سُوْرَةُ طٰهٰ
Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 64
فَأَجْمِعُوا۟ كَيْدَكُمْ ثُمَّ ٱئْتُوا۟ صَفًّا ۚ وَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْيَوْمَ مَنِ ٱسْتَعْلَىٰ ﴿64﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"So devise your plot, and then assemble in line. And whoever overcomes this day will be indeed successful."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَأَجْمِعُوا۟
fa-ajmiʿū
So put together
كَيْدَكُمْ
kaydakum
your plan
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
ٱئْتُوا۟
i'tū
come
صَفًّۭا ۚ
ṣaffan
(in) a line
وَقَدْ
waqad
And verily
أَفْلَحَ
aflaḥa
(will be) successful
ٱلْيَوْمَ
l-yawma
today
مَنِ
mani
who
ٱسْتَعْلَىٰ
is'taʿlā
overcomes
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 64) ➊ {فَاَجْمِعُوْا كَيْدَكُمْ …: ’’جَمَعَ يَجْمَعُ‘‘} (fa) means to gather, and {’’أَجْمَعَ‘‘} (af‘āl) means to make firm, to resolve firmly, to agree. Therefore, the translation of {’’ فَاَجْمِعُوْا ‘‘} (af‘āl) as “gather or assemble” is not correct. That is, leave this hesitation and disagreement about whether or not to confront Musa (peace be upon him); make your intention and your secret plan firm and strong, and then come to the field together in the form of ranks, so that your awe prevails over all and you launch such a sudden attack that the opponent’s feet are uprooted. This shows that the magicians were in great numbers, and instead of coming forward as a disorderly crowd, they decided to advance in proper military formation, arranging themselves in ranks to display their awe and grandeur. {’’ صَفًّا ‘‘} here is in the sense of kind, and it does not mean a single row, as He said: «{ يَوْمَ يَقُوْمُ الرُّوْحُ وَ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةُ صَفًّا }» [ النبا : ۳۸ ] “The Day when the Spirit and the angels will stand in rows.” By Pharaoh’s order, every expert magician from all the cities of Egypt was brought there, so what is meant is several rows.
➋ { وَ قَدْ اَفْلَحَ الْيَوْمَ مَنِ اسْتَعْلٰى : ’’ اسْتَعْلٰى ‘‘ ’’عَلَا يَعْلُوْ‘‘ } is from the form of istif‘āl. The additional letters are for emphasis, meaning that today’s contest is so important that whoever achieves clear and manifest dominance in it, his authority will be established forever, and whoever is left behind in it will never be able to raise his head again.
➋ { وَ قَدْ اَفْلَحَ الْيَوْمَ مَنِ اسْتَعْلٰى : ’’ اسْتَعْلٰى ‘‘ ’’عَلَا يَعْلُوْ‘‘ } is from the form of istif‘āl. The additional letters are for emphasis, meaning that today’s contest is so important that whoever achieves clear and manifest dominance in it, his authority will be established forever, and whoever is left behind in it will never be able to raise his head again.
