Al-Mukhtasar · Tafsir · in English
طه
Taha
Ta-Ha · Meccan · 135 ayahs
This sūrah begins with the disconnected letters, the explanation for which has already preceeded in Sūrah Baqarah.
20:2Page 312
مَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِتَشۡقَىٰٓ ٢
We have not sent down to you the Qur’ān that you be distressed
I have not revealed the Qur’ān to you, O Messenger, to become distressed by your people’s turning away from having faith in it.
We only revealed it to be a reminder for those whom Allah has blessed so that they fear Him.
20:4Page 312
تَنزِيلٗا مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ ٱلۡعُلَى ٤
A revelation from He who created the earth and highest heavens,
It was sent down by Allah, Who created the earth and the high heavens. It is thus a grand Qur’ān, as it was sent down by a Grand Being.
20:5Page 312
ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ ٥
The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.1
The Merciful who established Himself on the Throne, in a meaning that is befitting for His Majesty, may He be glorified.
20:6Page 312
لَهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحۡتَ ٱلثَّرَىٰ ٦
To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth and what is between them and what is under the soil.
Everything in the heavens and on earth, and all that is beneath the soil, belong to Him alone, may He be glorified. He created, owns and controls all of it.
20:7Page 312
وَإِن تَجۡهَرۡ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَعۡلَمُ ٱلسِّرَّ وَأَخۡفَى ٧
And if you speak aloud - then indeed, He knows the secret and what is [even] more hidden.
If you, O Messenger, proclaim the word or conceal it, He, may He be glorified, knows all of that. He knows the secrets and what is even more hidden, such as thoughts in the mind. Nothing is hidden from Him.
20:8Page 312
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ ٨
Allāh - there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names.
Allah, there is no being deserving of worship besides Him. To Him alone belong the perfect Names that have reached the most complete level of perfection and excellence.
The story of Moses, son of Imran, (peace be upon him), has come to you - O Messenger.
20:10Page 312
إِذۡ رَءَا نَارٗا فَقَالَ لِأَهۡلِهِ ٱمۡكُثُوٓاْ إِنِّيٓ ءَانَسۡتُ نَارٗا لَّعَلِّيٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنۡهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوۡ أَجِدُ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ هُدٗى ١٠
When he saw a fire and said to his family, "Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire; perhaps I can bring you a torch or find at the fire some guidance."
When he saw a fire whilst travelling and he said to his family: Stay here––I can see a fire. Maybe I can bring you a flaming brand from it or find somebody to guide me to the path.
20:11Page 312
فَلَمَّآ أَتَىٰهَا نُودِيَ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ ١١
And when he came to it, he was called, "O Moses,
When he came to the fire, Allah, may He be glorified, called out to him saying: O Moses.
20:12Page 312
إِنِّيٓ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكَ فَٱخۡلَعۡ نَعۡلَيۡكَ إِنَّكَ بِٱلۡوَادِ ٱلۡمُقَدَّسِ طُوٗى ١٢
Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the blessed valley of Ṭuwā.
I am your Lord. Take off your shoes in preparation for your conversation with me. You are in the purified valley (of Tuwa.)
20:13Page 313
وَأَنَا ٱخۡتَرۡتُكَ فَٱسۡتَمِعۡ لِمَا يُوحَىٰٓ ١٣
And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed [to you].
I have chosen you - O Moses - to convey My message, so listen to what I reveal to you.
20:14Page 313
إِنَّنِيٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعۡبُدۡنِي وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكۡرِيٓ ١٤
Indeed, I am Allāh. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.
I am Allah; there is no being deserving of worship but Me. So worship Me alone and perform the prayer in the perfect manner so that you may remember Me in it.
20:15Page 313
إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخۡفِيهَا لِتُجۡزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفۡسِۭ بِمَا تَسۡعَىٰ ١٥
Indeed, the Hour is coming - I almost conceal it1 - so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives.
The Hour is most definitely coming and it will certainly occur. I almost keep it hidden so that no creation knows its time, but they are aware of its signs by the information given to them by the Prophet sent to them, so that each soul is rewarded for what it did, whether good or evil.
20:16Page 313
فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنۡهَا مَن لَّا يُؤۡمِنُ بِهَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ فَتَرۡدَىٰ ١٦
So do not let one avert you from it1 who does not believe in it and follows his desire, for you [then] would perish.
Do not let those disbelievers who do not believe in it and who follow their unlawful desires distract you from believing in it and preparing for it by doing righteous action and so bring you to ruin on account of it.
What is that in your right hand, O Moses?
20:18Page 313
قَالَ هِيَ عَصَايَ أَتَوَكَّؤُاْ عَلَيۡهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَىٰ غَنَمِي وَلِيَ فِيهَا مَـَٔارِبُ أُخۡرَىٰ ١٨
He said, "It is my staff; I lean upon it, and I bring down leaves for my sheep and I have therein other uses."
Moses (peace be upon him) said: It is my stick: I lean on it when walking, I beat down tree leaves with it for my sheep, and it has many other uses besides those I mentioned.
Allah said: Throw it down, O Moses.
20:20Page 313
فَأَلۡقَىٰهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٞ تَسۡعَىٰ ٢٠
So he threw it down, and thereupon it was a snake, moving swiftly.
Moses threw it down and it turned into a snake moving swiftly.
20:21Page 313
قَالَ خُذۡهَا وَلَا تَخَفۡۖ سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيرَتَهَا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ ٢١
[Allāh] said, "Seize it and fear not; We will return it to its former condition.
Allah said to Moses (peace be upon him): Take hold of the stick and do not fear its having turned into a snake. When you take hold of it I will return it to its former state.
20:22Page 313
وَٱضۡمُمۡ يَدَكَ إِلَىٰ جَنَاحِكَ تَخۡرُجۡ بَيۡضَآءَ مِنۡ غَيۡرِ سُوٓءٍ ءَايَةً أُخۡرَىٰ ٢٢
And draw in your hand to your side; it will come out white without disease - another sign,
Now press your hand to your side and it will come out white, without any leprosy; that is another sign for you.
20:23Page 313
لِنُرِيَكَ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا ٱلۡكُبۡرَى ٢٣
That We may show you [some] of Our greater signs.
I have shown you these two signs - O Moses - to show you some of My greatest signs that indicate My Power and that you are a messenger sent by Allah.
20:24Page 313
ٱذۡهَبۡ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ ٢٤
Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed [i.e., tyrannized]."
Go - O Moses - to Pharaoh, for he has overstepped the bounds in disbelief and rebellion against Allah.
20:25Page 313
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشۡرَحۡ لِي صَدۡرِي ٢٥
[Moses] said, "My Lord, expand [i.e., relax] for me my breast [with assurance]
Moses (peace be upon him) said: Lord, expand my breast for me so that I can bear the difficulty.
Make my task easy.
Give me the ability to speak eloquently.
So that they understand my speech when I convey Your message to them.
20:29Page 313
وَٱجۡعَل لِّي وَزِيرٗا مِّنۡ أَهۡلِي ٢٩
And appoint for me a minister [i.e., assistant] from my family -
Give me a helper from my family who will assist me in my affairs.
Aaron, the son of Imran, my brother.
Strengthen my determination through him.
And make him my partner in the mission.
So that we can glorify You much.
And remember You much.
You are always watching over us. Nothing of ours is hidden from You.
20:36Page 313
قَالَ قَدۡ أُوتِيتَ سُؤۡلَكَ يَٰمُوسَىٰ ٣٦
[Allāh] said, "You have been granted your request, O Moses.
Allah said: I have granted your request, O Moses.
20:37Page 313
وَلَقَدۡ مَنَنَّا عَلَيۡكَ مَرَّةً أُخۡرَىٰٓ ٣٧
And We had already conferred favor upon you another time,
I had favoured you another time.
20:38Page 314
إِذۡ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّكَ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ ٣٨
When We inspired to your mother what We inspired,
When We inspired your mother by that which was a means by which Allah protected you from Pharaoh’s plot.
20:39Page 314
أَنِ ٱقۡذِفِيهِ فِي ٱلتَّابُوتِ فَٱقۡذِفِيهِ فِي ٱلۡيَمِّ فَلۡيُلۡقِهِ ٱلۡيَمُّ بِٱلسَّاحِلِ يَأۡخُذۡهُ عَدُوّٞ لِّي وَعَدُوّٞ لَّهُۥۚ وَأَلۡقَيۡتُ عَلَيۡكَ مَحَبَّةٗ مِّنِّي وَلِتُصۡنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيۡنِيٓ ٣٩
[Saying], 'Cast him into the chest and cast it into the river, and the river will throw it onto the bank; there will take him an enemy to Me and an enemy to him.' And I bestowed upon you love from Me1 that you would be brought up under My eye [i.e., observation and care].
I had instructed her when I inspired her: Throw your child after he is born into the chest and then place the chest into the river. The river will cast him on to the bank by My command, and he will be taken in by an enemy of Mine and his, who is Pharaoh. I placed on you love from Me, so that people love you, and so that you are reared under My watchful eye, protection and care.
20:40Page 314
إِذۡ تَمۡشِيٓ أُخۡتُكَ فَتَقُولُ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَن يَكۡفُلُهُۥۖ فَرَجَعۡنَٰكَ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّكَ كَيۡ تَقَرَّ عَيۡنُهَا وَلَا تَحۡزَنَۚ وَقَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسٗا فَنَجَّيۡنَٰكَ مِنَ ٱلۡغَمِّ وَفَتَنَّٰكَ فُتُونٗاۚ فَلَبِثۡتَ سِنِينَ فِيٓ أَهۡلِ مَدۡيَنَ ثُمَّ جِئۡتَ عَلَىٰ قَدَرٖ يَٰمُوسَىٰ ٤٠
[And We favored you] when your sister went and said, 'Shall I direct you to someone who will be responsible for him?' So We restored you to your mother that she might be content and not grieve. And you killed someone,1 but We saved you from retaliation and tried you with a [severe] trial. And you remained [some] years among the people of Madyan. Then you came [here] at the decreed time, O Moses.
When your sister went out following the chest wherever it went, and she said to those who took it: Shall I show you someone who will take care of him, nurse him and rear him. I then favoured you by returning you to your mother so that she could rejoice by your return to her and not grieve over you. Then You killed the copt whom you punched, but We favoured you by saving you from difficulty. And we helped you time after time from every test that you faced. You then left and stayed among the people of Madyan for years, then you came at the time that was specified for you to come to be spoken to O Moses.
I have selected you as My messenger to convey to people the revelation I sent to you.
20:42Page 314
ٱذۡهَبۡ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِـَٔايَٰتِي وَلَا تَنِيَا فِي ذِكۡرِي ٤٢
Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance.
Go, you - O Moses - and your brother Aaron, with My signs indicating Allah’s Power and Oneness, and do not slacken in calling towards Me and in remembering Me.
20:43Page 314
ٱذۡهَبَآ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ ٤٣
Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.
Go to Pharaoh, for he has overstepped the bounds in disbelief and rebellion against Allah.
20:44Page 314
فَقُولَا لَهُۥ قَوۡلٗا لَّيِّنٗا لَّعَلَّهُۥ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوۡ يَخۡشَىٰ ٤٤
And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allāh]."
Speak to him gently without harshness, in the hope that he may take heed, fear Allah and repent.
20:45Page 314
قَالَا رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفۡرُطَ عَلَيۡنَآ أَوۡ أَن يَطۡغَىٰ ٤٥
They said, "Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress."
Moses and Aaron peace be upon them) said: We fear that he will quickly punish us before we can deliver Your message to him, or that he will exceed the limit in oppressing us by killing us or otherwise.
20:46Page 314
قَالَ لَا تَخَافَآۖ إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَآ أَسۡمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ ٤٦
[Allāh] said, "Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.
Allah said to them: Do not be afraid, I am with you both with My help and support. I hear and see everything that occurs between you and him.
20:47Page 314
فَأۡتِيَاهُ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ فَأَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَا بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ وَلَا تُعَذِّبۡهُمۡۖ قَدۡ جِئۡنَٰكَ بِـَٔايَةٖ مِّن رَّبِّكَۖ وَٱلسَّلَٰمُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ ٤٧
So go to him and say, 'Indeed, we are messengers of your Lord, so send with us the Children of Israel and do not torment them. We have come to you with a sign from your Lord. And peace1 will be upon he who follows the guidance.
So go to him and tell him: We are the messengers of your Lord - O Pharaoh - so send the Israelites with us and do not punish them by killing their sons and letting their women live. We have brought to you a sign from your Lord proving our truthfulness. Safety from Allah’s punishment is for those who have faith and follow Allah’s guidance.
20:48Page 314
إِنَّا قَدۡ أُوحِيَ إِلَيۡنَآ أَنَّ ٱلۡعَذَابَ عَلَىٰ مَن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ ٤٨
Indeed, it has been revealed to us that the punishment will be upon whoever denies and turns away.'"
Allah has revealed to us that punishment in this world and the afterlife falls on whoever rejects the signs of Allah and turns his back on what the messengers brought.
20:49Page 314
قَالَ فَمَن رَّبُّكُمَا يَٰمُوسَىٰ ٤٩
[Pharaoh] said, "So who is the Lord of you two, O Moses?"
Pharaoh said, in denial of what they brought: Who then is your Lord, whom you claim has sent you to me, O Moses?
20:50Page 314
قَالَ رَبُّنَا ٱلَّذِيٓ أَعۡطَىٰ كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلۡقَهُۥ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ ٥٠
He said, "Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it]."
Moses said: Our Lord is the One Who gave everything the shape and form suitable for it, and then He guided all created things to what they were created for.
20:51Page 314
قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ ٱلۡقُرُونِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ ٥١
[Pharaoh] said, "Then what is the case of the former generations?"
Pharaoh said: What about the previous communities who had disbelieved?
20:52Page 315
قَالَ عِلۡمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّي فِي كِتَٰبٖۖ لَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّي وَلَا يَنسَى ٥٢
[Moses] said, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets."
Moses (peace be upon him) said to Pharaoh: The knowledge of what those communities did is with my Lord, recorded in the Preserved Tablet. My Lord does not err in His Knowledge of things nor does He forget anything.
20:53Page 315
ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مَهۡدٗا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمۡ فِيهَا سُبُلٗا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزۡوَٰجٗا مِّن نَّبَاتٖ شَتَّىٰ ٥٣
[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.
My Lord is the One who made the earth spread out for you to live on and made for you on it pathways to travel on. He sent down rain water from the sky and with that water He brings forth every kind of plant.
20:54Page 315
كُلُواْ وَٱرۡعَوۡاْ أَنۡعَٰمَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّأُوْلِي ٱلنُّهَىٰ ٥٤
Eat [therefrom] and pasture your livestock. Indeed in that are signs for those of intelligence.
Eat - O people - of the pure things that I have brought forth for you, and graze your cattle. In the favours that are mentioned there are signs of Allah’s Power and Oneness for people of understanding.
20:55Page 315
۞ مِنۡهَا خَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ وَفِيهَا نُعِيدُكُمۡ وَمِنۡهَا نُخۡرِجُكُمۡ تَارَةً أُخۡرَىٰ ٥٥
From it [i.e., the earth] We created you, and into it We will return you, and from it We will extract you another time.
From the soil of the earth I created your father, Adam (peace be upon him), into it I shall return you by your being buried therein when you pass away, and from it I shall take you out you a second time when you will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment.
20:56Page 315
وَلَقَدۡ أَرَيۡنَٰهُ ءَايَٰتِنَا كُلَّهَا فَكَذَّبَ وَأَبَىٰ ٥٦
And We certainly showed him [i.e., Pharaoh] Our signs - all of them - but he denied and refused.
I showed Pharaoh all of My nine signs. He saw them all but denied them and refused to respond by having faith in Allah.
20:57Page 315
قَالَ أَجِئۡتَنَا لِتُخۡرِجَنَا مِنۡ أَرۡضِنَا بِسِحۡرِكَ يَٰمُوسَىٰ ٥٧
He said, "Have you come to us to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moses?
Pharaoh said: Have you come to remove us from Egypt with the magic that you brought, O Moses, so that you can gain control over it?
20:58Page 315
فَلَنَأۡتِيَنَّكَ بِسِحۡرٖ مِّثۡلِهِۦ فَٱجۡعَلۡ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكَ مَوۡعِدٗا لَّا نُخۡلِفُهُۥ نَحۡنُ وَلَآ أَنتَ مَكَانٗا سُوٗى ٥٨
Then we will surely bring you magic like it, so make between us and you an appointment, which we will not fail to keep and neither will you, in a place assigned."1
We will certainly bring to, O Moses, magic similar to yours, so make an appointment between you and us at a specified time and place, which neither of us will fail to keep, and let the place be a central and even place to both groups.
20:59Page 315
قَالَ مَوۡعِدُكُمۡ يَوۡمُ ٱلزِّينَةِ وَأَن يُحۡشَرَ ٱلنَّاسُ ضُحٗى ٥٩
[Moses] said, "Your appointment is on the day of the festival when the people assemble at mid-morning."1
Moses (peace be upon him) said to Pharaoh: The appointment between you and us will be on the day of the festival when people will gather to celebrate the festival in the morning.
20:60Page 315
فَتَوَلَّىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنُ فَجَمَعَ كَيۡدَهُۥ ثُمَّ أَتَىٰ ٦٠
So Pharaoh went away, put together his plan, and then came [to Moses].
Pharaoh went back and gathered his plots and tricks. Then he came at the specified time and place for the contest.
20:61Page 315
قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ وَيۡلَكُمۡ لَا تَفۡتَرُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبٗا فَيُسۡحِتَكُم بِعَذَابٖۖ وَقَدۡ خَابَ مَنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ ٦١
Moses said to them [i.e., the magicians summoned by Pharaoh], "Woe to you! Do not invent a lie against Allāh or He will exterminate you with a punishment; and he has failed who invents [such falsehood]."
Moses said advising Pharaoh’s magicians: Beware, do not invent lies against Allah through the magic by means of which you deceive people, or He will eliminate you with a punishment from Him. Whoever invents lies against Allah is a loser.
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فَتَنَٰزَعُوٓاْ أَمۡرَهُم بَيۡنَهُمۡ وَأَسَرُّواْ ٱلنَّجۡوَىٰ ٦٢
So they disputed over their affair among themselves and concealed their private conversation.
The magicians argued among themselves when they heard what Moses (peace be upon him) had to say and they conferred secretly.
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قَالُوٓاْ إِنۡ هَٰذَٰنِ لَسَٰحِرَٰنِ يُرِيدَانِ أَن يُخۡرِجَاكُم مِّنۡ أَرۡضِكُم بِسِحۡرِهِمَا وَيَذۡهَبَا بِطَرِيقَتِكُمُ ٱلۡمُثۡلَىٰ ٦٣
They said, "Indeed, these are two magicians who want to drive you out of your land with their magic and do away with your most exemplary way [i.e., religion or tradition].
The magicians said to one another secretly: Moses and Aaron are both magicians. Their intention is to drive you out of Egypt with the magic that they brought and put an end to your superior way of life and sublime religion.
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فَأَجۡمِعُواْ كَيۡدَكُمۡ ثُمَّ ٱئۡتُواْ صَفّٗاۚ وَقَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ مَنِ ٱسۡتَعۡلَىٰ ٦٤
So resolve upon your plan and then come [forward] in line. And he has succeeded today who overcomes."
So make a firm decision and do not differ therein. Then go forward in rows and throw down what you have all at once. Whoever defeats his opponent today has attained his objective.
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قَالُواْ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِمَّآ أَن تُلۡقِيَ وَإِمَّآ أَن نَّكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنۡ أَلۡقَىٰ ٦٥
They said, "O Moses, either you throw or we will be the first to throw."
The magicians said to Moses (peace be upon him): O Moses, you have one of two options: Either you will be the first to throw down the magic you have, or we will be the first to do so.
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قَالَ بَلۡ أَلۡقُواْۖ فَإِذَا حِبَالُهُمۡ وَعِصِيُّهُمۡ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيۡهِ مِن سِحۡرِهِمۡ أَنَّهَا تَسۡعَىٰ ٦٦
He said, "Rather, you throw." And suddenly their ropes and staffs seemed to him from their magic that they were moving [like snakes].
Moses (peace be upon him) said: Rather, you throw what you have first. So they threw what they had and suddenly their ropes and sticks that they had thrown seemed to Moses, because of their magic, to be snakes moving quickly.
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فَأَوۡجَسَ فِي نَفۡسِهِۦ خِيفَةٗ مُّوسَىٰ ٦٧
And he sensed within himself apprehension, did Moses.
Moses was inwardly alarmed thinking that they would come for him.
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قُلۡنَا لَا تَخَفۡ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ٦٨
We [i.e., Allāh] said, "Fear not. Indeed, it is you who are superior.
Allah said to Moses (peace be upon him) reassuring him: Do not be afraid of what they seem to you. You - O Moses - have the upper hand over them and you will be victorious.
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وَأَلۡقِ مَا فِي يَمِينِكَ تَلۡقَفۡ مَا صَنَعُوٓاْۖ إِنَّمَا صَنَعُواْ كَيۡدُ سَٰحِرٖۖ وَلَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلسَّاحِرُ حَيۡثُ أَتَىٰ ٦٩
And throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have crafted. What they have crafted is but the trick of a magician, and the magician will not succeed wherever he is."
Throw down the stick that is in your right hand: it will turn into a snake and swallow up the magic they have produced. They have only produced a magic trick, and a magician will not achieve his objective, wherever he may be.
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فَأُلۡقِيَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ سُجَّدٗا قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّ هَٰرُونَ وَمُوسَىٰ ٧٠
So the magicians fell down in prostration.1 They said, "We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses."
So Moses threw down his stick and it turned into a snake and swallowed up what the magicians had produced. The magicians then all prostrated to Allah once they came to know that what Moses had was not magic, but it was from Allah and they said: We have faith in the Lord of Moses and Aaron, the Lord of all created things.
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قَالَ ءَامَنتُمۡ لَهُۥ قَبۡلَ أَنۡ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمۡۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحۡرَۖ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيۡدِيَكُمۡ وَأَرۡجُلَكُم مِّنۡ خِلَٰفٖ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمۡ فِي جُذُوعِ ٱلنَّخۡلِ وَلَتَعۡلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَآ أَشَدُّ عَذَابٗا وَأَبۡقَىٰ ٧١
[Pharaoh] said, "You believed him [i.e., Moses] before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will surely know which of us is more severe in [giving] punishment and more enduring."
Pharaoh said in rejection of the faith of the magicians and as threat to them: Have you believed in Moses before I have given you permission to do so? Moses must be your master - O magicians - who taught you magic. I shall certainly cut off from each one of you one hand and foot from opposite sides, then I will crucify your bodies on the trunks of palm trees until you die. You will become a lesson for others and you will know then which of us has the fiercer and more lasting punishment: I or the Lord of Moses?
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قَالُواْ لَن نُّؤۡثِرَكَ عَلَىٰ مَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ ٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلَّذِي فَطَرَنَاۖ فَٱقۡضِ مَآ أَنتَ قَاضٍۖ إِنَّمَا تَقۡضِي هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَآ ٧٢
They said, "Never will we prefer you over what has come to us of clear proofs and [over] He who created us.1 So decree whatever you are to decree. You can only decree for this worldly life.
The magicians said to Pharaoh: We shall never prefer following you - O Pharaoh - to following the clear signs that have come to us. We will never prefer you to Allah Who created us. So do whatever you want to us: you only have power over us in this present transient life, and your power will soon vanish.
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إِنَّآ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغۡفِرَ لَنَا خَطَٰيَٰنَا وَمَآ أَكۡرَهۡتَنَا عَلَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلسِّحۡرِۗ وَٱللَّهُ خَيۡرٞ وَأَبۡقَىٰٓ ٧٣
Indeed, we have believed in our Lord that He may forgive us our sins and what you compelled us [to do] of magic. And Allāh is better and more enduring."1
We believe in our Lord, with the hope that He will erase from us our past sins of disbelief and other sins, and that He will erase from us the sin of magic that you forced us to learn, practice and challenge Moses with. Allah has a better reward than what you promise us and His punishment is more lasting than the punishment you threaten us with.
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إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَأۡتِ رَبَّهُۥ مُجۡرِمٗا فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحۡيَىٰ ٧٤
Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal - indeed, for him is Hell; he will neither die therein nor live.
The matter and gist is that those who come to their Lord on the Day of Judgment as disbelievers will enter the fire to remain there forever. Therein they will not die and be relieved of its torment, nor will they live a pleasant life.
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وَمَن يَأۡتِهِۦ مُؤۡمِنٗا قَدۡ عَمِلَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱلدَّرَجَٰتُ ٱلۡعُلَىٰ ٧٥
But whoever comes to Him as a believer having done righteous deeds - for those will be the highest degrees [in position]:
Those who come to their Sustainer on the Day of Judgement as believers who had done righteous actions, then such people will be rewarded with lofty abodes and high ranks in Paradise.
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جَنَّٰتُ عَدۡنٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ ٧٦
Gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. And that is the reward of one who purifies himself.1
Those ranks are Gardens of Eternity with streams flowing under their palaces, and there they will stay there forever. That is the reward of those who purify themselves from disbelief and sins.
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وَلَقَدۡ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَسۡرِ بِعِبَادِي فَٱضۡرِبۡ لَهُمۡ طَرِيقٗا فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ يَبَسٗا لَّا تَخَٰفُ دَرَكٗا وَلَا تَخۡشَىٰ ٧٧
And We had inspired to Moses, "Travel by night with My servants and strike for them a dry path through the sea; you will not fear being overtaken [by Pharaoh] nor be afraid [of drowning]."
And I revealed to Moses to take My servants by night from Egypt so that nobody notices them, and make for them a dry path in the sea after striking the sea with the staff, safely without fearing Pharaoh and his people catching up with you nor being scared of drowning in the sea.
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فَأَتۡبَعَهُمۡ فِرۡعَوۡنُ بِجُنُودِهِۦ فَغَشِيَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡيَمِّ مَا غَشِيَهُمۡ ٧٨
So Pharaoh pursued them with his soldiers, and there covered them from the sea that which covered them,1
Then Pharoah, accompanied by his armies, followed them. Then he and his armies were engulfed by part of the sea, the reality of which only Allah knows. They all drowned and perished, whilst Moses and those with him were saved.
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وَأَضَلَّ فِرۡعَوۡنُ قَوۡمَهُۥ وَمَا هَدَىٰ ٧٩
And Pharaoh led his people astray and did not guide [them].
And Pharaoh misguided his people by making disbelief appear good to them and by deceiving them through falsehood, and he did not direct them towards the path of guidance.
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يَٰبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ قَدۡ أَنجَيۡنَٰكُم مِّنۡ عَدُوِّكُمۡ وَوَٰعَدۡنَٰكُمۡ جَانِبَ ٱلطُّورِ ٱلۡأَيۡمَنَ وَنَزَّلۡنَا عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلۡوَىٰ ٨٠
O Children of Israel, We delivered you from your enemy, and We made an appointment with you1 at the right side of the mount, and We sent down to you manna and quails,
And I said to the Children of Israel after saving them from Pharoah and his armies: “O Children of Israel, I saved you from your enemy, and I promised you that I will speak to Moses to the right of the valley by Mount Tur, and I sent down to you whilst you were wandering food you can eat which is sweet and resembles gum, and birds which resemble quails.”
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كُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَٰتِ مَا رَزَقۡنَٰكُمۡ وَلَا تَطۡغَوۡاْ فِيهِ فَيَحِلَّ عَلَيۡكُمۡ غَضَبِيۖ وَمَن يَحۡلِلۡ عَلَيۡهِ غَضَبِي فَقَدۡ هَوَىٰ ٨١
[Saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you and do not transgress [or oppress others] therein, lest My anger should descend upon you. And he upon whom My anger descends has certainly fallen [i.e., perished]."
Eat the wholesome lawful foods I have provided you and do not go beyond what I have made lawful to you, so you consume what I have made forbidden for you, otherwise My anger will fall on you. Whoever My anger falls upon will be destroyed and fall into Hell.
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وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٞ لِّمَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا ثُمَّ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ ٨٢
But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance.
And I am extremely forgiving and pardoning to one who repents to Me, does good deeds and is then firm on the truth.
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۞ وَمَآ أَعۡجَلَكَ عَن قَوۡمِكَ يَٰمُوسَىٰ ٨٣
[Allāh said], "And what made you hasten from your people, O Moses?"
And what has made you rush from your people, O Moses, leaving them behind?”
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قَالَ هُمۡ أُوْلَآءِ عَلَىٰٓ أَثَرِي وَعَجِلۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ رَبِّ لِتَرۡضَىٰ ٨٤
He said, "They are close upon my tracks, and I hastened to You, my Lord, that You be pleased."
Moses (peace be upon him) said: “Here they are behind me. They shall catch up with me. I preceded my people in coming to You, so that you become pleased with me for coming towards You quickly”.
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قَالَ فَإِنَّا قَدۡ فَتَنَّا قَوۡمَكَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِكَ وَأَضَلَّهُمُ ٱلسَّامِرِيُّ ٨٥
[Allāh] said, "But indeed, We have tried your people after you [departed], and the Sāmirī1 has led them astray."
Allah said: “I have tested your people whom you left behind through worship of the calf. Samiri called them to worshipping it and he has misguided them through this”.
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فَرَجَعَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ غَضۡبَٰنَ أَسِفٗاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ أَلَمۡ يَعِدۡكُمۡ رَبُّكُمۡ وَعۡدًا حَسَنًاۚ أَفَطَالَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡعَهۡدُ أَمۡ أَرَدتُّمۡ أَن يَحِلَّ عَلَيۡكُمۡ غَضَبٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ فَأَخۡلَفۡتُم مَّوۡعِدِي ٨٦
So Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved.1 He said, "O my people, did your Lord not make you a good promise?2 Then, was the time [of its fulfillment] too long for you, or did you wish that wrath from your Lord descend upon you, so you broke your promise [of obedience] to me?"
Moses returned to his people, angered by their worship of the calf and grieving over them. Moses (peace be upon him) said: “My people, did Allah not make you a good promise that He will send the Torah to you and enter you into paradise? Had a long time passed upon you that you forgot? Or did you intend through this action of yours that your Lord’s anger should descend upon you and His punishment befall you, and this is why you broke your promise to me to stay firm on obedience until I return to you?”
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قَالُواْ مَآ أَخۡلَفۡنَا مَوۡعِدَكَ بِمَلۡكِنَا وَلَٰكِنَّا حُمِّلۡنَآ أَوۡزَارٗا مِّن زِينَةِ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ فَقَذَفۡنَٰهَا فَكَذَٰلِكَ أَلۡقَى ٱلسَّامِرِيُّ ٨٧
They said, "We did not break our promise to you by our will, but we were made to carry burdens from the ornaments of the people [of Pharaoh], so we threw them [into the fire], and thus did the Sāmirī throw."
Moses’ people said: “We did not break your promise, O Moses, by our own choice, but rather by compulsion. We carried large weights of the jewellery of Pharaoh’s people and we threw them into a ditch to get rid of them. But as we threw them into the ditch, Samiri threw into it some dust he had from the hoof of the horse of Gabriel (peace be upon him)”.
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فَأَخۡرَجَ لَهُمۡ عِجۡلٗا جَسَدٗا لَّهُۥ خُوَارٞ فَقَالُواْ هَٰذَآ إِلَٰهُكُمۡ وَإِلَٰهُ مُوسَىٰ فَنَسِيَ ٨٨
And he extracted for them [the statue of] a calf which had a lowing sound, and they said, "This is your god and the god of Moses, but he forgot."
So Samiri took out from this jewellery of the Israelites a lifeless body of a calf, which made a noise like that of a cow. Those amongst them who had been tempted by Samiri’s action said: “This is your god and the god of Moses which he forgot and left here”.
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أَفَلَا يَرَوۡنَ أَلَّا يَرۡجِعُ إِلَيۡهِمۡ قَوۡلٗا وَلَا يَمۡلِكُ لَهُمۡ ضَرّٗا وَلَا نَفۡعٗا ٨٩
Did they not see that it could not return to them any speech [i.e., response] and that it did not possess for them any harm or benefit?
Do these people who were tempted by the calf and then worshipped it not see that the calf does not speak or respond to them, nor does it have the ability to remove harm from them or others or bring benefit for itself or others?
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وَلَقَدۡ قَالَ لَهُمۡ هَٰرُونُ مِن قَبۡلُ يَٰقَوۡمِ إِنَّمَا فُتِنتُم بِهِۦۖ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ فَٱتَّبِعُونِي وَأَطِيعُوٓاْ أَمۡرِي ٩٠
And Aaron had already told them before [the return of Moses], "O my people, you are only being tested by it, and indeed, your Lord is the Most Merciful, so follow me and obey my order."
Aaron had said to them before Moses returned to them: “The making of the calf from gold and its mooing are only to test you, to distinguish the believer from the disbeliever. And your Lord, O people, is Allah, so follow me by worshipping Him alone and obey my command to leave worshipping others besides Him”.
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قَالُواْ لَن نَّبۡرَحَ عَلَيۡهِ عَٰكِفِينَ حَتَّىٰ يَرۡجِعَ إِلَيۡنَا مُوسَىٰ ٩١
They said, "We will never cease being devoted to it [i.e., the calf] until Moses returns to us."
Those who had been tempted through worship of the calf said: “We will continue worshipping it until Moses returns to us”.
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قَالَ يَٰهَٰرُونُ مَا مَنَعَكَ إِذۡ رَأَيۡتَهُمۡ ضَلُّوٓاْ ٩٢
[Moses] said, "O Aaron, what prevented you, when you saw them going astray,
Moses said to his brother Aaron: “What was it that stopped you, when you saw them go astray by worshipping the calf besides Allah,
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أَلَّا تَتَّبِعَنِۖ أَفَعَصَيۡتَ أَمۡرِي ٩٣
From following me? Then have you disobeyed my order?"
from leaving them and joining me? Did you disobey my order to you when I made you my deputy over them?”
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قَالَ يَبۡنَؤُمَّ لَا تَأۡخُذۡ بِلِحۡيَتِي وَلَا بِرَأۡسِيٓۖ إِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَن تَقُولَ فَرَّقۡتَ بَيۡنَ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ وَلَمۡ تَرۡقُبۡ قَوۡلِي ٩٤
[Aaron] said, "O son of my mother, do not seize [me] by my beard or by my head. Indeed, I feared that you would say, 'You caused division among the Children of Israel, and you did not observe [or await] my word.'"
When Moses took his brother by his beard and head, dragging him and scolding him for what he did, Aaron said to him, seeking his compassion: “Do not hold my beard and the hair on my head, for I have a reason for staying with them. I feared if I leave them alone they will disperse, then you will say I split them apart and that I did not maintain your bequest regarding them”.
Moses (peace be upon him) said to Samiri: “What is your matter, O Samiri? What made you do what you did?”
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قَالَ بَصُرۡتُ بِمَا لَمۡ يَبۡصُرُواْ بِهِۦ فَقَبَضۡتُ قَبۡضَةٗ مِّنۡ أَثَرِ ٱلرَّسُولِ فَنَبَذۡتُهَا وَكَذَٰلِكَ سَوَّلَتۡ لِي نَفۡسِي ٩٦
He said, "I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful [of dust] from the track of the messenger1 and threw it,2 and thus did my soul entice me."
Samiri said to Moses (peace be upon him): “I saw what they did not see: I saw Gabriel on a horse, so I took a handful of soil from the footsteps of his horse and threw it on melted jewellery which was moulded into the form of a calf. From this, the body of a calf with a mooing sound was formed. And this is how my soul made what I did appealing to me”.
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قَالَ فَٱذۡهَبۡ فَإِنَّ لَكَ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ أَن تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَۖ وَإِنَّ لَكَ مَوۡعِدٗا لَّن تُخۡلَفَهُۥۖ وَٱنظُرۡ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَٰهِكَ ٱلَّذِي ظَلۡتَ عَلَيۡهِ عَاكِفٗاۖ لَّنُحَرِّقَنَّهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَنسِفَنَّهُۥ فِي ٱلۡيَمِّ نَسۡفًا ٩٧
[Moses] said, "Then go. And indeed, it is [decreed] for you in [this] life to say, 'No contact.'1 And indeed, you have an appointment [in the Hereafter] you will not fail to keep. And look at your 'god' to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and blow it [i.e., its ashes] into the sea with a blast.
Moses (peace be upon him) said to Samiri: “Go, for it is written for you that you will say as long as you live: ‘I am not to touch or be touched’. You will live as an outcast, and you have a promised time on the Day of Judgment in which you will be reckoned and punished. Allah will never break this promise with you. And look towards your calf which you had made your god and which you continued to worship besides Allah. We shall burn it in a fire until it melts, then we shall scatter it into the sea until no trace of it remains.
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إِنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۚ وَسِعَ كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ عِلۡمٗا ٩٨
Your god is only Allāh, except for whom there is no deity. He has encompassed all things in knowledge."
Your true god, O people, is Allah only, besides whom there is no true god. He has encompassed everything in His knowledge; only He knows everything and nothing escapes His awareness”.
Text: Quranic Universal Library (Tarteel), via spa5k/tafsir_api (MIT), at a fixed version. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences