The Story
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.[28:1]
Ta. Sin. Mim.
[28:2]
These are revelations of the Scripture that maketh plain.
[28:3]
We narrate unto thee (somewhat) of the story of Moses and Pharaoh
with truth, for folk who believe.
[28:4]
Lo! Pharaoh exalted himself in the earth and made its people
castes. A tribe among them he oppressed, killing their sons and sparing
their women. Lo! he was of those who work corruption.
[28:5]
And We desired to show favour unto those who were oppressed in the
earth, and to make them examples and to make them the inheritors,
[28:6]
And to establish them in the earth, and to show Pharaoh and Haman
and their hosts that which they feared from them.
[28:7]
And We inspired the mother of Moses, saying: Suckle him and, when
thou fearest for him, then cast him into the river and fear not nor
grieve. Lo! We shall bring him back unto thee and shall make him (one) of
Our messengers.
[28:8]
And the family of Pharaoh took him up, that he might become for
them an enemy and a sorrow, Lo! Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts were
ever sinning.
[28:9]
And the wife of Pharaoh said: (He will be) a consolation for me
and for thee. Kill him not. Peradventure he may be of use to us, or we may
choose him for a son. And they perceived not.
[28:10]
And the heart of the mother of Moses became void, and she would
have betrayed him if We had not fortified her heart, that she might be of
the believers.
[28:11]
And she said unto his sister: Trace him. So she observed him from
afar, and they perceived not.
[28:12]
And We had before forbidden foster-mothers for him, so she said:
Shall I show you a household who will rear him for you and take care of
him ?
[28:13]
So We restored him to his mother that she might be comforted and
not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But
most of them know not.
[28:14]
And when he reached his full strength and was ripe, We gave him
wisdom and knowledge. Thus do We reward the good.
[28:15]
And he entered the city at a time of carelessness of its folk, and
he found therein two men fighting, one of his own caste, and the other of
his enemies; and he who was of his caste asked him for help against him
who was of his enemies. So Moses struck him with his fist and killed him.
He said: This is of the devil’s doing. Lo! he is an enemy, a mere
misleader.
[28:16]
He said: My Lord! Lo! I have wronged my soul, so forgive me. Then
He forgave him. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
[28:17]
He said: My Lord! Forasmuch as Thou hast favoured me, I will
nevermore be a supporter of the guilty.
[28:18]
And morning found him in the city, fearing, vigilant, when behold!
he who had appealed to him the day before cried out to him for help. Moses
said unto him: Lo! thou art indeed a mere hothead.
[28:19]
And when he would have fallen upon the man who was an enemy unto
them both, he said: O Moses! Wouldst thou kill me as thou didst kill a
person yesterday. Thou wouldst be nothing but a tyrant in the land, thou
wouldst not be of the reformers.
[28:20]
And a man came from the uttermost part of the city, running. He
said: O Moses! Lo! the chiefs take counsel against thee to slay thee;
therefor escape. Lo! I am of those who give thee good advice.
[28:21]
So he escaped from thence, fearing, vigilant. He said: My Lord!
Deliver me from the wrongdoing folk.
[28:22]
And when he turned his face toward Midian, he said: Peradventure
my Lord will guide me in the right road.
[28:23]
And when he came unto the water of Midian he found there a whole
tribe of men, watering. And he found apart from them two women keeping
back (their flocks). He said: What aileth you ? The two said: We cannot
give (our flocks) to drink till the shepherds return from the water; and
our father is a very old man.
[28:24]
So he watered (their flock) for them. Then he turned aside into
the shade, and said: My Lord! I am needy of whatever good Thou sendest
down for me.
[28:25]
Then there came unto him one of the two women, walking shyly. She
said: Lo! my father biddeth thee, that he may reward thee with a payment
for that thou didst water (the flock) for us. Then, when he came unto him
and told him the (whole) story, he said: Fear not! Thou hast escaped from
the wrongdoing folk.
[28:26]
One of the two women said: O my father! Hire him! For the best
(man) that thou canst hire in the strong, the trustworthy.
[28:27]
He said: Lo! I fain would marry thee to one of these two daughters
of mine on condition that thou hirest thyself to me for (the term of)
eight pilgrimages. Then if thou completest ten it will be of thine own
accord, for I would not make it hard for thee. Allah willing, thou wilt
find me of the righteous.
[28:28]
He said: That (is settled) between thee and me. Whichever of the
two terms I fulfil, there will be no injustice to me, and Allah is Surety
over what we say.
[28:29]
Then, when Moses had fulfilled the term, and was travelling with
his housefolk, he saw in the distance a fire and said unto his housefolk:
Bide ye (here). Lo! I see in the distance a fire; peradventure I shall
bring you tidings thence, or a brand from the fire that ye may warm
yourselves.
[28:30]
And when he reached it, he was called from the right side of the
valley in the blessed field, from the tree: O Moses! Lo! I, even I, am
Allah, the Lord of the Worlds;
[28:31]
Throw down thy staff. And when he saw it writhing as it had been a
demon, he turned to flee headlong, (and it was said unto him): O Moses!
Draw nigh and fear not. Lo! thou art of those who are secure.
[28:32]
Thrust thy hand into the bosom of thy robe it will come forth
white without hurt. And guard thy heart from fear. Then these shall be two
proofs from your Lord unto Pharaoh and his chiefs. Lo! they are evil-
living folk.
[28:33]
He said: My Lord! Lo! I killed a man among them and I fear that
they will kill me.
[28:34]
My brother Aaron is more eloquent than me in speech. Therefor send
him with me as a helper to confirm me. Lo! I fear that they will give the
lie to me.
[28:35]
He said: We will strengthen thine arm with thy brother, and We
will give unto you both power so that they cannot reach you for Our
portents. Ye twain, and those who follow you, will be the winners.
[28:36]
But when Moses came unto them with Our clear tokens, they said:
This is naught but invented magic. We never heard of this among our
fathers of old.
[28:37]
And Moses said: My Lord is Best Aware of him who bringeth guidance
from His presence, and whose will be the sequel of the Home (of bliss).
Lo! wrong-doers will not be successful.
[28:38]
And Pharaoh said: O chiefs! I know not that ye have a god other
than me, so kindle for me (a fire), O Haman, to bake the mud; and set up
for me a lofty tower in order that I may survey the God of Moses; and lo!
I deem him of the liars.
[28:39]
And he and his hosts were haughty in the land without right, and
deemed that they would never be brought back to Us.
[28:40]
Therefor We seized him and his hosts, and abandoned them unto the
sea. Behold the nature of the consequence for evil-doers!
[28:41]
And We made them patterns that invite unto the Fire, and on the
Day of Resurrection they will not be helped.
[28:42]
And We made a curse to follow them in this world, and on the Day
of Resurrection they will be among the hateful.
[28:43]
And We verily gave the Scripture unto Moses after We had destroyed
the generations of old: clear testimonies for mankind, and a guidance and
a mercy, that haply they might reflect.
[28:44]
And thou (Muhammad) wast not on the western side (of the Mount)
when We expounded unto Moses the commandment, and thou wast not among
those present;
[28:45]
But We brought forth generations, and their lives dragged on for
them. And thou wast not a dweller in Midian, reciting unto them Our
revelations, but We kept sending (messengers to men).
[28:46]
And thou was not beside the Mount when We did call; but (the
knowledge of it is) a mercy from thy Lord that thou mayst warn a folk unto
whom no warner came before thee, that haply they may give heed.
[28:47]
Otherwise, if disaster should afflict them because of that which
their own hands have sent before (them), they might say: Our Lord! Why
sentest Thou no messenger unto us, that we might have followed Thy
revelations and been of the believers ?
[28:48]
But when there came unto them the Truth from Our presence, they
said: Why is he not given the like of what was given unto Moses ? Did they
not disbelieve in that which was given unto Moses of old ? They say: Two
magics that support each other; and they say: Lo! in both we are
disbelievers.
[28:49]
Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Then bring a scripture from the
presence of Allah that giveth clearer guidance than these two (that) I may
follow it, if ye are truthful.
[28:50]
And if they answer thee not, then know that what they follow is
their lusts. And who goeth farther astray than he who followeth his lust
without guidance from Allah. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.
[28:51]
And now verily We have caused the Word to reach them, that haply
they may give heed.
[28:52]
Those unto whom We gave the Scripture before it, they believe in
it,
[28:53]
And when it is recited unto them, they say: We believe in it. Lo!
it is the Truth from our Lord. Lo! even before it we were of those who
surrender (unto Him).
[28:54]
These will be given their reward twice over, because they are
steadfast and repel evil with good, and spend of that wherewith We have
provided them,
[28:55]
And when they hear vanity they withdraw from it and say: Unto us
our works and unto you your works. Peace be unto you! We desire not the
ignorant.
[28:56]
Lo! thou (O Muhammad) guidest not whom thou lovest, but Allah
guideth whom He will. And He is Best Aware of those who walk aright.
[28:57]
And they say: If we were to follow the Guidance with thee we
should be torn out of our land. Have We not established for them a sure
sanctuary, whereunto the produce of all things is brought (in trade), a
provision from Our presence ? But most of them know not.
[28:58]
And how many a community have We destroyed that was thankless for
its means of livelihood! And yonder are their dwellings, which have not
been inhabited after them save a little. And We, even We, were the
inheritors.
[28:59]
And never did thy Lord destroy the townships, till He had raised
up in their mother(-town) a messenger reciting unto them Our revelations.
And never did We destroy the townships unless the folk thereof were evil-
doers.
[28:60]
And whatsoever ye have been given is a comfort of the life of the
world and an ornament thereof; and that which Allah hath is better and
more lasting. Have ye then no sense ?
[28:61]
Is he whom We have promised a fair promise which he will find
(true) like him whom We suffer to enjoy awhile the comfort of the life of
the world, then on the Day of Resurrection he will be of those arraigned ?
[28:62]
On the day when He will call unto them and say: Where are My
partners whom ye imagined ?
[28:63]
Those concerning whom the Word will have come true will say: Our
Lord! These are they whom we led astray. We led them astray even as we
ourselves were astray. We declare our innocence before Thee: us they never
worshipped.
[28:64]
And it will be said: Cry unto your (so-called) partners (of
Allah). And they will cry unto them, and they will give no answer unto
them, and they will see the Doom. Ah, if they had but been guided!
[28:65]
And on the Day when He will call unto them and say: What answer
gave ye to the messengers ?
[28:66]
On that day (all) tidings will be dimmed for them, nor will they
ask one of another,
[28:67]
But as for him who shall repent and believe and do right, he haply
may be one of the successful.
[28:68]
Thy Lord bringeth to pass what He willeth and chooseth. They have
never any choice. Glorified be Allah and Exalted above all that they
associate (with Him)!
[28:69]
And thy Lord knoweth what their breasts conceal, and what they
publish.
[28:70]
And He is Allah; there is no God save Him. His is all praise in
the former and the latter (state), and His is the command, and unto Him ye
will be brought back.
[28:71]
Say: Have ye thought, if Allah made night everlasting for you till
the Day of Resurrection, who is a god beside Allah who could bring you
light ? Will ye not then hear ?
[28:72]
Say: Have ye thought, if Allah made day everlasting for you till
the Day of Resurrection, who is a god beside Allah who could bring you
night wherein ye rest ? Will ye not then see ?
[28:73]
Of His mercy hath He appointed for you night and day, that therein
ye may rest, and that ye may seek His bounty, and that haply ye may be
thankful.
[28:74]
And on the Day when He shall call unto them and say: Where are My
partners whom ye pretended ?
[28:75]
And We shall take out from every nation a witness and We shall
say: Bring your proof. Then they will know that Allah hath the Truth, and
all that they invented will have failed them.
[28:76]
Now Korah was of Moses’ folk, but he oppressed them; and We gave
him so much treasure that the stores thereof would verily have been a
burden for a troop of mighty men. When his own folk said unto him: Exult
not; lo! Allah loveth not the exultant;
[28:77]
But seek the abode of the Hereafter in that which Allah hath given
thee and neglect not thy portion of the world, and be thou kind even as
Allah hath been kind to thee, and seek not corruption in the earth; lo!
Allah loveth not corrupters,
[28:78]
He said: I have been given it only on account of knowledge I
possess. Knew he not that Allah had destroyed already of the generations
before him men who were mightier than him in strength and greater in
respect of following ? The guilty are not questioned of their sins.
[28:79]
Then went he forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were
desirous of the life of the world said: Ah, would that we had the like of
what hath been given unto Korah! Lo! he is lord of rare good fortune.
[28:80]
But those who had been given knowledge said: Woe unto you! The
reward of Allah for him who believeth and doeth right is better, and only
the steadfast will obtain it.
[28:81]
So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling-place. Then
he had no host to help him against Allah, nor was he of those who can save
themselves.
[28:82]
And morning found those who had coveted his place but yesterday
crying: Ah, welladay! Allah enlargeth the provision for whom He will of
His slaves and straiteneth it (for whom He will). If Allah had not been
gracious unto us He would have caused it to swallow us (also). Ah,
welladay! the disbelievers never prosper.
[28:83]
As for that Abode of the Hereafter We assign it unto those who
seek not oppression in the earth, nor yet corruption. The sequel is for
those who ward off (evil).
[28:84]
Whoso bringeth a good deed, he will have better than the same;
while as for him who bringeth an ill-deed, those who do ill-deeds will be
requited only what they did.
[28:85]
Lo! He Who hath given thee the Qur’an for a law will surely bring
thee home again. Say: My Lord is Best Aware of him who bringeth guidance
and him who is in error manifest.
[28:86]
Thou hadst no hope that the Scripture would be inspired in thee;
but it is a mercy from thy Lord, so never be a helper to the disbelievers.
[28:87]
And let them not divert thee from the revelations of Allah after
they have been sent down unto thee; but call (mankind) unto thy Lord, and
be not of those who ascribe partners (unto Him).
[28:88]
And cry not unto any other god along with Allah. There is no God
save Him. Everything will perish save His countenance. His is the command,
and unto Him ye will be brought back.