Surah Al-A'raf, Ayah 101-120 — Word by Word
الأعراف
The Heights
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
til'ka l-qurā naquṣṣu ʿalayka min anbāihā walaqad jāathum rusuluhum bil-bayināti famā kānū liyu'minū bimā kadhabū min qablu kadhālika yaṭbaʿu l-lahu ʿalā qulūbi l-kāfirīna
Those cities - We relate to you, [O Muḥammad], some of their news. And certainly did their messengers come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe in that which they had denied before. Thus does Allāh seal over the hearts of the disbelievers.
wamā wajadnā li-aktharihim min ʿahdin wa-in wajadnā aktharahum lafāsiqīna
And We did not find for most of them any covenant; but indeed, We found most of them defiantly disobedient.
thumma baʿathnā min baʿdihim mūsā biāyātinā ilā fir'ʿawna wamala-ihi faẓalamū bihā fa-unẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-muf'sidīna
Then We sent after them Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his establishment, but they were unjust toward them. So see how was the end of the corrupters.
waqāla mūsā yāfir'ʿawnu innī rasūlun min rabbi l-ʿālamīna
And Moses said, "O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds
ḥaqīqun ʿalā an lā aqūla ʿalā l-lahi illā l-ḥaqa qad ji'tukum bibayyinatin min rabbikum fa-arsil maʿiya banī is'rāīla
[Who is] obligated not to say about Allāh except the truth. I have come to you with clear evidence from your Lord, so send with me the Children of Israel."
qāla in kunta ji'ta biāyatin fati bihā in kunta mina l-ṣādiqīna
[Pharaoh] said, "If you have come with a sign, then bring it forth, if you should be of the truthful."
fa-alqā ʿaṣāhu fa-idhā hiya thuʿ'bānun mubīnun
So he [i.e., Moses] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent, manifest.
wanazaʿa yadahu fa-idhā hiya bayḍāu lilnnāẓirīna
And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers.
qāla l-mala-u min qawmi fir'ʿawna inna hādhā lasāḥirun ʿalīmun
Said the eminent among the people of Pharaoh, "Indeed, this is a learned magician
yurīdu an yukh'rijakum min arḍikum famādhā tamurūna
Who wants to expel you from your land [through magic], so what do you instruct?"
qālū arjih wa-akhāhu wa-arsil fī l-madāini ḥāshirīna
They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers
yatūka bikulli sāḥirin ʿalīmin
Who will bring you every learned magician."
wajāa l-saḥaratu fir'ʿawna qālū inna lanā la-ajran in kunnā naḥnu l-ghālibīna
And the magicians came to Pharaoh. They said, "Indeed for us is a reward if we are the predominant."
qāla naʿam wa-innakum lamina l-muqarabīna
He said, "Yes, and, [moreover], you will be among those made near [to me]."
qālū yāmūsā immā an tul'qiya wa-immā an nakūna naḥnu l-mul'qīna
They said, "O Moses, either you throw [your staff], or we will be the ones to throw [first]."
qāla alqū falammā alqaw saḥarū aʿyuna l-nāsi wa-is'tarhabūhum wajāū bisiḥ'rin ʿaẓīmin
He said, "Throw," and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.
wa-awḥaynā ilā mūsā an alqi ʿaṣāka fa-idhā hiya talqafu mā yafikūna
And We inspired to Moses, "Throw your staff," and at once it devoured what they were falsifying.
fawaqaʿa l-ḥaqu wabaṭala mā kānū yaʿmalūna
So the truth was established, and abolished was what they were doing.
faghulibū hunālika wa-inqalabū ṣāghirīna
And they [i.e., Pharaoh and his people] were overcome right there and became debased.
wa-ul'qiya l-saḥaratu sājidīna
And the magicians fell down in prostration [to Allāh].