20 Sura Taha

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَدْ أَنجَيْنَاكُم مِّنْ عَدُوِّكُمْ...

20: 80. O ye Children of Israel!

We delivered you from your enemy,

...وَوَاعَدْنَاكُمْ جَانِبَ الطُّورِ الْأَيْمَنَ...

and We made a Covenant with you on the right side of Mount (Sinai),

C2601. Right side: Cf. 19:52, and n. 2504, towards the end.

The Arabian side of Sinai (Jabal Musa) was the place where Moses first received his commission before going to Egypt, and also where he received the Torah after the Exodus from Egypt.

...وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَى ﴿٨٠﴾

and We sent down to you Manna and quails:

كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ...

20: 81. (Saying):

"Eat of the good things We have provided for your sustenance,

C2602. Cf. 2:57 and n. 71; and 7:160.

1 should like to construe this not only literally but also metaphorically.

'Allah has looked after you and saved you. He has given you ethical and spiritual guidance. Enjoy the fruits of all this, but do not become puffed up and rebellious (another meaning in the root Taga); otherwise the Wrath of Allah is sure to descend on you.'

...وَلَا تَطْغَوْا فِيهِ فَيَحِلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غَضَبِي...

but commit no excess therein, lest My Wrath should justly descend on you:

...وَمَن يَحْلِلْ عَلَيْهِ غَضَبِي فَقَدْ هَوَى ﴿٨١﴾

and those on whom descends My Wrath do perish indeed!

C2603. This gives the key-note to Moses' constant tussle with his own people, and introduces immediately afterwards the incident of the golden calf.

Other versions:

20:80 [Ta’ha, Mecca 45]

O children of Israel! [Thus] We saved you from your enemy, and [then] We made a covenant

with you on the right-hand slope of Mount Sinai, 63 and repeatedly sent down manna and quails unto you, [saying,]

(20:81) [Ta’ha, Mecca 45]

Kuloo min tayyibati ma razaqnakum wala tatghaw feehi fayahilla AAalaykum ghadabee waman yahlil AAalayhi ghadabee faqad hawa

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Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad	"Partake of the good things which We have provided for you as sustenance," but do not transgress therein the bounds of equity 65 lest My condemnation fall upon you: for, he upon whom My condemnation falls has indeed thrown himself into utter ruin!"	&#x21E8
M. M. Pickthall	(Saying): Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and transgress not in respect thereof lest My wrath come upon you: and he on whom My wrath cometh, he is lost indeed.


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Shakir	Eat of the good things We have given you for sustenance, and be not inordinate with respect to them, lest My wrath should be due to you, and to whomsoever My wrath is due be shall perish indeed.	&#x21E8
Yusuf Ali	(Saying): "Eat of the good things We have provided for your sustenance, but commit no excess therein, lest My Wrath should justly descend on you: and those on whom descends My Wrath do perish indeed!	&#x21E8
[Al-Muntakhab]	And We said to you: Eat of the worthy victuals We provisioned you, do not transgress nor carry anything to excess lest you should come within the measure of My wrath, for, he who suffers My wrath sways his destiny and incurs spiritual death and moral ruin.	&#x21E8
[Progressive Muslims]	Eat from the good things that We have provided for you and do not transgress in this else My wrath will be upon you. Whomever has incurred My wrath is lost.

[[ Asad’s notes - 63 See note 38 on 19:52. As regards God's "covenant" with the children of Israel, see 2:63 and 83.

64 The reference to God's bestowal of "manna (mann) and quails (salwa)" upon the Israelites during their wanderings in the Sinai Desert after their exodus from Egypt is found in the Qur'an in two other places as well (namely, in 2:57 and 7:160). According to Arab philologists, the term mann denotes not only the sweet, resinous substance exuded by certain plants of the desert, but also everything that is "bestowed as a favour", i.e., without any effort on the part of the recipient. Similarly, the term salwa signifies not merely "a quail" or "quails", but also "all that makes man content and happy after privation" (Qamus). Hence the combination of these two terms denotes, metonymically, the gift of sustenance freely bestowed by God upon the followers of Moses.

65 Or: "do not behave in an overweening manner" - i.e., "do not attribute these favours to your own supposed excellence on account of your descent from Abraham".]]

[[Ali’s notes - 2601 Right side: Cf. xix. 52, and n. 2504, towards the end. The Arabian side of Sinai (Jabal Musa) was the place where Moses first received his commission before going to Egypt, and also where he received the Torah after the Exodus from Egypt. (20.80)

2602 Cf. ii. 57 and n. 71; and vii. 160. I should like to construe this not only literally but also metaphorically. 'Allah has looked after you and saved you. He has given you ethical and spiritual guidance. Enjoy the fruits of all this, but do not become puffed up and rebellious (another meaning in the root Taga); otherwise the Wrath of Allah is sure to descend on you.' (20.81)

2603 This gives the key-note to Moses's constant tussle with his own people, and introduces immediately afterwards the incident of the golden calf. (20.81) ]]