طه
Ta-Ha
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
qāla lahum mūsā waylakum lā taftarū ʿalā l-lahi kadhiban fayus'ḥitakum biʿadhābin waqad khāba mani if'tarā
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]."
fatanāzaʿū amrahum baynahum wa-asarrū l-najwā
So they disputed over their affair among themselves and concealed their private conversation.
qālū in hādhāni lasāḥirāni yurīdāni an yukh'rijākum min arḍikum bisiḥ'rihimā wayadhhabā biṭarīqatikumu l-muth'lā
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].
fa-ajmiʿū kaydakum thumma i'tū ṣaffan waqad aflaḥa l-yawma mani is'taʿlā
So resolve upon your plan and then come [forward] in line. And he has succeeded today who overcomes."
qālū yāmūsā immā an tul'qiya wa-immā an nakūna awwala man alqā
They said, "O Moses, either you throw or we will be the first to throw."
qāla bal alqū fa-idhā ḥibāluhum waʿiṣiyyuhum yukhayyalu ilayhi min siḥ'rihim annahā tasʿā
He said, "Rather, you throw." And suddenly their ropes and staffs seemed to him from their magic that they were moving [like snakes].
fa-awjasa fī nafsihi khīfatan mūsā
And he sensed within himself apprehension, did Moses.
qul'nā lā takhaf innaka anta l-aʿlā
We [i.e., Allāh] said, "Fear not. Indeed, it is you who are superior.
wa-alqi mā fī yamīnika talqaf mā ṣanaʿū innamā ṣanaʿū kaydu sāḥirin walā yuf'liḥu l-sāḥiru ḥaythu atā
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."
fa-ul'qiya l-saḥaratu sujjadan qālū āmannā birabbi hārūna wamūsā
So the magicians fell down in prostration. They said, "We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses."
qāla āmantum lahu qabla an ādhana lakum innahu lakabīrukumu alladhī ʿallamakumu l-siḥ'ra fala-uqaṭṭiʿanna aydiyakum wa-arjulakum min khilāfin wala-uṣallibannakum fī judhūʿi l-nakhli walataʿlamunna ayyunā ashaddu ʿadhāban wa-abqā
[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."
qālū lan nu'thiraka ʿalā mā jāanā mina l-bayināti wa-alladhī faṭaranā fa-iq'ḍi mā anta qāḍin innamā taqḍī hādhihi l-ḥayata l-dun'yā
They said, "Never will we prefer you over what has come to us of clear proofs and [over] He who created us. So decree whatever you are to decree. You can only decree for this worldly life.
innā āmannā birabbinā liyaghfira lanā khaṭāyānā wamā akrahtanā ʿalayhi mina l-siḥ'ri wal-lahu khayrun wa-abqā
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."
innahu man yati rabbahu muj'riman fa-inna lahu jahannama lā yamūtu fīhā walā yaḥyā
Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal - indeed, for him is Hell; he will neither die therein nor live.
waman yatihi mu'minan qad ʿamila l-ṣāliḥāti fa-ulāika lahumu l-darajātu l-ʿulā
But whoever comes to Him as a believer having done righteous deeds - for those will be the highest degrees [in position]:
jannātu ʿadnin tajrī min taḥtihā l-anhāru khālidīna fīhā wadhālika jazāu man tazakkā
Gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. And that is the reward of one who purifies himself.
walaqad awḥaynā ilā mūsā an asri biʿibādī fa-iḍ'rib lahum ṭarīqan fī l-baḥri yabasan lā takhāfu darakan walā takhshā
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]."
fa-atbaʿahum fir'ʿawnu bijunūdihi faghashiyahum mina l-yami mā ghashiyahum
So Pharaoh pursued them with his soldiers, and there covered them from the sea that which covered them,
wa-aḍalla fir'ʿawnu qawmahu wamā hadā
And Pharaoh led his people astray and did not guide [them].
yābanī is'rāīla qad anjaynākum min ʿaduwwikum wawāʿadnākum jāniba l-ṭūri l-aymana wanazzalnā ʿalaykumu l-mana wal-salwā
O Children of Israel, We delivered you from your enemy, and We made an appointment with you at the right side of the mount, and We sent down to you manna and quails,