Had this not been decreed by God in advance, you would have suffered a grievous punishment for what you took (as booty).

Had Allah not pre-destined a matter then, O Muslims, a terrible punishment would have come upon you due to the ransom you took from the disbelievers.

Had it not been for a prior prescription from God, there had afflicted you, for what you took, a mighty chastisement.

Had it not been for a decree from God that had already gone forth, there would indeed have befallen you a tremendous chastisement on account of all [the captives] that you took.

Were it not that a writ had already gone forth from Allah, there would surely have touched you a mighty torment for that which ye took

Were it not a previous ordainment from Allah, a severe torment would have touched you for what you took.

Were it not for a predetermined decree from God, an awful punishment would have afflicted you for what you have taken.

Were it not for a predetermined decree from Allah, an awful punishment would have afflicted you for what you have taken.

Were it not for a previous instruction from God, an awful punishment would have afflicted you for what you took.

Were it not for a previous instruction from Allah, an awful punishment would have afflicted you for what you took.

Had it not been for a prior decree from Allah, you would have certainly been disciplined with a tremendous punishment for whatever ˹ransom˺ you have taken.

Had there not been a previous decree from Allah, a stern punishment would have afflicted you for what you have taken.

Were it not a previous ordainment from Allah, a severe torment would have touched you for what you took.

Had it not been for an ordinance of Allah which had gone before, an awful doom had come upon you on account of what ye took.

Had it not been for a prior decree of Allah, surely there would have befallen you a great punishment for what you took.

Had there not been a previous writing from Allah, you would have been afflicted by a mighty punishment.

If not for a decree from Allah that preceded, you would have been touched for what you took by a great punishment.

(Had you taken captives) before being allowed by God's revelations, a great torment would have struck you for what you had done.

Were it not for an ordinance from Allah that had already gone forth, surely there would have befallen you a great chastisement for what you had taken to.

Lawla kitabun mina Allahi sabaqa lamassakum feema akhathtum AAathabun AAatheemun

lawlā kitābun mina l-lahi sabaqa lamassakum fīmā akhadhtum ʿadhābun ʿaẓīmun

Had it not been for a writ from God that had already gone forth, you would have been severely punished on account of what you took.

Had it not been for a previous ordainment from Allah, a severe penalty would have reached you for the (ransom) that ye took.