Surah 20 · Meccan · 135 Verses
طه
SURAH TA-HA
Ta-Ha
Offline reading is currently limited to popular surahs. Audio files aren't saved offline.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
مَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِتَشْقَىٰٓ
We have not sent down to you the Qur’ān that you be distressed
Word by Word ▾
إِلَّا تَذْكِرَةًۭ لِّمَن يَخْشَىٰ
But only as a reminder for those who fear [Allāh] -
Word by Word ▾
تَنزِيلًۭا مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ ٱلْعُلَى
A revelation from He who created the earth and highest heavens,
Word by Word ▾
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱسْتَوَىٰ
Word by Word ▾
لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ ٱلثَّرَىٰ
To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth and what is between them and what is under the soil.
Word by Word ▾
وَإِن تَجْهَرْ بِٱلْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَعْلَمُ ٱلسِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى
And if you speak aloud - then indeed, He knows the secret and what is [even] more hidden.
Word by Word ▾
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ
Allāh - there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names.
Word by Word ▾
وَهَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰٓ
And has the story of Moses reached you? -
Word by Word ▾
إِذْ رَءَا نَارًۭا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًۭا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ هُدًۭى
When he saw a fire and said to his family, "Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire; perhaps I can bring you a torch or find at the fire some guidance."
Word by Word ▾
فَلَمَّآ أَتَىٰهَا نُودِىَ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ
And when he came to it, he was called, "O Moses,
Word by Word ▾
إِنِّىٓ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكَ فَٱخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ بِٱلْوَادِ ٱلْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًۭى
Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the blessed valley of Ṭuwā.
Word by Word ▾
وَأَنَا ٱخْتَرْتُكَ فَٱسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَىٰٓ
And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed [to you].
Word by Word ▾
إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدْنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكْرِىٓ
Indeed, I am Allāh. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.
Word by Word ▾
إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ
Word by Word ▾
فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ فَتَرْدَىٰ
Word by Word ▾
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَٰمُوسَىٰ
And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?"
Word by Word ▾
قَالَ هِىَ عَصَاىَ أَتَوَكَّؤُا۟ عَلَيْهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَىٰ غَنَمِى وَلِىَ فِيهَا مَـَٔارِبُ أُخْرَىٰ
He said, "It is my staff; I lean upon it, and I bring down leaves for my sheep and I have therein other uses."
Word by Word ▾
قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يَٰمُوسَىٰ
[Allāh] said, "Throw it down, O Moses."
Word by Word ▾
فَأَلْقَىٰهَا فَإِذَا هِىَ حَيَّةٌۭ تَسْعَىٰ
So he threw it down, and thereupon it was a snake, moving swiftly.
Word by Word ▾
قَالَ خُذْهَا وَلَا تَخَفْ ۖ سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيرَتَهَا ٱلْأُولَىٰ
[Allāh] said, "Seize it and fear not; We will return it to its former condition.
Word by Word ▾
وَٱضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَىٰ جَنَاحِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَآءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوٓءٍ ءَايَةً أُخْرَىٰ
And draw in your hand to your side; it will come out white without disease - another sign,
Word by Word ▾
لِنُرِيَكَ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِنَا ٱلْكُبْرَى
That We may show you [some] of Our greater signs.
Word by Word ▾
ٱذْهَبْ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ
Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed [i.e., tyrannized]."
Word by Word ▾
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى
[Moses] said, "My Lord, expand [i.e., relax] for me my breast [with assurance]
Word by Word ▾
وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى
And ease for me my task
Word by Word ▾
وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةًۭ مِّن لِّسَانِى
And untie the knot from my tongue
Word by Word ▾
يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى
That they may understand my speech.
Word by Word ▾
وَٱجْعَل لِّى وَزِيرًۭا مِّنْ أَهْلِى
And appoint for me a minister [i.e., assistant] from my family -
Word by Word ▾
هَٰرُونَ أَخِى
Aaron, my brother.
Word by Word ▾
ٱشْدُدْ بِهِۦٓ أَزْرِى
Increase through him my strength
Word by Word ▾
وَأَشْرِكْهُ فِىٓ أَمْرِى
And let him share my task
Word by Word ▾
كَىْ نُسَبِّحَكَ كَثِيرًۭا
That we may exalt You much
Word by Word ▾
وَنَذْكُرَكَ كَثِيرًا
And remember You much.
Word by Word ▾
إِنَّكَ كُنتَ بِنَا بَصِيرًۭا
Indeed, You are of us ever Seeing."
Word by Word ▾
قَالَ قَدْ أُوتِيتَ سُؤْلَكَ يَٰمُوسَىٰ
[Allāh] said, "You have been granted your request, O Moses.
Word by Word ▾
وَلَقَدْ مَنَنَّا عَلَيْكَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَىٰٓ
And We had already conferred favor upon you another time,
Word by Word ▾
إِذْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّكَ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ
When We inspired to your mother what We inspired,
Word by Word ▾
أَنِ ٱقْذِفِيهِ فِى ٱلتَّابُوتِ فَٱقْذِفِيهِ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ فَلْيُلْقِهِ ٱلْيَمُّ بِٱلسَّاحِلِ يَأْخُذْهُ عَدُوٌّۭ لِّى وَعَدُوٌّۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةًۭ مِّنِّى وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِىٓ
[Saying], 'Cast him into the chest and cast it into the river, and the river will throw it onto the bank; there will take him an enemy to Me and an enemy to him.' And I bestowed upon you love from Me835 that you would be brought up under My eye [i.e., observation and care].
Word by Word ▾
إِذْ تَمْشِىٓ أُخْتُكَ فَتَقُولُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن يَكْفُلُهُۥ ۖ فَرَجَعْنَٰكَ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّكَ كَىْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ ۚ وَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًۭا فَنَجَّيْنَٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْغَمِّ وَفَتَنَّٰكَ فُتُونًۭا ۚ فَلَبِثْتَ سِنِينَ فِىٓ أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَىٰ قَدَرٍۢ يَٰمُوسَىٰ
[And We favored you] when your sister went and said, 'Shall I direct you to someone who will be responsible for him?' So We restored you to your mother that she might be content and not grieve. And you killed someone,836 but We saved you from retaliation and tried you with a [severe] trial. And you remained [some] years among the people of Madyan. Then you came [here] at the decreed time, O Moses.
Word by Word ▾
ٱذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِـَٔايَٰتِى وَلَا تَنِيَا فِى ذِكْرِى
Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance.
Word by Word ▾
ٱذْهَبَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ
Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.
Word by Word ▾
فَقُولَا لَهُۥ قَوْلًۭا لَّيِّنًۭا لَّعَلَّهُۥ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰ
And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allāh]."
Word by Word ▾
قَالَا رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَآ أَوْ أَن يَطْغَىٰ
They said, "Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress."
Word by Word ▾
قَالَ لَا تَخَافَآ ۖ إِنَّنِى مَعَكُمَآ أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ
[Allāh] said, "Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.
Word by Word ▾
فَأْتِيَاهُ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَلَا تُعَذِّبْهُمْ ۖ قَدْ جِئْنَٰكَ بِـَٔايَةٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَٱلسَّلَٰمُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ
Word by Word ▾
إِنَّا قَدْ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْنَآ أَنَّ ٱلْعَذَابَ عَلَىٰ مَن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ
Indeed, it has been revealed to us that the punishment will be upon whoever denies and turns away.'"
Word by Word ▾
قَالَ فَمَن رَّبُّكُمَا يَٰمُوسَىٰ
[Pharaoh] said, "So who is the Lord of you two, O Moses?"
Word by Word ▾
قَالَ رَبُّنَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَعْطَىٰ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلْقَهُۥ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ
He said, "Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it]."
Word by Word ▾
About This Surah
Surah Ta-Ha presents revelation as remembrance rather than unbearable burden. Its central account follows Moses from the sacred valley through his mission to Pharaoh, the signs, the magicians’ faith, the exodus, and the calf crisis. Adam’s lapse and repentance frame human forgetfulness. The surah joins courage, gentle speech, prayer, patience, and responsibility while rejecting magical shortcuts and spectacle-driven faith.
Ta-Ha opens by denying that the Quran was sent to produce misery. It is a reminder from the Creator, whose knowledge encompasses what is public and hidden. Moses then encounters the fire, hears the call in the sacred valley, receives signs, and asks for expanded capacity, ease, clear speech, and support from Aaron. These prayers model dependence before a difficult mission; they are not guaranteed performance hacks or prescribed repetition formulas.
Moses and Aaron are told to address Pharaoh gently despite his tyranny. Gentleness does not mean approval of oppression; it defines the manner of prophetic warning while the demand for liberation remains clear. The signs are presented against Pharaoh’s accusation of magic. When the magicians recognize the truth, they believe despite threats of mutilation and death. The narrative does not offer instructions for modern magic diagnosis or coercive exorcism.
The exodus is followed by the calf episode. The Samaritan’s claim, the people’s failure, Aaron’s constrained leadership, and Moses’ anger form a study of communal responsibility. No contemporary ethnic or religious population should be identified with guilt from this narrative.
The chapter then returns to resurrection, the Day of Judgment, and the limits of intercession. Adam forgets, eats from the tree, recognizes vulnerability, and receives guidance after repentance. Human error is neither trivialized nor made irredeemable.
The conclusion directs the Messenger away from envy of temporary worldly display and toward prayer, patience, and remembrance. Verse 20:124’s “constricted life” should not be used to diagnose every case of poverty, disability, anxiety, or depression as punishment for weak faith. The surah’s answer to burden is revelation, accountable action, prayer, and mercy—not blame.
Core Themes
- Revelation as remembrance rather than imposed misery
- Prayer and support before difficult responsibility
- Gentle speech that does not excuse tyranny
- Faith under coercive political threat
- Communal accountability in the calf episode
- Repentance and guidance after human forgetfulness
Structure
Verses 1–36: revelation and Moses’ commissioning — 1-36
The Quran is introduced as reminder before Moses encounters the sacred valley, receives signs, and asks for capacity, clarity, and Aaron’s support for the mission ahead.
Verses 37–76: Pharaoh, public contest, and the magicians — 37-76
Moses’ earlier protection, the command of gentle speech, confrontation with Pharaoh, the public contest, and the magicians’ faith show truth confronting coercive power without adopting its methods.
Verses 77–98: exodus and the calf crisis — 77-98
Deliverance across the sea is followed by communal failure around the calf. Aaron, Moses, the Samaritan, and the people occupy distinct roles that resist simplistic collective blame.
Verses 99–115: remembrance and final accountability — 99-115
The Quranic reminder, burdens on the Day, transformed landscapes, intercession limits, and the Arabic Quran frame revelation as warning joined to divine knowledge and justice.
Verses 116–135: Adam, repentance, prayer, and patience — 116-135
Adam’s forgetfulness and repentance lead into warnings, the danger of worldly comparison, regular prayer, patience, and the response to demands for yet another sign.
Reading Guide
Read Moses’ prayer as dependence, not a formula
Verses 25–36 express need for capacity, clarity, and assistance before public responsibility. Do not market them as guaranteed speech therapy, exam success, or a fixed-count technique.
Keep gentleness and resistance together
The command to speak gently to Pharaoh does not legitimize tyranny. Read the manner of address beside the demand that oppression end and the Children of Israel be released.
Do not turn the narrative into magic instruction
The contest exposes Pharaoh’s manufactured spectacle and the magicians’ recognition. It does not provide a checklist for diagnosing sorcery, possession, illness, or misfortune today.
Refuse mental-health victim blaming
Read verses 123–132 with care. Spiritual warning does not authorize diagnosing every distressed or materially struggling person as faithless, punished, or personally responsible for illness.
Key Passages
The Quran was not sent to cause misery — 1-8
The opening defines revelation as reminder from the Creator whose knowledge includes hidden and public realities. It should not be used to deny that religious practice may require effort or that believers can experience illness and distress.
Moses asks for capacity and support — 25-36
The prayer names inner capacity, task-easing, clear communication, and Aaron’s partnership. Its context is prophetic commissioning, not a promise that reciting the words at a fixed count guarantees performance or success. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Gentle speech before Pharaoh — 43-48
Moses and Aaron are told to speak gently while delivering a direct warning and demand for liberation. Ethical communication therefore coexists with moral clarity and does not require silence before abuse. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
The contest and the magicians’ faith — 65-73
The apparent movement produced by ropes and staffs is defeated by Moses’ sign. The magicians’ expertise enables recognition, and their faith persists under Pharaoh’s violent threats rather than through coercion. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Adam’s forgetfulness and return — 115-123
Adam forgets, disobeys, recognizes exposure, and is chosen, forgiven, and guided. The sequence makes accountability real while resisting the claim that one failure permanently eliminates the possibility of return. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Recitation Note
No exclusive time, fixed repetition count, or guaranteed worldly outcome is asserted here for reciting Surah Ta-Ha. It may be read as Quran for worship, reflection, and study. Any separate claim about protection, healing, provision, marriage, pregnancy, or a prescribed number requires its own verified evidence and carefully limited wording.
Interpretation Limits
- Moses’ prayer is not a guaranteed cure for speech conditions or a fixed-count success formula.
- Gentle speech toward Pharaoh does not require submission to abuse or silence about oppression.
- Magic passages do not authorize amateur diagnosis, coercive exorcism, or rejection of medical explanations.
- Verse 20:124 must not be used to blame poverty, disability, anxiety, or depression on weak faith.