Ash-Shu'araa

طسٓمٓ

Tā sīn mīm.¹

تِلْكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ

These are the verses of the clear Book.

لَعَلَّكَ بَٰخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ أَلَّا يَكُونُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ

Perhaps you² will grieve yourself to death because they do not believe.

إِن نَّشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ءَايَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْنَٰقُهُمْ لَهَا خَٰضِعِينَ

If We willed, We could send down upon them a sign from the heaven, at which their necks would stay bowed in humility³.

وَمَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن ذِكْرٍ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ مُحْدَثٍ إِلَّا كَانُوا۟ عَنْهُ مُعْرِضِينَ

No new reminder comes to them from the Most Compassionate except that they turn away from it.

فَقَدْ كَذَّبُوا۟ فَسَيَأْتِيهِمْ أَنۢبَٰٓؤُا۟ مَا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ

They have rejected [the Truth], soon there will come to them the consequences of their ridicule.

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ كَمْ أَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ كَرِيمٍ

Do they not see the earth, how many fine kinds of plants We grow in it?

إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Indeed, there is a sign in this, yet most of them will not believe.

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Your Lord is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful.

وَإِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبُّكَ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱئْتِ ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

And [remember] when your Lord called out to Moses, “Go to the wrongdoing people –

قَوْمَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ

the people of Pharaoh; will they not fear [the punishment of] Allah?”

قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ

He said, “My Lord, I fear that they may reject me,

وَيَضِيقُ صَدْرِى وَلَا يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِى فَأَرْسِلْ إِلَىٰ هَٰرُونَ

and I will feel distressed and my tongue will not be fluent, so send Aaron along [to help me].

وَلَهُمْ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقْتُلُونِ

Moreover, they have a charge against me, so I fear they may kill me⁴.”

قَالَ كَلَّا فَٱذْهَبَا بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسْتَمِعُونَ

Allah said, “Certainly not! Go, both of you, with Our signs⁵; We are with you, listening.

فَأْتِيَا فِرْعَوْنَ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

Go to Pharaoh and say, ‘We are the messengers⁶ from the Lord of the worlds,

أَنْ أَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ

that you let the Children of Israel go with us.’”

قَالَ أَلَمْ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدًا وَلَبِثْتَ فِينَا مِنْ عُمُرِكَ سِنِينَ

Pharaoh said, “Did we not bring you up as a child among us, and you stayed with us several years of your life?

وَفَعَلْتَ فَعْلَتَكَ ٱلَّتِى فَعَلْتَ وَأَنتَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Yet you did what you did⁷, and you are extremely ungrateful.”

قَالَ فَعَلْتُهَآ إِذًا وَأَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

He said, “I did it when I had no guidance.

فَفَرَرْتُ مِنكُمْ لَمَّا خِفْتُكُمْ فَوَهَبَ لِى رَبِّى حُكْمًا وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

So I fled from you in fear. Then my Lord gave me wisdom and made me one of the messengers.

وَتِلْكَ نِعْمَةٌ تَمُنُّهَا عَلَىَّ أَنْ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ

Is this a favor that you remind me with, that you have enslaved the Children of Israel?⁸

قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَا رَبُّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

Pharaoh said, “What is ‘the Lord of the worlds’?”

قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ

Moses said, “The Lord of the heavens and earth and all that is between them, if only you had sure faith.”

قَالَ لِمَنْ حَوْلَهُۥٓ أَلَا تَسْتَمِعُونَ

Pharaoh said to those around him, “Did you hear [what he just said]?”

قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Moses said, “Your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.”

قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ لَمَجْنُونٌ

Pharaoh said, “Your messenger who has been sent to you is truly insane!”

قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ وَٱلْمَغْرِبِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

Moses said, “Lord of the east and west and all that is between them, if only you had sense!”

قَالَ لَئِنِ ٱتَّخَذْتَ إِلَٰهًا غَيْرِى لَأَجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْمَسْجُونِينَ

Pharaoh said, “If you take any god other than me, I will throw you into prison.”

قَالَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكَ بِشَىْءٍ مُّبِينٍ

Moses said, “What if I bring you a clear proof?”

قَالَ فَأْتِ بِهِۦٓ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ

Pharaoh said, “Bring it then if you are truthful!”

فَأَلْقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ

So he threw down his staff, and suddenly it was a real serpent.

وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُۥ فَإِذَا هِىَ بَيْضَآءُ لِلنَّٰظِرِينَ

And he drew out his hand, and it was glowing white to the beholders.

قَالَ لِلْمَلَإِ حَوْلَهُۥٓ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَٰحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him, “This is indeed a learned magician!

يُرِيدُ أَن يُخْرِجَكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُم بِسِحْرِهِۦ فَمَاذَا تَأْمُرُونَ

He wants to drive you out of your land with his magic. What do you suggest?”

قَالُوٓا۟ أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَٱبْعَثْ فِى ٱلْمَدَآئِنِ حَٰشِرِينَ

They said, “Let him and his brother wait and dispatch heralds to the cities

يَأْتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَحَّارٍ عَلِيمٍ

to bring you every learned magician.”

فَجُمِعَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ لِمِيقَٰتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ

So the magicians were assembled at an appointed time on a known day⁹.

وَقِيلَ لِلنَّاسِ هَلْ أَنتُم مُّجْتَمِعُونَ

And it was said to the people, “Will you join the gathering,

لَعَلَّنَا نَتَّبِعُ ٱلسَّحَرَةَ إِن كَانُوا۟ هُمُ ٱلْغَٰلِبِينَ

so that we may follow the magicians, if they are victorious?”

فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ قَالُوا۟ لِفِرْعَوْنَ أَئِنَّ لَنَا لَأَجْرًا إِن كُنَّا نَحْنُ ٱلْغَٰلِبِينَ

When the magicians came, they said to Pharaoh, “Will there be a reward for us if we are victorious?”

قَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِنَّكُمْ إِذًا لَّمِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ

He said, “Yes, and then you will surely be of those who are close to me.”

قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰٓ أَلْقُوا۟ مَآ أَنتُم مُّلْقُونَ

Moses said to them, “Throw whatever you wish to throw.”

فَأَلْقَوْا۟ حِبَالَهُمْ وَعِصِيَّهُمْ وَقَالُوا۟ بِعِزَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ ٱلْغَٰلِبُونَ

So they threw their ropes and staffs, and said, “By the glory of Pharaoh, it is we who will be the victorious!”

فَأَلْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ

Then Moses threw his staff, and at once it swallowed up all objects of their illusion.

فَأُلْقِىَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ سَٰجِدِينَ

So the magicians fell down in prostration.

قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

They said, “We believe in the Lord of the worlds,

رَبِّ مُوسَىٰ وَهَٰرُونَ

the Lord of Moses and Aaron.”

قَالَ ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُۥ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحْرَ فَلَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَٰفٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

Pharaoh said, “How dare you believe in him before I give you permission. Indeed, he is your master who taught you magic, but you will soon come to know. I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, then I will crucify you all.”

قَالُوا۟ لَا ضَيْرَ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا مُنقَلِبُونَ

They said, “No harm; we will surely return to our Lord.

إِنَّا نَطْمَعُ أَن يَغْفِرَ لَنَا رَبُّنَا خَطَٰيَٰنَآ أَن كُنَّآ أَوَّلَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

We hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, as we are the first of the believers.”

وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِىٓ إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ

We inspired Moses, “Leave with My slaves by night; you will surely be pursued.”

فَأَرْسَلَ فِرْعَوْنُ فِى ٱلْمَدَآئِنِ حَٰشِرِينَ

So Pharaoh sent heralds to the cities¹⁰,

إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ لَشِرْذِمَةٌ قَلِيلُونَ

saying, “These are but a small band,

وَإِنَّهُمْ لَنَا لَغَآئِظُونَ

and they have enraged us,

وَإِنَّا لَجَمِيعٌ حَٰذِرُونَ

but we are all well-prepared.”

فَأَخْرَجْنَٰهُم مِّن جَنَّٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ

Thus did We drive them¹¹ out of their gardens and springs,

وَكُنُوزٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ

and their treasures and splendid dwellings.

كَذَٰلِكَ وَأَوْرَثْنَٰهَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ

So it was, and We made the Children of Israel to inherit them.

فَأَتْبَعُوهُم مُّشْرِقِينَ

They pursued them at sunrise.

فَلَمَّا تَرَٰٓءَا ٱلْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ

When the two groups saw each other, the companions of Moses said, “We are surely overtaken!”

قَالَ كَلَّآ إِنَّ مَعِىَ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ

Moses said, “Certainly not! My Lord is with me; He will guide me.”

فَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَٱنفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَٱلطَّوْدِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

Then We inspired Moses, “Strike the sea with your staff,” so it parted, and each part became like a huge mountain.

وَأَزْلَفْنَا ثَمَّ ٱلْـَٔاخَرِينَ

Then We brought the others [i.e., the pursuers] close to that place,

وَأَنجَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥٓ أَجْمَعِينَ

and We saved Moses and all those who were with him.

ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا ٱلْـَٔاخَرِينَ

Then we drowned the others.

إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Indeed, there is a sign in this, yet most of them would not believe.

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Indeed, your Lord is the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful.

وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ

Relate to them the story of Abraham,

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِۦ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ

when he said to his father and his people, “What do you worship?”

قَالُوا۟ نَعْبُدُ أَصْنَامًا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَٰكِفِينَ

They said, “We worship idols and remain devoted to them.”

قَالَ هَلْ يَسْمَعُونَكُمْ إِذْ تَدْعُونَ

He said, “Do they hear you when you call upon them?

أَوْ يَنفَعُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَضُرُّونَ

Or can they benefit or harm you?”

قَالُوا۟ بَلْ وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا كَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ

They said, “No, but this is what we found our forefathers doing.”

قَالَ أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ

He said, “Do you see what you have been worshiping,

أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُمُ ٱلْأَقْدَمُونَ

you and your ancestors?

فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِّىٓ إِلَّا رَبَّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

Indeed, they are my enemies, except the Lord of the worlds¹²,

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَنِى فَهُوَ يَهْدِينِ

Who created me, so He guides me;

وَٱلَّذِى هُوَ يُطْعِمُنِى وَيَسْقِينِ

and it is He Who provides me with food and drink;

وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ

and when I am ill He heals me;