Sura Ta-Ha
20
Introduction of Surah
Ta-Ha is the 20th sura of the Qur’an, deriving its name from a Qur’anic narrative, which occupies verse 1, consisting of two separated letters of the Arabic alphabet ‘Ta-Ha’. It belongs to the Meccan period and comprises 135 verses, 1,341 words, 5,242 letters, and 8 segments. It is the 45th sura in chronological order, revealed after Sura Maryam (Mary). It begins with a loving consolation to the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him): ‘This Qur’an is not revealed to you to cause you any burden or distress.’ According to some traditions, the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) had been praying all night, and his legs had become swollen. The first two verses were revealed to convey to the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) not to exhaust himself while worshipping Allah Almighty, which had caused strain and weakness in his body.
The sura begins by speaking about the account of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him), Prophet Harun (peace be upon him), the Pharoah, and the Children of Israel. The narration spans from verse 9–98 of the chapter. The sura details an account of the meeting of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) with Allah Almighty. As Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) entered the sacred valley of Tuwa, Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) was commanded by Allah Almighty to remove his sandals out of reverence for the holy place and the sacred encounter that was about to occur between Allah Almighty and Prophet Musa (peace be upon him). Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) then witnessed a fire on the mountain peak and Allah Almighty spoke to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him). On this occasion, Allah Almighty elected Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) as a messenger to the Children of Israel (Israelites). Allah Almighty commanded Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and Prophet Harun (peace be upon him) to communicate the message of Allah Almighty’s divinity and oneness to the Children of Israel and the Pharoah. Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and Prophet Harun (peace be upon him) were also instructed to demand the liberation of the Children of Israel from the Pharoah.
It is in the court of the Pharoah, that Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) encountered the court-magicians and displayed a miracle that left everyone emphatically amazed at the marvel they had witnessed. Prophet Musa’s miracle consumed the tricks of Pharoah’s magicians, leaving them bewildered and intent on declaring their belief in the Oneness of the Lord of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and Prophet Harun (peace be upon him). This incident is elaborated in this chapter which demonstrates the miraculous advent of Prophet Musa’s assignment to the Children of Israel and the Pharoah.
This chapter then states God Almighty’s favours toward the Children of Israel, including the provision of the manna and quail. The sura identifies the lack of gratitude of the Children of Israel toward God Almighty’s bestowal of sustenance and provisions. After which, this sustenance was ceased by God Almighty, leading to more ingratitude by the Children of Israel.
The chapter then relates the story of al-Samiri (the Samaritan) and the false worship of the Children of Israel in the absence of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him). The Children of Israel had returned to idol-worship in the form of a golden calf when Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) had been summoned by Allah Almighty to the Mount Sinai. Allah Almighty spoke to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and revealed commands for Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) to take back to the Children of Israel.
The sura proceeds to describe the terrifying events of the Day of Judgement and the torment that will follow. The sura also speaks about the rebellion of Iblis in the presence of Allah Almighty. The story of Prophet Adam and Hawwa’ (Eve [peace be upon both of them]) is described in this sura. The sura then declares a warning to Meccan disbelievers and advises the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) to remain patient and steadfast. The sura describes the times of the five daily prayers. Allah Almighty advises the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) to be patient in the face of the Meccan polytheists’ persecution, and to glorify his Lord before sunrise, before sunset, in the night hours and at both ends of the day. The sura concludes by exposing the Meccan idolaters as liars and rejecters of the truth. God Almighty warns the polytheists of Mecca to wait for the time when they shall certainly find out who is on the straight path and who is not. God Almighty says that on the Day of Judgement, none of their excuses will be accepted.
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In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the All-Merciful
20:1. Ta-Ha.
طه
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 1)
20:10. When he saw a fire (on his way back to Egypt from Madyan), he said to his family: ‘Stay here! Indeed, I have seen a fire. Perhaps I may bring you a flaming brand from it or find some guidance at the fire.’
إذ رأى نارا فقال لأهله امكثوا إني آنست نارا لعلي آتيكم منها بقبس أو أجد على النار هدى
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 10)
20:26. And make my task easy for me.
ويسر لي أمري
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 26)
20:30. my brother Harun (Aaron).
هارون أخي
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 30)
20:31. Increase my strength through him,
اشدد به أزري
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 31)
20:34. and remember You much.
ونذكرك كثيرا
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 34)
20:39. ‘Put him in the chest, then place it into the river. Then the river will throw him on the shore. An enemy of Mine and an enemy of his (i.e. Pharoah) shall pick him up (from there).’ And I blessed you with (an exceptional) love from Me that you might be brought up under My (caring) eyes.
أن اقذفيه في التابوت فاقذفيه في اليم فليلقه اليم بالساحل يأخذه عدو لي وعدو له وألقيت عليك محبة مني ولتصنع على عيني
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 39)
20:40. When your sister walked up (to Pharaoh’s family) and said: ‘Shall I direct you to someone who can nurse him?’ Then We brought you back to your mother, that her eyes might be cooled, and she should not grieve. Later, you killed a man (unintentionally), but We saved you from sorrow. Then We tried you with various trials. Then, you stayed among the people of Madyan (Midian) for years. Then you came (here) as ordained, O Musa (Moses)!
إذ تمشي أختك فتقول هل أدلكم على من يكفله فرجعناك إلى أمك كي تقر عينها ولا تحزن وقتلت نفسا فنجيناك من الغم وفتناك فتونا فلبثت سنين في أهل مدين ثم جئت على قدر يا موسى
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 40)
20:47. So both of you go to him and say: “Indeed we are two messengers of your Lord. Therefore, let the Children of Israel go with us. And do not persecute them (anymore). Indeed, We have brought you a sign from your Lord. Peace be upon him who follows guidance!
فأتياه فقولا إنا رسولا ربك فأرسل معنا بني إسرائيل ولا تعذبهم قد جئناك بآية من ربك والسلام على من اتبع الهدى
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 47)
20:53. (He is) the One Who made the earth a habitable cradle for you and made therein ways and means (of livelihood) for you and sent down water from the sky. Then, through it, We have brought out various pairs of vegetation.
الذي جعل لكم الأرض مهدا وسلك لكم فيها سبلا وأنزل من السماء ماء فأخرجنا به أزواجا من نبات شتى
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 53)
20:61. Musa (Moses) said to them (i.e. the sorcerers): ‘Woe to you! Do not fabricate a lie against Allah, lest He should destroy you with a punishment. Whoever fabricates (lies) will lose surely.’
قال لهم موسى ويلكم لا تفتروا على الله كذبا فيسحتكم بعذاب وقد خاب من افترى
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 61)
20:69. Throw down what is in your right hand. It will swallow up whatever they have produced. What they have produced is only a magician’s trick. And the magician will not be successful wherever he may come.’
وألق ما في يمينك تلقف ما صنعوا إنما صنعوا كيد ساحر ولا يفلح الساحر حيث أتى
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 69)
20:71. He (Pharaoh) said: ‘Do you profess faith in him before I permit you? He is indeed your chief who has taught you magic! I shall surely cut off your hands and your feet from opposite sides. And I shall surely crucify you on the trunks of palm trees. So you shall surely know which of us is more severe and more lasting in punishing.’
قال آمنتم له قبل أن آذن لكم إنه لكبيركم الذي علمكم السحر فلأقطعن أيديكم وأرجلكم من خلاف ولأصلبنكم في جذوع النخل ولتعلمن أينا أشد عذابا وأبقى
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 71)
20:72. They (the magicians) said: ‘We will never prefer you over the clear proofs that have come to us, nor over Him Who has created us. So decide whatever you (are determined to) decide. You can only decide about the life of this world.
قالوا لن نؤثرك على ما جاءنا من البينات والذي فطرنا فاقض ما أنت قاض إنما تقضي هذه الحياة الدنيا
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 72)
20:77. And We indeed revealed to Musa (saying): ‘Set forth with My servants by night. Then, strike out for them a dry path through the sea. Do not be afraid of being overtaken and have no fear (of getting drowned).’
ولقد أوحينا إلى موسى أن أسر بعبادي فاضرب لهم طريقا في البحر يبسا لا تخاف دركا ولا تخشى
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 77)
20:80. O Children of Israel! We saved you from your enemy. And We made a covenant with you on the right side of the Mount (Tur). And We sent down to you the manna and the quails.
يا بني إسرائيل قد أنجيناكم من عدوكم وواعدناكم جانب الطور الأيمن ونزلنا عليكم المن والسلوى
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 80)
20:81. (We said to you:) ‘Eat from the good things We have provided you, but do not exceed the limits therein, lest My wrath should befall you. And anyone upon whom My wrath befalls is certainly destroyed.’
كلوا من طيبات ما رزقناكم ولا تطغوا فيه فيحل عليكم غضبي ومن يحلل عليه غضبي فقد هوى
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 81)
20:86. So, Musa (Moses) returned to his people, wrathful and saddened. He said: ‘O my people! Did your Lord not make a gracious promise to you? Did the time (of its fulfilment) seem too long for you? Or did you desire that the wrath of your Lord should descend upon you? So you broke your promise to me.’
فرجع موسى إلى قومه غضبان أسفا قال يا قوم ألم يعدكم ربكم وعدا حسنا أفطال عليكم العهد أم أردتم أن يحل عليكم غضب من ربكم فأخلفتم موعدي
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 86)
20:87. They said: ‘We did not deliberately break (our) promise to you, but we were laden with the weight of people’s (golden) ornaments. So we threw them (into the fire), and Samiri also threw it.’
قالوا ما أخلفنا موعدك بملكنا ولكنا حملنا أوزارا من زينة القوم فقذفناها فكذلك ألقى السامري
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 87)
20:94. He (Aaron) said: ‘O son of my mother! Do not hold my beard or my head. I was scared you would say: ‘You have caused division among the Children of Israel, and you did not wait for my word.’’
قال يا ابن أم لا تأخذ بلحيتي ولا برأسي إني خشيت أن تقول فرقت بين بني إسرائيل ولم ترقب قولي
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 94)
20:96. He said: ‘I saw what they had not seen (i.e. the Archangel Gabriel). I took a handful (of dust) from the messenger’s footprints (from when he visited you), and then I threw it (in the gold casting for the calf). That is how my soul prompted me.’
قال بصرت بما لم يبصروا به فقبضت قبضة من أثر الرسول فنبذتها وكذلك سولت لي نفسي
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 96)
20:97. He (Musa [Moses]) said (to Samiri): ‘Get away (from here). It shall be for you (a punishment) in this life to keep saying: ‘Don’t touch me!’ And there is yet another promise (of punishment), which you will never be allowed to escape. Now, look at your god, which you have kept on worshipping. We shall surely burn it down and then scatter it into the sea like dust.
قال فاذهب فإن لك في الحياة أن تقول لا مساس وإن لك موعدا لن تخلفه وانظر إلى إلهك الذي ظلت عليه عاكفا لنحرقنه ثم لننسفنه في اليم نسفا
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 97)
20:108. On that Day, they will follow the inviter. There will be no escape from following him. And all voices shall be humbled before the Most-Compassionate (Lord), and you will hear nothing but a murmur.
يومئذ يتبعون الداعي لا عوج له وخشعت الأصوات للرحمن فلا تسمع إلا همسا
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 108)
20:114. So exalted is Allah, the Real Sovereign, the Ultimate Truth. And be not in haste with the Qur’an before its revelation to you is completed. And say: ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.’
فتعالى الله الملك الحق ولا تعجل بالقرآن من قبل أن يقضى إليك وحيه وقل رب زدني علما
(Ta-Ha, 20 : 114)
20:121. Then they both ate from it, and their private parts became exposed to them. So they began to stitch the leaves of Paradise over themselves. And (in this way) Adam failed to observe his Lord’s command. So, he missed the mark (and thus could not achieve eternal life).*
* Adam’s act of eating from the tree took place before he was blessed with prophethood. This incident took place in Paradise, whereas he was honoured with the blessing of prophethood after coming down from heaven and settling on the earth, as indicated in the next two verses: 122–123.
