Al-Qur'an Surah Ghafir Verse 37

Mufti 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.

Dr. 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.”[[ See {28:38}.]] 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.

Ruwwad Translation Center

the pathways to the heavens so that I have a look at the God of Moses, for I think he is a liar.” This is how Pharaoh’s evil deeds were made appealing to him and he was hindered from the [right] way, and the plan of Pharaoh led only to ruin.

A. J. 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.

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.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

The way of access to the heavens so that may be apprised of the God of Musa, and verily I believe him to be a liar. And thus fair- seeming was made Unto FIr'awn the evil of his work, and he was hindered from the path. And the plot of Fir'awn ended only in ruin.

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).

Abul Ala Maududi

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.

Ahmed Ali

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.

Ahmed Raza Khan

“The routes of the heavens, in order to glance at the God of Moosa – and indeed I think he is a liar”; this is how the evil deeds of Firaun were made seeming good to him, and he was stopped from the path; and the evil scheme of Firaun was destined to be ruined.

Ali Quli Qarai

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

Ali Ünal

"The ways of (peering into) the skies, and that I may have a look at the God of Moses, even though I am sure that he is a liar." Thus were his evil deeds decked out to be appealing to the Pharaoh, and he was debarred from the (right) way. And the scheme of the Pharaoh ended in nothing but destruction.

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.

English Literal

The skies`/space`s reasons/connections so I look/see to Moses` God, and that I think/suppose (E) him (to be) a liar/denier/falsifier. And as/like that (it) was decorated/beautified to Pharaoh, his deed`s bad/evil ,and he was prevention/obstruction from the way/path , and Pharaoh`s plot/conspiracy is not except in destruction/loss.

Faridul Haque

“The routes of the heavens, in order to glance at the God of Moosa - and indeed I think he is a liar”; this is how the evil deeds of Firaun were made seeming good to him, and he was stopped from the path; and the evil scheme of Firaun was destined to be ruined.

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.

Hilali & Khan

"The ways of the heavens, and I may look upon the Ilah (God) of Musa (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).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And Pharaoh said: O Haman, build for me a tower that I may attain the means of access --

Mohammad Habib Shakir

The means of access to the heavens, then reach the god of Musa, and I surely think him to be a liar. And thus the evil of his deed was made fairseeming to Firon, and he was turned away from the way; and the struggle of Firon was not (to end) in aught but destruction.

Mohammed Marmaduke William 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.

Muhammad Sarwar

to the heavens and be able to climb up to the Lord of Moses. I think that Moses is lying." Thus, Pharaoh's evil deeds seemed attractive to him and prevented him from the right path. The Pharaoh's plots only led him to his own destructor.

Qaribullah & Darwish

the ways of heaven so that I may look upon the God of Moses, because I think that he is a liar' And so Pharaoh's evil deeds were made to seem fair to him, and he was barred from the Way. And Pharaoh's guile came to nothing except ruin.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

The ways of the heavens, and I may look upon the God of Musa, but verily, I think him to be a liar." Thus it was made fair seeming, in Fir`awn's eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the path; and the plot of Fir`awn led to nothing but loss and destruction.

Wahiduddin Khan

to the heavens, so that I may look upon the God of Moses: I am convinced that he is a liar!" That is how Pharaoh's evil actions were made to look fair in the eyes of Pharoah, and he was turned away from the path [of truth]. Pharaoh's scheming led to nothing but ruin.

Talal Itani

The pathways of the heavens, so that I may glance at the God of Moses; though I think he is lying.” Thus Pharaoh’s evil deeds were made to appear good to him, and he was averted from the path. Pharaoh's guile was only in defeat.

Tafsir jalalayn

the routes of the heavens -- the paths that lead to it, and look upon (read [indicative] fa-attali`u as a supplement to ablughu, `I may reach'; or read [subjunctive] fa-attali`a, as the response to ibni l, `build for me') the God of Moses; for I truly think that he, that is, Moses, is lying', about his having a god other than me -- Pharaoh said this in order to disguise [the truth]. And that is how the evil [nature] of his conduct was made to seem fair to Pharaoh, and [that is how] he was barred from the [right] way, the path to guidance (read sadda, `[that is how] he barred [others]', or sudda, `[that is how] he was barred'). And Pharaoh's guile ended only in ruin, loss.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

أَسْبَابَ السَّمَاوَاتِ

that I may arrive at the ways -- the ways of the heavens,

Sa`id bin Jubayr and Abu Salih said,

"The gates of the heavens."

Or it was said, the ways of the heavens.

فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلَى إِلَهِ مُوسَى وَإِنِّي لَاأَظُنُّهُ كَاذِبًا

and I may look upon the God of Musa, but verily, I think him to be a liar.

Because of his disbelief and defiance, he did not believe that Allah had sent Musa to him.

Allah says;

وَكَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ وَصُدَّ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ

Thus it was made fair seeming, in Fir`awn's eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the path;

means, this act of his (building the tower), by means of which he wanted to deceive his people and make them think that he could prove that Musa was lying.

Allah says;

وَمَا كَيْدُ فِرْعَوْنَ إِلاَّ فِي تَبَابٍ



and the plot of Fir`awn led to nothing but loss and destruction.

Ibn Abbas and Mujahid said,

"Meaning nothing but ruin.