Translation of Surah Ṭā Hā in English by Muhsin Khan

Surah Ṭā Hā

In The Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Ta-Ha. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings.] (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:1)

We have not sent down the Quran unto you (O Muhammad SAW) to cause you distress, (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:2)

But only as a Reminder to those who fear (Allah). (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:3)

A revelation from Him (Allah) Who has created the earth and high heavens. (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:4)

The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:5)

To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and all that is between them, and all that is under the soil. (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:6)

And if you (O Muhammad SAW) speak (the invocation) aloud, then verily, He knows the secret and that which is yet more hidden. (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:7)

Allah! La ilahla illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! To Him belong the Best Names. (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:8)

And has there come to you the story of Musa (Moses)? (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:9)

When he saw a fire, he said to his family: "Wait! Verily, I have seen a fire, perhaps I can bring you some burning brand therefrom, or find some guidance at the fire." (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:10)

And when he came to it (the fire), he was called by name: "O Musa (Moses)! (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:11)

"Verily! I am your Lord! So take off your shoes, you are in the sacred valley, Tuwa. (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:12)

"And I have chosen you. So listen to that which is inspired to you. (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:13)

"Verily! I am Allah! La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) for My Remembrance. (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:14)

"Verily, the Hour is coming and My Will is to keep it hidden that every person may be rewarded for that which he strives. (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:15)

"Therefore, let not the one who believes not therein (i.e. in the Day of Resurrection, Reckoning, Paradise and Hell, etc.), but follows his own lusts, divert you therefrom, lest you perish. (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:16)

"And what is that in your right hand, O Musa (Moses)?" (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:17)

He said: "This is my stick, whereon I lean, and wherewith I beat down branches for my sheep, and wherein I find other uses." (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:18)

(Allah) said: "Cast it down, O Musa (Moses)!" (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:19)

He cast it down, and behold! It was a snake, moving quickly. (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:20)

Allah said:"Grasp it, and fear not, We shall return it to its former state, (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:21)

"And press your (right) hand to your (left) side, it will come forth white (and shining), without any disease as another sign, (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:22)

"That We may show you (some) of Our Greater Signs. (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:23)

"Go to Fir'aun (Pharaoh)! Verily, he has transgressed (all bounds in disbelief and disobedience, and has behaved as an arrogant, and as a tyrant)." (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:24)

[Musa (Moses)] said: "O my Lord! Open for me my chest (grant me self-confidence, contentment, and boldness). (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:25)

"And ease my task for me; (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:26)

"And make loose the knot (the defect) from my tongue, (i.e. remove the incorrectness from my speech) [That occurred as a result of a brand of fire which Musa (Moses) put in his mouth when he was an infant]. [Tafsir At-Tabari, Vol. 16, Page 159]. (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:27)

"That they understand my speech, (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:28)

"And appoint for me a helper from my family, (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:29)

"Harun (Aaron), my brother; (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:30)

"Increase my strength with him, (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:31)

"And let him share my task (of conveying Allah's Message and Prophethood), (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:32)

"That we may glorify You much, (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:33)

"And remember You much, (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:34)

"Verily! You are of us Ever a Well-Seer." (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:35)

Allah said: "You are granted your request, O Musa (Moses)! (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:36)

"And indeed We conferred a favour on you another time (before). (Quran Surah Ṭā Hā 20:37)

"When We inspired your mother with that which We inspired. (Quran 20:38)

"Saying: 'Put him (the child) into the Tabut (a box or a case or a chest) and put it into the river (Nile), then the river shall cast it up on the bank, and there, an enemy of Mine and an enemy of his shall take him.' And I endued you with love from Me, in order that you may be brought up under My Eye, (Quran 20:39)

"When your sister went and said: 'Shall I show you one who will nurse him?' So We restored you to your mother, that she might cool her eyes and she should not grieve. Then you did kill a man, but We saved you from great distress and tried you with a heavy trial. Then you stayed a number of years with the people of Madyan (Midian). Then you came here according to the fixed term which I ordained (for you), O Musa (Moses)! (Quran 20:40)

"And I have Istana'tuka, for Myself. (Quran 20:41)

"Go you and your brother with My Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), and do not, you both, slacken and become weak in My Remembrance. (Quran 20:42)

"Go, both of you, to Fir'aun (Pharaoh), verily, he has transgressed (all bounds in disbelief and disobedience and behaved as an arrogant and as a tyrant). (Quran 20:43)

"And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear Allah." (Quran 20:44)

They said: "Our Lord! Verily! We fear lest he should hasten to punish us or lest he should transgress (all bounds against us)." (Quran 20:45)

He (Allah) said: "Fear not, verily! I am with you both, hearing and seeing. (Quran 20:46)

"So go you both to him, and say: 'Verily, we are Messengers of your Lord, so let the Children of Israel go with us, and torment them not; indeed, we have come with a sign from your Lord! And peace will be upon him who follows the guidance! (Quran 20:47)

'Truly, it has been revealed to us that the torment will be for him who denies [believes not in the Oneness of Allah, and in His Messengers, etc.], and turns away.'(from the truth and obedience of Allah)" (Quran 20:48)

Fir'aun (Pharaoh) said: "Who then, O Musa (Moses), is the Lord of you two?" (Quran 20:49)

[Musa (Moses)] said: "Our Lord is He Who gave to each thing its form and nature, then guided it aright." (Quran 20:50)

[Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] said: "What about the generations of old?" (Quran 20:51)

[Musa (Moses)] said: "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord, in a Record. My Lord is neither unaware nor He forgets, " (Quran 20:52)

Who has made earth for you like a bed (spread out); and has opened roads (ways and paths etc.) for you therein; and has sent down water (rain) from the sky. And We have brought forth with it various kinds of vegetation. (Quran 20:53)

Eat and pasture your cattle, (therein); verily, in this are proofs and signs for men of understanding. (Quran 20:54)

Thereof (the earth) We created you, and into it We shall return you, and from it We shall bring you out once again. (Quran 20:55)

And indeed We showed him [Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] all Our Signs and Evidences, but he denied and refused. (Quran 20:56)

He [Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] said: "Have you come to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Musa (Moses)? (Quran 20:57)

"Then verily, we can produce magic the like thereof; so appoint a meeting between us and you, which neither we, nor you shall fail to keep, in an open wide place where both shall have a just and equal chance (and beholders could witness the competition)." (Quran 20:58)

[Musa (Moses)] said: "Your appointed meeting is the day of the festival, and let the people assemble when the sun has risen (forenoon)." (Quran 20:59)

So Fir'aun (Pharaoh) withdrew, devised his plot and then came back. (Quran 20:60)

Musa (Moses) said to them: "Woe unto you! Invent not a lie against Allah, lest He should destroy you completely by a torment. And surely, he who invents a lie (against Allah) will fail miserably." (Quran 20:61)

Then they debated with one another what they must do, and they kept their talk secret. (Quran 20:62)

They said: "Verily! These are two magicians. Their object is to drive you out from your land with magic, and overcome your chiefs and nobles. (Quran 20:63)

"So devise your plot, and then assemble in line. And whoever overcomes this day will be indeed successful." (Quran 20:64)

They said:"O Musa (Moses)! Either you throw first or we be the first to throw?" (Quran 20:65)

[Musa (Moses)] said: "Nay, throw you (first)!" Then behold, their ropes and their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast. (Quran 20:66)

So Musa (Moses) conceived a fear in himself. (Quran 20:67)

We (Allah) said: "Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand. (Quran 20:68)

"And throw that which is in your right hand! It will swallow up that which they have made. That which they have made is only a magician's trick, and the magician will never be successful, no matter whatever amount (of skill) he may attain." (Quran 20:69)

So the magicians fell down prostrate. They said: "We believe in the Lord of Harun (Aaron) and Musa (Moses)." (Quran 20:70)

[Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] said: "Believe you in him [Musa (Moses)] before I give you permission? Verily! He is your chief who taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of date-palms, and you shall surely know which of us [I (Fir'aun - Pharaoh) or the Lord of Musa (Moses) (Allah)] can give the severe and more lasting torment." (Quran 20:71)

They said: "We prefer you not over the clear signs that have come to us, and to Him (Allah) Who created us. So decree whatever you desire to decree, for you can only decree (regarding) this life of the world. (Quran 20:72)

"Verily! We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the magic to which you did compel us. And Allah is better as regards reward in comparison to your [Fir'aun's (Pharaoh)] reward, and more lasting (as regards punishment in comparison to your punishment)." (Quran 20:73)

Verily! Whoever comes to his Lord as a Mujrim (criminal, polytheist, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah and His Messengers, sinner, etc.), then surely, for him is Hell, therein he will neither die nor live. (Quran 20:74)

But whoever comes to Him (Allah) as a believer (in the Oneness of Allah, etc.), and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks (in the Hereafter), (Quran 20:75)

'Adn (Edn) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever: such is the reward of those who purify themselves [(by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds) which Allah has forbidden and by doing all that which Allah has ordained)]. (Quran 20:76)

And indeed We inspired Musa (Moses) (saying): "Travel by night with Ibadi (My slaves) and strike a dry path for them in the sea, fearing neither to be overtaken [by Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] nor being afraid (of drowning in the sea)." (Quran 20:77)

Then Fir'aun (Pharaoh) pursued them with his hosts, but the sea-water completely overwhelmed them and covered them up. (Quran 20:78)

And Fir'aun (Pharaoh) led his people astray, and he did not guide them. (Quran 20:79)

O Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and We made a covenant with you on the right side of the Mount, and We sent down to you Al-Manna and quails, (Quran 20:80)

(Saying) eat of the Taiyibat (good lawful things) wherewith We have provided you, and commit no oppression therein, lest My Anger should justly descend on you. And he on whom My Anger descends, he is indeed perished. (Quran 20:81)

And verily, I am indeed Forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them, (till his death). (Quran 20:82)

"And what made you hasten from your people, O Musa (Moses)?" (Quran 20:83)

He said: "They are close on my footsteps, and I hastened to You, O my Lord, that You might be pleased." (Quran 20:84)

(Allah) said: "Verily! We have tried your people in your absence, and As-Samiri has led them astray." (Quran 20:85)

Then Musa (Moses) returned to his people in a state of anger and sorrow. He said: "O my people! Did not your Lord promise you a fair promise? Did then the promise seem to you long in coming? Or did you desire that wrath should descend from your Lord on you, so you broke your promise to me (i.e disbelieving in Allah and worshipping the calf)?" (Quran 20:86)

They said: "We broke not the promise to you, of our own will, but we were made to carry the weight of the ornaments of the [Fir'aun's (Pharaoh)] people, then we cast them (into the fire), and that was what As-Samiri suggested." (Quran 20:87)

Then he took out (of the fire) for them a statue of a calf which seemed to low. They said: "This is your ilah (god), and the ilah (god) of Musa (Moses), but [Musa (Moses)] has forgotten (his god).'" (Quran 20:88)

Did they not see that it could not return them a word (for answer), and that it had no power either to harm them or to do them good? (Quran 20:89)

And Harun (Aaron) indeed had said to them beforehand: "O my people! You are being tried in this, and verily, your Lord is (Allah) the Most Beneficent, so follow me and obey my order." (Quran 20:90)

They said: "We will not stop worshipping it (i.e. the calf), until Musa (Moses) returns to us." (Quran 20:91)

[Musa (Moses)] said: "O Harun (Aaron)! What stopped you when you saw them going astray; (Quran 20:92)

"That you followed me not (according to my advice to you)? Have you then disobeyed my order?" (Quran 20:93)

He [Harun (Aaron)] said: "O son of my mother! Seize (me) not by my beard, nor by my head! Verily, I feared lest you should say: 'You have caused a division among the Children of Israel, and you have not respected my word!' " (Quran 20:94)

[Musa (Moses)] said: "And what is the matter with you. O Samiri? (i.e. why did you do so?)" (Quran 20:95)

(Samiri) said: "I saw what they saw not, so I took a handful (of dust) from the hoof print of the messenger [Jibrael's (Gabriel) horse] and threw it [into the fire in which were put the ornaments of the Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) people, or into the calf]. Thus my inner-self suggested to me." (Quran 20:96)