Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

— The causes of the heavens — that I might look upon the God of Moses; but I think him a liar.” And thus was made fair to Pharaoh the evil of his deed, and he was turned away from the path; and the plan of Pharaoh was only in ruin.

اَسْبَابَ السَّمٰوَاتِ فَاَطَّلِعَ اِلٰٓى اِلٰهِ مُوسٰى وَاِنّ۪ي لَاَظُنُّهُ كَاذِباًۜ وَكَذٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ سُٓوءُ عَمَلِه۪ وَصُدَّ عَنِ السَّب۪يلِۜ وَمَا كَيْدُ فِرْعَوْنَ اِلَّا ف۪ي تَبَابٍ۟
Asbaba assamawatifaattaliAAa ila ilahi moosa wa-inneelaathunnuhu kathiban wakathalikazuyyina lifirAAawna soo-o AAamalihi wasudda AAani assabeeliwama kaydu firAAawna illa fee tabab
#wordmeaningroot
1asbāba(The) waysسبب
2l-samāwāti(to) the heavensسمو
3fa-aṭṭaliʿaso I may lookطلع
4ilāat
5ilāhi(the) Godاله
6mūsā(of) Musa
7wa-innīand indeed, I
8la-aẓunnuhu[I] surely think himظنن
9kādhiban(to be) a liarكذب
10wakadhālikaAnd thus
11zuyyinawas made fair-seemingزين
12lifir'ʿawnato Firaun
13sūu(the) evilسوا
14ʿamalihi(of) his deedعمل
15waṣuddaand he was avertedصدد
16ʿanifrom
17l-sabīlithe wayسبل
18wamāAnd not
19kaydu(was the) plotكيد
20fir'ʿawna(of) Firaun
21illāexcept
22in
23tabābinruinتبب
  • Aisha Bewley

    access to the heavens, so that I can look on Musa’s God. Truly I think he is a liar.’ That is how Pharaoh’s evil actions were made attractive to him and he debarred others from the Path. Pharaoh’s scheming led to nothing but ruin.

  • Progressive Muslims

    "The secrets of the heavens, and that I can take a look at the god of Moses, although I think he is a liar. " Thus the evil works of Pharaoh were made to appear correct to him, and he was blocked from the path. And Pharaoh's scheming brought nothing but regret.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    The means of access to the Heavens, and look upon the God of Moses. Behold, though, I think him a liar." Thus, goodly seemed to Pharaoh the evil of his own deeds, and so was he barred from the Path. In the end all plotting of Pharaoh led him to nothing but ruin.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    — The causes of the heavens — that I might look upon the God of Moses; but I think him a liar.” And thus was made fair to Pharaoh the evil of his deed, and he was turned away from the path; and the plan of Pharaoh was only in ruin.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    "The secrets of the heavens, so that I may take a look at the god of Moses; though I think he is a liar." Thus the evil works of Pharaoh were adorned for him, and he was blocked from the path. And the planning of Pharaoh brought nothing but regret.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    "The secrets of the heavens, and that I can take a look at the god of Moses, although I think he is a liar." Thus the evil works of Pharaoh were made to appear correct to him, and he was blocked from the path. Pharaoh's scheming brought nothing but regret.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    "I want to reach the heaven, and take a look at the god of Moses. I believe he is a liar." Thus were the evil works of Pharaoh adorned in his eyes, and thus was he kept from following (the right) path. Pharaoh's scheming was truly evil.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Of reaching the tracts of heaven and look at the god of Moses, though I think that he is a liar. " Thus were the evil deeds of Pharaoh made to look attractive to him, and he was hindered from the path. So the stratagem of Pharaoh was bound to perish.

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

    The ways into the heavens - so that I may look at the deity of Moses; but indeed, I think he is a liar. " And thus was made attractive to Pharaoh the evil of his deed, and he was averted from the way. And the plan of Pharaoh was not except in ruin.

  • Muhammad Asad

    the means of approach to the heavens - and that I may have a look at the god of Moses: for, behold, I am indeed certain that he is a liar!" And thus, goodly seemed unto Pharaoh the evil of his own doings, and so he was barred from the path : and Pharaoh’s guile did not lead to aught but ruin.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    The roads of the heavens, and may look upon the god of Moses, though verily I think him a liar. Thus was the evil that he did made fairseeming unto Pharaoh, and he was debarred from the (right) way. The plot of Pharaoh ended but in ruin.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    the highways to the heavens — and have a look at the God of Moses, although I am certain that Moses is a liar."* Thus Pharaoh's evil deed was made to seem fair to him, and he was barred from the Right Path. Pharaoh's guile only led him to his own perdition.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    The means to get to the heaven's realm where I may meet and converse with the Allah of Mussa to prove my point that Mussa, as I think, is indeed a liar. "And thus was Pharaoh enticed by his deeds of evil and iniquity alluring his mind's eyes and inducing him to hug his irreverent conviction to his heart and was swayed from the path of righteousness, The plan devised by Pharaoh attained no end but only a ruthless destiny.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    I want to be sure that he is a liar. " Thus the idiotic attitude of Pharaoh seemed to him the most appropriate and I (God) let him slip, in return, into darkness. Thus Pharaoh’s evil plans fired back and led to his own ruin.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    "The ways of the heavens, and I may look upon the Ilâh (God) of Mûsâ (Moses): But verily, I think him to be a liar." Thus it was made fair-seeming, in Fir‘aun’s (Pharaoh) eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the (Right) Path; and the plot of Fir‘aun (Pharaoh) led to nothing but loss and destruction (for him).

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    "The ways and means of (reaching) the heavens, and that I may mount up to the god of Moses: But as far as I am concerned, I think (Moses) is a liar!" Thus was made alluring, in Pharaoh's eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the Path; and the plot of Pharaoh led to nothing but perdition (for him).

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    leading up to the heavens and look for the God of Moses, although I am sure he is a liar." And so Pharaoh’s evil deeds were made so appealing to him that he was hindered from the ˹Right˺ Way. But the plotting of Pharaoh was only in vain.

  • Taqi Usmani

    the ways to the heavens, and peek towards the God of Mūsā. And indeed I deem him a liar." That is how his evil deeds were made attractive to Fir‘aun, and (how) he was held back from the way. The evil design of Fir‘aun was (to end) in nothing but ruin.

  • Abdul Haleem

    to the heavens to look for this God of Moses. I am convinced that he is lying.’ In this way the evil of Pharaoh’s deed was made alluring to him and he was barred from the right path- his scheming led only to ruin.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    the cords of the heavens, and look upon Moses' God; for I think that he is a liar. ' So the evil of his deeds was decked out fair to Pharaoh, and he was barred from the way, and Pharaoh's guile came only to ruin.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    the tracts of heaven, and may mount up to the God of Moses, for, verily, I think him a liar. ' And thus was his evil deed made seemly to Pharaoh, and he was turned from the way; but Pharaoh's stratagem ended only in ruin,

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    The ways and means of access to the heavens that I might look upon the God of Moses, and I surely think him to be a liar. And thus the evil of his deed was made fair-seeming unto Pharaoh, and he was debarred from the Way. The plot of Pharaoh was not to end in aught but destruction.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    The means of the heavens, (and) so view the God of Mûsa, (Moses) and surely I expect him to be a liar indeed. " And thus the odiousness of his deed (s) were adorned (i.e., made attractive) for Firaawn, and he was barred from the way; and in no way did Firaawn's plotting (end) except in detriment.

  • George Sale

    the tracts of heaven, and may view the God of Moses; for I verily think him to be a liar. And thus the evil of his work was prepared for Pharaoh, and he turned aside from the right path: And the stratagems of Pharaoh ended only in loss.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    "The ways and means of (reaching) the heavens, and that I may climb up to God of Musa (Moses): But as far as I think, I think (Musa) is a liar!" Thus in Firon's (Pharaohs) eyes, the evil of his deeds, was made pleasant (and easy for him), and he was kept away from the (right) Path; And the plan of Firon (Pharaoh) led to nothing but destruction (for him).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    `The means (of access) to the heavens, so that I may have a look at the God of Moses. Indeed, I consider him to be a liar.' And in this way his own evil conduct was made fair- seeming to Pharaoh and so he was prevented from following the (right) path. Yet all the schemes of Pharaoh resulted only in ruin.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    —the routes of the heavens— and take a look at the God of Moses, and indeed I consider him a liar. ’ To Pharaoh was thus presented as decorous the evil of his conduct, and he was kept from the way , and Pharaoh’s stratagems only led him into ruin.