← Verse 20 | Verse 22 →

وَمَا كَانَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ اِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِالْاٰخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا ف۪ي شَكٍّۜ وَرَبُّكَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَف۪يظٌ۟

Wama kana lahu AAalayhim minsultanin illa linaAAlama man yu/minu bil-akhiratimimman huwa minha fee shakkin warabbuka AAala kullishay-in hafeeth

He had no authority over them except to enable Us to know those who have iman in the Next World from those who are in doubt about it. Your Lord is the Preserver of all things.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And he did not have any authority over them except that We might know who believed in the Hereafter from those who are doubtful about it. And your Lord is Keeper over all things.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    And yet he (Iblis) had no power at all over them (15:38-41). But We thus distinguish between those who believe in the life to come from those who keep doubting it. And your Lord is Watcher over all things. (Those who deny the Law of Requital easily succumb to their desires).

  • Sam Gerrans

    And he had no authority over them save that We might know him who believes in the Hereafter from him who is thereof in doubt; and thy Lord is custodian over all things.

  • The Monotheist Group

    And he did not have any authority over them except that We might distinguish those who believed in the Hereafter from those who are doubtful about it. And your Lord is Keeper over all things.

  • Edip-Layth

    He did not have any authority over them except that We might know who acknowledged the Hereafter from those who are doubtful about it. Your Lord is Keeper over all things.

  • Aisha Bewley

    He had no authority over them except to enable Us to know those who have iman in the Next World from those who are in doubt about it. Your Lord is the Preserver of all things.

  • Rashad Khalifa

    He never had any power over them. But we thus distinguish those who believe in the Hereafter from those who are doubtful about it. Your Lord is in full control of all things.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    He had no authority over them save for the purpose of Our knowing who believed in the world to come, and who doubted it. For your Lord keeps a watch over everything.

  • Sahih International

    And he had over them no authority except [it was decreed] that We might make evident who believes in the Hereafter from who is thereof in doubt. And your Lord, over all things, is Guardian.

  • Muhammad Asad

    And yet, he had no power at all over them: [for if We allow him to tempt man,] it is only to the end that We might make a clear distinction between those who [truly] believe in the life to come and those who are in doubt thereof: for thy Sustainer watches over all things.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And he had no warrant whatsoever against them, save that We would know him who believeth in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt thereof; and thy Lord (O Muhammad) taketh note of all things.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat

    In fact AL-Shaytan had no authority over them but We occasioned his attempt to tempt them to identify justly those who affirm with certainty and satisfaction the fundamental truth of the Hereafter and those who are in doubt thereof. And Allah your Creator is indeed Hafizun. (He Keeps a vigilant eye upon the whole and upon all in all).

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Satan did not mislead them forcibly. I let him to seduce them as a test to see who believed in Hereafter and who doubted it. Your Lord has full control and watches over everything.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And he (Iblîs - Satan) had no authority over them, - except that We might test him who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is a Hafiz (Watchful) over everything. (All-Knower of everything i.e. He keeps record of every person as regards deeds, and then He will reward them accordingly).

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    But he had no authority over them,- except that We might test the man who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt concerning it: and thy Lord doth watch over all things.

  • Mustafa Khattab

    He does not have any authority over them, but ˹Our Will is˺ only to distinguish those who believe in the Hereafter from those who are in doubt about it. And your Lord is a ˹vigilant˺ Keeper over all things.

  • Taqi Usmani

    He did not have any power over them, but for the reason that We should recognize the one who believes in the Hereafter as distinct from the one who is in doubt about it; and your Lord is Watchful over every thing.

  • Abdul Haleem

    even though he had no authority over them. But [We aim] to distinguish those who believe in the life to come from those who doubt it: [Prophet], your Lord observes everything.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Yet he had no authority over them, but that We might know him who believed in the Hereafter from him who was in doubt thereof Thy Lord is Guardian over everything.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Yet had he no authority over them, save that we might know who it was that believed in the hereafter from him who amongst them was in doubt; for thy Lord guards everything.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And certainly Satan found true his calculations concerning them, so they follow him, except a party of the believers.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And in no way did he have any all-binding authority over them, except that We would know him who believed in the Hereafter from him who was in doubt thereof. And your Lord is Ever-Preserving over everything.

  • George Sale

    And he had no power over them, unless to tempt them, that We might know him who believed in the life to come, from him who doubted thereof. Thy Lord observeth all things.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And he had no authority over them— Except that We may test the man who believes in the Hereafter, from him who is in doubt about it: And your Lord watches Protectively (Hafeez) over all things.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Though he (- Iblîs) had no authority over them (for it is by their own wrong beliefs and evil deeds that mankind brings about their spiritual ruin). (It happened thus) so that We might distinguish those who believed in the Hereafter from those who were suffering from doubts about it. Indeed, your Lord is Watchful over and Preserver of everything.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    He had no authority over them, but that We may ascertain those who believe in the Hereafter from those who are in doubt about it, and your Lord is watchful over all things.