The Quran

سورة الرّعد

Surah Al-Ra‘d 13:11

The Thunder · Verse 11 of 43

لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَالٍ

Abdul Mannan Omar

He (- the Messenger) has companies (of angels) successively ranged before him and behind him. They guard him by the command of Allâh. Verily, Allâh does not change the condition of a people until they (first) change their ways and their minds. When Allâh decides upon punishing a people there is no averting it. (At that time) they have no helping friend apart from Him.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah. Allah does not change a people's lot unless they change what is in their hearts. But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.

Ahmed Ali

His angels keep watch over him in succession (night and day), in front and behind, by God´s command. Verily God does not change the state of a people till they change themselves. When God intends misfortune for a people no one can avert it, and no saviour will they have apart from Him.

12 more translations

Ali Unal

(Every person advances through varying states before and after, and) by God’s command attendant angels succeeding one another accompany him before and after him to guard him (and record his deeds). God does not change the condition of a people unless they change what is in themselves. When God wills evil for a people (in consequence of their own evil deeds), it cannot be averted, and apart from Him, they have no protector.

Daryabadi

For him are angels in succession, before him and behind him; they guard him with Allah´s command. Verily Allah altereth not that which is with a people until they alter that which is with themselves. And when Allah intendeth evil unto a people there is no turning it back; nor is for them, beside Him, any patron.

Faridul Haque

For man are angels of alternating duties, in front and behind him, who guard him by Allah’s command; indeed Allah does not change His favour upon any nation until they change their own condition; and when Allah wills misfortune for a nation, it cannot be repelled; and they do not have any supporter besides Him.

Maulana Muhammad Ali

For him are (angels) guarding the consequences (of his deeds), before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah

Maulvi Sher Ali

For him (the Messenger) is a succession of angels before him and behind him; they guard him by the command of ALLAH. Surely, ALLAH changes not the condition of a people until they change that which is in their hearts. And when ALLAH decides to punish a people, there is no repelling it, nor have they any helper besides HIM.

Muhammad Asad

[thinking that] he has hosts of helpers - both such as can be perceived by him and such as are hidden from him- that could preserve him from whatever God may have willed.

Muhammad Musin Khan

For each (person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allah. Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah). But when Allah wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector.

Muhammad Pickthall

For him are angels ranged before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's command. Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts; and if Allah willeth misfortune for a folk there is none that can repel it, nor have they a defender beside Him.

Muhammad Sarwar

Everyone is guarded and protected on all sides by the order of God. God does not change the condition of a nation unless it changes what is in its heart. When God wants to punish a people, there is no way to escape from it and no one besides God will protect them from it.

Muhammed ali Shakir

For his sake there are angels following one another, before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's commandment; surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition; and when Allah intends evil to a people, there is no averting it, and besides Him they have no protector.

Rashad Khalifa

Shifts (of angels) take turns, staying with each one of you - they are in front of you and behind you. They stay with you, and guard you in accordance with GOD's commands. Thus, GOD does not change the condition of any people unless they themselves make the decision to change. If GOD wills any hardship for any people, no force can stop it. For they have none beside Him as Lord and Master.

Shabbir Ahmed

For each person there are universal forces surrounding him. They record his actions according to God's command. Most certainly, God does not change the condition of a nation until they first change themselves. When God intends a nation to suffer punishment (as a consequence of their misdeeds), there is none who can repel it and they have no defender besides Him.

Commentary 13:11 Mu‘aqqibât مُعَقِّبَاتٌ is a double plural feminine of mu‘aqqib مُعقٌب, which signifies something that comes immediately after another thing or succeeds…

لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِۗ

13:11 Mu‘aqqibât مُعَقِّبَاتٌ is a double plural feminine of mu‘aqqib مُعقٌب, which signifies something that comes immediately after another thing or succeeds another thing without interruption. Most of the classical commentators interpret mu‘aqqibât مُعَقِّبَاتٌ to mean the hosts and companies of the guardian angels that watch over every human being without interruption. The root word ‘aqqaba عقٌب means to look at the consequence or result of the affair (Tâj). Guardian angels (hafazah) are also mentioned in 6:61. They guard against the negative consequences of the deeds of human beings. The plural feminine form is used because of the frequency of their acts, since in Arabic the feminine form is sometimes employed to suggest emphasis and frequency. The statement is a general one, but there is also a deeper allusion to the Divine protection provided by the angels to the Holy Prophet (pbuh), his mission and his devoted followers (82:11;12).

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ

The statement “Allâh does not change the condition of a people” has both a positive and a negative connotation: Allâh does not withdraw this blessing from the people unless they themselves deprive their inner selves of it (cf. 8:53); neither does He bestow His blessings upon willful sinners until they change their inner disposition and become worthy of His grace. This refers to the Divine law of cause and effect, and dominates the lives of individuals as well as those of nations. The rise and fall of a civilization then depends on its peoples moral inclinations.