20:1  Ta-Ha.

20:2  We have not sent down the Qur’an to you (O Muhammad) to cause you distress,

20:3  but only as a reminder to those who fear (Allah)

20:4  A revelation from Him Who has created the earth and high heavens,

20:5  the Gracious (Allah) rose over the Throne (to suit Majesty),

20:6  to Him belongs all that is in the heavens, all that is on the earth, all that is between them, and all that is under the soil.

20:7  And if you (O Muhammad) speak (statement) aloud, then surely He knows the secrets and what is hidden.

20:8  Allah! There is no one worthy of worship but He! To Him belong the Best Names.

20:9  And has there come to you the story of Moses?

20:10  When he saw a fire, he said to his family: “You wait! Surely, I have seen a fire; perhaps I can bring you some burning brand from there, or find guidance (from someone) at the fire.”

20:11  And when he came to it (the fire), he was called (by name): “O Moses!

20:12  Surely! I am your Lord! Take off your shoes; surely you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa.

20:13  And I have chosen you. So listen to that which is being revealed (to you).

20:14  Surely! I am Allah! There is no one worthy of worship but I, so worship Me, and establish the prayer for My Remembrance.

20:15  Surely, the Hour is almost coming and I hide it so that every soul may be rewarded for that which he strives.

20:16  Therefore, don’t let you divert from it, one who does not believe in it and follows its own lusts, lest you perish.

20:17  And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?”

20:18  He said: “This is my stick, I lean on it, beat down branches with it for my sheep, and for me there are other uses in it.”

20:19  (Allah) said: “Cast it down, O Moses!”

20:20  So he cast it down, and behold! It was a snake, moving quickly.

20:21  (Allah) said: “Grasp it and don’t fear, We shall return it to its former state.

20:22  Press your hand to your side (armpit); it will become (shining) white without any disease (hurting) as another sign.

20:23  Thus We show you some of Our greatest Signs.

20:24  You go to Pharaoh! Surely, he has transgressed.”

20:25  (Moses) said: “O my Lord! Open for me my chest

20:26  and ease my task for me

20:27  and loose knot (defect) from my tongue

20:28  so that they understand my speec

20:29  and appoint for me a helper from my family;

20:30  Aaron, my brother.

20:31  Increase my strength with him

20:32  and share him in my task,

20:33  so that we may glorify You frequently

20:34  and remember You often;

20:35  surely! You see well all of us.”

20:36  (Allah) said: “Indeed you are granted your request, O Moses!

20:37  And indeed We conferred a Favor on you another time (before),

20:38  when We inspired to your mother that which We inspired,

20:39  saying that: ‘you put him (the child) into a box and you float it into river. Then the river shall cast him up on the bank, and an enemy of Mine and an enemy of his shall take him.’ I brought you up with love from Me so that you may be brought up under My Eye (supervision)

20:40  When your sister went to them and said: ‘Shall I show you one who will nurse him?’ So We restored you to your mother so that she might cool her eyes and not grieve. Then you did kill a man, but We saved you from great distress and tested you with various trials. You stayed years with people of Midian. Now you came here according to fixed term, O Moses!

20:41  And I have chosen you for Myself (service).

20:42  You and your brother go with My Verses and both of you don’t become weak in My Remembrance.

20:43  Go both to Pharaoh, surely he has transgressed.

20:44  Speak both of you to him with soft words, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (of punishment).”

20:45  They said: “Our Lord! Surely! We fear that he may hasten to punish us or may transgress.”

20:46  (Allah) said: “You don’t fear, surely! I am with you both, I hear and see (everything).

20:47  So both of you go to him, and say: ‘surely we are Messengers of your Lord, so let the children of Israel go with us and don’t punish them. Indeed, we have come to you with a sign from your Lord! Peace will be upon those who follow the guidance!

20:48  Surely, indeed it has been revealed to us that the punishment will be on those who deny and turn away.’

20:49  Pharaoh said: “Then who is the Lord of you 2, O Moses?”

20:50  (Moses) said: “Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and nature, then rightly guided it.”

20:51  (Pharaoh) said: “Then what is the state of the old generations?”

20:52  (Moses) said: “The knowledge is with my Lord in a record book. My Lord neither errs nor forgets.”

20:53  Who (Allah) has made for you the earth as a bed, has opened roads for you in it, and has sent down water (rain) from the sky with which We have brought forth various kinds of vegetation.

20:54  You eat (from these) and pasture your cattle. Surely, there are indeed signs in it for the people of understanding.

20:55  We have created you from it (the earth), into it We shall return you, and from it We shall bring you out once again.

20:56  And indeed We showed him (Pharaoh) all of Our Signs, but he denied and refused.

20:57  He (Pharaoh) said: “Have you come to us to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moses?

20:58  Then surely, we can produce to you with magic like yours. So appoint a meeting between us and between you, neither we nor you shall fail to keep it, in an equal place (where both shall have equal chances).”

20:59  (Moses) said: “Your appointment is the day of the festival, and let the people assemble before noon.”

20:60  So Pharaoh withdrew, he devised his plan and then came back.

20:61  Moses said to them: “Woe to you! You don’t invent a lie against Allah, lest He destroy you by a punishment. Surely, he fails who invents a lie (against Allah).”

20:62  Then they debated with one another their matter among them, and they kept their talk secret.

20:63  They said: “Surely! These 2 magicians intend that they drive you out from your land with their magic, and take away from your superior way.

20:64  So devise your plot and then assemble in a row.” (Pharaoh said): “And indeed he who overcomes today will be successful.”

20:65  They said: “O Moses! Either you throw first or we are the first who will throw?”

20:66  (Moses) said: “Nay, you throw (first)!” Then behold! their ropes and their sticks appeared to him (Moses) as though they moved fast by their magic,

20:67  so Moses conceived a fear in himself.

20:68  We (Allah) said: “You don’t fear! Surely, you will have the upper hand.

20:69  And throw that which is in your right hand! It will swallow up all that they have made. They have made only trick of a magician, and the magician will never be successful no matter whatever (amount of skill) he may possess.”

20:70  (When all were swallowed up by the serpent of Moses) the magicians fell down in prostration. They said: “We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.”

20:71  Pharaoh said: “How do you believe in him (Moses) before I give permission to you? Surely, he is your chief who taught you the magic. So surely I will cut off your hands and your feet from opposite sides, surely I will crucify you on the trunks of date-palms, then surely you will know which of us (Pharaoh or the Lord of Moses, Allah) is more severe in punishment and more lasting.”

20:72  They said: “We never prefer you over what has come to us from the clear signs and to Him who created us. So you decree whatever you wish to decree, you can only decree about this worldly life.

20:73  Surely! We have believed in our Lord so that He may forgive us our faults and from the magic which you did compel on us. And Allah is better and lasting.”

20:74  Surely! Whoever comes to its Lord as a sinner, then surely hell is for him who will neither die nor live in it.

20:75  But whoever will come to Him as a believer and has done righteous deeds, for such are the high ranks,

20:76  gardens of Eden with rivers flowing under them, they will abide in it forever, such is the reward of those who purify themselves (from evil).

20:77  And indeed We revealed to Moses (saying) that: “You travel by night with My servants and strike a dry path for them in the sea, neither fear to be overtaken (by Pharaoh) nor being afraid (of drowning in the sea).”

20:78  Then Pharaoh pursued them with his hosts but the sea (water) completely overwhelmed them and covered them up.

20:79  Thus Pharaoh led his people astray and he did not guide them.

20:80  O Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, We made a covenant with you on the right side of the mount (Tur to grant Torah), and We sent down to you sweet dish (Manna) and quail meat (Salva),

20:81  (saying): “You eat from good lawful things which We have provided you, don’t commit oppression in it lest My Anger should descend on you, whoever incurs My Anger is indeed perished.

20:82  Surely, I am indeed forgiving the one who repents, believes, does righteous deeds, and then remains guided (till death).”

20:83  (Allah said): “What made you hasten from your people, O Moses?”

20:84  He (Moses) said: “They are close on my footsteps, and I hastened to You, O my Lord so that You may be pleased.”

20:85  (Allah) said: “Surely! We have indeed tried your people after you and Samiri has led them astray.”

20:86  Then Moses returned to his people with anger and sorrow. He said: “O my people! Did not your Lord promise you a fair promise? Did then the promise to you seem long? Or did you desire that Wrath from your Lord should descend on you, so you broke your promise to me?”

20:87  They said: “We did not break the promise to you at our own will. We were made to carry the weight of the ornaments of (Pharaoh) people and cast them (into the fire) as Samiri suggested.

20:88  Then he took out (of the fire) for them (statue of) a calf body and it had a low sound. Then said: ‘This is your one worthy of worship, and the deity of Moses, but (Moses) has forgotten (his deity).’”

20:89  Did they not see that it could not return to them a word (for answer), nor it had power for them to harm nor help?

20:90  And indeed Aaron had said to them before: “O my people! Only you are being tried with it, and surely, your Lord is the Gracious, so you follow me and obey my order.”

20:91  They said: “We will never stop worshipping it (the calf), until Moses returns to us.”

20:92  He (Moses) said: “O Aaron! What stopped you when you saw them going astray,

20:93  that you did not follow me? Have you then disobeyed my order?”

20:94  He (Aaron) said: “O son of my mother! You don’t seize me by my beard, or by my head! Surely, I feared lest you should say: ‘You have caused a division between children of Israel, and you did not respect my word!’”

20:95  (Moses) said: “Then what is the matter with you, O Samiri?”

20:96  (Samiri) said: “I saw what they did not see, so I seized a handful (of dust) from the footprint of the Messenger (angel) and then threw it (into the casting of the calf). This my inner soul suggested to me.”

20:97  (Moses) said: “Then go away! Surely, (the punishment) for you in this life is that you will say: ‘Don’t touch me (you will live alone in exile away from mankind)’; and surely you have a promise (of future punishment) that will not fail. Look at your deity which you have been devoted to it. Certainly we will burn it, and then certainly we will scatter its particles in the sea.”

20:98  (Then Moses told his people): “Your One worthy of worship is only Allah; there is no one worthy of worship but He. He comprehends every thing in knowledge.”

20:99  Thus We relate to you (O Muhammad) from information of what happened before. Indeed We have given you a reminder (this Qur’an) from Us.

20:100  Whoever turns away from it (this Qur’an), then surely will bear a burden (of sins) on the Day of Resurrection.

20:101  They will abide in that (fire of hell) and evil will be that load for them on the Day of Resurrection.

20:102  The Day, when the trumpet will be blown and We shall gather the sinners that Day (they will be) blue or blind eyed (by fear).

20:103  They will whisper among themselves (saying): “You did not stay longer than 10 (days on earth).”

20:104  We know very well what they will say, the best among them in knowledge and wisdom will say: “You did not stay except a day!”

20:105  And they ask you about the mountains. You say: “My Lord will blast them as particles of dust.

20:106  Then He will leave it as a smooth level,

20:107  you will neither see in it crookedness nor curve.”

20:108  On that Day the people will follow the caller (of Allah); there is no crookedness for the caller. (All voices) will be humbled for the Gracious (Allah), so you shall hear nothing but a whisper (of footsteps).

20:109  On that Day no intercession will be available, except the one to whom the Gracious (Allah) will give permission and whose word is acceptable to Him.

20:110  He (Allah) knows what is before them, what is behind them, and they will never compass any knowledge (about Him).

20:111  And faces shall be humbled before the ever-Living, the self-Sustaining (Allah). Indeed the one who carried a burden of wrong-doing will be disappointed.

20:112  And one who is a believer and does righteous deeds, then he will neither have fear of injustice, nor reduction (of reward).

20:113  And thus We have sent down the Qur’an in Arabic, has explained in it the details of the warnings so that they may fear Allah, or may generate lesson from it.

20:114  Then high above is Allah, the True King! Don’t hasten (O Muhammad) with the Qur’an before its revelation is completed to you, and you say: “My Lord! Increase my knowledge.”

20:115  And indeed We made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot. And We found in him no firm will-power.

20:116  And (remember) when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves to Adam.” They prostrated except Satan, who refused.

20:117  Then We said: “O Adam! Surely, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. So let him not get you both out from Paradise so that you will be distressed.

20:118  Surely, you have (a Promise from Us) that you will neither be hungry in it (Paradise) nor you will be naked,

20:119  you will neither suffer from thirst in it nor you will suffer from the sun.”

20:120  Then Satan whispered to him saying: “O Adam! Shall I lead you to the tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away?”

20:121  Then they both ate from that tree, so their private parts appeared to them, and they began to stick on themselves from leaves of the garden (for covering). Thus Adam disobeyed his Lord, so he went astray.

20:122  Then (after repentance) his Lord chose him, turned to him with forgiveness, and gave him guidance.

20:123  (Allah) said: “Get down you both together from here (Paradise to earth); some of you are an enemy to some others. If guidance comes to you from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance neither will go astray, nor will fall into distress;

20:124  but whoever will turn away from My Remembrance, then surely him will have a life of hardship, and I will raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.”

20:125  He will say: “O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind while indeed I had clear sight (before)?”

20:126  (Allah) will say: “Just as Our Verses came to you but you disregarded them, so you are neglected today.”

20:127  And thus We requite the one who transgresses and don’t believe in the Verses of its Lord. Surely the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe and more lasting.

20:128  It it not a guidance for them (to know) how many generations We have destroyed before them and in whose residences they walk? Surely, in these (ruins) there are signs for people of understanding.

20:129  And had it not been for a word that went forth from your Lord and a term determined, it (judgment) would have been inevitable.

20:130  So you (O Muhammad) bear patiently on what they say. Glorify the praises of your Lord before sunrise, before sunset, during Hours of the night, and glorify at the ends of the day, so that you may become pleased (satisfied).

20:131  And don’t strain your eyes (with envy) for what We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them (disbelievers), and with the luxury of the worldly life We may test them in it. The (lawful) provision of your Lord is better and more lasting.

20:132  And enjoin the prayer on your family, and be patient in it. We don’t ask you a provision; We provide for you. And the good end (Paradise) is for the pious.

20:133  They say: “Why does he (Muhammad) not bring us a sign from his Lord?” Has not proof (the Qur’an) came to them which is (contains teachings) of the previous Scriptures?

20:134  And if We had destroyed them with a punishment before this (the Qur’an), surely they would have said: “Our Lord! If You only had sent us a Messenger, we would certainly have followed Your Verses before we were disgraced and humiliated.”

20:135  Say (O Muhammad): “Each one (believer and disbeliever) is waiting, so you wait too. Then you shall know who is following the Right Way and who have been rightly guided.”