Surah 20 · verse 17
Taha 20:17
Sign in to listenوَمَا 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
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 15إِنَّ 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 16فَلَا 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.
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ
And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?"
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 19قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يَا مُوسَىٰ
[Allah] said, "Throw it down, O Moses."
Verse 20فَأَلْقَاهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَىٰ
So he threw it down, and thereupon it was a snake, moving swiftly.
