Ash-Shu'ara

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said about the interpretation of Allah's saying (Ta. Sin. Mim.): '(Ta. Sin. Mim.) He says: Ta stands for His might (tawluh) and power, Sin stands for His majesty (sana'uh), and Mim stands for His dominion (mulkuh); it is also said that (Ta. Sin. Mim.) is an oath by which Allah swore.

(These are revelations of the Scripture that maketh plain) He says: I swear by this surah, the verses of the Qur'an, which make plain the lawful and the unlawful, the commands and prohibitions.

(It may be that thou tormentest thyself) it may be that you kill yourself with grief over them (because they believe not) because the Quraysh do not want to become believers. This is because he was very keen for them to become believers.

(If We will, We can send down on them from the sky a portent) a sign (so that their necks would remain bowed before it) in humiliation.

(Never cometh there unto them a fresh) i.e. fresh in its coming, in succession (reminder) never did Gabriel bring revelation of the Qur'an to their Prophet (from the Beneficent One, but they turn away from it) except that they disbelieved in the Qur'an.

(Now they have denied) Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an; (but there will come unto them tidings) the news (of that whereat they used to scoff) of chastisement; it is also said that this means: there will come to them the news of their derision of Muhammad (pbuh) and of the Qur'an.

(Have they) the disbelievers of Mecca (not seen the earth, how much of every fruitful kind We make to grow therein?)

(Lo! Herein) in the different kinds of fruit (is indeed a portent) a sign and an admonition; (yet most of them are not believers) they were not believers, and all of them were disbelievers, i.e. those who perished at Badr.

(And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty) in retribution against the disbelievers, (the Merciful) towards the believers.

(And when thy Lord called Moses) it is also said that this means: and when your Lord commanded Moses, (saying: Go unto the wrong-doing folk) the disbelieving folk,

(The folk of Pharaoh. Will they not ward off (evil)) and tell: will they not ward off the worship of other than Allah?

(He said) Moses said: (My Lord! Lo! I fear that they will deny me) I fear that they will disbelieve in the message I bring to them,

(And I shall be embarrassed) because of their denial; it is also said that this means: and my heart will shrink from delivering the message, (and my tongue will not speak plainly) out of awe of him, (therefore send for Aaron (to help me)) send Aaron with me to support me; it is also said that this means: send Gabriel to Aaron so that he helps me.

(And they have a crime against me) they may retaliate against me because I killed the Copt, (so I fear that they will kill me) because of this Copt that I killed.

(He said) Allah said: (Nay, verily) I will not set them against you to kill you. (So go ye twain with Our tokens) with Our nine signs: the hand, the staff, the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, blood, the lack of foodstuff and drought. (Lo! We shall be with you) We shall help you, (Hearing) what he says to you.

(And come together unto Pharaoh and say: Lo! we bear a message of the Lord of the Worlds) to you and to your people,

((Saying): Let the Children of Israel go with Us) and do not torture them.

(He said): Pharaoh looked at Moses and said: (Did we not rear thee among us as a child?) O Moses (And thou didst dwell many years of your life among us) and stayed with us for 30 years,

(And thou didst that thy deed which thou didst) and you killed the person that you killed, (and thou wast one of the ingrates) and you are now ungrateful for my kindness,

(He said) Moses said: (I did it then, when I was of those who are astray) when I was ungrateful for your kindness.

(Then I fled from you when I feared you) when I feared that you would kill me, (and my Lord vouchsafed me a command) understanding, knowledge and prophethood (and appointed me (of the number) of those sent (by Him)) He made me a Messenger to you and to your people.

(And this is the past favour wherewith) with which (thou reproachest me) O Pharaoh, but you do not recall your aloofness towards me: (that thou hast enslaved the Children of Israel.

(Pharaoh said) to Moses: (And what is the Lord of the Worlds) who is the Lord of the Worlds? Is it me you are referring to?

((Moses) said: Lord of the heavens and the earth) the Lord of the Worlds is the Lord of the heavens and the earth (and all that is between them) of created beings and marvels, (if ye had but sure belief) that Allah has created them.

((Pharaoh) said unto those around him) of attendants: (Hear ye not) what Moses says? There were around Pharaoh at that time 250 men wearing attires made of silk brocade plaited with gold. These men were Pharaoh's closest courtiers, and they asked Moses: who is this Lord of the heavens and the earth to whom you are calling us?

(He said) Moses said: (Your Lord) He is your Lord (and the Lord of your fathers.

(Pharaoh) said: Lo! your messenger who hath been sent unto you is indeed a madman!) They said: who is this that you are calling us to? And who is this Lord of ours who is also the Lord of our fathers, O Moses?

(He said) Moses said: (Lord of the East) He is the Lord of the East (and the West) and the Lord of the West (and all that is between them, if ye did but understand) if you did but believe.

((Pharaoh) said: If thou choosest) if you worship (a god other than me) O Moses, (I assuredly shall place thee among the prisoners) his prisons were worse than death, for he used to put people in complete isolation, unable to see or hear anyone.

(He said) Moses said: (Even though I show thee) O Pharaoh (something plain) a sign that serves as proof for what I say?

((Pharaoh) said: Produce it then) O Moses, (if thou art of the Truthful) that you are a Messenger to me and to my people!

(Then he) Moses (flung down his staff and it became a serpent) a yellow, male serpent (manifest) as huge as any serpent can be,

Pharaoh then said: �this is a manifest sign, do you have any other signs?� (And he drew forth his hand) from his armpit (and lo! it was white to the beholders) his hand had a light like the light of the sun, and whoever looked at it liked it.

((Pharaoh) said unto the chiefs about him: Lo, this) messenger (is verily a knowing wizard) who is very skilful in magic,

(Who would drive you out of your land) Egypt (by his magic. Now what counsel ye) what do you suggest that I should do?

(They said: Put him off) retain him, ((him) and his brother) and do not kill them, (and send them) i.e. the police (into the cities) the cities where the wizards are found (summoners) to summon these wizards,

(Who shall bring unto thee every knowing wizard) who is skilful in magic so that they can do what Moses did.

(So the wizards were gathered together) there were 72 of them (at a set time on a day appointed) which was the day of the market, and it also said that it was the day of their festival, and it is also said that it was the day of their new year.

(And it was said unto the people: Are ye (also) gathering?

(They said): Aye, so that we may follow the wizards) that we may follow the religion of the wizards (if they are the winners) against Moses.

(And when the wizards came they said unto Pharaoh: Will there surely be a reward for us if we are the winners) against Moses?

(He said) Pharaoh said: (Aye) you will have that, (and ye will then surely be of those brought near) in terms of status, position and attending my assembly.

(Moses said unto them) he said to the wizards: (Throw what ye are going to throw!

Then they threw down their cords and their staves) 72 ropes and 72 staffs (and said) i.e. the wizards said: (By Pharaoh's might, lo! we verily are the winners) against Moses.

(Then Moses threw his staff and lo! it swallowed that which they did falsely show) of wizardry.

(And the wizards were flung prostrate) they fell prostrate so fast that it looked that they were thrown to the floor, because when they saw their ropes and staffs disappear, they knew that what Moses brought was from Allah,

(Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds) upon which Pharaoh said: are you referring to me?

They said: (The Lord of Moses and Aaron.

(Pharaoh) said, You put your faith in him) you believed in him (before I give you leave) I commanded you to do so. (Lo! He) i.e. Moses (doubtless is your chief) your master wizard (who taught you magic! But verily ye shall come to know) what I will do to you. (Verily I will cut off your hands and your feet alternately) the right hand with the left leg, (and verily I will crucify you everyone) on the bank of the river of Egypt.

(They said: It is no hurt) what you do with us in this worldly life will not harm us in the Hereafter, (for lo! unto our Lord we shall return) we shall return to Allah and His reward.

(Lo! we ardently hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins) our idolatry (because we are the first of the believers) in Moses.

(And We inspired Moses, saying: Take away My slaves by night) take by night whoever believes in you from among the Children of Israel, (for ye will be pursued) Pharaoh and his people will catch up with you.

(Then Pharaoh sent into the cities summoners) he summoned his police force,

((Who said): Lo! These) the followers of Moses (indeed are but a little troop) a small group,

(And lo! they are offenders against us) they have caused our fury and anger.

(And lo! we are a ready host) we are in doubt, and we will supply weapons.

(Thus did We take them away from gardens and water springs) pure water,

(And treasures) wealth (and a fair estate) beautiful houses.

(Thus) I do with the ones who disobey Me, (and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit them) to inherit Egypt after their destruction.

(And they overtook them at sunrise.

(And when the two hosts) the group of Moses and that of Pharaoh (saw each other, those with Moses said: Lo! we are indeed caught) O Moses, they have caught up with us.

(He said) Moses said: (Nay) they have not, (verily! for lo! my Lord is with me. He will guide me) He will save me from them and guide me to the right way.

(Then We inspired Moses, saying: Smite the sea with thy staff. And) when he hit it (it parted) into 12 roads, (and each part) and each road (was as a mountain vast) like a huge mountain.

(Then brought We near the others to that place) then We kept Pharaoh and his people in the cloud, and it is said in the sea, and all of them were disbelievers.

(And We saved Moses and those with him, every one) from drowning;

(We drowned the others) Pharaoh and his host in the sea.

(Lo! Herein) in that which We did to them (is indeed a portent) a sign and an admonition, (yet most of them are not believers) most of them were not believers.

(And lo, thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty) in retribution against the disbelievers, (the Merciful) towards the believers, since He saved them from drowning.

(Recite unto them) unto Quraysh, your people (the story of Abraham) the event of Abraham in the Qur'an:

(When he said unto his father) Azar (and his folk) the idol worshippers: (What worship ye) Abraham said to them: what do you worship?

(They said: We worship idols) deities, (and are ever devoted unto them) we worship them and remain devoted to their worship.

(He said) Abraham said to them: (Do they hear you when ye cry) do these deities answer you when you call upon them?

(Or do they benefit) you in your livelihood when you obey them (or harm you) in your livelihood when you disobey them?

(They said: Nay, but we found our fathers acting on this use) we found our fathers worshipping these deities, and we have emulated them.

(He said) Abraham said: (See now that which ye worship,

Ye and your forefathers!) before you,

Lo! they are (all) an enemy unto me) and I disassociate myself from them, (save the Lord of the Worlds) except the worship of the Lord of the Worlds.

(Who created me) from a sperm drop, (and He doth guide me) He preserves me on the right religion and guides me to the Truth and guidance,

(And Who feedeth me) He provides for me and gives me my full when I am hungry (and watereth me) and gives me to drink when I am thirsty.

(And when I sicken, then He healeth me) He cures me from sickness when I am sick,

(And Who causeth me to die) in this worldly life, (then giveth me life (again)) on the Day of Judgement,

(And Who, I ardently hope, will forgive me my sin on the Day of Judgement) on the Day of Reckoning. His sins being his pretending that he was sick, and claiming that it was the biggest idol that smashed the smaller ones and also that his wife was his sister.

(My Lord! Vouchsafe me wisdom) understanding and knowledge (and unite me to the righteous) to my forefathers, the messengers, in Paradise.

(And give unto me a good report) a good mention (in later generations) those who come after me.

(And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of Delight) and make me among the dwellers of the Garden of Bliss,

(And forgive my father) and guide my father through me. (Lo! he is of those who err) he is in error, a disbeliever.

(And abase me not) and do not chastise me (on the day when they are raised) from the graves,

(The day when wealth) the abundance of wealth (and sons) and abundance of sons (avail not (any man),

Save him who bringeth unto Allah a whole heart) a heart free of sins and love for this worldly life; it is also said that this means: a heart free of hatred for the Companions of the Prophet (pbuh).

(And the Garden will be brought nigh for those who ward off (evil)) disbelief, idolatry, and indecencies, becoming thus their abode.

(And hell will appear plainly to the erring) to the disbelievers, becoming thus their abode.

(And it will be said unto them) it will be said to the idol worshippers: (Where is (all) that ye used to worship) of idols in the life of the world,

(Instead of Allah? Can they help you) can they help you to avoid Allah's chastisement (or help themselves) or help themselves to avoid Allah's chastisement?

(Then they will be hurled therein) they will be cast all together in hell, (they) the disbelievers of Mecca and all the disbelievers among human beings (and the seducers) the disbelievers of the jinn and their deities,

(And the hosts of Iblis) the offspring of Iblis, (together) who are the satans.

(And they) i.e. the disbelievers (will say, when they are quarrelling) with their deities, leaders and the offspring of Iblis (therein) in hell:

(By Allah, of a truth we were in error manifest) in the life of the world,

(When we made you equal with the Lord of the Worlds) in relation to worship.

(It was but the guilty) the idolaters who came before us and whom we emulated (who misled us) who turned us away from faith and obedience.

(Now we have no intercessors) from amongst the angels, prophets or righteous people who may intercede for us,

(Nor any loving friend) nor anyone close who might be interested in our plight.

(Oh, that we had another turn) in the life of the world, (that we might be of the believers!

Lo! Herein) in that which I have mentioned of their states (is indeed a portent) a sign and an admonition, (yet most of them are not believers!) that is, if they were to have another turn in the life of the world; it is also said that this means: they were not believers and most of them were disbelievers.

(And lo, thy Lord! He is Indeed the Mighty) in retribution against them, (the Merciful) towards the believers.

(Noah's folk denied the messengers (of Allah)) i.e. they denied Noah and all the other messengers who were mentioned by Noah,