the signs of confrontation have already appeared. And when it comes to them, how shall their understanding (of the Truth) will help them?

  • Sam Gerrans

    So look they save for the Hour, that it will come upon them unexpectedly? And its tokens have come; so how to them, when it has come, will be their remembrance?

  • The Monotheist Group

    So are they waiting until the Hour comes to them suddenly? For its conditions have already been met. But once it comes to them, how will they benefit from their message?

  • Edip-Layth

    So are they waiting until the moment comes to them suddenly? For its conditions have already been met. But once it comes to them, how will they benefit from their message?

  • Aisha Bewley

    What are they awaiting but for the Hour to come upon them suddenly? Its Signs have already come. What good will their Reminder be to them when it does arrive?

  • Rashad Khalifa

    Are they waiting until the Hour comes to them suddenly? All the signs thereof have already come. Once the Hour comes to them, how will they benefit from their message?

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Do they wait for any thing but the Hour (of change), that it may come upon them suddenly? Its signs have already appeared. How then will they be warned when it has come upon them?

  • Sahih International

    Then do they await except that the Hour should come upon them unexpectedly? But already there have come [some of] its indications. Then what good to them, when it has come, will be their remembrance?

  • Muhammad Asad

    Are, then, they [whose hearts are sealed] wait­ing for the Last Hour - [waiting] that it come upon them of a sudden? But it has already been foretold! And what will their remembrance [of their past sins] avail them, once it has come upon them?

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Await they aught save the Hour, that it should come upon them unawares? And the beginnings thereof have already come. But how, when it hath come upon them, can they take their warning?

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat

    Do they (The infidel Meccans together with the hypocrites) intend to remain in their state of disbelief until they suddenly face the foreordained Hour? But its shadows have been cast and its preceding signs have come into peoples' knowledge; and so where can they turn and what can profit them when it comes upon them?

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Are they waiting till their resurrection [when they will have no time to repent]? They are only one step away from it. When they are resurrected, what chance will they find to listen and take advantage of the God’s message?

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Do they then await (anything) other than the Hour, that it should come upon them suddenly? But some of its portents (indications and signs) have already come; and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their reminder?[1]

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Do they then only wait for the Hour,- that it should come on them of a sudden? But already have come some tokens thereof, and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their admonition?

  • Mustafa Khattab

    Are they only waiting for the Hour to take them by surprise? Yet ˹some of˺ its signs have already come.[1] Once it actually befalls them, will it not be too late to be mindful?

  • Taqi Usmani

    They are waiting for nothing but for the Hour (of Doom) that it should come upon them suddenly. So, its signs have already come. Then, once it will come upon them, how would they have an opportunity to accept the advice (already) given to them?

  • Abdul Haleem

    What are the disbelievers waiting for, other than the Hour which will come upon them unawares? Its signs are already here, but once the Hour has actually arrived, what use will it be then to take heed?

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Are they looking for aught but the Hour, that it shall come upon them suddenly? Already its tokens have come; so, when it has come to them, how shall they have their Reminder?

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Do they wait for aught but the Hour, that it should come to them suddenly? The conditions thereof have come already; how, when it has come on them, can they have their reminder?

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Do they then wait for aught but the Hour that it should come to them of a sudden? But already have come some tokens of it, but how can they take warning when it comes on them?

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Are they then looking for (anything) except the Hour, that it will come up to them suddenly? Then its portents have already come, so however (will they believe) when their Reminding comes to them?

  • George Sale

    Do the infidels wait for any other than the last hour, that it may come upon them suddenly? Some signs thereof are already come: And when it shall actually overtake them, how can they then receive admonition?

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Then, do they (the unbelievers) only wait for the Hour— That it should come on them of a sudden? But already have come some tokens of it, and when it is (actually) on them, then, how can they benefit by their warnings?

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    These (disbelievers) only wait for the (promised) Hour (of doom) to take them unaware. Its signs have already appeared. But of what (avail) will their admonition be to them (and how will they be able to repent) when it actually comes upon them (all of a sudden).

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Do they await anything except that the Hour should overtake them suddenly? Certainly its portents have come. Of what avail to them will their admonition be when it overtakes them?