Surah Al-Qaşaş (The Stories) in English

1. وما كنت بجانب الغربي إذ قضينا إلى موسى الأمر وما كنت من الشاهدين

   44

   You were not on the western side when We revealed the commandments to Moses, nor were you among the witnesses.

   wa-mā kunta bi-jānibi l-gharbiyyi ʾidh qaḍaynā ʾilā mūsā l-ʾamra wa-mā kunta mina sh-shāhidīna

2. ولكنا أنشأنا قرونا فتطاول عليهم العمر وما كنت ثاويا في أهل مدين تتلو عليهم آياتنا ولكنا كنا مرسلين

   45

   But We brought forth other generations and time took its toll on them. You did not dwell among the people of Midian reciting to them Our signs, but it is We who are the senders [of the apostles].

   wa-lākinnā ʾanshaʾnā qurūnan fa-taṭāwala ʿalayhimu l-ʿumuru wa-mā kunta thāwiyan fī ʾahli madyana tatlū ʿalayhim ʾāyātinā wa-lākinnā kunnā mursilīna

3. وما كنت بجانب الطور إذ نادينا ولكن رحمة من ربك لتنذر قوما ما أتاهم من نذير من قبلك لعلهم يتذكرون

   46

   And you were not on the side of the Mount when We called out [to Moses], but [We have sent you as] a mercy from your Lord that you may warn a people to whom there did not come any warner before you, so that they may take admonition.

   wa-mā kunta bi-jānibi ṭ-ṭūri ʾidh nādaynā wa-lākin raḥmatan min rabbika li-tundhira qawman mā ʾatāhum min nadhīrin min qablika laʿallahum yatadhakkarūna

4. ولولا أن تصيبهم مصيبة بما قدمت أيديهم فيقولوا ربنا لولا أرسلت إلينا رسولا فنتبع آياتك ونكون من المؤمنين

   47

   And lest—if an affliction were to befall them because of what their hands have sent ahead —they should say, ‘Our Lord! Why did You not send us an apostle so that we might have followed Your signs and been among the faithful?’

   wa-law-lā ʾan tuṣībahum muṣībatun bi-mā qaddamat ʾaydīhim fa-yaqūlū rabbanā law-lā ʾarsalta ʾilaynā rasūlan fa-nattabiʿa ʾāyātika wa-nakūna mina l-muʾminīna

5. فلما جاءهم الحق من عندنا قالوا لولا أوتي مثل ما أوتي موسى أولم يكفروا بما أوتي موسى من قبل قالوا سحران تظاهرا وقالوا إنا بكل كافرون

   48

   But when there came to them the truth from Us, they said, ‘Why has he not been given the like of what Moses was given?’ Did they not disbelieve what Moses was given before, and said, ‘Two magicians abetting each other,’ and said, ‘Indeed we disbelieve both of them’?

   fa-lammā jāʾahumu l-ḥaqqu min ʿindinā qālū law-lā ʾūtiya mithla mā ʾūtiya mūsā ʾa-wa-lam yakfurū bi-mā ʾūtiya mūsā min qablu qālū siḥrāni taẓāharā wa-qālū ʾinnā bi-kullin kāfirūna

6. قل فأتوا بكتاب من عند الله هو أهدى منهما أتبعه إن كنتم صادقين

   49

   Say, ‘If you are truthful, bring some Book from Allah better in guidance than the two on them so that I may follow it.’

   qul fa-ʾtū bi-kitābin min ʿindi llāhi huwa ʾahdā minhumā ʾattabiʿhu ʾin kuntum ṣādiqīna

7. فإن لم يستجيبوا لك فاعلم أنما يتبعون أهواءهم ومن أضل ممن اتبع هواه بغير هدى من الله إن الله لا يهدي القوم الظالمين

   50

   Then if they do not respond to you[r] [summons], know that they only follow their desires, and who is more astray than him who follows his desires without any guidance from Allah? Indeed Allah does not guide the wrongdoing lot.

   fa-ʾin lam yastajībū laka fa-ʿlam ʾannamā yattabiʿūna ʾahwāʾahum wa-man ʾaḍallu mimmani ttabaʿa hawāhu bi-ghayri hudan mina llāhi ʾinna llāha lā yahdī l-qawma ẓ-ẓālimīna