Surah Al-Qaşaş (The Stories) in English

1. ولما بلغ أشده واستوى آتيناه حكما وعلما وكذلك نجزي المحسنين

   14

   When he came of age and became fully matured, We gave him judgement and knowledge, and thus do We reward the virtuous.

   wa-lammā balagha ʾashuddahū wa-stawā ʾātaynāhu ḥukman wa-ʿilman wa-ka-dhālika najzī l-muḥsinīna

2. ودخل المدينة على حين غفلة من أهلها فوجد فيها رجلين يقتتلان هذا من شيعته وهذا من عدوه فاستغاثه الذي من شيعته على الذي من عدوه فوكزه موسى فقضى عليه قال هذا من عمل الشيطان إنه عدو مضل مبين

   15

   [One day] he entered the city at a time when its people were not likely to take notice. He found there two men fighting, this one from among his followers, and that one from his enemies. The one who was from his followers sought his help against him who was from his enemies. So Moses hit him with his fist, whereupon he expired. He said, ‘This is of Satan’s doing. Indeed he is clearly a misguiding enemy.’

   wa-dakhala l-madīnata ʿalā ḥīni ghaflatin min ʾahlihā fa-wajada fīhā rajulayni yaqtatilāni hādhā min shīʿatihī wa-hādhā min ʿaduwwihī fa-staghāthahu lladhī min shīʿatihī ʿalā lladhī min ʿaduwwihī fa-wakazahū mūsā fa-qaḍā ʿalayhi qāla hādhā min ʿamali sh-shayṭāni ʾinnahū ʿaduwwun muḍillun mubīnun

3. قال رب إني ظلمت نفسي فاغفر لي فغفر له إنه هو الغفور الرحيم

   16

   He said, ‘My Lord! I have wronged myself. Forgive me!’ So He forgave him. Indeed, He is the All-forgiving, the All-merciful.

   qāla rabbi ʾinnī ẓalamtu nafsī faghfir lī fa-ghafara lahū ʾinnahū huwa l-ghafūru r-raḥīmu

4. قال رب بما أنعمت علي فلن أكون ظهيرا للمجرمين

   17

   He said, ‘My Lord! As You have blessed me, I will never be a supporter of the guilty.’

   qāla rabbi bi-mā ʾanʿamta ʿalayya fa-lan ʾakūna ẓahīran li-l-mujrimīna

5. فأصبح في المدينة خائفا يترقب فإذا الذي استنصره بالأمس يستصرخه قال له موسى إنك لغوي مبين

   18

   He rose at dawn in the city, fearful and vigilant, when behold, the one who had sought his help the day before, shouted for his help [once again]. Moses said to him, ‘You are indeed clearly perverse!’

   fa-ʾaṣbaḥa fī l-madīnati khāʾifan yataraqqabu fa-ʾidhā lladhī stanṣarahū bi-l-ʾamsi yastaṣrikhuhū qāla lahū mūsā ʾinnaka la-ghawiyyun mubīnun

6. فلما أن أراد أن يبطش بالذي هو عدو لهما قال يا موسى أتريد أن تقتلني كما قتلت نفسا بالأمس إن تريد إلا أن تكون جبارا في الأرض وما تريد أن تكون من المصلحين

   19

   But when he wanted to strike him who was an enemy of both of them, he said, ‘Moses, do you want to kill me, just like the one you killed yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land, and you do not desire to be one who brings about reform.’

   fa-lammā ʾan ʾarāda ʾan yabṭisha bi-lladhī huwa ʿaduwwun lahumā qāla yā-mūsā ʾa-turīdu ʾan taqtulanī ka-mā qatalta nafsan bi-l-ʾamsi ʾin turīdu ʾillā ʾan takūna jabbāran fī l-ʾarḍi wa-mā turīdu ʾan takūna mina l-muṣliḥīna

7. وجاء رجل من أقصى المدينة يسعى قال يا موسى إن الملأ يأتمرون بك ليقتلوك فاخرج إني لك من الناصحين

   20

   There came a man from the city outskirts, hurrying. He said, ‘Moses! The elite are indeed conspiring to kill you. So leave. I am indeed your well-wisher.’

   wa-jāʾa rajulun min ʾaqṣā l-madīnati yasʿā qāla yā-mūsā ʾinna l-malaʾa yaʾtamirūna bika li-yaqtulūka fa-khruj ʾinnī laka mina n-nāṣiḥīna

8. فخرج منها خائفا يترقب قال رب نجني من القوم الظالمين

   21

   So he left the city, fearful and vigilant. He said, ‘My Lord! Deliver me from the wrongdoing lot.’

   fa-kharaja minhā khāʾifan yataraqqabu qāla rabbi najjinī mina l-qawmi ẓ-ẓālimīna