Surah Ţāhā (Ta-Ha) in English

1. وأنا اخترتك فاستمع لما يوحى

   13

   I have chosen you; so listen to what is revealed.

   wa-ʾana khtartuka fa-stamiʿ li-mā yūḥā

2. إنني أنا الله لا إله إلا أنا فاعبدني وأقم الصلاة لذكري

   14

   Indeed I am Allah—there is no god except Me. So worship Me, and maintain the prayer for My remembrance.

   ʾinnanī ʾana llāhu lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾana fa-ʿbudnī wa-ʾaqimi ṣ-ṣalāta li-dhikrī

3. إن الساعة آتية أكاد أخفيها لتجزى كل نفس بما تسعى

   15

   Indeed the Hour is bound to come: I will have it hidden, so that every soul may be rewarded for its endeavour.

   ʾinna s-sāʿata ʾātiyatun ʾakādu ʾukhfīhā li-tujzā kullu nafsin bi-mā tasʿā

4. فلا يصدنك عنها من لا يؤمن بها واتبع هواه فتردى

   16

   So do not let yourself be distracted from it by those who do not believe in it and who follow their desires, or you will perish.’

   fa-lā yaṣuddannaka ʿanhā man lā yuʾminu bihā wa-ttabaʿa hawāhu fa-tardā

5. وما تلك بيمينك يا موسى

   17

   ‘Moses, what is that in your right hand?’

   wa-mā tilka bi-yamīnika yā-mūsā

6. قال هي عصاي أتوكأ عليها وأهش بها على غنمي ولي فيها مآرب أخرى

   18

   He said, ‘It is my staff. I lean on it, and with it I beat down leaves for my sheep; and I have other uses for it.’

   qāla hiya ʿaṣāya ʾatawakkaʾu ʿalayhā wa-ʾahushshu bihā ʿalā ghanamī wa-liya fīhā maʾāribu ʾukhrā

7. قال ألقها يا موسى

   19

   He said, ‘Moses, throw it down.’

   qāla ʾalqihā yā-mūsā

8. فألقاها فإذا هي حية تسعى

   20

   So he threw it down, and behold, it was a snake, moving swiftly.

   fa-ʾalqāhā fa-ʾidhā hiya ḥayyatun tasʿā

9. قال خذها ولا تخف سنعيدها سيرتها الأولى

   21

   He said, ‘Take hold of it, and do not fear. We will restore it to its former state.

   qāla khudhhā wa-lā takhaf sa-nuʿīduhā sīratahā l-ʾūlā

10. واضمم يدك إلى جناحك تخرج بيضاء من غير سوء آية أخرى

    22

    Now clasp your hand to your armpit: it will emerge white, without any harm—[this is yet] another sign,

    wa-ḍmum yadaka ʾilā janāḥika takhruj bayḍāʾa min ghayri sūʾin ʾāyatan ʾukhrā

11. لنريك من آياتنا الكبرى

    23

    that We may show you some of Our great signs.

    li-nuriyaka min ʾāyātinā l-kubrā

12. اذهب إلى فرعون إنه طغى

    24

    Go to Pharaoh. He has indeed rebelled.’

    idhhab ʾilā firʿawna ʾinnahū ṭaghā

13. قال رب اشرح لي صدري

    25

    He said, ‘My Lord! Open my breast for me.

    qāla rabbi shraḥ lī ṣadrī

14. ويسر لي أمري

    26

    Make my task easy for me.

    wa-yassir lī ʾamrī

15. واحلل عقدة من لساني

    27

    Remove the hitch from my tongue,

    wa-ḥlul ʿuqdatan min lisānī

16. يفقهوا قولي

    28

    [so that] they may understand my speech.

    yafqahū qawlī

17. واجعل لي وزيرا من أهلي

    29

    Appoint for me a minister from my family,

    wa-jʿal lī wazīran min ʾahlī

18. هارون أخي

    30

    Aaron, my brother.

    harūna ʾakhī

19. اشدد به أزري

    31

    Strengthen my back through him,

    ushdud bihī ʾazrī

20. وأشركه في أمري

    32

    and make him my associate in my task,

    wa-ʾashrikhu fī ʾamrī

21. كي نسبحك كثيرا

    33

    so that we may glorify You greatly,

    kay nusabbiḥaka kathīran

22. ونذكرك كثيرا

    34

    and remember You greatly.

    wa-nadhkuraka kathīran

23. إنك كنت بنا بصيرا

    35

    Indeed You see us best.’

    ʾinnaka kunta binā baṣīran

24. قال قد أوتيت سؤلك يا موسى

    36

    He said, ‘Moses, your request has been granted!

    qāla qad ʾūtīta suʾlaka yā-mūsā

25. ولقد مننا عليك مرة أخرى

    37

    Certainly, We have done you a favour another time,

    wa-la-qad manannā ʿalayka marratan ʾukhrā