Taha Verse 17

˹Allah added,˺ “And what is that in your right hand, O  Moses?”

What is that in your right hand, O Moses?”

What is that, Moses, thou hast in thy right hand?'

‘Moses, what is that in your right hand?’

And what is that in thy right hand, O Musa!

"And what is that in the right hand, O Moses?"

And what is in your right hand, O Moses?"

What is that in your right band, O Moses?"

“And what is this in your right hand, O Moosa?”

‘Moses, what is that in your right hand?’

"What is that in your right hand, Moses?"

`Moses, What is that you have in your right hand?´

And what (is) that at your right (hand) you, Moses?

"And what is this in your right hand, O Moosa?"

"Let not then him who believes not therein and follows his lusts (prejudices, fantasies, superstitions) ever turn you away there from, lest you be ruined.

"And what is that in your right hand, O Musa (Moses)?"

So let not him, who believes not in it and follows his low desire, turn thee away from it, lest thou perish.

And what is this in your right hand, O Musa!

And what is that in thy right hand, O Moses?

The Lord asked, "Moses, what is in your right hand?"

What is that in your right hand, Moses'

"And what is that in your right hand, O Musa"

"What do you have in your right hand, Moses?"

And what is that in your right-hand, O Moses?”

And what is that, that happens to be, in your right hand, O Moses?' (the interrogative is meant as an affirmative, [but it is expressed as an interrogative] in order that the miracle [to be manifested] in it be [shown as] consequent upon it).

The Stick of Musa turned into a Snake

This was a proof from Allah for Musa and a great miracle. This was something that broke through the boundaries of what is considered normal, thus, it was a brilliant evidence that none but Allah could do. It was also a proof that no one could come with the likes of this (from mankind) except a Prophet who was sent (by Allah).

Concerning Allah's statement,

وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَى



And what is that in your right hand, O Musa!

Some of the scholars of Tafsir have said,

"He (Allah) only said this to him in order to draw his attention to it."

It has also been said,

"He only said this to him in order to affirm for him what was in his hand. In other words, that which is in your right hand is a stick that you are familiar with. You will see what We are about to do to it now."

وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَى


And what is that in your right hand, O Musa,

This is an interrogative phrase for the purpose of affirmation