8:42 idh antum bil 'Udwatid dunyaa wa hum bil 'Udwatil quSwaa war rakbu asfala minkum* wa law tawaa'At-tum lakhtalaftum fiyl miy'AAdi walaakil li yaqDiyal-laahu amran kaana maf'UUlal li yahlika man halaka 'Am bay-yinatiw wa yaHyaa man Hay-ya 'Am bay-yinah* wa in-nal-laaha la samiy'Un 'Aliym

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Ahmed Raza Khan: Mohammed Aqib Qadri:
When you were on the near bank and the disbelievers on the far bank, and the caravan below you; and had you made an agreement between one another, you would have failed to reach on the appointed time - but this is in order that Allah may complete a thing that must be done - that he who dies may die by a clear proof and he who lives may live by a clear proof; and indeed Allah is surely, All Hearing, All Knowing.

Yusuf Ali:
Remember ye were on the hither side of the valley, and they on the farther side, and the caravan on lower ground than ye. Even if ye had made a mutual appointment to meet, ye would certainly have failed in the appointment: But (thus ye met), that Allah might accomplish a matter already enacted; that those who died might die after a clear Sign (had been given), and those who lived might live after a Clear Sign (had been given). And verily Allah is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things).

Pickthal:
When ye were on the near bank (of the valley) and they were on the yonder bank, and the caravan was below you (on the coast plain). And had ye trysted to meet one another ye surely would have failed to keep the tryst, but (it happened, as it did, without the forethought of either of you) that Allah might conclude a thing that must be done; that he who perished (on that day) might perish by a clear proof (of His Sovereignty) and he who survived might survive by a clear proof (of His Sovereignty). Lo! Allah in truth is Hearer, Knower.