مَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقَىٰ

We did not bestow the Qur'ān on thee from on high to make thee unhappy, (2)

إِلَّا تَذْكِرَةً لِمَنْ يَخْشَىٰ

but only as an exhortation to all who stand in awe [of God]: (3)

تَنْزِيلًا مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ وَالسَّمَاوَاتِ الْعُلَى

a revelation from Him who has created the earth and the high heavens (4)

الرَّحْمَٰنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىٰ

the Most Gracious, established on the throne of His almightiness. (5)

لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ الثَّرَىٰ

Unto Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, as well as all that is between them and all that is beneath the sod. (6)

وَإِنْ تَجْهَرْ بِالْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى

And if thou say anything aloud, [He hears it –] since, behold, He knows [even] the secret [thoughts of man] as well as all that is yet more hidden [within him]. (7)

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ

God – there is no deity save Him; His [alone] are the attributes of perfection! (8)

وَهَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰ

AND HAS the story of Moses ever come within thy ken? (9)

إِذْ رَأَىٰ نَارًا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ امْكُثُوا إِنِّي آنَسْتُ نَارًا لَعَلِّي آتِيكُمْ مِنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى النَّارِ هُدًى

Lo! he saw a fire [in the desert]; and so he said to his family: "Wait here! Behold, I perceive a fire [far away]: perhaps I can bring you a brand therefrom, or find at the fire some guidance." (10)

فَلَمَّا أَتَاهَا نُودِيَ يَا مُوسَىٰ

But when he came close to it, a voice called out: "O Moses! (11)

إِنِّي أَنَا رَبُّكَ فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ إِنَّكَ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى

Verily, I am thy Sustainer! Take off, then, thy sandals! Behold, thou art in the twice-hallowed valley, (12)

وَأَنَا اخْتَرْتُكَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَىٰ

and I have chosen thee [to be My apostle]: listen, then, to what is being revealed [unto thee]. (13)

إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي

"Verily, I – I alone – am God; there is no deity save Me. Hence, worship Me alone, and be constant in prayer, so as to remember Me! (14)

إِنَّ السَّاعَةَ آتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ

"Behold, [although] I have willed to keep it hidden, the Last Hour is bound to come, so that every human being may be recompensed in accordance with what he strove for [in life]. (15)

فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَنْ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ فَتَرْدَىٰ

Hence, let not anyone who does not believe in its coming and follows [but] his own desires divert thee from [belief in] it, lest thou perish! (16)

وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ

"Now, what is this in thy right hand, O Moses?" (17)

قَالَ هِيَ عَصَايَ أَتَوَكَّأُ عَلَيْهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَىٰ غَنَمِي وَلِيَ فِيهَا مَآرِبُ أُخْرَىٰ

He answered: "It is my staff; I lean on it; and with it I beat down leaves for my sheep; and [many] other uses have I for it." (18)

قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يَا مُوسَىٰ

Said He: "Throw it down, O Moses!" (19)

فَأَلْقَاهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَىٰ

So he threw it – and lo! it was a snake, moving rapidly. (20)

قَالَ خُذْهَا وَلَا تَخَفْ سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيرَتَهَا الْأُولَىٰ

Said He: "Take hold of it, and fear not: We shall restore it to its former state. (21)

وَاضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَىٰ جَنَاحِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ آيَةً أُخْرَىٰ

"Now place thy hand within thy armpit: it will come forth [shining] white, without blemish, as another sign [of Our grace], (22)

لِنُرِيَكَ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا الْكُبْرَى

so that We might make thee aware of some of Our greatest wonders. (23)

اذْهَبْ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ

"[And now] go thou unto Pharaoh: for, verily, he has transgressed all bounds of equity." (24)