Surah Ash-Shu'ara, Ayah 41-60 — Word by Word
الشعراء
The Poets
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
falammā jāa l-saḥaratu qālū lifir'ʿawna a-inna lanā la-ajran in kunnā naḥnu l-ghālibīna
And when the magicians arrived, they said to Pharaoh, "Is there indeed for us a reward if we are the predominant?"
qāla naʿam wa-innakum idhan lamina l-muqarabīna
He said, "Yes, and indeed, you will then be of those near [to me]."
qāla lahum mūsā alqū mā antum mul'qūna
Moses said to them, "Throw whatever you will throw."
fa-alqaw ḥibālahum waʿiṣiyyahum waqālū biʿizzati fir'ʿawna innā lanaḥnu l-ghālibūna
So they threw their ropes and their staffs and said, "By the might of Pharaoh, indeed it is we who are predominant."
fa-alqā mūsā ʿaṣāhu fa-idhā hiya talqafu mā yafikūna
Then Moses threw his staff, and at once it devoured what they falsified.
fa-ul'qiya l-saḥaratu sājidīna
So the magicians fell down in prostration [to Allāh].
qālū āmannā birabbi l-ʿālamīna
They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds,
rabbi mūsā wahārūna
The Lord of Moses and Aaron."
qāla āmantum lahu qabla an ādhana lakum innahu lakabīrukumu alladhī ʿallamakumu l-siḥ'ra falasawfa taʿlamūna la-uqaṭṭiʿanna aydiyakum wa-arjulakum min khilāfin wala-uṣallibannakum ajmaʿīna
[Pharaoh] said, "You believed him [i.e., Moses] before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic, but you are going to know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you all."
qālū lā ḍayra innā ilā rabbinā munqalibūna
They said, "No harm. Indeed, to our Lord we will return.
innā naṭmaʿu an yaghfira lanā rabbunā khaṭāyānā an kunnā awwala l-mu'minīna
Indeed, we aspire that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we were the first of the believers."
wa-awḥaynā ilā mūsā an asri biʿibādī innakum muttabaʿūna
And We inspired to Moses, "Travel by night with My servants; indeed, you will be pursued."
fa-arsala fir'ʿawnu fī l-madāini ḥāshirīna
Then Pharaoh sent among the cities gatherers
inna hāulāi lashir'dhimatun qalīlūna
[And said], "Indeed, those are but a small band,
wa-innahum lanā laghāiẓūna
And indeed, they are enraging us,
wa-innā lajamīʿun ḥādhirūna
And indeed, we are a cautious society..."
fa-akhrajnāhum min jannātin waʿuyūnin
So We removed them from gardens and springs
wakunūzin wamaqāmin karīmin
And treasures and honorable station -
kadhālika wa-awrathnāhā banī is'rāīla
Thus. And We caused to inherit it the Children of Israel.
fa-atbaʿūhum mush'riqīna
So they pursued them at sunrise.