Alim - Islamic software for Quran and Hadith
Back arrow Back
Bookmark iconBookmarks
Bookmark iconTranslation settings
Bookmark iconArabic font settings
Bookmark iconEnglish font settings
Bookmark iconReset global font settings
Login
  • Al-Qur'anKids Qur'anAl Qur'an RecitersAl Qur'an VideosAl Qur'an TranslationsAl Qur'an Compare TranslationAl Qur'an TafsirAl-Quran Surah InformationAppendix
  • Hadith CollectionAl-Muwatta HadithFiqh-us-SunnahSahih Bukhari HadithSahih Muslim HadithNawawi HadithAl-TirmidhiHadith QudsiSunan of Abu Dawood HadithSunan an-Nasai HadithSunan Ibn Majah Hadith
  • Islamic HistoryAbout IslamKhalifa Abu BakrKhalifa Umar bin al-KhattabKhalifa Uthman ibn AffanKhalifa Ali bin Abu TalibProphet CompanionsStories of ProphetsHistory TimelineIslam PostersIslamic Terms DictionaryProphet's Last SermonPilgrimage
  • Duas CollectionQur'anic DuasMasnoon (Prophetic) DuasRamadan Days
  • Discussions
  • Search
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
What's new Donate Contact Us Alim Mobile App
mobile app svg

Surah 20. Ta-Ha

Home ➜
Al-Qur'an ➜
Previous Next
Your browser does not support the audio element.

Qur'an

Translation

Home ➜
Al-Qur'an ➜
Alim - Islamic software for Quran and Hadith
Loding surahs.
Loding juz list.
Loding page list.

Your search did not yield any results.

Print
20:11
فَلَمَّآ أَتَىٰهَا نُودِىَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ Falamm a at a h a noodiya y a moos a
But when he came close to it, a voice called out:8 "O Moses!
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "he was called".

When he reached there, he was called: "O Musa!
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
But when he approached it, he was called, 'O Moses!
  - Mustafa Khattab
And when he reached it, he was called by name: O Moses!
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
But when he came to the fire a voice was heard: "O Moses!
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:12
إِنِّىٓ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكَ فَٱخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ بِٱلْوَادِ ٱلْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى Innee an a rabbuka fa i khlaAA naAAlayka innaka bi a lw a di almuqaddasi t uw a n
Verily, I am thy Sustainer! Take off, then, thy sandals! Behold, thou art in the twice-hallowed valley,9
  - Mohammad Asad

Whereas some commentators assume that the word tuwan (or tawa) is the name of the "hallowed valley", Zamakhshari explains it, more convincingly, as meaning "twice" (from tawan or tiwan, "twice done")-i.e., "twice-hallowed" - apparently because God's voice was heard in it and because Moses was raised there to prophethood.

In fact, I am your Rabb! Take off your shoes, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
It is truly I. I am your Lord! So take off your sandals, for you are in the sacred valley of Ṭuwa.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Lo! I, even I, am thy Lord. So take off thy shoes, for Lo! thou art in the holy valley of Tuwa.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"Verily I am thy Lord! Therefore (in My presence) put off thy shoes: thou art in the sacred valley Tuwa. 2543 2544
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The shoes are to be put off as a mark of respect. Moses was now to put away his mere worldly interests, he having been chosen by Allah, the Most High.

This was the valley just below Mount Sinai, where subsequently he was to receive the Torah.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:13
وَأَنَا ٱخْتَرْتُكَ فَٱسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَىٰٓ Waan a ikhtartuka fa i stamiAA lim a yoo ha
and I have chosen thee [to be My apostle]: listen, then, to what is being revealed [unto thee].
  - Mohammad Asad
I have chosen you, so listen to what I am about to reveal.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed:
  - Mustafa Khattab
And I have chosen thee, so hearken unto that which is inspired.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"I have chosen thee: listen then to the inspiration (sent to thee).
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:14
إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدْنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكْرِىٓ Innanee an a All a hu l a il a ha ill a an a fa o AAbudnee waaqimi a l ss al a ta li th ikree
"Verily, I - I alone - am God; there is no deity save Me. Hence, worship Me alone, and be constant in prayer, so as to remember Me!10
  - Mohammad Asad

Thus, conscious remembrance of God and of His oneness and uniqueness is declared to be the innermost purpose, as well as the intellectual justification of all true prayer.

It is Me, Allah; there is none worthy of worship except Me, so worship Me and establish Salah for My remembrance.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'It is truly I. I am Allah! There is no god 'worthy of worship' except Me. So worship Me 'alone', and establish prayer for My remembrance.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Lo! I, even I, am Allah. There is no God save Me. So serve Me and establish worship for My remembrance.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"Verily I am Allah: there is no god but I: so serve thou me (only) and establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:15
إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ Inna a l ss a AAata a tiyatun ak a du okhfeeh a litujz a kullu nafsin bim a tasAA a
"Behold, [although] I have willed to keep it11 hidden, the Last Hour is bound to come, so that every human being may be recompensed in accordance with what he strove for [in life].12
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., the time of its coming.

The expression "what he strove for" implies consciousness of endeavour, and thus excludes involuntary actions (in the widest sense of the latter term, comprising everything that is manifested in word or actual deed), as well as involuntary omissions, irrespective of whether the relevant action or omission is morally good or bad. By enunciating the above principle within the context of the story of Moses, the Qur'an stresses the essential identity of the ethical concepts underlying all true religions. (See also {53: 39} and the corresponding note [32].)

The final Hour is sure to come, I choose to keep it hidden, so that every soul may be rewarded according to its efforts.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
The Hour is sure to come. My Will is to keep it hidden, so that every soul may be rewarded according to their efforts.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Lo! the Hour is surely coming. But I will to keep it hidden, that every soul may be rewarded for that which it striveth (to achieve).
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"Verily the Hour is coming My design is to keep it hidden for every soul to receive its reward by the measure of its endeavor. 2545 2546
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The first need is to mend our lives and worship and serve Allah, as in the last verse. The next is to realise the meaning of the Hereafter, when every soul will get the meed of its conduct in this life.

Ukhfi may mean either "keep it hidden", or "make it manifest", and the Commentators have taken, some one meaning and some the other. If the first is taken, it means that the exact hour or day when the Judgment comes is hidden from man; if the second, it means that the fact of the Judgment to come is made known, that man may remember and take warning. I think that both meanings are implied.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:16
فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ فَتَرْدَىٰ Fal a ya s uddannaka AAanh a man l a yuminu bih a wa i ttabaAAa haw a hu fatard a
Hence, let not anyone who does not believe in its coming13 and follows [but] his own desires divert thee from [belief in] it, lest thou perish!
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "in it".

Therefore, let not any, who does not believe in this fact and follow his own desires, turn your away, lest you should perish."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
So do not let those who disbelieve in it and follow their desires distract you from it, or you will be doomed.''
  - Mustafa Khattab
Therefor, let not him turn thee aside from (the thought of) it who believeth not therein but followeth his own desire, lest thou perish.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"Therefore let not such as believe not therein but follow their own lusts divert thee therefrom lest thou perish!" 2547
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Moses had yet to meet the formidable opposition of the arrogant, Pharaoh and his proud Egyptians, and latter, the rebellion of his own people. In receiving his commission, he is warned of both dangers. This relates to man's own soul: when once the light reaches him, let him hold fast to it lest he perish. He will be beset with dangers of all kinds around him...the worst will be the danger of unbelieving people who seem to thrive on their selfishness and in following their own vain desires!

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:17
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ Wam a tilka biyameenika y a moos a
"Now, what is this in thy right hand, O Moses?"
  - Mohammad Asad
"O Musa what is in your right hand?"
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'Allah added,' 'And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?'
  - Mustafa Khattab
And what is that in thy right hand, O Moses?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And what is that in thy right hand O Moses?"
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:18
قَالَ هِىَ عَصَاىَ أَتَوَكَّؤُا۟ عَلَيْهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَىٰ غَنَمِى وَلِىَ فِيهَا مَـَٔارِبُ أُخْرَىٰ Q a la hiya AAa sa ya atawakkao AAalayh a waahushshu bih a AAal a ghanamee waliya feeh a ma a ribu okhr a
He answered: "It is my staff; I lean on it; and with it I beat down leaves for my sheep; and [many] other uses have I for it."
  - Mohammad Asad
Musa replied: "It is my staff; I lean on it, I beat down fodder with it for my flocks and I have also other uses for it".
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
He replied, 'It is my staff! I lean on it, and with it I beat down 'branches' for my sheep, and have other uses for it.'1
  - Mustafa Khattab

 Moses could have just said, “A staff.” But he volunteered to talk about the uses of the staff, adding that there are many other uses he has not mentioned, with the hope that Allah would ask him about it more. The reason is that Moses wanted to prolong the conversation with Allah as much as he could.

He said: This is my staff whereon I lean, and wherewith I beat down branches for my sheep, and wherein I find other uses.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
He said "It is my rod: on it I lean; with it I beat down fodder for my flocks; and in it I find other uses." 2548
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Now comes the miracle of the rod. First of all, the attention of Moses himself is drawn to it, and he thinks of the ordinary uses to which he puts it in his daily life.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:19
قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يَـٰمُوسَىٰ Q a la alqih a y a moos a
Said He: "Throw it down, O Moses!"
  - Mohammad Asad
Allah said "Toss it down O Musa".
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Allah said, 'Throw it down, O Moses!'
  - Mustafa Khattab
He said: Cast it down, O Moses!
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
(Allah) said "Throw it O Moses!"
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:20
فَأَلْقَىٰهَا فَإِذَا هِىَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَىٰ Faalq a h a fai tha hiya h ayyatun tasAA a
So he threw it - and lo! it was a snake, moving rapidly.
  - Mohammad Asad
So he toss it down and saw that it became a snake active in motion.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
So he did, then- behold!- it became a serpent, slithering.
  - Mustafa Khattab
So he cast it down, and Lo! it was a serpent, gliding.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
He threw it and behold! it was a snake active in motion. 2549
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. vii. 107, where a different word (thu'ban) is used for "snake", and the qualifying adjective is "plain (for all to see)". The scene there is before Pharaoh and his magicians and people: the object is to show the hollowness of their magic by a miracle: the rod appears before them as a long and creeping writhing serpent. Here there is a sign to present Allah's power to Moses's mind and understanding: the rod becomes a Haiy (a live snake), and its active motion is what is most to be impressed on the mind of Moses, for there were no other spectators.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:21
قَالَ خُذْهَا وَلَا تَخَفْ ۖ سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيرَتَهَا ٱلْأُولَىٰ Q a la khu th h a wal a takhaf sanuAAeeduh a seeratah a alool a
Said He: "Take hold of it, and fear not: We shall restore it to its former state.14
  - Mohammad Asad

The miraculous transformation of the staff into a serpent has, I believe, a mystic significance: it seems to be an allusion to the intrinsic difference between appearance and reality, and, consequently, to the spiritual insight into this difference bestowed by God on His chosen servants (cf. the experience of Moses with the unnamed sage described in (18:66-82}). This interpretation finds strong support in 27:10 and 28:31 , in both of which places it is said that Moses saw the staff "move rapidly, as if it were a serpent (ka’annaha jann)"

Allah said: "Catch it and don't be afraid, We shall change it to its original shape.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Allah said, 'Take it, and have no fear. We will return it to its former state.
  - Mustafa Khattab
He said: Grasp it and fear not. We shall return it to its former state.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
(Allah) said "Seize it and fear not: We shall return it at once to its former condition"...
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:22
وَٱضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَىٰ جَنَاحِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَآءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوٓءٍ ءَايَةً أُخْرَىٰ Wa o d mum yadaka il a jan ah ika takhruj bay da a min ghayri sooin a yatan okhr a
"Now place thy hand within thy armpit: it will come forth [shining] white, without blemish,15 as another sign [of Our grace],
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., strangely luminescent by virtue of the prophethood to which he had been raised. (See also note [85] on 7:108 .)

Now put your hand under your armpit, it shall become shining white without hurting you, this will be another Sign.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And put your hand under your armpit, it will come out 'shining' white, unblemished,1 as another sign,
  - Mustafa Khattab

 Moses, who was dark-skinned, was asked to put his hand under his armpit. When he took it out it was shining white, but not out of a skin condition like melanoma.

And thrust thy hand within thine armpit, it will come forth white without hurt. (That will be) another token.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Now draw thy hand close to thy side: it shall come forth white (and shining) without harm (or stain) as another Sign 2550
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The second of the greater Miracles shown to Moses was the "White (shining) Hand". Ordinarily, when the skin becomes white, it is a sign of disease, leprosy or something loathsome. Here there was no question of disease: on the contrary, the hand was glorified, and it shone as with a divine light. Such a miracle was beyond Egyptian or human magic.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:23
لِنُرِيَكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ٱلْكُبْرَى Linuriyaka min a y a tin a alkubr a
so that We might make thee aware of some of Our greatest wonders.
  - Mohammad Asad
These miracles are given to you, in order to show you some of Our Great Signs.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
so that We may show you some of Our greatest signs.
  - Mustafa Khattab
That We may show thee (some) of Our greater portents,
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"In order that We may show thee (two) of Our Greater Signs.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:24
ٱذْهَبْ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ I th hab il a firAAawna innahu t agh a
"[And now] go thou unto Pharaoh: for, verily, he has transgressed all bounds of equity."16
  - Mohammad Asad

This seems to be a reference to Pharaoh’s greatest sin, namely, his claim to divine status (cf. 28:38 and 79:24 ).

Now go to Fir'on (Pharaoh) for he has indeed transgressed all bounds."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Go to Pharaoh, for he has truly transgressed 'all bounds'.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
Go thou unto Pharaoh! Lo! he hath transgressed (the bounds).
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"Go thou to Pharaoh for he had indeed transgressed all bounds." 2551
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Moses, having been spiritually prepared now gets his definite commission to go to Pharaoh and point out the error of his ways. So inordinate was Pharaoh's vanity that he had it in his mind to say: "I am your Lord Most High!" (lxxix. 24).

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
20:25
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى Q a la rabbi ishra h lee s adree
Said [Moses]: "O my Sustainer! Open up my heart [to Thy light],
  - Mohammad Asad
Musa prayed: "O Rabb! Open my heart,
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Moses prayed, 'My Lord! Uplift my heart for me,
  - Mustafa Khattab
(Moses) said: My Lord! Relieve my mind
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
(Moses) said: "O my Lord! expand me my breast;" 2552
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The breast is reputed to be the seat of knowledge and affections. The gift of the highest spiritual insight is what he prays for first. Cf. xciv. 1. This was the most urgent in point of time. There are three other things he also asks for: viz. (1) Allah's help in his task, which at first appears difficult to him, (2) the gift of eloquence, and the removal of the impediment from his speech; and (3) the counsel and constant attendance with him of his brother Aaron, whom he loved and trusted, for he would otherwise be alone among the Egyptians.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Previous Next

Tafsir

Ta-Ha

Loading tafsir.

Comments for Surah 20

Loading Comments.

Your Notes

Please wait...

Grammar

Ta-Ha

Scroll to top arrow

Do you want to resume from last visited ayah?

Do you want to resume tafsir of surah

Alim logo

Related Islamic Resources

Loading...

Learn Quran and Hadith with Alim's Unique Platform
Alim.org © 2025. All Rights Reserved

Resources

Insights

  • Funeral Services
  • Arabic Playhouse
  • Collaborations
  • Alim Mobile App
  • Get Involved
  • Ad Plans
  • Blog Pricing
  • Blogs
  • Insight of the Day
  • Hadith of the Day
  • Infographics
  • References
  • FAQ
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us