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Muhammad Asad   
But what have they [now] in their favour that God should not chastise them-seeing that they bar [the believers] from the Inviolable House of Worship, although they are not its [rightful] guardians? None but the God-conscious can be its guardians: but of this most of these [evildoers] are unaware
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
And why should Allah not punish them while they hinder pilgrims from the Sacred Mosque, claiming to be its rightful guardians? None has the right to guardianship except those mindful ˹of Allah˺, but most pagans do not know.
Safi Kaskas   
Why would God not punish them, when they are preventing people from reaching the Holy Sanctuary, even though they are not its guardians? Only those mindful of God can be its guardians but most of the unbelievers do not understand.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَمَا لَهُمۡ أَلَّا یُعَذِّبَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَهُمۡ یَصُدُّونَ عَنِ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ وَمَا كَانُوۤا۟ أَوۡلِیَاۤءَهُۥۤۚ إِنۡ أَوۡلِیَاۤؤُهُۥۤ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٤
Transliteration (2021)   
wamā lahum allā yuʿadhibahumu l-lahu wahum yaṣuddūna ʿani l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi wamā kānū awliyāahu in awliyāuhu illā l-mutaqūna walākinna aktharahum lā yaʿlamūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
But what (is) for them that not (should) punish them Allah while they hinder (people) from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, while not they are its guardians? Not (can be) its guardians except the ones who fear Allah, but most of them (do) not know.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
But what have they [now] in their favour that God should not chastise them-seeing that they bar [the believers] from the Inviolable House of Worship, although they are not its [rightful] guardians? None but the God-conscious can be its guardians: but of this most of these [evildoers] are unaware
M. M. Pickthall   
What (plea) have they that Allah should not punish them, when they debar (His servants) from the Inviolable Place of Worship, though they are not its fitting guardians. Its fitting guardians are those only who keep their duty to Allah. But most of them know not
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
But what plea have they that Allah should not punish them, when they keep out (men) from the sacred Mosque - and they are not its guardians? No men can be its guardians except the righteous; but most of them do not understand
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
And why should Allah not punish them while they hinder pilgrims from the Sacred Mosque, claiming to be its rightful guardians? None has the right to guardianship except those mindful ˹of Allah˺, but most pagans do not know.
Safi Kaskas   
Why would God not punish them, when they are preventing people from reaching the Holy Sanctuary, even though they are not its guardians? Only those mindful of God can be its guardians but most of the unbelievers do not understand.
Wahiduddin Khan   
Yet why should God not punish them when they debar people from the Sacred Mosque, although they are not its guardians? Its rightful guardians are those who fear God, though most of them do not realize it
Shakir   
And what (excuse) have they that Allah should not chastise them while they hinder (men) from the Sacred Mosque and they are not (fit to be) guardians of it; its guardians are only those who guard (against evil), but most of them do not know
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And what is with them that God should not punish them while they bar worshipers from the Masjid al-Haram and they had not been its protectors? Truly, its protectors are but ones who are Godfearing except most of them know not.
T.B.Irving   
What do they have, that God should not punish them for blocking off the Hallowed Mosque while they are not its protectors? Its protectors are only the heedful, even though most of them do not realize it.
Abdul Hye   
And what is with them that Allah should not punish them while they stop people from the Sacred Masjid (at Makkah), and they are not its guardians? None can be its guardians except the pious, but most of them don’t know.
The Study Quran   
What have they to keep God from punishing them, while they turn [others] from the Sacred Mosque though they are not its protectors? Its protectors are none but the reverent, but most of them know not
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Why should God not punish them, when they obstruct access to the Sacred Mosque, even though they aren’t its rightful guardians? Its true guardians are the pious, but most don’t know.
Talal Itani (2012)   
Yet why should God not punish them, when they are turning others away from the Sacred Mosque, although they are not its custodians? Its rightful custodians are the pious; but most of them do not know
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And what is for them that Allah will not punish them while they obstruct from Al-Masjid-al-Haram although they are not its guardians. (There are) no guardians to it except Al-Muttaqun but most of them do not know
M. Farook Malik   
But now there is no reason why Allah should not punish them when they are blocking others from the Masjid-al-Haram (Ka'bah), whereas they are not its lawful guardians. In fact, its only guardians are those who fear Allah, even though most of them do not understand
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And what (plea) have they, that Allah should not torment them, and they are barring from the Inviolable Mosque, and in no way have they been its patrons? Decidedly none (could be) its patrons except the pious ones; but most of them do not know
Muhammad Sarwar   
Why should God not punish them when they hinder people from entering the sacred mosque? They are not its true patrons. Only the righteous ones are its patrons, but most of the pagans do not know
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
And what privilege do they have that Allah should not punish them, while they prevent (people) from Al-Masjid-ul-Haram (the Sacred Mosque), even though they are not (competent to be) its custodians? Its (competent) custodians are none but the God-fearing, but most of them do not know
Shabbir Ahmed   
Now is a new situation. Have they not deserved Allah's Requital when they are hindering His servants from the Sacred Masjid of Makkah, even though they are not its guardians? Its guardians can only be those who are mindful of Allah's Laws. Most of them don't even know how awesome this responsibility is
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Now, why should Allah not punish them? Now, they are preventing (people) from (coming to) the sacred mosque. They are not its (rightful) guardians and caretakers. Its guardians can only be the righteous ones. But most of them just do not know
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
But what plea do they have that Allah should not punish them, when they keep out (men) from the Sacred Mosque— And they are not its guardians (or keepers)? No men can be its keepers except the righteous; But most of them do not understand
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
But why should Allah not punish them while they obstruct [people] from al-Masjid al- iaram and they were not [fit to be] its guardians? Its [true] guardians are not but the righteous, but most of them do not know
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And why should God not punish them when they are turning others away from the Restricted Temple, and they were never its protectors! Its protectors are the righteous; but most of them do not know
Abdel Haleem   
yet why should God not punish them when they debar people from the Sacred Mosque, although they are not its [rightful] guardians? Only those mindful of God are its rightful guardians, but most of the disbelievers do not realize this
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And what aileth them that Allah should not chastise them when they are hindering people from the Sacred Mosque, whereas they are not even the keepers thereof - its keepers are none but the God-fearing-- but most of them know not
Ahmed Ali   
But what is there so special they have that God should not punish them when they obstruct people from the Holy Mosque, though they are not its (appointed) guardians? Its guardians could be only those who are pious and devout. But most of them do not know
Aisha Bewley   
But why should Allah not punish them now when they bar access to the Masjid al-Haram? They are not its guardians. Only people who have taqwa can be its guardians. But most of them do not know that.
Ali Ünal   
What plea do they have that God should not punish them, seeing that they bar (the believers) from the Sacred Mosque, although they are not qualified to own and guard it? Its qualified, rightful guardians are only the pious who keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him, but most of them (those unbelievers) do not know
Ali Quli Qara'i   
What [excuse] have they that Allah should not punish them, when they bar [the faithful] from the Holy Mosque, and they are not its custodians? Its custodians are only the Godwary, but most of them do not know
Hamid S. Aziz   
But what plea have they that Allah should not punish them when they turn folk away from the Sacred Mosque (The Kaaba), though they are not its fitting guardians? Its fitting guardians are only the righteous (those who keep their duty to Allah), but most
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And what (reason) do they have that God should not punish them while they hold (people) back from the Sacred Mosque, while they are not its guardians? Its guardians are (should be) only those who are cautious (of God), but most of them do not know.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
But what plea do they have that God should not punish them, when they keep out the people from the Sacred Masjid, though they are not its guardians? No people can be its guardians except the righteous, but most of them do not understand
Musharraf Hussain   
However, Allah will punish them for stopping people from the Sacred Mosque even though they are not its real keepers. Its real keepers are those who are mindful of Allah, but most of the disbelievers don’t know.
Maududi   
But what prevents Allah from chastising them now when they are hindering people from the Holy Mosque, even though they are not even its true guardians. For its true guardians are none but the God-fearing, though most of them do not know that
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And why should God not punish them when they are turning others away from the Restricted Temple, and they were never its protectors! Its protectors are the righteous; but most of them do not know.
Mohammad Shafi   
And why should Allah not punish them when they hinder people from the Sacred Place of Worship and when they cannot be its custodians. Its custodians can only be those who fear Allah, but most of them know not

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And what have they that Allah should not chastise them, when they are hindering from the sacred mosque, and they are not its guardian. Its guardians are the pious ones only, but most of them know not.
Rashad Khalifa   
Have they not deserved GOD's retribution, by repelling others from the Sacred Masjid, even though they are not the custodians thereof? The true custodians thereof are the righteous, but most of them do not know.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
And why should Allah not punish them, when they have barred others from the Sacred Mosque, although they were not its guardians? Its only guardians are the cautious, though most of them do not know
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And what excuse have they that Allah should not chastise them while they hinder (men) from the Sacred Mosque and they are not its (true) guardians? Its guardians are only those who keep their duty, but most of them know not
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And why (is it) for them that God not torture them and they are objecting/preventing/obstructing from the Mosque the Forbidden/Sacred , and they were not its patrons/supporters , that its patrons/supporters , (are not) except the fearing and obeying, and but most of them do not know
Bijan Moeinian   
But [let them beware that] now, there is no reason why God should not send them a punishment; they are preventing the believer from having free access to “Masjid-Al-Haram” (built by Abraham and Ishmael for the sole purpose of worshipping the Lord alone] whereas they are not it lawful guardians. Most people do not realize that only God fearing people are entitled to the guardianship of such a holy place
Faridul Haque   
And what is with them that Allah should not punish them, whereas in fact they prevent from the Sacred Mosque and they are not worthy (of being the custodians) of it; only the pious are its befitting custodians, but most of them do not have knowledge
Sher Ali   
And what excuse have they now that ALLAH should not punish them, when they hinder men from the Sacred Mosque, and they are not its true guardians? Its true guardians are only those who are righteous, but most of them know not
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And what might be any other reason that Allah should not punish these (disbelievers of Mecca now after your emigration to Medina), whilst they hinder people from the Sacred Mosque (Ka‘ba), and they do not deserve to be its guardians (or custodians) as well? Its friends (i.e., guardians) are only the righteous people, but most of them do not know (this truth)
Amatul Rahman Omar   
But what plea have they (now) that Allah should not punish them when they keep (His worshippers) back from the Holy Mosque (at Makkah), whilst they are not (fit to be) its (true) trustees. Its (true) trustees are only those who have become secure against evil but most of these (disbelievers) know not (this fact)
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And why should not Allah punish them while they stop (men) from Al-Masjid-al-Haram, and they are not its guardians? None can be its guardian except Al-Muttaqoon (the pious - see V.2:2), but most of them know not

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
But what have they now, that God should not chastise them, when they are barring from the Holy Mosque, not being its protectors? Its only protectors are the godfearing; but most of them know not
George Sale   
And what excuse have they now that God should not punish them, when they hinder men from the Sacred Mosque, and they are not its true guardians? Its true guardians are only those who are righteous, but most of them know not
Edward Henry Palmer   
But what ails them that God should not torment them while they turn folk away from the Holy Mosque, though they are not the guardians thereof - its guardians are only the pious?- but most of them know not
John Medows Rodwell   
But because they debarred the faithful from the holy temple, albeit they are not its guardians, nothing is there on their part why God should not chastise them. The Godfearing only are its guardians; but most of them know it not
N J Dawood (2014)   
And yet it is but just that God should punish them; for they have debarred others from the Sacred Mosque, although its guardian they are not. Its guardians are only those that fear God, but most of them have no knowledge

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
And what prevents Allah from punishing them while they hinder people from the sacred mosque and they are not its rightful custodians. Its rightful custodians are no other than those who revere Allah but most of them do not know.
Munir Mezyed   
What pretext have they now that Allâh should not chastise them when they hinder the pilgrims from the Sacred Mosque, and they are not qualified to be its guardians? Only the Pious are its true guardians. But most of them do not know.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And why should Allah not punish them whilst they divert from the sacred mosque when they were not its protectors, for its protectors are only those who beware (of Allah), but most of them do not know.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
What chance do they have against Allah’s punishment while they obstruct from the Sacred Mosque? They are not its guardians. Its guardians are only the righteous. Most of them do not understand.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
Yet why should Allah not punish them when they bar others from the Inviolable Mosque, though they are not its guardians? Rather its guardians are none except the mindful (of God), but most of them do not know.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
What do they have, that Allah (God) should not punish them for blocking off the Hallowed Mosque while they are not its protectors? Its protectors are only the heedful, even though most of them do not realize it.
Samy Mahdy   
And why should Allah not torment them, and they are hindering, about the Sacred Mosque, and they were not its guardians? Surely its guardians are none except the pious; but most of them are not knowing.
Sayyid Qutb   
What [plea] have they now that God should not punish them, when they debar other people from the Sacred Mosque, although they are not its rightful guardians? Its only guardians are those that fear God; but of this most of these [evildoers] are unaware.
Ahmed Hulusi   
While they are prevented from (visiting the believers in) the al-Masjid alHaram, why should Allah not punish them? (This verse does not contradict with the previous verse as the former verse is referring to a communal suffering while this verse is in reference to individual suffering...) And they are not its (alMasjid al-Haram’s) guardians... Its guardians are only those who protect themselves... But most of them do not know (what the al-Masjid al-Haram is).
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And what (plea) have they that Allah should not chastise them, while they bar (people) from the Holy Mosque, and they are not guardians of it? Its guardians are not but only the pious ones, but most of them do not know
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
What excuse can they offer now to justify their wrongful deeds and bar prosecution! Therefore there is no reason why Allah should make them suffer for their offense. They have abused the act of grace and fallen from grace. They malevolently obstructed the way to the Sacrosanct House when they are not its guardians. Its guardians are those who entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Allah but most of these do not realize this fact
Mir Aneesuddin   
And what (reason) have they that Allah should not punish them, when they hinder (people) from (visiting) the Sacred Mosque though they are not its guardians? Its guardians are only those who guard (against evil), but the majority of them does not know.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
But what plea have they that God should not punish them, when they keep out (men) from the sacred Mosque - and they are not its guardians? No men can be its guardians except the righteous; but most of them do not understand
OLD Literal Word for Word   
But what (is) for them that not (should) Allah punish them while they hinder (people) from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, while not they are its guardians? Not (can be) its guardians except the ones who consciously rever but most of them (do) not know
OLD Transliteration   
Wama lahum alla yuAAaththibahumu Allahu wahum yasuddoona AAani almasjidi alharami wama kanoo awliyaahu in awliyaohu illa almuttaqoona walakinna aktharahum la yaAAlamoona