Sura 20: T. H.
(Tã Hã)
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

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طه

T.H.*

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ما انزلنا عليك القران لتشقى

We did not reveal the Quran to you, to cause you any hardship.

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الا تذكرة لمن يخشى

Only to remind the reverent.

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تنزيلا ممن خلق الارض والسماوات العلى

A revelation from the Creator of the earth and the high heavens.

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الرحمن على العرش استوى

The Most Gracious; He has assumed all authority.

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له ما في السماوات وما في الارض وما بينهما وما تحت الثرى

To Him belongs everything in the heavens, and the earth, and everything between them, and everything beneath the ground.

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وان تجهر بالقول فانه يعلم السر واخفى

Whether you declare your convictions (or not) He knows the secret, and what is even more hidden.

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الله لا اله الا هو له الاسماء الحسنى

GOD: there is no other god besides Him. To Him belong the most beautiful names.

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وهل اتاك حديث موسى

Have you noted the history of Moses?

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اذ راى نارا فقال لاهله امكثوا اني انست نارا لعلي اتيكم منها بقبس او اجد على النار هدى

When he saw a fire, he said to his family, “Stay here. I have seen a fire. Maybe I can bring you some of it, or find some guidance at the fire.”

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فلما اتاها نودي يا موسى

When he came to it, he was called, “O, Moses.

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اني انا ربك فاخلع نعليك انك بالواد المقدس طوى

“I am your Lord; remove your sandals. You are in the sacred valley, Tuwã.

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وانا اخترتك فاستمع لما يوحى

“I have chosen you, so listen to what is being revealed.

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انني انا الله لا اله الا انا فاعبدني واقم الصلاة لذكري

“I am GOD; there is no other god beside Me. You shall worship Me alone, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) to remember Me.

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End of the World<br>is Not Hidden*

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ان الساعة اتية اكاد اخفيها لتجزى كل نفس بما تسعى

“The Hour (end of the world) is surely coming; I will keep it almost hidden. For each soul must be paid for its works.

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فلا يصدنك عنها من لا يؤمن بها واتبع هواه فتردى

“Do not be diverted therefrom by those who do not believe in it— those who pursue their own opinions—lest you fall.

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وما تلك بيمينك يا موسى

“What is this in your right hand, Moses?”

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قال هي عصاي اتوكا عليها واهش بها على غنمي ولي فيها مارب اخرى

He said, “This is my staff. I lean on it, herd my sheep with it, and I use it for other purposes.”

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قال القها يا موسى

He said, “Throw it down, Moses.”

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فالقاها فاذا هي حية تسعى

He threw it down, whereupon it turned into a moving serpent.

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قال خذها ولا تخف سنعيدها سيرتها الاولى

He said, “Pick it up; do not be afraid. We will return it to its original state.

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واضمم يدك الى جناحك تخرج بيضاء من غير سوء اية اخرى

“And hold your hand under your wing; it will come out white without a blemish; another proof.

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لنريك من اياتنا الكبرى

“We thus show you some of our great portents.

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اذهب الى فرعون انه طغى

“Go to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed.”

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قال رب اشرح لي صدري

He said, “My Lord, cool my temper.

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ويسر لي امري

“And make this matter easy for me.

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واحلل عقدة من لساني

“And untie a knot from my tongue.

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يفقهوا قولي

“So they can understand my speech.

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واجعل لي وزيرا من اهلي

“And appoint an assistant for me from my family.

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هارون اخي

“My brother Aaron.

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اشدد به ازري

“Strengthen me with him.

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واشركه في امري

“Let him be my partner in this matter.

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كي نسبحك كثيرا

“That we may glorify You frequently.

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ونذكرك كثيرا

“And commemorate You frequently.

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انك كنت بنا بصيرا

“You are Seer of us.”

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قال قد اوتيت سؤلك يا موسى

He said, “Your request is granted, O Moses.

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ولقد مننا عليك مرة اخرى

“We have blessed you another time.

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اذ اوحينا الى امك ما يوحى

“When we revealed to your mother what we revealed.

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ان اقذفيه في التابوت فاقذفيه في اليم فليلقه اليم بالساحل ياخذه عدو لي وعدو له والقيت عليك محبة مني ولتصنع على عيني

“Saying: Throw him into the box, then throw him into the river. The river will throw him onto the shore, to be picked up by an enemy of Mine and an enemy of his.’ I showered you with love from Me, and I had you made before My watchful eye.

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اذ تمشي اختك فتقول هل ادلكم على من يكفله فرجعناك الى امك كي تقر عينها ولا تحزن وقتلت نفسا فنجيناك من الغم وفتناك فتونا فلبثت سنين في اهل مدين ثم جئت على قدر يا موسى

“Your sister walked to them and said, ‘I can tell you about a nursing mother who can take good care of him.’ We thus returned you to your mother, that she may be happy and stop worrying. And when you killed a person, we saved you from the grievous consequences; indeed we tested you thoroughly. You stayed years with the people of Midyan, and now you have come back in accordance with a precise plan.

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واصطنعتك لنفسي

“I have made you just for Me.

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اذهب انت واخوك باياتي ولا تنيا في ذكري

“Go with your brother, supported by My signs, and do not waver in remembering Me.

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اذهبا الى فرعون انه طغى

“Go to Pharaoh, for he transgressed.

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فقولا له قولا لينا لعله يتذكر او يخشى

“Speak to him nicely; he may take heed, or become reverent.”

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قالا ربنا اننا نخاف ان يفرط علينا او ان يطغى

They said, “Our Lord, we fear lest he may attack us, or transgress.”

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قال لا تخافا انني معكما اسمع وارى

He said, “Do not be afraid, for I will be with you, listening and watching.

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فاتياه فقولا انا رسولا ربك فارسل معنا بني اسرائيل ولا تعذبهم قد جئناك باية من ربك والسلام على من اتبع الهدى

“Go to him and say, ‘We are two messengers from your Lord. Let the Children of Israel go. You must refrain from persecuting them. We bring a sign from your Lord, and peace is the lot of those who heed the guidance.

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انا قد اوحي الينا ان العذاب على من كذب وتولى

“ ‘We have been inspired that the retribution will inevitably afflict those who disbelieve and turn away.’ ”

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قال فمن ربكما يا موسى

He said, “Who is your Lord, O Moses.”

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قال ربنا الذي اعطى كل شيء خلقه ثم هدى

He said, “Our Lord is the One who granted everything its existence, and its guidance.”

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قال فما بال القرون الاولى

He said, “What about the past generations?”

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قال علمها عند ربي في كتاب لا يضل ربي ولا ينسى

He said, “The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record. My Lord never errs, nor does He forget.”

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الذي جعل لكم الارض مهدا وسلك لكم فيها سبلا وانزل من السماء ماء فاخرجنا به ازواجا من نبات شتى

He is the One who made the earth habitable for you, and paved in it roads for you. And He sends down from the sky water with which we produce many different kinds of plants.

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كلوا وارعوا انعامكم ان في ذلك لايات لاولي النهى

Eat and raise your livestock. These are sufficient proofs for those who possess intelligence.*

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منها خلقناكم وفيها نعيدكم ومنها نخرجكم تارة اخرى

From it we created you, into it we return you, and from it we bring you out once more.

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ولقد اريناه اياتنا كلها فكذب وابى

We showed him all our proofs, but he disbelieved and refused.

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قال اجئتنا لتخرجنا من ارضنا بسحرك يا موسى

He said, “Did you come here to take us out of our land with your magic, O Moses?

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فلناتينك بسحر مثله فاجعل بيننا وبينك موعدا لا نخلفه نحن ولا انت مكانا سوى

“We will surely show you similar magic. Therefore, set an appointment that neither we, nor you will violate; in a neutral place.”

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قال موعدكم يوم الزينة وان يحشر الناس ضحى

He said, “Your appointed time shall be the day of festivities. Let us all meet in the forenoon.”

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فتولى فرعون فجمع كيده ثم اتى

Pharaoh summoned his forces, then came.

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قال لهم موسى ويلكم لا تفتروا على الله كذبا فيسحتكم بعذاب وقد خاب من افترى

Moses said to them, “Woe to you. Do you fabricate lies to fight GOD and thus incur His retribution? Such fabricators will surely fail.”

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فتنازعوا امرهم بينهم واسروا النجوى

They disputed among themselves, as they conferred privately.

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قالوا ان هذان لساحران يريدان ان يخرجاكم من ارضكم بسحرهما ويذهبا بطريقتكم المثلى

They said, “These two are no more than magicians who wish to take you out of your land with their magic, and to destroy your ideal way of life.

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فاجمعوا كيدكم ثم ائتوا صفا وقد افلح اليوم من استعلى

“Let us agree upon one scheme and face them as a united front. The winner today will have the upper hand.”

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قالوا يا موسى اما ان تلقي واما ان نكون اول من القى

They said, “O Moses, either you throw, or we will be the first to throw.”

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قال بل القوا فاذا حبالهم وعصيهم يخيل اليه من سحرهم انها تسعى

He said, “You throw.” Whereupon, their ropes and sticks appeared to him, because of their magic, as if they were moving.

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فاوجس في نفسه خيفة موسى

Moses harbored some fear.

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قلنا لا تخف انك انت الاعلى

We said, “Have no fear. You will prevail.

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والق ما في يمينك تلقف ما صنعوا انما صنعوا كيد ساحر ولا يفلح الساحر حيث اتى

“Throw what you hold in your right hand, and it will swallow what they fabricated. What they fabricated is no more than the scheming of a magician. The magician’s work will not succeed.”

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The Experts Recognize The Truth

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فالقي السحرة سجدا قالوا امنا برب هارون وموسى

The magicians fell prostrate, saying, “We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.”

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قال امنتم له قبل ان اذن لكم انه لكبيركم الذي علمكم السحر فلاقطعن ايديكم وارجلكم من خلاف ولاصلبنكم في جذوع النخل ولتعلمن اينا اشد عذابا وابقى

He said, “Did you believe in him without my permission? He must be your chief; the one who taught you magic. I will surely sever your hands and feet on alternate sides. I will crucify you on the palm trunks. You will find out which of us can inflict the worst retribution, and who outlasts whom.”

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قالوا لن نؤثرك على ما جاءنا من البينات والذي فطرنا فاقض ما انت قاض انما تقضي هذه الحياة الدنيا

They said, “We will not prefer you over the clear proofs that came to us, and over the One who created us. Therefore, issue whatever judgment you wish to issue. You can only rule in this lowly life.

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انا امنا بربنا ليغفر لنا خطايانا وما اكرهتنا عليه من السحر والله خير وابقى

“We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our sins, and the magic that you forced us to perform. GOD is far better and Everlasting.”

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انه من يات ربه مجرما فان له جهنم لا يموت فيها ولا يحيى

Anyone who comes to his Lord guilty will incur Hell, wherein he never dies, nor stays alive.

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ومن ياته مؤمنا قد عمل الصالحات فاولئك لهم الدرجات العلى

As for those who come to Him as believers who had led a righteous life, they attain the high ranks.

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جنات عدن تجري من تحتها الانهار خالدين فيها وذلك جزاء من تزكى

The gardens of Eden, beneath which rivers flow, will be their abode forever. Such is the reward for those who purify themselves.

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ولقد اوحينا الى موسى ان اسر بعبادي فاضرب لهم طريقا في البحر يبسا لا تخاف دركا ولا تخشى

We inspired Moses: “Lead My servants out, and strike for them a dry road across the sea. You shall not fear that you may get caught, nor shall you worry.”

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فاتبعهم فرعون بجنوده فغشيهم من اليم ما غشيهم

Pharaoh pursued them with his troops, but the sea overwhelmed them, as it was destined to overwhelm them.

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واضل فرعون قومه وما هدى

Thus, Pharaoh misled his people; he did not guide them.

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يا بني اسرائيل قد انجيناكم من عدوكم وواعدناكم جانب الطور الايمن ونزلنا عليكم المن والسلوى

O Children of Israel, we delivered you from your enemy, summoned you to the right side of Mount Sinai, and we sent down to you manna and quails.

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كلوا من طيبات ما رزقناكم ولا تطغوا فيه فيحل عليكم غضبي ومن يحلل عليه غضبي فقد هوى

Eat from the good things we provided for you, and do not transgress, lest you incur My wrath. Whoever incurs My wrath has fallen.

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واني لغفار لمن تاب وامن وعمل صالحا ثم اهتدى

I am surely Forgiving for those who repent, believe, lead a righteous life, and steadfastly remain guided.

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The Children of Israel Rebel

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وما اعجلك عن قومك يا موسى

“Why did you rush away from your people, O Moses?”

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قال هم اولاء على اثري وعجلت اليك رب لترضى

He said, “They are close behind me. I have rushed to You my Lord, that You may be pleased.”

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قال فانا قد فتنا قومك من بعدك واضلهم السامري

He said, “We have put your people to the test after you left, but the Samarian misled them.”

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فرجع موسى الى قومه غضبان اسفا قال يا قوم الم يعدكم ربكم وعدا حسنا افطال عليكم العهد ام اردتم ان يحل عليكم غضب من ربكم فاخلفتم موعدي

Moses returned to his people, angry and disappointed, saying, “O my people, did your Lord not promise you a good promise? Could you not wait? Did you want to incur wrath from your Lord? Is this why you broke your agreement with me?”

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قالوا ما اخلفنا موعدك بملكنا ولكنا حملنا اوزارا من زينة القوم فقذفناها فكذلك القى السامري

They said, “We did not break our agreement with you on purpose. But we were loaded down with jewelry, and decided to throw our loads in. This is what the Samarian suggested.”

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فاخرج لهم عجلا جسدا له خوار فقالوا هذا الهكم واله موسى فنسي

He produced for them a sculpted calf, complete with a calf’s sound.* They said, “This is your god, and the god of Moses.” Thus, he forgot.

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افلا يرون الا يرجع اليهم قولا ولا يملك لهم ضرا ولا نفعا

Could they not see that it neither responded to them, nor possessed any power to harm them, or benefit them?

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ولقد قال لهم هارون من قبل يا قوم انما فتنتم به وان ربكم الرحمن فاتبعوني واطيعوا امري

And Aaron had told them, “O my people, this is a test for you. Your only Lord is the Most Gracious, so follow me, and obey my commands.”

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قالوا لن نبرح عليه عاكفين حتى يرجع الينا موسى

They said, “We will continue to worship it, until Moses comes back.”

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قال يا هارون ما منعك اذ رايتهم ضلوا

(Moses) said, “O Aaron, what is it that prevented you, when you saw them go astray,

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الا تتبعن افعصيت امري

“from following my orders? Have you rebelled against me?”

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قال يا ابن ام لا تاخذ بلحيتي ولا براسي اني خشيت ان تقول فرقت بين بني اسرائيل ولم ترقب قولي

He said, “O son of my mother; do not pull me by my beard and my head. I was afraid that you might say, ‘You have divided the Children of Israel, and disobeyed my orders.’ ”

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قال فما خطبك يا سامري

He said, “What is the matter with you, O Samarian?”

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قال بصرت بما لم يبصروا به فقبضت قبضة من اثر الرسول فنبذتها وكذلك سولت لي نفسي

He said, “I saw what they could not see. I grabbed a fistful (of dust) from the place where the messenger stood, and used it (to mix into the golden calf). This is what my mind inspired me to do.”*

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قال فاذهب فان لك في الحياة ان تقول لا مساس وان لك موعدا لن تخلفه وانظر الى الهك الذي ظلت عليه عاكفا لنحرقنه ثم لننسفنه في اليم نسفا

He said, “Then go, and, throughout your life, do not even come close. You have an appointed time (for your final judgment) that you can never evade. Look at your god that you used to worship; we will burn it and throw it into the sea, to stay down there forever.”

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You Have But One God

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انما الهكم الله الذي لا اله الا هو وسع كل شيء علما

Your only god is GOD; the One beside whom there is no other god. His knowledge encompasses all things.

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كذلك نقص عليك من انباء ما قد سبق وقد اتيناك من لدنا ذكرا

We thus narrate to you some news from the past generations. We have revealed to you a message from us.

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من اعرض عنه فانه يحمل يوم القيامة وزرا

Those who disregard it will bear a load (of sins) on the Day of Resurrection.

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خالدين فيه وساء لهم يوم القيامة حملا

Eternally they abide therein; what a miserable load on the Day of Resurrection!

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يوم ينفخ في الصور ونحشر المجرمين يومئذ زرقا

That is the day when the horn is blown, and we summon the guilty on that day blue.

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يتخافتون بينهم ان لبثتم الا عشرا

Whispering among themselves, they will say, “You have stayed (in the first life) no more than ten days!”

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نحن اعلم بما يقولون اذ يقول امثلهم طريقة ان لبثتم الا يوما

We are fully aware of their utterances. The most accurate among them will say, “You stayed no more than a day.”

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On the Day of Resurrection

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ويسالونك عن الجبال فقل ينسفها ربي نسفا

They ask you about the mountains Say, “My Lord will wipe them out.

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فيذرها قاعا صفصفا

“He will leave them like a barren, flat land.

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لا ترى فيها عوجا ولا امتا

“Not even the slightest hill will you see therein, nor a dip.”

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يومئذ يتبعون الداعي لا عوج له وخشعت الاصوات للرحمن فلا تسمع الا همسا

On that day, everyone will follow the caller, without the slightest deviation. All sounds will be hushed before the Most Gracious; you will hear nothing but whispers.

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يومئذ لا تنفع الشفاعة الا من اذن له الرحمن ورضي له قولا

On that day, intercession will be useless, except for those permitted by the Most Gracious, and whose utterances conform to His will.

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يعلم ما بين ايديهم وما خلفهم ولا يحيطون به علما

He knows their past and their future, while none encompasses His knowledge.

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وعنت الوجوه للحي القيوم وقد خاب من حمل ظلما

All faces will submit to the Living, the Eternal, and those who are burdened by their transgressions will fail.

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ومن يعمل من الصالحات وهو مؤمن فلا يخاف ظلما ولا هضما

As for those who worked righteousness, while believing, they will have no fear of injustice or adversity.

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وكذلك انزلناه قرانا عربيا وصرفنا فيه من الوعيد لعلهم يتقون او يحدث لهم ذكرا

We thus revealed it, an Arabic Quran, and we cited in it all kinds of prophecies, that they may be saved, or it may cause them to take heed.

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فتعالى الله الملك الحق ولا تعجل بالقران من قبل ان يقضى اليك وحيه وقل رب زدني علما

Most Exalted is GOD, the only true King. Do not rush into uttering the Quran before it is revealed to you, and say, “My Lord, increase my knowledge.”

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Humans Fail to Make<br>a Firm Stand*

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ولقد عهدنا الى ادم من قبل فنسي ولم نجد له عزما

We tested Adam in the past, but he forgot, and we found him indecisive.

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واذ قلنا للملائكة اسجدوا لادم فسجدوا الا ابليس ابى

Recall that we said to the angels, “Fall prostrate before Adam.” They fell prostrate, except Satan; he refused.

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فقلنا يا ادم ان هذا عدو لك ولزوجك فلا يخرجنكما من الجنة فتشقى

We then said, “O Adam, this is an enemy of you and your wife. Do not let him evict you from Paradise, lest you become miserable.

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ان لك الا تجوع فيها ولا تعرى

“You are guaranteed never to hunger therein, nor go unsheltered.

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وانك لا تظما فيها ولا تضحى

“Nor will you thirst therein, nor suffer from any heat.”

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فوسوس اليه الشيطان قال يا ادم هل ادلك على شجرة الخلد وملك لا يبلى

But the devil whispered to him, saying, “O Adam, let me show you the tree of eternity and unending kingship.”

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فاكلا منها فبدت لهما سواتهما وطفقا يخصفان عليهما من ورق الجنة وعصى ادم ربه فغوى

They ate from it, whereupon their bodies became visible to them, and they tried to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise. Adam thus disobeyed his Lord, and fell.

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ثم اجتباه ربه فتاب عليه وهدى

Subsequently, his Lord chose him, redeemed him, and guided him.

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قال اهبطا منها جميعا بعضكم لبعض عدو فاما ياتينكم مني هدى فمن اتبع هداي فلا يضل ولا يشقى

He said, “Go down therefrom, all of you. You are enemies of one another. When guidance comes to you from Me, anyone who follows My guidance will not go astray, nor suffer any misery.

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For the Disbelievers:<br>Miserable Life Unavoidable

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ومن اعرض عن ذكري فان له معيشة ضنكا ونحشره يوم القيامة اعمى

“As for the one who disregards My message, he will have a miserable life, and we resurrect him, on the Day of Resurrection, blind.”

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قال رب لم حشرتني اعمى وقد كنت بصيرا

He will say, “My Lord, why did you summon me blind, when I used to be a seer?”

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قال كذلك اتتك اياتنا فنسيتها وكذلك اليوم تنسى

He will say, “Because you forgot our revelations when they came to you, you are now forgotten.”

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وكذلك نجزي من اسرف ولم يؤمن بايات ربه ولعذاب الاخرة اشد وابقى

We thus requite those who transgress and refuse to believe in the revelations of their Lord. The retribution in the Hereafter is far worse and everlasting.

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افلم يهد لهم كم اهلكنا قبلهم من القرون يمشون في مساكنهم ان في ذلك لايات لاولي النهى

Does it ever occur to them how many previous generations we have annihilated? They are now walking in the homes of those before them. These are signs for those who possess intelligence.

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ولولا كلمة سبقت من ربك لكان لزاما واجل مسمى

If it were not for your Lord’s predetermined plan, they would have been judged immediately.

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فاصبر على ما يقولون وسبح بحمد ربك قبل طلوع الشمس وقبل غروبها ومن اناء الليل فسبح واطراف النهار لعلك ترضى

Therefore, be patient in the face of their utterances, and praise and glorify your Lord before sunrise and before sunset. And during the night glorify Him, as well as at both ends of the day, that you may be happy.

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ولا تمدن عينيك الى ما متعنا به ازواجا منهم زهرة الحياة الدنيا لنفتنهم فيه ورزق ربك خير وابقى

And do not covet what we bestowed upon any other people. Such are temporary ornaments of this life, whereby we put them to the test. What your Lord provides for you is far better, and everlasting.

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The Parents’ Responsibility

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وامر اهلك بالصلاة واصطبر عليها لا نسالك رزقا نحن نرزقك والعاقبة للتقوى

You shall enjoin your family to observe the contact prayers (Salat), and steadfastly persevere in doing so. We do not ask you for any provisions; we are the ones who provide for you. The ultimate triumph belongs to the righteous.

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Why Messengers?

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وقالوا لولا ياتينا باية من ربه اولم تاتهم بينة ما في الصحف الاولى

They said, “If he could only show us a miracle from his Lord!” Did they not receive sufficient miracles with the previous messages?

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ولو انا اهلكناهم بعذاب من قبله لقالوا ربنا لولا ارسلت الينا رسولا فنتبع اياتك من قبل ان نذل ونخزى

Had we annihilated them before this, they would have said, “Our Lord, had You sent a messenger to us, we would have followed Your revelations, and would have avoided this shame and humiliation.”

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قل كل متربص فتربصوا فستعلمون من اصحاب الصراط السوي ومن اهتدى

Say, “All of us are waiting, so wait; you will surely find out who are on the correct path, and who are truly guided.”

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