Surah 20 · verse 17

Taha 20:17

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وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ

wa ma tilka bi-yaminika ya Musa

And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?"

Saheeh International translation

Context in the surah

Verse 14

إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي

Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.

Verse 15

إِنَّ السَّاعَةَ آتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ

Indeed, the Hour is coming - I almost conceal it - so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives.

Verse 16

فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ فَتَرْدَىٰ

So do not let one avert you from it who does not believe in it and follows his desire, for you [then] would perish.

Verse 17

وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ

And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?"

Verse 18

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

Verse 19

قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يَا مُوسَىٰ

[Allah] said, "Throw it down, O Moses."

Verse 20

فَأَلْقَاهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَىٰ

So he threw it down, and thereupon it was a snake, moving swiftly.