Surah Ţāhā (Ta-Ha) in English

1. إذ أوحينا إلى أمك ما يوحى

   38

   when We revealed to your mother whatever was to be revealed:

   ʾidh ʾawḥaynā ʾilā ʾummika mā yūḥā

2. أن اقذفيه في التابوت فاقذفيه في اليم فليلقه اليم بالساحل يأخذه عدو لي وعدو له وألقيت عليك محبة مني ولتصنع على عيني

   39

   “Put him in the casket, and cast it into the river. Then the river will cast it on the bank, and he shall be picked up by an enemy of Mine and an enemy of his.” And I made you endearing, and that you might be reared under My [watchful] eyes.

   ʾani qdhifīhi fī t-tābūti fa-qdhifīhi fī l-yammi fa-l-yulqihi l-yammu bi-s-sāḥili yaʾkhudhhu ʿaduwwun lī wa-ʿaduwwun lahū wa-ʾalqaytu ʿalayka maḥabbatan minnī wa-li-tuṣnaʿa ʿalā ʿaynī

3. 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

   40

   When your sister walked up [to Pharaoh’s palace] saying, “Shall I show you someone who will take care of him?” Then We restored you to your mother, that she might not grieve and be comforted. Then you slew a soul, whereupon We delivered you from anguish, and We tried you with various ordeals. Then you stayed for several years among the people of Midian. Then you turned up as ordained, O Moses!

   ʾidh tamshī ʾukhtuka fa-taqūlu hal ʾadullukum ʿalā man yakfuluhū fa-rajaʿnāka ʾilā ʾummika kay taqarra ʿaynuhā wa-lā taḥzana wa-qatalta nafsan fa-najjaynāka mina l-ghammi wa-fatannāka futūnan fa-labithta sinīna fī ʾahli madyana thumma jiʾta ʿalā qadarin yā-mūsā

4. واصطنعتك لنفسي

   41

   And I chose you for Myself.’

   wa-ṣṭanaʿtuka li-nafsī

5. اذهب أنت وأخوك بآياتي ولا تنيا في ذكري

   42

   ‘Go ahead, you and your brother, with My signs and do not flag in My remembrance.

   idhhab ʾanta wa-ʾakhūka bi-ʾāyātī wa-lā taniyā fī dhikrī

6. اذهبا إلى فرعون إنه طغى

   43

   Both of you go to Pharaoh, for he has indeed rebelled.

   idhhabā ʾilā firʿawna ʾinnahū ṭaghā

7. فقولا له قولا لينا لعله يتذكر أو يخشى

   44

   Speak to him in a soft manner; maybe he will take admonition or fear.’

   fa-qūlā lahū qawlan layyinan laʿallahū yatadhakkaru ʾaw yakhshā

8. قالا ربنا إننا نخاف أن يفرط علينا أو أن يطغى

   45

   They said, ‘Our Lord! We are indeed afraid that he will forestall us or will exceed all bounds.’

   qālā rabbanā ʾinnanā nakhāfu ʾan yafruṭa ʿalaynā ʾaw ʾan yaṭghā

9. قال لا تخافا إنني معكما أسمع وأرى

   46

   He said, ‘Do not be afraid, for I will be with the two of you, hearing and seeing [whatever happens].

   qāla lā takhāfā ʾinnanī maʿakumā ʾasmaʿu wa-ʾarā

10. فأتياه فقولا إنا رسولا ربك فأرسل معنا بني إسرائيل ولا تعذبهم قد جئناك بآية من ربك والسلام على من اتبع الهدى

    47

    So approach him and say, ‘‘We are the apostles of your Lord. Let the Children of Israel go with us, and do not torture them! We certainly bring you a sign from your Lord, and may peace be upon him who follows guidance!

    fa-ʾtiyāhu fa-qūlā ʾinnā rasūlā rabbika fa-ʾarsil maʿanā banī ʾisrāʾīla wa-lā tuʿadhdhibhum qad jiʾnāka bi-ʾāyatin min rabbika wa-s-salāmu ʿalā mani ttabaʿa l-hudā

11. إنا قد أوحي إلينا أن العذاب على من كذب وتولى

    48

    Indeed it has been revealed to us that punishment shall befall those who impugn us and turn their backs [on us].’’ ’

    ʾinnā qad ʾūḥiya ʾilaynā ʾanna l-ʿadhāba ʿalā man kadhdhaba wa-tawallā

12. قال فمن ربكما يا موسى

    49

    He said, ‘Who is your Lord, Moses?’

    qāla fa-man rabbukumā yā-mūsā

13. قال ربنا الذي أعطى كل شيء خلقه ثم هدى

    50

    He said, ‘Our Lord is He who gave everything its creation and then guided it.’

    qāla rabbunā lladhī ʾaʿṭā kulla shayʾin khalqahū thumma hadā

14. قال فما بال القرون الأولى

    51

    He said, ‘What about the former generations?’

    qāla fa-mā bālu l-qurūni l-ʾūlā