Popular Translations
Muhammad Asad
And when Moses came [to Mount Sinai] at the time set by Us, and his Sustainer spoke unto him, he said: "O my Sustainer! Show [Thyself] unto me, so that I might behold Thee!" Said [God]: "Never canst thou see Me. However, behold this mountain: if it remains firm in its place, then - only then - wilt thou see Me. And as soon as his Sustainer revealed His glory to the mountain, He caused it to crumble to dust; and Moses fell down in a swoon. And when he came to himself, he said: "Limitless art Thou in Thy glory! Unto Thee do I turn in repentance; and I shall [always] be the first to believe in Thee!"
Arthur John Arberry
And when Moses came to Our appointed time and his Lord spoke with him, he said, 'Oh my Lord, show me, that I may behold Thee!' Said He, 'Thou shalt not see Me; but behold the mountain -- if it stays fast in its place, then thou shalt see Me.' And when his Lord revealed Him to the mountain He made it crumble to dust; and Moses fell down swooning. So when he awoke, he said, 'Glory be to Thee! I repent to Thee; I am the first of the believers.
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
When Moses came to the place appointed by Us, and his Lord addressed him, He said: "O my Lord! show (Thyself) to me, that I may look upon thee." Allah said: "By no means canst thou see Me (direct); But look upon the mount; if it abide in its place, then shalt thou see Me." When his Lord manifested His glory on the Mount, He made it as dust. And Moses fell down in a swoon. When he recovered his senses he said: "Glory be to Thee! to Thee I turn in repentance, and I am the first to believe."
Arabic
وَلَمَّا جَاۤءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِیقَـٰتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِیۤ أَنظُرۡ إِلَیۡكَۚ قَالَ لَن تَرَىٰنِی وَلَـٰكِنِ ٱنظُرۡ إِلَى ٱلۡجَبَلِ فَإِنِ ٱسۡتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُۥ فَسَوۡفَ تَرَىٰنِیۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُۥ لِلۡجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُۥ دَكࣰّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقࣰاۚ فَلَمَّاۤ أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ تُبۡتُ إِلَیۡكَ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَ ١٤٣
Transliteration (2021)
walammā jāa mūsā limīqātinā wakallamahu rabbuhu qāla rabbi arinī anẓur ilayka qāla lan tarānī walākini unẓur ilā l-jabali fa-ini is'taqarra makānahu fasawfa tarānī falammā tajallā rabbuhu lil'jabali jaʿalahu dakkan wakharra mūsā ṣaʿiqan falammā afāqa qāla sub'ḥānaka tub'tu ilayka wa-anā awwalu l-mu'minīn