Surah Ash-Shu`arā (The Poets) in English

1. لعلنا نتبع السحرة إن كانوا هم الغالبين

   40

   ‘Maybe we will follow the magicians, if they are victors!’

   laʿallanā nattabiʿu s-saḥarata ʾin kānū humu l-ghālibīna

2. فلما جاء السحرة قالوا لفرعون أئن لنا لأجرا إن كنا نحن الغالبين

   41

   So when the magicians came, they said to Pharaoh, ‘Shall we have a reward if we were to be the victors?’

   fa-lammā jāʾa s-saḥaratu qālū li-firʿawna ʾa-ʾinna lanā la-ʾajran ʾin kunnā naḥnu l-ghālibīna

3. قال نعم وإنكم إذا لمن المقربين

   42

   He said, ‘Of course; and you will be among members of my inner circle.’

   qāla naʿam wa-ʾinnakum ʾidhan la-mina l-muqarrabīna

4. قال لهم موسى ألقوا ما أنتم ملقون

   43

   Moses said to them, ‘Throw down whatever you have to throw!’

   qāla lahum mūsā ʾalqū mā ʾantum mulqūna

5. فألقوا حبالهم وعصيهم وقالوا بعزة فرعون إنا لنحن الغالبون

   44

   So they threw down their sticks and ropes, and said, ‘By the might of Pharaoh, we shall surely be victorious!’

   fa-ʾalqaw ḥibālahum wa-ʿiṣiyyahum wa-qālū bi-ʿizzati firʿawna ʾinnā la-naḥnu l-ghālibūna

6. فألقى موسى عصاه فإذا هي تلقف ما يأفكون

   45

   Thereat Moses threw down his staff, and behold, it was swallowing what they had faked.

   fa-ʾalqā mūsā ʿaṣāhu fa-ʾidhā hiya talqafu mā yaʾfikūna

7. فألقي السحرة ساجدين

   46

   Thereat the magicians fell down prostrating.

   fa-ʾulqiya s-saḥaratu sājidīna

8. قالوا آمنا برب العالمين

   47

   They said, ‘We believe in the Lord of all the worlds,

   qālū ʾāmannā bi-rabbi l-ʿālamīna

9. رب موسى وهارون

   48

   the Lord of Moses and Aaron.’

   rabbi mūsā wa-hārūna

10. قال آمنتم له قبل أن آذن لكم إنه لكبيركم الذي علمكم السحر فلسوف تعلمون لأقطعن أيديكم وأرجلكم من خلاف ولأصلبنكم أجمعين

    49

    He [i.e. Pharaoh] said, ‘Do you profess faith in Him before I should permit you? He is indeed your chief who has taught you magic! Soon you will know! I will cut off your hands and feet from opposite sides, and I will crucify you all.’

    qāla ʾāmantum lahū qabla ʾan ʾādhana lakum ʾinnahū la-kabīrukumu lladhī ʿallamakumu s-siḥra fa-la sawfa taʿlamūna la-ʾuqaṭṭiʿanna ʾaydiyakum wa-ʾarjulakum min khilāfin wa-la-ʾuṣallibannakum ʾajmaʿīna

11. قالوا لا ضير إنا إلى ربنا منقلبون

    50

    They said, ‘[There is] no harm [in that]! Indeed, we shall return to our Lord.

    qālū lā ḍayra ʾinnā ʾilā rabbinā munqalibūna

12. إنا نطمع أن يغفر لنا ربنا خطايانا أن كنا أول المؤمنين

    51

    Indeed we hope our Lord will forgive us our offences for being the first to believe.’

    ʾinnā naṭmaʿu ʾan yaghfira lanā rabbunā khaṭāyānā ʾan kunnā ʾawwala l-muʾminīna

13. وأوحينا إلى موسى أن أسر بعبادي إنكم متبعون

    52

    Then We revealed to Moses, [saying],‘Set out with My servants at night, for you will be pursued.’

    wa-ʾawḥaynā ʾilā mūsā ʾan ʾasri bi-ʿibādī ʾinnakum muttabaʿūna

14. فأرسل فرعون في المدائن حاشرين

    53

    Then Pharaoh sent heralds to the cities,

    fa-ʾarsala firʿawnu fī l-madāʾini ḥāshirīna

15. إن هؤلاء لشرذمة قليلون

    54

    [proclaiming:] ‘These are indeed a small band.

    ʾinna hāʾulāʾi la-shirdhimatun qalīlūna

16. وإنهم لنا لغائظون

    55

    They have aroused our wrath,

    wa-ʾinnahum lanā la-ghāʾiẓūna

17. وإنا لجميع حاذرون

    56

    and we are alert and fully prepared.’

    wa-ʾinnā la-jamīʿun ḥādhirūna

18. فأخرجناهم من جنات وعيون

    57

    So We took them out of gardens and springs,

    fa-ʾakhrajnāhum min jannātin wa-ʿuyūnin

19. وكنوز ومقام كريم

    58

    and [made them leave behind] treasures and stately homes.

    wa-kunūzin wa-maqāmin karīmin

20. كذلك وأورثناها بني إسرائيل

    59

    So it was; and We bequeathed them to the Children of Israel.

    ka-dhālika wa-ʾawrathnāhā banī ʾisrāʾīla

21. فأتبعوهم مشرقين

    60

    Then they pursued them at sunrise.

    fa-ʾatbaʿūhum mushriqīna