Translation of the meanings of surah Ash-Shu'araa (1)

(1) (1) Ṭā, Seen, Meem.[1043]

[1043]- See footnote to 2:1.

(2) (2) These are the verses of the clear Book.

(3) (3) Perhaps, [O Muḥammad], you would kill yourself with grief that they will not be believers.

(4) (4) If We willed, We could send down to them from the sky a sign for which their necks would remain humbled.[1044]

[1044]- i.e., they would be compelled to believe.

(5) (5) And no mention [i.e., revelation] comes to them anew from the Most Merciful except that they turn away from it.

(6) (6) For they have already denied, but there will come to them the news of that which they used to ridicule.

(7) (7) Did they not look at the earth - how much We have produced therein from every noble kind?

(8) (8) Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

(9) (9) And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

(10) (10) And [mention] when your Lord called Moses, [saying], "Go to the wrongdoing people -

(11) (11) The people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear Allāh?"

(12) (12) He said, "My Lord, indeed I fear that they will deny me

(13) (13) And that my breast will tighten and my tongue will not be fluent, so send for Aaron.

(14) (14) And they have upon me a [claim due to] sin, so I fear that they will kill me."

(15) (15) [Allāh] said, "No. Go both of you with Our signs; indeed, We are with you, listening.

(16) (16) Go to Pharaoh and say, 'We are the messengers[1045] of the Lord of the worlds,

[1045]- The singular form in Arabic indicates that both were sent with a single message.

(17) (17) [Commanded to say], "Send with us the Children of Israel."'"

(18) (18) [Pharaoh] said, "Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you remained among us for years of your life?

(19) (19) And [then] you did your deed which you did,[1046] and you were of the ungrateful."

[1046]- i.e., striking the Copt, who died as a result.

(20) (20) [Moses] said, "I did it, then, while I was of those astray [i.e., ignorant].

(21) (21) So I fled from you when I feared you. Then my Lord granted me judgement [i.e., wisdom and prophet hood] and appointed me [as one] of the messengers.

(22) (22) And is this a favor of which you remind me - that you have enslaved the Children of Israel?"

(23) (23) Said Pharaoh, "And what is the Lord of the worlds?"

(24) (24) [Moses] said, "The Lord of the heavens and earth and that between them, if you should be convinced."

(25) (25) [Pharaoh] said to those around him, "Do you not hear?"

(26) (26) [Moses] said, "Your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers."

(27) (27) [Pharaoh] said,[1047] "Indeed, your 'messenger' who has been sent to you is mad."

[1047]- Angrily addressing those present.

(28) (28) [Moses] said, "Lord of the east and the west and that between them, if you were to reason."

(29) (29) [Pharaoh] said, "If you take a god other than me, I will surely place you among those imprisoned."

(30) (30) [Moses] said, "Even if I brought you something [i.e., proof] manifest?"

(31) (31) [Pharaoh] said, "Then bring it, if you should be of the truthful."

(32) (32) So [Moses] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent manifest.[1048]

[1048]- i.e., clearly genuine.

(33) (33) And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white for the observers.

(34) (34) [Pharaoh] said to the eminent ones around him, "Indeed, this is a learned magician.

(35) (35) He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic, so what do you advise?"

(36) (36) They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers

(37) (37) Who will bring you every learned, skilled magician."

(38) (38) So the magicians were assembled for the appointment of a well-known day.[1049]

[1049]- i.e., the morning of the day of festival. See 20:58-59.

(39) (39) And it was said to the people, "Will you congregate.

(40) (40) That we might follow the magicians if they are the predominant?"

(41) (41) And when the magicians arrived, they said to Pharaoh, "Is there indeed for us a reward if we are the predominant?"

(42) (42) He said, "Yes, and indeed, you will then be of those near [to me]."

(43) (43) Moses said to them, "Throw whatever you will throw."

(44) (44) So they threw their ropes and their staffs and said, "By the might of Pharaoh, indeed it is we who are predominant."

(45) (45) Then Moses threw his staff, and at once it devoured what they falsified.

(46) (46) So the magicians fell down in prostration [to Allāh].

(47) (47) They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds,

(48) (48) The Lord of Moses and Aaron."

(49) (49) [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."

(50) (50) They said, "No harm. Indeed, to our Lord we will return.

(51) (51) Indeed, we aspire that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we were the first of the believers."

(52) (52) And We inspired to Moses, "Travel by night with My servants; indeed, you will be pursued."

(53) (53) Then Pharaoh sent among the cities gatherers[1050]

[1050]- Recruiters of an army to prevent the emigration of the Children of Israel.

(54) (54) [And said], "Indeed, those are but a small band,

(55) (55) And indeed, they are enraging us,

(56) (56) And indeed, we are a cautious society..."

(57) (57) So We removed them from gardens and springs

(58) (58) And treasures and honorable station[1051] -

[1051]- Allāh (Subḥānahu wa ta‘ālā) caused them to abandon their wealth and property in pursuit of the Israelites.

(59) (59) Thus. And We caused to inherit it the Children of Israel.

(60) (60) So they pursued them at sunrise.

(61) (61) And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moses said, "Indeed, we are to be overtaken!"

(62) (62) [Moses] said, "No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me."

(63) (63) Then We inspired to Moses, "Strike with your staff the sea," and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain.

(64) (64) And We advanced thereto the others [i.e., the pursuers].

(65) (65) And We saved Moses and those with him, all together.

(66) (66) Then We drowned the others.

(67) (67) Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

(68) (68) And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

(69) (69) And recite to them the news of Abraham,

(70) (70) When he said to his father and his people, "What do you worship?"

(71) (71) They said, "We worship idols and remain to them devoted."

(72) (72) He said, "Do they hear you when you supplicate?

(73) (73) Or do they benefit you, or do they harm?"

(74) (74) They said, "But we found our fathers doing thus."

(75) (75) He said, "Then do you see what you have been worshipping,

(76) (76) You and your ancient forefathers?

(77) (77) Indeed, they are enemies to me, except the Lord of the worlds,[1052]

[1052]- The people worshipped idols in addition to Allāh.

(78) (78) Who created me, and He [it is who] guides me.

(79) (79) And it is He who feeds me and gives me drink.

(80) (80) And when I am ill, it is He who cures me

(81) (81) And who will cause me to die and then bring me to life

(82) (82) And who I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense."

(83) (83) [And he said], "My Lord, grant me authority and join me with the righteous.

(84) (84) And grant me a mention [i.e., reputation] of honor among later generations.

(85) (85) And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of Pleasure.

(86) (86) And forgive my father. Indeed, he has been of those astray.

(87) (87) And do not disgrace me on the Day they are [all] resurrected -

(88) (88) The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children

(89) (89) But only one who comes to Allāh with a sound heart."

(90) (90) And Paradise will be brought near [that Day] to the righteous.

(91) (91) And Hellfire will be brought forth for the deviators,

(92) (92) And it will be said to them, "Where are those you used to worship

(93) (93) Other than Allāh? Can they help you or help themselves?"

(94) (94) So they will be overturned into it [i.e., Hellfire], they and the deviators

(95) (95) And the soldiers of Iblees, all together.

(96) (96) They will say while they dispute therein,

(97) (97) "By Allāh, we were indeed in manifest error

(98) (98) When we equated you with the Lord of the worlds.

(99) (99) And no one misguided us except the criminals.

(100) (100) So now we have no intercessors

(101) (101) And not a devoted friend.

(102) (102) Then if we only had a return [to the world] and could be of the believers..."[1053]

[1053]- The conclusion of this verse is estimated as "...we would do this or that."

(103) (103) Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

(104) (104) And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.