Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Then when they reached their meeting between them, they forgot their fish; and it took its path into the sea, tunnelling.

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَاتَّخَذَ سَب۪يلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ سَرَباً
Falamma balagha majmaAAabaynihima nasiya hootahuma fattakhathasabeelahu fee albahri saraba
#wordmeaningroot
1falammāBut when
2balaghāthey reachedبلغ
3majmaʿathe junctionجمع
4baynihimābetween themبين
5nasiyāthey forgotنسي
6ḥūtahumātheir fishحوت
7fa-ittakhadhaand it tookاخذ
8sabīlahuits wayسبل
9into
10l-baḥrithe seaبحر
11sarabanslipping awayسرب
  • Aisha Bewley

    But when they reached their meeting-place, they forgot their fish which quickly burrowed its way into the sea.

  • Progressive Muslims

    But when they did reach the junction between, they forgot their fish, and it was able to make its way back to the sea in a stream.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    But when Moses with his young friend reached the junction of the two streams, they forgot all about the fish, and it took its way into the sea and disappeared from sight. (Moses found himself caring little for the delicacies of life from then on).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Then when they reached their meeting between them, they forgot their fish; and it took its path into the sea, tunnelling.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    But when they reached the junction that was in-between, they forgot their fish, and it was able to make its way back to the sea in a stream.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    But when they did reach the junction between, they forgot their fish, and it was able to make its way back to the sea in a stream.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    When they reached the point where they met, they forgot their fish, and it found its way back to the river, sneakily.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    When they reached the confluence they forgot the fish (they had brought as food) which swiftly made its way into the sea.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    But when they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, and it took its course into the sea, slipping away.

  • Muhammad Asad

    But when they reached the junction between the two , they forgot all about their fish, and it took its way into the sea and disappeared from sight.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And when they reached the point where the two met, they forgot their fish, and it took its way into the waters, being free.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    But when they reached the point where the two rivers meet, they forgot their fish, and it took its way into the sea, as if through a tunnel.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    And when they had reached the junction of the two waters they forgot that they had carried a fish for their meal –Mussa was probably ordered to carry a fish-. The fish in a supernatural way, had stealthily found its way to the sea where it disappeared.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    When they reached the point they totally forgot about the fish that they were carrying. The fish, thus jumped into the water and disappeared.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    But when they reached the junction of the two seas, they forgot their fish, and it took its way through the sea as in a tunnel.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    But when they reached the Junction, they forgot (about) their Fish, which took its course through the sea (straight) as in a tunnel.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    But when they ˹finally˺ reached the point where the seas met, they forgot their ˹salted˺ fish, and it made its way into the sea, slipping away ˹wondrously˺.

  • Taqi Usmani

    So, when they reached the meeting point of the two seas, they forgot their fish, and it made its way into the sea as in a tunnel.

  • Abdul Haleem

    but when they reached the place where the two seas meet, they had forgotten all about their fish, which made its way into the sea and swam away.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Then, when they reached their meeting, they forgot their fish, and it took its way into the sea, burrowing.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    But when they reached the confluence of the two they forgot their fish, and it took its way in the sea with a free course.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And when Moses said to his servant, "I will not cease until I reach the confluence of the two seas, though I go on for years. "

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Then, as soon as they reached the junction between the two (seas), they forgot their whale; (Or: large fish) so it took for itself its way into the sea, burrowing.

  • George Sale

    But when they were arrived at the meeting of the two seas, they forgot their fish, which they had taken with them; and the fish took its way freely in the sea.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    But when they reached the Junction of two seas, they forgot their Fish, which made its way through the sea (straight) as if (it was) in a tunnel.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    But when they reached the confluence (where the two rivers met) they forgot (all about) their fish (which they had brought with them) so that it took its way straight into the river burrowing (in to it).

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    So when they reached the confluence between them, they forgot their fish, which found its way into the sea, sneaking away.