About the Surah

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

       Ta-Ha (Allah, Alone, knows their meanings).

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] We have not sent down the Quran to you to cause you hardship. (Also Surah Al-Kahf:6)

       Except as a reminder for those who fear (Allah).

       It is a revelation from Allah who has created the earth and high heavens.

       The Most Gracious (Allah) rose over the throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty).

       All that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, and all that is between them, and all that is under the soil, belongs to Allah.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] And if you speak aloud, He even knows the secret and also what is more hidden.

       Allah! None has the right to be worshipped except Him. His are the most Beautiful Names (which describe His Characteristics and Noble Virtues).

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] And has the story of Musa ( )  reached you? (i.e. it is a very beneficial story).

       (During his journey from Madyan) when he saw a fire (which was light but looked like fire), he said to his family: “Wait here. Indeed, I have seen a fire. Perhaps I can bring a flame of this fire for you or find some guidance near the fire (for our travelling route).”

       So when he reached (near the fire), he heard a call (saying:) “O Musa ( ) !

       “Indeed, I am your Creator! So take off your shoes, you are in a sacred valley called Tuwa.

       “And I have chosen you (to make you a Prophet). So listen to that which will be revealed (to you).

       “Indeed, I am Allah! None has the right to be worshipped except I. So worship Me and perform Salat for My Remembrance.

       “Indeed, the Day of Judgement will definitely occur. I intend to keep its timing hidden. It is to reward every person according to his efforts.

       “(You should believe and prepare yourself for the Day of Judgement). So let not a disbeliever and who follows his own lusts hinder you from it lest you be destroyed.

       “And what is that in your right hand, O Musa ( ) ?”

       Musa ( )  said: “This is my stick. I lean upon it and I beat down branches (of trees) with it for my sheep and I have many other benefits from it.”

       (Allah) said: “Throw it down (on the ground), O Musa ( ) !”

       He threw it down and, sud-denly, it became a snake and moved around quickly.

       (Allah) said: “Hold it (in your hand) and don’t fear. We shall change it to its former state.

       “And put your (right) hand in your (left) armpit. (Then take it out). It will become white (shining) without any defect or disease. This is another sign (of the Oneness of Allah, and of your Prophethood). (Also Surah Al-Qasas:32)

       “It is to show you some of Our Great Signs.

       “Go to Firaun! Indeed, he has transgressed (a lot).”

       (When Musa ( )  learnt that he is chosen as a Prophet and is to reform Firaun, Musa ( )  request-ed Allah): “O my Creator! Open for me my chest (i.e. raise my courage).

       “And make my (this preaching) task easy for me.

       “And remove the knot from my tongue (i.e. remove its defect).

       “So that people may understand my speech easily.

       “And appoint for me an assistant from my family.

       “Harun ( ) , my brother.

       “Increase my strength with him.

       “And make him my partner in my task.

       “So that we (both) may glorify You much,

       “And remember You much.

       “Indeed, You know us fully (we need Your Favours).”

       (Allah) said: “(All) your re-quests are granted, O Musa ( ) .

       “And, indeed, We did another Favour to you before this (even without any request from you).

       “When We inspired your mother, which is being mentioned here.

       “(Saying): ‘Put the child in a chest and put it into the river (Nile).(A branch of this river passed near the palace of Firaun). The river will throw the chest on its bank. Then my enemy and also enemy of this child shall take away the chest.’ And I made you a loving and attractive child (for Firaun and for other people) so that you may be brought up under My supervision.

       “(Remember) when your sister went (to Firaun’s house looking for you), so she said: ‘Shall I inform you about a person who will nurse the child (you did not accept milk of many ladies)?’ (She brought your mother and through this plan) We returned you back to your mother so that she might cool her eyes and she should not grieve. (When you grew up We did another favour to you). And you killed a person (by mistake and you were worried due to fear of revenge or punishment). We removed your worry (by sending you from Egypt to Madyan). And We put you through many trials. So you stayed with the people of Madyan (Midian) for many years. Then you came here as I decreed for you, O Musa ( ) .

       “And I have chosen you (as a Prophet) for Myself.

       “You and your brother go with My miracles (to the location you are instructed). And don’t slacken in My remembrance.

       “Both of you go to Firaun. He, indeed, has transgressed (a lot).

       “So speak to him kindly, per-haps he may accept advice or fear (from the punishment of Allah).”

       They said: “Our Creator! We are, indeed, afraid that he might harm us or cause us extreme torture (during the preaching).” 

       Allah said: “Don’t fear. I am with you both, hearing and seeing. (I shall protect you and make him hear your message).

       “So both of you go to him and say: ‘Indeed, we are messengers of your Creator, so let the Children of Israel go with us, and don’t torture them. (To support the claim of our Prophethood) we have come to you with a miracle from your Creator. And peace will be upon him who follows the guidance.

       ‘Indeed, it has been revealed to us that Allah’s torment will be inflicted upon him who rejects (the truth) and turns away from it.’”

       Firaun said: “O Musa ( ) ! Then who is the Creator of you both?”

       Musa ( )  said: “Our Creator is He Who has granted a specific shape and form to everything He has created, and then guided (every living thing e.g. even every animal and bird finds its food, its mate and its living place etc).

       Firaun said: “What about the generations which have passed away? (How will they be punished for their denial of truth?).”

       Musa ( )  said: “My Creator has the knowledge (of their deeds) in a record. My Creator does not make any mistake nor does He forget.”

       Who has made earth for you like a floor (to rest), and has made paths in it for you (to travel), and has sent down rain water from the sky, and has created with it various kinds of vegetation.

       To eat (from it) and graze your cattle too. Indeed, in that are signs (of the Power of Allah) for the people of understanding.

       We created you from the earth [through Adam ( ) ], and We shall return you to it and from it We shall bring you out again.

       And, indeed, We showed Firaun all of Our signs [given to Musa ( ) ] but he denied and refused.

       Firaun said: “Have you come to turn us out of our land with your magic, O Musa ( ) ?

       “So we will bring magic like this against you. Hence, fix a meeting between us and you, which neither we nor you shall fail to attend in a place where both shall have equal chances.”

       Musa ( )  said: “Your prom-ised meeting shall take place on the day of village fair (or festival) where people gather after sun rise.”

       So Firaun went away, firmed up his plan (by gathering his best magicians) and then came back (to the meeting place).

       Musa ( )  warned the magi-cians: “Woe to you! Don’t try to invent a lie against Allah. So He would destroy you completely by a torment. And he who invents a lie (against Allah) will perish.”

       (On hearing this) the magi-cians disputed the matter among themselves and made secret consul-tations.

       (Finally) they said: “Indeed, both of them are magicians who would like to expel you from your land with their magic and do away with your best tradition. (Also Surah Ar-Rum:32)

       “So make firm strategy, then line up (to compete). And whoever overcomes today will, indeed, be the winner.”

       They said: “O Musa ( ) , will you throw first, or we shall be the first to throw?”

       Musa ( )  said: “Rather you throw (first).” Then, suddenly their ropes and sticks, appeared to [Musa ( ) ] moving around quite fast due to their magic.

       So Musa ( )  felt a kind of fear deep in his heart.

       We (Allah) said: “Don’t be afraid! Indeed, you will dominate (them).

       “And throw that which is in your right hand. It will swallow that which they have made up. Indeed, what they have made is just a magician’s trick. And a magician will never be successful (against miracles) whatever (skills) he may come with.”

       [Musa ( )  threw his stick and it swallowed their ropes and sticks. The magicians realized that it is a miracle and not a magic]. Hence, the magicians fell down prostrate. They announced: “We believe in the Creator of Harun ( )  and Musa ( ) .”

       Firaun said: “Do you believe in him before I give you permission? Indeed, he is your bigger leader who has taught you magic. Hence, I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides and I will crucify you on the trunks of a palm tree and you shall soon come to know which of us can inflict more severe and lasting punishment.”

       They said: “We will never prefer you against the proofs which have come to us and against Him Who created us. So do whatever pleases you, since you can only command things in this worldly life.

       “Indeed, we have believed in our Creator hoping that He may forgive our sins, and the magic for which you put pressure on us. And (the reward from) Allah is better and more lasting.”

       Indeed, whoever comes to his Creator as a criminal, there is definitely Hell for him in which he will neither die nor live.

       And whoever comes to his Creator as a believer and has done good deeds, so for those are high levels (in the Hereafter).

       Paradise with everlasting Gardens, beneath which rivers flow. They will live in there forever. And such is the reward for those who purified themselves (by refraining from sins).

       And We revealed to Musa ( )  (saying): “Travel with my slaves during the night and (strike your stick to) make a dry Path for them in the sea. Don’t fear (about Firaun’s army following you) nor be afraid (of drowning in the sea).”

       So Firaun followed them with his troops, but the sea water covered them as it was supposed to cover. (Hence, Firaun and his troops were drowned).

       And Firaun led his people astray, and did not guide them.

       (Apart from this We did many other favours to the Children of Israel). O Children of Israel! We rescued you from your (big) enemy. And We promised you (i.e. your Prophet, for your benefit) to come to the right side of mountain Tur (and gave him Taurat there). And We sent down Al-Manna (a kind of grain) and Al-Salwa (quails) for you.

       Eat from the good lawful things which We have provided you and don’t transgress (the limits set by Islam. e.g., don’t acquire things by unlawful ways) lest My Wrath falls on you. And he on whom My Wrath falls, is, indeed, destroyed.

       And I forgive him who repents (for his sins) and believes, and does good deeds and (constantly) follows the guidance.

       (When Allah commanded Musa ( )  to come to Tur along with some of his followers to receive Taurat, Musa ( )  went there all alone being very keen to receive the Taurat.) (Allah said:) “And what made you hurry from your people, O Musa ( ) ?”

       Musa said: “They are following my footsteps. And I hurried to You, O my Creator, so that You might be pleased (by my advancement).”

       (Allah) said: “Indeed, We have put your people in a trial in your absence, and Samiri () has led them astray.”

       Then Musa ( )  returned to his people full of anger and sorrow. He said: “O my people! Did your Creator not make a good promise to you [for (i) Paradise or (ii) Victory or (iii) of Taurat]? Did this period (of fulfilling this promise) appear long to you? Or do you wish to have the Wrath of your Creator inflicted upon you, so you broke your promise made with me [to obey Harun ( )  in my absence]?”

       They said: “We did not break the promise to you on our own will. In fact, we were made to carry the weight of the ornaments of (Firaun’s) people, so we threw them (into the fire with the suggestion of Samiri). Then similarly Samiri threw (into the fire the ornaments with him).”

       Then Samiri brought out (of the Fire) for them a calf-like body which gave a lowing sound. So they said (to each other): “This is your god and the god of Musa ( ) , but [Musa ( ) ] has forgotten.”

       (Allah said): “Did they not see that it did not answer them at all, and it neither has any power to harm them nor to do them any good?”

       And Harun ( )  reminded them beforehand (i.e. before arrival of Musa ( ) ] (saying): “O my people! Indeed, you are being tested by this, and, indeed, your Creator is the Most Gracious (Allah). Hence, obey me and follow my instructions (in religious activities).”

       They said: “We will not stop worshipping the calf, until Musa ( )  returns to us.”

       [Then Musa ( )  arrived]. He said: “O Harun ( ) ! What prevented you when you saw them going astray (in joining me in Tur so that they realize that you totally disapprove their activity).

       (What prevented you) from not following me? Have you then disobeyed my order? (i.e. don’t follow the Path of the evil-doers as in Surah Al-Araf:142).

       Harun ( )  said: “O son of my mother! (Please) don’t catch me by my beard, or by my head. (Please listen to my excuse). I, indeed, feared lest you should say: ‘You have divided the Children of Israel into groups and you did not wait for my instructions.’”

       Musa ( )  said: “O Samiri! So what is the matter with you (i.e.what made you do so)?”

       Samiri said: “I saw what they did not see. So I took a handful (of dust) from the footprint of messenger (i.e. Jibrael’s ( )  horse) and threw it (into the Fire). I just felt like doing this.”

       Musa ( )  said: “So (you) go away. Indeed, your punishment in this life will be that you will say (to anybody you come across): “Don’t touch me” (by touching both will get high fever. Hence, he lived in the forest with animals for the rest of his life). And there is another promise for you which will definitely be fulfilled (i.e. punishment in the Hereafter). And look at your god which you worshipped with great devotion. We will definitely burn it and scatter its particles in the river.”

       Indeed, your God is only Allah. None has the right to be worshipped except Him. His knowledge encom-passes everything.

       Thus We describe to you [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] from the news of the past events (so that it adds to the proofs of your Prophethood). And, indeed, We have given you from Us a Reminder (i.e. the Quran which is itself a proof of your Prophethood).

       Whoever turns away from it (the Quran), they will carry a big burden (of sins) on the Day of Judgement.

       They will reside in that (state) forever. And it will be an evil burden for them on the Day of Judgement.

       The Day when (the second) Trumpet will be blown (everything will come to life again), We shall gather the criminals with blue eyes (due to thirst and terror as in Tafsir Qurtubi).

       (They will be extremely terrified) And they will be saying to each other in a very low voice (saying): “You stayed (in the world or in the graves) not more than ten (days).”

       We know very well what they will say (about the period) when the better among them in wisdom will say: “You stayed no longer than a day!” (Also Surah Ar-Rum:55)

       And they ask you concerning the mountains, say: “My Creator will break them into tiny particles (on the Day of Judgement) and scatter them (as particles). 

       “And He shall make earth a levelled clear plain.

       “You will see nothing crooked in it or with ups and downs.”

       On that Day people will follow (Allah’s) caller and they shall not show any disobedience to the calling angel. (Out of terror) all the voices will be humbled for the Most Gracious (Allah) and you shall hear nothing except very low sound of their footsteps (or slight whispering).

       On that Day no intercessions shall benefit except the one for whom the Most Gracious (Allah) has granted permission and approved his wording.

       Allah knows what they do (in this world) and what will happen to them (in the Hereafter) and none can encompass anything of His Knowledge.

       And (all) faces shall be humbled before the Ever Living; the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. And he who carried a burden of wrong-doings will perish (on that Day).

       And he who does good deeds while he is a believer, so he will have no fear of injustice nor of depriving him of his reward.

       And thus We have sent down the Quran in Arabic and We have explained the warnings in it in detail in order that people may fear Allah or to give them some food for thought.

       So High above all is Allah, the True King (who revealed the beneficial Quran). [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Don’t hasten to recite the Quran (during the revelation) before its revelation is completed to you and say: “O my Creator! Increase my knowledge.”

       And, indeed, We took a promise from Adam ( )  before, (detail of which follows later) but he forgot and We did not find him firm in his will-power.

       And (remember) when We said to the angels: “You prostrate to Adam ( ) . They prostrated themselves all except Satan. He refused.”

       So We said: “O Adam ( ) ! Indeed, This is your enemy and also enemy of your wife lest he gets both of you expelled from the Paradise causing you hardships (e.g. seeking means of livelihood etc.).

       “Indeed, here you will never be hungry or naked.

       “And, indeed, you will never be thirsty nor you will suffer from the sun’s heat as a promise from Us.”

       So Satan whispered to him, saying: “O Adam ( ) ! Shall I show you the tree of Eternal life and kingdom which will never become weak?”

       So both of them ate from the tree and hence, their private parts became uncovered. They started covering themselves with leaves of Paradise and Adam ( )  did disobey his Creator and he slipped away (from the Right Path).

       (When they repented) then His Creator chose him, so accepted his repentance, and guided him (to the Right Path).

       Allah said: “Both of you get down, together, (from Paradise to earth). Some (of your children) are going to be enemies of one another. So if My guidance comes to you, then whoever follows My guidance he shall not go astray, nor shall experience any hardship.

       “And whoever turns away from My Reminder, for him is life of hardships (in this world and in the grave), and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.”

       He will say: “O my Creator! Why have you raised me up blind while I had eyesight before (in the world)?”

       Allah will say: “It should be like this. You are ignored today just as you ignored Our revelations which came to you.”

       And thus We do punish him who transgresses and does not believe in the revelations of his Creator. And definitely the torment of the Hereafter is far more severe and more lasting.

       Did it not guide them that We destroyed many communities before them, in whose dwellings they walk? Indeed, there are signs in this for the people of understanding.

       Had your Creator not decided this in advance (to delay the punishment due to some wisdom) and had fixed a time for it, the torment would have definitely struck them by now (in this world).

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] So be patient about what they say, and glorify the praise of your Creator before the rising of the sun, and before its setting and during the parts of the night, and at the ends of the day (i.e. five compulsory prayers) so that you are pleased (with the level you attain with Allah).

       And don’t care to even look towards those things which We have given for enjoyment to various groups from them. It is the pomp and show of this life to test them with it. But the provision of your Creator is better and more lasting.

       And insist upon your family to perform Salat and be patient in performing it (the Salat). We don’t ask you (and others) for provision; rather We provide you (and others). And good end (i.e. Paradise) is for the pious people only.

       And they said: “Why does he not bring us a proof (of his Prophethood) from his Creator? Has clear proof not come to them in the earlier Scriptures [about the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)]?

       And if We have destroyed them with a torment before this [i.e. the coming of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)], they would surely have said: “Our Creator! Why did you not send a messenger to us so that we could follow Your revelations before we were humiliated and disgraced?”

       [Hence, disbelievers’ this excuse is not valid any more. They say when will that torment come? O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “Everyone is waiting, so you wait too. And you shall soon come to know who are on the Straight Path and who are guided (to the Right Path).”