A term is fixed for every people; and when their appointed time is come there will neither be a moment's delay nor haste.
And every group has a promise; so when its promise comes, it cannot be postponed for a moment or brought forward.
To every nation a term; when their term comes they shall not put it back by a single hour nor put it forward.
And for all people a term has been set: and when [the end of] their term approaches, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor can they hasten it.
And for every community there is an appointed term; then when its term shall arrive, not an hour will they stay behind or go in advance.
And every nation has its appointed term; when their term is reached, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment).
For every nation is an appointed time. When their time has come, they cannot delay it by one hour, nor can they advance it.
For every community there is an appointed term; and when its term arrives, they cannot tarry behind a moment, nor can they get ahead.
And every Ummah has its appointed term; when their term comes, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment).
And every nation hath its term, and when its term cometh, they cannot put it off an hour nor yet advance (it).
There is a [preordained] time for every nation: when their time comes, they shall not defer it by a single hour nor shall they advance it.
To every nation a term; when their term comes they shall not delay it by a single hour, nor yet hasten it.
And for every nation is a [specified] term. So when their time has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].
All people can only live for an appointed time. When their term ends, they will not remain (alive) even for a single hour, nor will they die before the appointed time.
And for every nation there is a doom, so when their doom is come they shall not remain behind the least while, nor shall they go before.
Walikulli ommatin ajalun fai<u>tha</u> j<u>a</u>a ajaluhum l<u>a</u> yastakhiroona s<u>a</u>AAatan wal<u>a</u> yastaqdimoon<b>a</b>
For all people a term has been set: and when [the end of] their term approaches, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor can they advance it.
To every people is a term appointed: when their term is reached, not an hour can they cause delay, nor (an hour) can they advance (it in anticipation).
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
Every generation and people are given a fixed time. If their decreed time arrives, they cannot delay it, even by a small amount, and they cannot advance it.
Every generation and people are given a fixed time. If their decreed time arrives, they cannot delay it, even by a small amount, and they cannot advance it.
<p>The first and the second verse both mentioned two crimes committed by disbelievers. They took Halal as Haram and made the Haram become Halal for themselves by themselves. The third verse (34) describes their sad end and the punishment they would have in the Hereafter. It was said:</p><p>وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُ‌ونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ</p><p>(And for every people there is an appointed time. So, when their appointed time comes, they will not be late for a moment, nor will they go before).</p><p>In other words, what is being said here is that those committing excesses who, despite their contumacy, are basking in the sunshine of the blessings of Allah Ta` ala, and do not seem to be anywhere close to being punished, they should not lose sight of the customary practice of Allah that He, in His infinite mercy, keeps granting a long leash to sinners so that they would somehow stop doing what they do. But, the term of this leash and the time of this respite stands determined in the ultimate knowledge of Allah Ta` ala. When that time comes, it just comes - neither too late nor too soon. Thus, criminals are caught in punishment. At times, the punishment descends right here in this world - and if, the punishment does not visit them here, it waits to receive them soon after their death.</p><p>As for the appointed time not being late or early as stated in this verse, it is a manner of saying, something like saying to a salesperson in a store: at is your last price, more or less? It is obvious that the inquiry is for the lower price, not the higher. But, it is put there as a subordinate suffix. Similarly, the real objective here is to state that there will be no delay after the appointed time. The mention of ` before' along with ` late' makes it closer to common comprehension.</p>
The first and the second verse both mentioned two crimes committed by disbelievers. They took Halal as Haram and made the Haram become Halal for themselves by themselves. The third verse (34) describes their sad end and the punishment they would have in the Hereafter. It was said:وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُ‌ونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ(And for every people there is an appointed time. So, when their appointed time comes, they will not be late for a moment, nor will they go before).In other words, what is being said here is that those committing excesses who, despite their contumacy, are basking in the sunshine of the blessings of Allah Ta` ala, and do not seem to be anywhere close to being punished, they should not lose sight of the customary practice of Allah that He, in His infinite mercy, keeps granting a long leash to sinners so that they would somehow stop doing what they do. But, the term of this leash and the time of this respite stands determined in the ultimate knowledge of Allah Ta` ala. When that time comes, it just comes - neither too late nor too soon. Thus, criminals are caught in punishment. At times, the punishment descends right here in this world - and if, the punishment does not visit them here, it waits to receive them soon after their death.As for the appointed time not being late or early as stated in this verse, it is a manner of saying, something like saying to a salesperson in a store: at is your last price, more or less? It is obvious that the inquiry is for the lower price, not the higher. But, it is put there as a subordinate suffix. Similarly, the real objective here is to state that there will be no delay after the appointed time. The mention of ` before' along with ` late' makes it closer to common comprehension.
<div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ</div><p>(And every Ummah has), meaning, each generation and nation, </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">أَجَلٌ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ</div><p>(its appointed term; when their term comes) which they were destined for, </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">لاَ يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلاَ يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ</div><p>(neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment)). Allah then warned the Children of Adam that He sent to them Messengers who conveyed to them His Ayat. Allah also conveyed good news, as well as warning, </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">فَمَنِ اتَّقَى وَأَصْلَحَ</div><p>(then whosoever has Taqwa and becomes righteous) by abandoning the prohibitions and performing acts of obedience, </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَوَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ عَنْهَآ</div><p>(on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. But those who reject Our Ayat and treat them with arrogance,) meaning, their hearts denied the Ayat and they were too arrogant to abide by them, </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">أُولَـئِكَ أَصْحَـبُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـلِدُونَ</div><p>(they are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein forever.) without end to their dwelling in it. </p>
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ(And every Ummah has), meaning, each generation and nation, أَجَلٌ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ(its appointed term; when their term comes) which they were destined for, لاَ يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلاَ يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ(neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment)). Allah then warned the Children of Adam that He sent to them Messengers who conveyed to them His Ayat. Allah also conveyed good news, as well as warning, فَمَنِ اتَّقَى وَأَصْلَحَ(then whosoever has Taqwa and becomes righteous) by abandoning the prohibitions and performing acts of obedience, فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَوَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ عَنْهَآ(on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. But those who reject Our Ayat and treat them with arrogance,) meaning, their hearts denied the Ayat and they were too arrogant to abide by them, أُولَـئِكَ أَصْحَـبُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـلِدُونَ(they are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein forever.) without end to their dwelling in it. 