Al-Qur'an Surah Taha Verse 10

Mufti Taqi Usmani

When he saw a fire and said to his family, “Stay here. I have noticed a fire. Perhaps I can bring you an ember from it, or find some guidance by the fire.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

When he saw a fire, he said to his family, “Wait here, ˹for˺ I have spotted a fire. Perhaps I can bring you a torch from it, or find some guidance at the fire.”[[ Moses and his family lost their way in the dark while they were travelling from Midian to Egypt. ]]

Ruwwad Translation Center

When he saw a fire, he said to his family, “Stay here. I have spotted a fire; I may bring you a flaming brand from it, or find some guidance at the fire.”

A. J. Arberry

When he saw a fire, and said to his family, 'Tarry you here; I observe a fire. Perhaps I shall bring you a brand from it, or I shall find at the fire guidance.'

Abdul Haleem

He saw a fire and said to his people, ‘Stay here––I can see a fire. Maybe I can bring you a flaming brand from it or find some guidance there.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Recall what time he saw a fire and said to his household, bide ye! verily I have perceived a fire! haply I may bring you from it a brand or may find at the fire a guidance.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Behold, he saw a fire; So he said to his family, "Tarry ye; I perceive a fire; perhaps I can bring you some burning brand therefrom, or find some guidance at the fire."

Abul Ala Maududi

When he saw a fire and said to his family: "Hold on! I have just perceived a fire; perhaps I will bring a brand from it for you, or I will find some guidance at the fire about the way to follow."

Ahmed Ali

When he saw a fire he said to his family: "You wait here. I have seen a fire. I may haply be able to bring an ember from it, or find direction by the fire."

Ahmed Raza Khan

When he saw a fire and said to his wife, “Wait – I have seen a fire – perhaps I may bring you an ember from it or find a way upon the fire.”

Ali Quli Qarai

when he sighted a fire, and said to his family, ‘Wait! Indeed, I descry a fire! Maybe I will bring you a brand from it, or find some guidance at the fire.’

Ali Ünal

(He was traveling with his family in the desert) when he saw a fire, and so said to his family: "Wait here! Indeed I perceive a fire far off. Perhaps I can bring you a burning brand from it, or find guidance by the fire."

Amatul Rahman Omar

When he saw a fire, he said to his companions, `Stay here for I perceive a fire (creating feelings of love and affection). I hope, I may bring you a fire brand from there. Rather I feel that I would find some guidance at the fire.´

English Literal

When he saw a fire, so he said to his family: "Wait/remain/stay, that I , I perceived/saw a fire, maybe/perhaps I come to you from it with a fire`s flame/torch, or I find on (at) the fire guidance."

Faridul Haque

When he saw a fire and said to his wife, "Wait - I have seen a fire - perhaps I may bring you an ember from it or find a way upon the fire."

Hamid S. Aziz

Has the story of Moses come to you?

Hilali & Khan

When he saw a fire, he said to his family: "Wait! Verily, I have seen a fire, perhaps I can bring you some burning brand therefrom, or find some guidance at the fire."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And has the story of Moses come to thee?

Mohammad Habib Shakir

When he saw fire, he said to his family: Stop, for surely I see a fire, haply I may bring to you therefrom a live coal or find a guidance at the fire.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

When he saw a fire and said unto his folk: Lo! Wait! I see a fire afar off. Peradventure I may bring you a brand therefrom or may find guidance at the fire.

Muhammad Sarwar

When he saw the fire, he said to his family, "Wait here for I can see a fire. Perhaps I shall bring you a burning torch or find a way to some fire".

Qaribullah & Darwish

When he saw a fire, he said to his family: 'Stay here, for I can see a fire. Perhaps I can bring you a lighted torch or find at the fire guidance'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

When he saw a fire, he said to his family: "Wait! Verily, I have seen a fire; perhaps I can bring you some burning brand therefrom, or find some guidance at the fire."

Wahiduddin Khan

When he saw a fire, he said to his family, "Wait here. I can see a fire. Perhaps I can bring you a brand from it, or find some guidance at the fire."

Talal Itani

When he saw a fire, he said to his family, “Stay; I have noticed a fire; Perhaps I can bring you a torch therefrom, or find some guidance by the fire.”

Tafsir jalalayn

When he caught sight of a fire and said to his family, namely, to his wife, `Wait, here! -- this was when he was leaving Midian, heading for Egypt -- Indeed I see a fire [in the distance]. Perhaps I [can] bring you a brand from it, [bring you] a burning wick or a torch, or find at the fire some guidance', that is, someone to guide me by showing me the [proper] route -- for he had lost it in the darkness of the night. He [Moses] said, `perhaps' (la`alla) because he could not be certain of fulfilling his promise.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

إِذْ رَأَى نَارًا فَقَالَ لاَِهْلِهِ امْكُثُوا

And has there come to you the story of Musa! When he saw a fire, he said to his family;"Wait!

From this point, Allah begins to mention the story of Musa, how revelation began to come to Him, and Allah's speaking directly to him.

This occurred after Musa had completed the time agreed upon between he and his father-in-law that he would herd sheep. He was traveling with his family, and it has been said that he was headed for the land of Egypt, after having been away from it for more than ten years. He had his wife with him and he became lost on the way during a cold, wintry night.

Therefore, he settled down, making a camp between some mountain passes and mountains that were covered with snow, sleet, dense clouds, darkness and fog. He began to try to make a fire with a kindling device he had with him, in order to produce some light, as was customary. However, it would not kindle anything and it even stopped giving off sparks. While he was in this condition, he saw a fire from the side of the mountain. It appeared to him to be a fire glowing from the right side of the mountain from where he was. He then announced the good news to his family saying,

إِنِّي انَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّي اتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ

Verily, I have seen a fire; perhaps I can bring you some burning brand,

This means a flame from a fire.

In another Ayah he said,

أَوْ جَذْوَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ

or a burning firebrand. (28;29)

This is a coal that has a burning flame.

لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ

that you may warm yourselves. (28;29)

This proves that it was in fact cold weather at that time.

Concerning his statement,
بِقَبَسٍ
(some burning brand).

This proves that it was dark.

In reference to his statement,

أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى النَّارِ هُدًى



or find some guidance at the fire.

This means someone who can guide me to the road.

This proves that he lost the road.

This is as Ath-Thawri reported from Abu Sa`id Al-A`war, from Ikrimah, from Ibn Abbas that he said concerning Allah's statement,
أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى النَّارِ هُدًى
(or find some guidance at the fire),

"This means someone who will guide me to the road. They were cold and had lost their way. Then, when he (Musa) saw the fire he said, `Either I will find someone who can guide us to the road, or at least I can bring you all some fire that you can kindle with."