Surah Ta-Ha

Ta'awwudh · Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

The Name · Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

✦

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The Surah · Verses 1 to 79

﴾١﴿ طه

Taa-Haa

Ta Ha.

﴾٢﴿ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِتَشْقَىٰٓ

Maa anzalnaa 'alaikal Qur-aana litashqaa

We did not send down the Quran upon you to cause you distress,

﴾٣﴿ إِلَّا تَذْكِرَةًۭ لِّمَن يَخْشَىٰ

Illaa tazkiratal limany yakshaa

but as a reminder for whoever fears,

﴾٤﴿ تَنزِيلًۭا مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ ٱلْعُلَى

Tanzilam mimman khalaqal arda was samaawaatil 'ulaa

sent down from the One who created the earth and the high heavens.

﴾٥﴿ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱسْتَوَىٰ

Ar-Rahmaanu 'alal 'Arshis tawaa

The Most Gracious, established above the Throne.

﴾٦﴿ لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ ٱلثَّرَىٰ

Lahu maa fis samaawaati wa maa fil ardi wa maa bainahumaa wa maa tahtassaraa

To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens, whatever is in the earth, whatever is between them, and whatever is beneath the soil.

﴾٧﴿ وَإِن تَجْهَرْ بِٱلْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَعْلَمُ ٱلسِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى

Wa in tajhar bilqawli fainnahu ya'lamus sirra wa akhfaa

If you speak aloud, He knows the secret and what is more hidden.

﴾٨﴿ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ

Allaahu laa ilasha illaa Huwa lahul Asmaa'ul Husnaa

Allah, there is no god but Him. To Him belong the most beautiful names.

﴾٩﴿ وَهَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰٓ

Wa hal ataaka hadisu Musa

Has the account of Musa reached you?

﴾١٠﴿ إِذْ رَءَا نَارًۭا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًۭا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ هُدًۭى

Iz ra aa naaran faqaala li alhlihim kusuo innie aanastu naaral la'allie aatikum minhaa biqabasin aw ajidu 'alan naari hudaa

When he saw a fire and said to his family, "Stay here. I have seen a fire. Perhaps I can bring you a burning branch from it, or find guidance at the fire."

﴾١١﴿ فَلَمَّآ أَتَىٰهَا نُودِىَ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ

Falammaa ataahaa nudiya yaa Musaa

When he came to it, he was called, "Musa,

﴾١٢﴿ إِنِّىٓ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكَ فَٱخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ بِٱلْوَادِ ٱلْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًۭى

Innie Ana Rabbuka fakhla' na'laika innaka bilwaadil muqaddasi Tuwaa

I am your Lord, so take off your sandals. You are in the sacred valley of Tuwa.

﴾١٣﴿ وَأَنَا ٱخْتَرْتُكَ فَٱسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَىٰٓ

Wa anakhtartuka fastami' limaa yuhaa

And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed.

﴾١٤﴿ إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدْنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكْرِىٓ

Innanie Anal laahu laa ilaaha illaa Ana fa'budni wa aqimis-salaata lizikri

I am Allah. There is no god but Me. So worship Me, and establish the prayer for My remembrance.

﴾١٥﴿ إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ

Innas Saa'ata aatiyatun akaadu ukhfihaa litujzaa kullu nafsim bimaa tas'aa

The Hour is coming. I almost keep it hidden, so that every soul may be repaid for what it strives for.

﴾١٦﴿ فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ فَتَرْدَىٰ

Falaa yasuddannnaka 'anhaa mal laa yu'minu bihaa wattaba'a hawaahu fatardaa

So do not let one who does not believe in it and follows his desire turn you away from it, or you will perish.

﴾١٧﴿ وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَٰمُوسَىٰ

Wa maa tilka bi yami nika yaa Musaa

And what is that in your right hand, Musa?"

﴾١٨﴿ قَالَ هِىَ عَصَاىَ أَتَوَكَّؤُا۟ عَلَيْهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَىٰ غَنَمِى وَلِىَ فِيهَا مَـَٔارِبُ أُخْرَىٰ

Qaala hiya 'asaaya atawakka'u alaihaa wa ahushshu bihaa 'alaa ghanami wa liya fihaa ma aaribu ukhraa

He said, "It is my staff. I lean on it, and I bring down leaves with it for my sheep, and I have other uses for it."

﴾١٩﴿ قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يَٰمُوسَىٰ

Qaala alqihaa yaa Musaa

He said, "Throw it down, Musa."

﴾٢٠﴿ فَأَلْقَىٰهَا فَإِذَا هِىَ حَيَّةٌۭ تَسْعَىٰ

Fa-alqaahaa fa -izaa hiya haiyatun tas'aa

So he threw it, and it was a snake, moving quickly.

﴾٢١﴿ قَالَ خُذْهَا وَلَا تَخَفْ ۖ سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيرَتَهَا ٱلْأُولَىٰ

Qaala khuzhaa wa laa ta khaf sanu'iduhaa siratahal ulaa

He said, "Take hold of it and do not fear. We will return it to its former state.

﴾٢٢﴿ وَٱضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَىٰ جَنَاحِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَآءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوٓءٍ ءَايَةً أُخْرَىٰ

Wadmum yadaka ilaa janaahika takhruj baidaa'a min ghairi suo'in Aayatan ukhraa

And press your hand to your side. It will come out white without harm, as another sign,

﴾٢٣﴿ لِنُرِيَكَ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِنَا ٱلْكُبْرَى

Linuriyaka min Aayaatinal Kubra

so that We may show you some of Our greater signs.

﴾٢٤﴿ ٱذْهَبْ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ

Izhab ilaa Fir'awna innahu taghaa

Go to Pharaoh. He has transgressed."

﴾٢٥﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى

Qaala Rabbish rah li sadri

He said, "My Lord, expand my chest for me,

﴾٢٦﴿ وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى

Wa yassir lie amri

and make my task easy for me,

﴾٢٧﴿ وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةًۭ مِّن لِّسَانِى

Wahlul 'uqdatam milli saani

and untie the knot from my tongue,

﴾٢٨﴿ يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى

Yafqahu qawli

so that they may understand my speech.

﴾٢٩﴿ وَٱجْعَل لِّى وَزِيرًۭا مِّنْ أَهْلِى

Waj'al li waziram min ahli

And appoint for me a helper from my family,

﴾٣٠﴿ هَٰرُونَ أَخِى

Haaruna akhi

Harun, my brother.

﴾٣١﴿ ٱشْدُدْ بِهِۦٓ أَزْرِى

Ushdud bihie azri

Strengthen my back through him,

﴾٣٢﴿ وَأَشْرِكْهُ فِىٓ أَمْرِى

Wa ashrik hu fie amri

and let him share in my task,

﴾٣٣﴿ كَىْ نُسَبِّحَكَ كَثِيرًۭا

Kai nusabbihaka kasiraa

so that we may glorify You much,

﴾٣٤﴿ وَنَذْكُرَكَ كَثِيرًا

Wa nazkuraka kasiraa

and remember You much.

﴾٣٥﴿ إِنَّكَ كُنتَ بِنَا بَصِيرًۭا

Innaka kunta binaa basiraa

You have always been Seeing of us."

﴾٣٦﴿ قَالَ قَدْ أُوتِيتَ سُؤْلَكَ يَٰمُوسَىٰ

Qaala qad utita su'laka yaa Musaa

He said, "You have been granted your request, Musa.

﴾٣٧﴿ وَلَقَدْ مَنَنَّا عَلَيْكَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَىٰٓ

Wa laqad manannaa 'alaika marratan ukhraa

And We had already shown you favor another time,

﴾٣٨﴿ إِذْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّكَ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ

Iz awhainaa ilaa ummika maa yuhaa

when We inspired your mother with what was inspired:

﴾٣٩﴿ أَنِ ٱقْذِفِيهِ فِى ٱلتَّابُوتِ فَٱقْذِفِيهِ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ فَلْيُلْقِهِ ٱلْيَمُّ بِٱلسَّاحِلِ يَأْخُذْهُ عَدُوٌّۭ لِّى وَعَدُوٌّۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةًۭ مِّنِّى وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِىٓ

Aniqzifihi fit Taabuti faqzifihi fil yammi fal yul qihil yammu bis saahili yaakhuzhu 'aduwwul li wa 'aduwwul lah; wa alqaitu 'alaika mahabbatam minni wa litusna'a 'alaa 'aini

put him in the chest and put it into the river, and the river will cast it onto the bank. An enemy to Me and an enemy to him will take him. And I cast upon you love from Me, so that you would be brought up before My eye.

﴾٤٠﴿ إِذْ تَمْشِىٓ أُخْتُكَ فَتَقُولُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن يَكْفُلُهُۥ ۖ فَرَجَعْنَٰكَ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّكَ كَىْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ ۚ وَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًۭا فَنَجَّيْنَٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْغَمِّ وَفَتَنَّٰكَ فُتُونًۭا ۚ فَلَبِثْتَ سِنِينَ فِىٓ أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَىٰ قَدَرٍۢ يَٰمُوسَىٰ

Iz tamshie ukhtuka fataqulu hal adullukum 'alaa mai yakfuluhu faraja 'naaka ilaa ummika kai taqarra 'ainuhaa wa laa tahzan; wa qatalta nafsan fanajjainaaka minal ghammi wa fatannaaka futunaa; falabista sinina fie ahli Madyana summa ji'ta 'alaa qadariny yaa Musa

When your sister was walking and said, "Shall I direct you to someone who will take care of him?" So We returned you to your mother, so that her eye would be comforted and she would not grieve. And you killed a soul, and We saved you from the distress, and We tested you with a testing. Then you remained years among the people of Madyan. Then you came, Musa, at a decreed time.

﴾٤١﴿ وَٱصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِى

Wastana' tuka linafsi

And I made you for Myself.

﴾٤٢﴿ ٱذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِـَٔايَٰتِى وَلَا تَنِيَا فِى ذِكْرِى

Izhab anta wa akhuka bi Aayaati wa laa taniyaa fi zikri

Go, you and your brother, with My signs, and do not slacken in My remembrance.

﴾٤٣﴿ ٱذْهَبَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ

Izhabaa ilaa Fir'awna innahu taghaa

Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. He has transgressed.

﴾٤٤﴿ فَقُولَا لَهُۥ قَوْلًۭا لَّيِّنًۭا لَّعَلَّهُۥ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰ

Faqulaa lahu qawlal laiyinal la allahu yatazakkkaru 'aw yakhshaa

And speak to him gently. Perhaps he will remember, or fear."

﴾٤٥﴿ قَالَا رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَآ أَوْ أَن يَطْغَىٰ

Qaalaa Rabbanaa innanaa nakhaafu ai yafruta 'alainaa aw ai yatghaa

They said, "Our Lord, we fear that he will rush against us, or that he will transgress."

﴾٤٦﴿ قَالَ لَا تَخَافَآ ۖ إِنَّنِى مَعَكُمَآ أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ

Qaala laa takhaafaa innani ma'akumaa asma'u wa araa

He said, "Do not fear. I am with you both. I hear and I see.

﴾٤٧﴿ فَأْتِيَاهُ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَلَا تُعَذِّبْهُمْ ۖ قَدْ جِئْنَٰكَ بِـَٔايَةٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَٱلسَّلَٰمُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ

Faatiyaahu faqulaa innaa Rasulaa Rabbika fa arsil ma'anaa Bani Israa'ila wa laa tu'azzibhum qad ji'naaka bi Aayatim mir Rabbika wassa laamu 'alaa manit taba'al hudaa

So go to him and say, We are two messengers of your Lord. Send the Children of Israel with us and do not torment them. We have come to you with a sign from your Lord. Peace be upon whoever follows the guidance.

﴾٤٨﴿ إِنَّا قَدْ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْنَآ أَنَّ ٱلْعَذَابَ عَلَىٰ مَن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

Innaa qad uhiya ilainaa annnal 'azaaba 'alaa man kaz zaba wa tawalla

It has been revealed to us that punishment is upon whoever denies and turns away."

﴾٤٩﴿ قَالَ فَمَن رَّبُّكُمَا يَٰمُوسَىٰ

Qaala famar Rabbu kumaa yaa Musa

He said, "And who is the Lord of you two, Musa?"

﴾٥٠﴿ قَالَ رَبُّنَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَعْطَىٰ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلْقَهُۥ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ

Qaala Rabbunal lazie a'taa kulla shai'in khalqahu summa hadaa

He said, "Our Lord is the One who gave everything its form, then guided it."

﴾٥١﴿ قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ ٱلْقُرُونِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ

Qaala famaa baalul qurunil ulaa

He said, "Then what about the earlier generations?"

﴾٥٢﴿ قَالَ عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّى فِى كِتَٰبٍۢ ۖ لَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّى وَلَا يَنسَى

Qaala 'ilmuhaa 'inda Rabi fi kitaab, laa yadillu Rabbi wa laa yansaa

He said, "Knowledge of them is with my Lord, in a record. My Lord does not go astray, and He does not forget."

﴾٥٣﴿ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًۭا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًۭا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًۭا مِّن نَّبَاتٍۢ شَتَّىٰ

Allazi ja'ala lakumul arda mahdanw wa salaka lakum fihaa subulanw wa anzala minas samaa'i maa'an fa akhrajnaa bihie azwaajam min nabaatin shatta

He is the One who made the earth a bed for you, and threaded paths for you in it, and sent down water from the sky, and We brought out with it pairs of various plants.

﴾٥٤﴿ كُلُوا۟ وَٱرْعَوْا۟ أَنْعَٰمَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلنُّهَىٰ

Kulu war'aw an'aamakum; inna fi zaalika la Aayaatil li ulin nuhaa

Eat, and pasture your cattle. In that are signs for those of understanding.

﴾٥٥﴿ ۞ مِنْهَا خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ وَفِيهَا نُعِيدُكُمْ وَمِنْهَا نُخْرِجُكُمْ تَارَةً أُخْرَىٰ

Minhaa khalaqnaakum wa fihaa nu'idukum wa minhaa nukhrijukum taaratan ukhraa

From it We created you, and into it We return you, and from it We will bring you out another time.

﴾٥٦﴿ وَلَقَدْ أَرَيْنَٰهُ ءَايَٰتِنَا كُلَّهَا فَكَذَّبَ وَأَبَىٰ

Wa laqad arainaahu Aayaatinaa kullahaa fakaz zaba wa abaa

We showed him all Our signs, but he denied and refused.

﴾٥٧﴿ قَالَ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتُخْرِجَنَا مِنْ أَرْضِنَا بِسِحْرِكَ يَٰمُوسَىٰ

Qaala aji'tanaa litukhri janaa min ardinaa bisihrika yaa Musa

He said, "Have you come to us to drive us out of our land with your magic, Musa?

﴾٥٨﴿ فَلَنَأْتِيَنَّكَ بِسِحْرٍۢ مِّثْلِهِۦ فَٱجْعَلْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ مَوْعِدًۭا لَّا نُخْلِفُهُۥ نَحْنُ وَلَآ أَنتَ مَكَانًۭا سُوًۭى

Falanaatiyannaka bisihrim mislihi faj'al bainanaa wa bainaka maw'idal laa nukhlifuhu nahnu wa laa anta makaanan suwaa

Then we will bring you magic like it. So set an appointment between us and you which neither of us will fail, in an open place."

﴾٥٩﴿ قَالَ مَوْعِدُكُمْ يَوْمُ ٱلزِّينَةِ وَأَن يُحْشَرَ ٱلنَّاسُ ضُحًۭى

Qaala maw'idukum yawmuz zinati wa ai yuhsharan naasu duhaa

He said, "Your appointment is the day of the festival, and let the people be gathered in the morning."

﴾٦٠﴿ فَتَوَلَّىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ فَجَمَعَ كَيْدَهُۥ ثُمَّ أَتَىٰ

Fatawallaa Fir'awnu fajjama'a kaidahu summa ataa

So Pharaoh turned away, gathered his plan, and then came.

﴾٦١﴿ قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ وَيْلَكُمْ لَا تَفْتَرُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًۭا فَيُسْحِتَكُم بِعَذَابٍۢ ۖ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ

Qaala lahum Musaa wailakum laa taftaru 'alal laahi kaziban fa yus hitakum bi 'azaab, wa qad khaaba manif taraa

Musa said to them, "Woe to you. Do not invent a lie against Allah, or He will destroy you with a punishment. Whoever invents has failed."

﴾٦٢﴿ فَتَنَٰزَعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَهُم بَيْنَهُمْ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّجْوَىٰ

Fatanaaza'uo amrahum bainahum wa asarrun najwaa

So they disputed their affair among themselves and conferred in secret.

﴾٦٣﴿ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَٰذَٰنِ لَسَٰحِرَٰنِ يُرِيدَانِ أَن يُخْرِجَاكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُم بِسِحْرِهِمَا وَيَذْهَبَا بِطَرِيقَتِكُمُ ٱلْمُثْلَىٰ

Qaaluo in haazaani lasaahiraani yuridaani ai yukhrijaakum min ardikum bisihrihimaa wa yazhabaa bitariqatikumul muslaa

They said, "These two are magicians who want to drive you out of your land with their magic and take away your exemplary way.

﴾٦٤﴿ فَأَجْمِعُوا۟ كَيْدَكُمْ ثُمَّ ٱئْتُوا۟ صَفًّۭا ۚ وَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْيَوْمَ مَنِ ٱسْتَعْلَىٰ

Fa ajmi'u kaidakum summma'tu saffaa; wa qad aflahal yawma manis ta'laa

So gather your plan, then come in a line. Whoever gains the upper hand today has succeeded."

﴾٦٥﴿ قَالُوا۟ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِمَّآ أَن تُلْقِىَ وَإِمَّآ أَن نَّكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَلْقَىٰ

Qaalu yaa Musaa immaa an tulqiya wa immaa an nakuna awala man alqaa

They said, "Musa, either you throw, or we will be the first to throw."

﴾٦٦﴿ قَالَ بَلْ أَلْقُوا۟ ۖ فَإِذَا حِبَالُهُمْ وَعِصِيُّهُمْ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِن سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَىٰ

Qaala bal alqu fa izaa hibaaluhum wa 'isiyyuhum yuhaiyalu ilaihi min sihrihim annahaa tas'aa

He said, "Rather, you throw." And their ropes and staffs appeared to him, through their magic, to be moving.

﴾٦٧﴿ فَأَوْجَسَ فِى نَفْسِهِۦ خِيفَةًۭ مُّوسَىٰ

Fa awjasa fi nafsihi khifatam Musa

So Musa felt a fear within himself.

﴾٦٨﴿ قُلْنَا لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

Qulnaa laa takhaf innaka antal a'laa

We said, "Do not fear. You are the higher.

﴾٦٩﴿ وَأَلْقِ مَا فِى يَمِينِكَ تَلْقَفْ مَا صَنَعُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّمَا صَنَعُوا۟ كَيْدُ سَٰحِرٍۢ ۖ وَلَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلسَّاحِرُ حَيْثُ أَتَىٰ

Wa alqi maa fi yami nika talqaf maa sana'u; innamaa sana'u kaidu saahir; wa laa yuflihus saahiru haisu ataa

And throw what is in your right hand. It will swallow what they made. What they made is only the trick of a magician, and the magician does not succeed wherever he goes."

﴾٧٠﴿ فَأُلْقِىَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ سُجَّدًۭا قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّ هَٰرُونَ وَمُوسَىٰ

Fa ulqiyas saharatu sujjadan qaaluo aamannaa bi Rabbi Haaruna wa Musa

So the magicians fell down in prostration. They said, "We believe in the Lord of Harun and Musa."

﴾٧١﴿ قَالَ ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُۥ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحْرَ ۖ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَٰفٍۢ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِى جُذُوعِ ٱلنَّخْلِ وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَآ أَشَدُّ عَذَابًۭا وَأَبْقَىٰ

Qaala aamantum lahu qabla an aazana lakum; innahu lakabirukumul lazi 'allama kumus sihra fala uqatti'anna aidiyakum wa arjulakum min khilaafinw wa la usallibannakum fi juzu'in nakhli wa lata'lamunna aiyunaa ashaddu 'azaabanw wa abqaa

He said, "You believed him before I gave you permission. He is your chief who taught you magic. I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will know which of us is more severe in punishment and more lasting."

﴾٧٢﴿ قَالُوا۟ لَن نُّؤْثِرَكَ عَلَىٰ مَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنَا ۖ فَٱقْضِ مَآ أَنتَ قَاضٍ ۖ إِنَّمَا تَقْضِى هَٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَآ

Qaalu lan nu'siraka 'alaa maa jaa'anaa minal baiyinaati wallazi fataranaa faqdi maa anta qaad; innamaa taqdi haazihil hayaatad dunyaa

They said, "We will never prefer you over the clear proofs that have come to us, and over the One who created us. So decree whatever you are going to decree. You can only decree for this worldly life.

﴾٧٣﴿ إِنَّآ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَٰيَٰنَا وَمَآ أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلسِّحْرِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ

Innaa aamannaa bi Rabbinaa liyaghfira lanaa khataayaanaa wa maa akrahtanaa 'alaihi minas sihr; wallaahu khairunw waabqaa

We have believed in our Lord, so that He may forgive us our sins and the magic you forced us into. Allah is better and more lasting."

﴾٧٤﴿ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَأْتِ رَبَّهُۥ مُجْرِمًۭا فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ

Innahu mai yaati Rabbahu mujriman fa inna lahu Jahannama laa yamotu fihaa wa laa yahyaa

Whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal, for him is Hell, in which he neither dies nor lives.

﴾٧٥﴿ وَمَن يَأْتِهِۦ مُؤْمِنًۭا قَدْ عَمِلَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱلدَّرَجَٰتُ ٱلْعُلَىٰ

Wa mai yaatihi mu'minan qad 'amilas saalihaati fa ulaa'ika lahumud dara jaatul 'ulaa

And whoever comes to Him as a believer, having done righteous deeds, for those are the highest ranks,

﴾٧٦﴿ جَنَّٰتُ عَدْنٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ

Jannaatu 'Adnin tajri min tahtihal anhaaru khaalidina fihaa; wa zaalika jazaa'ua man tazakka

gardens of perpetual residence, beneath which rivers flow, remaining in them. That is the reward of one who purifies himself.

﴾٧٧﴿ وَلَقَدْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِى فَٱضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًۭا فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ يَبَسًۭا لَّا تَخَٰفُ دَرَكًۭا وَلَا تَخْشَىٰ

Wa laqad awhainaa ilaa Musaa an asri bi'ibaadi fadrib lahum tariqan fil bahri yabasal laa takhaafu darakanw wa laa takhshaa

And We inspired Musa: travel by night with My servants, and strike for them a dry path through the sea. Do not fear being overtaken, and do not be afraid.

﴾٧٨﴿ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ بِجُنُودِهِۦ فَغَشِيَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْيَمِّ مَا غَشِيَهُمْ

Fa atba'ahum Fir'awnu bijunudihi faghashiyahum minal yammmi maa ghashi yahum

Pharaoh pursued them with his armies, and the sea covered them completely.

﴾٧٩﴿ وَأَضَلَّ فِرْعَوْنُ قَوْمَهُۥ وَمَا هَدَىٰ

Wa adalla fir'awnu qawmahu wa maa hadaa

Pharaoh led his people astray, and he did not guide.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What This Part Means

Overview

Not Sent Down to Break You.

Verse 2 is the second thing the surah says, and it corrects an assumption most men carry about religion before they have examined it. We did not send down the Quran upon you to cause you distress. Litashqa, to make you wretched, worn down. The Book was not sent to exhaust the man carrying it. Verse 3 states what it was sent as: a reminder for whoever fears. What follows is the longest continuous account of Musa in the Quran, and Part One covers it from the moment he walked toward a fire looking for directions to the moment the sea closed behind him. Along the way it contains a question about a stick, the most complete prayer any man has made about being given a task, an instruction to speak gently to a tyrant, and an afternoon in which trained professionals changed sides and lost everything within an hour.

Verses 1 to 24

What Is That in Your Right Hand.

Verse 5 names Him by the attribute of mercy at the point where power is being described. The Most Gracious, established above the Throne. Verse 7 then measures the reach of that knowledge in an unusual way. He knows the secret and what is more hidden. Two levels are named: what a man keeps from others, and what is beneath that, which he keeps from himself. Verse 10 opens the account with a man who is not looking for revelation. He sees a fire and wants a burning branch for his family, or directions. He was on a practical errand. Verse 12 is the first thing said to him after his name: take off your sandals, you are in the sacred valley. Before any assignment, an adjustment of posture. Verse 14 contains the reason the prayer exists, in three words of Arabic. Establish the prayer for My remembrance, li-dhikri. Not for your calm, your discipline, or your reward. Verse 15 then says something about the Hour that is easy to skip. I almost keep it hidden. The concealment is deliberate, and the purpose is stated: so that every soul may be repaid for what it strives for. A known date would corrupt the striving. Verses 17 and 18 are the exchange that gives this part its name. And what is that in your right hand, Musa? He is asked about an object he is holding, by the One who put it there. He answers the way any working man would, listing what he uses it for. It is my staff. I lean on it, and I bring down leaves with it for my sheep, and I have other uses for it. He inventories it by its ordinary functions, honestly and completely. Then verse 19: throw it down. What was in his hand the whole time was capable of something he had never suspected, and the only way to find out was to let go of it. That is the moment the surah hands to the reader.

Verses 25 to 56

Expand My Chest.

Verses 25 through 35 are the prayer of a man who has just been handed an assignment larger than he is, and every clause deserves reading on its own. Expand my chest for me. Make my task easy. Untie the knot from my tongue, so that they may understand my speech. Appoint for me a helper from my family, Harun my brother. Strengthen my back through him. Let him share in my task. Note what he asks for and what he does not. He does not ask for the outcome, for protection, or for Pharaoh to be softened. He asks for capacity, for ease, for clear speech, and for a partner. And then verses 33 and 34 state the purpose of all of it: so that we may glorify You much, and remember You much. He justifies the request in terms of worship rather than success. Verse 36 answers it in five words. You have been granted your request. Then verses 37 through 41 remind him of a history he already lived through but had never seen from the other side. The chest in the river. The enemy who picked him up. And verse 39, the sentence that explains everything that happened to him in that palace. And I cast upon you love from Me. He was not merely tolerated in Pharaoh's house. Love for him was placed in the people around him, deliberately. Verse 40 lists the killing, the rescue, the testing and the years in Madyan in one breath, and calls the whole thing a preparation. Verse 41 is four words in Arabic and is worth memorizing. And I made you for Myself. Then verse 44, which is the hardest instruction in the surah. Speak to him gently. To Pharaoh. To the man who was killing infants and claiming divinity, two messengers are told to use soft speech, and the reason given is stated as a possibility rather than a certainty: perhaps he will remember, or fear. If gentleness is the required register there, no man reading this has an exemption. Verse 46 answers their fear without removing its cause. Do not fear. I am with you both. I hear and I see. Verse 50 then compresses the answer to Pharaoh's question into a definition of the Lord that fits in one line. Our Lord is the One who gave everything its form, then guided it. Creation, then instruction, for every created thing. And verse 52 closes the exchange with an attribute that should settle a man permanently. My Lord does not go astray, and He does not forget.

Verses 57 to 79

You Are the Higher.

Verse 61 is Musa speaking to the assembled magicians before anything is thrown, and what he says is not a challenge. Woe to you. Do not invent a lie against Allah, or He will destroy you with a punishment. He warns his opponents. Verse 63 shows what the court told them privately, and note the last clause: they want to drive you out of your land and take away your exemplary way. The threat was framed as cultural, not theological, which is how it is usually framed. Verses 66 and 67 are the honest part. Their ropes and staffs appeared to him, through their magic, to be moving. So Musa felt a fear within himself. A prophet, holding a confirmed sign from Allah, felt fear, and the Book records it rather than hiding it. Verse 68 answers with three words in Arabic. Do not fear. You are the higher. Innaka anta al-a'la, a statement about his position rather than about his feelings. The feeling was not corrected. The standing was clarified. Verses 72 and 73 are the answer of men who had been believers for approximately one minute. So decree whatever you are going to decree. You can only decree for this worldly life. They correctly identify the limit of the most powerful man on earth while he is threatening to crucify them. Verse 73 states their concern, which is not the threat: so that He may forgive us our sins and the magic you forced us into. Verse 76 then defines who gets the highest ranks in one word. That is the reward of one who purifies himself. Tazakka. Verse 77 gives the instruction at the sea, and it contains two separate reassurances because a man in that position needs both. Do not fear being overtaken, and do not be afraid. Nothing behind you, and nothing in front.

Structural Summary

Verses One to Seventy-Nine. And I Made You for Myself.

The surah begins by stating that the Book was not sent to wear a man down. It shows a man on a practical errand called by name, told to adjust his posture before receiving anything, and asked to describe the object in his own hand before being shown what it could do. His prayer asks for capacity and a partner rather than for outcomes, and justifies itself in terms of remembrance. He is then shown his own history from the other side, including the love that was deliberately placed in the people who raised him. He is told to speak gently to a tyrant, admits fear at the decisive moment, and is answered with a statement about his standing rather than his feelings. And trained professionals who changed sides within an hour tell the most powerful man on earth the exact limit of his authority.

The Practice

Take It Into the Week

Verses 17 and 18. Write down what is currently in your hand and what you have been using it for. Then ask what it might be capable of if you let go of it.

Verses 25 to 34. Make the same shape of request this week. Capacity, ease, clear speech, and a partner. State the purpose in worship terms, the way he did.

Verse 44. Take the person you have most justification for being hard with and speak to him gently once. The instruction was given about Pharaoh.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verse 21 / 12

What reason does verse 2 give for sending down the Quran?