Surah Al-Anbya (الأنبياء) • The Prophets

Quran 21:28

21:28

يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلَّا لِمَنِ ٱرْتَضَىٰ وَهُم مِّنْ خَشْيَتِهِۦ مُشْفِقُونَ

yaʿlamu mā bayna aydīhim wamā khalfahum walā yashfaʿūna illā limani ir'taḍā wahum min khashyatihi mush'fiqūna

He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, from fear of Him, are apprehensive.

— Saheeh International

He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede without His permission––indeed they themselves stand in awe of Him.

— M. A. S. Abdel Haleem

He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him.

— Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

Juz 17Page 324meccan

Word by Word

يَعْلَمُyaʿlamuHe knows
مَاmāwhat
بَيْنَbayna(is) before them
أَيْدِيهِمْaydīhim(is) before them
وَمَاwamāand what
خَلْفَهُمْkhalfahum(is) behind them
وَلَاwalāand not
يَشْفَعُونَyashfaʿūnathey (can) intercede
إِلَّاillāexcept
لِمَنِlimanifor whom
ٱرْتَضَىٰir'taḍāHe approves
وَهُمwahumAnd they
مِّنْminfrom
خَشْيَتِهِۦkhashyatihifear of Him
مُشْفِقُونَmush'fiqūnastand in awe