Chapter 28 - 82
The Story (Surah Al-Qasas)
(88 verses in total; late Makkan)
In the name of Allah, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Twa-Seen-Meem!
These are the verses of the book (the Qur’an) that makes matter clear. We (God) narrate to you the story of Moses and Pharaoh with truth for the faithful. Pharaoh surely prided himself on earth and divided his people, making one party weaker among them. He killed their sons and spared their women. He was certainly among those who made mischief and brought corruption. (v. 1-4)
We desired to favor those who were made weak in the land - grant them leadership, let them inherit the land and secure power in the land, and let Pharaoh, Haman, and their chiefs experience what they feared. (v. 5-6)
We inspired Moses’ mother, “Nurse him (in secret) and when you fear for his life, cast him into the river. Do not be afraid and do not grieve since We will bring him back to you and make him a messenger (of God).” Then the house of Pharaoh picked him up such that he will prove to be an enemy and a source of grief for them, since Pharaoh, Haman and their chiefs were clearly sinful. (v. 7-8)
The wife of Pharaoh said, “(this child) is pleasing to my eye and to you as well. Let us not kill him. Perhaps he will be useful to us, and we can even take him as a son.” They could not not perceive (God’s plan)! (v. 9)
The heart of Moses’ mother would have been troubled, and she would have almost disclosed about her son had We not comforted her heart, so that she can have faith (in God). She said to his sister, “Follow him (along the river).” She watched him from a distance so that they (Pharaoh’s people) did not perceive. (v. 10-11)
We prohibited him (Moses) from suckling from wet nurses and his sister said, “Shall I inform you of a household who will bring him up for you and they will care for him well.” This is how We brought him back to his mother so that she can be comforted, not grieve for him and be assured that God’s promise is true. Most people are unaware (of God’s presence and plan). (v. 12-13)
When he (Moses) attained maturity and became a grown man, We (God) gifted him with knowledge and wisdom. This is how We reward those who are virtuous. Once he went to the city while its people were negligent, and he found two people fighting—one being from his faction and the other from his enemies. The one from his faction called out for his help against the other who was of his foes, and Moses struck him with his fist, and he died. He (Moses) said (to himself), “This is an act of Devil’s inspiration—he (Devil) is an enemy evident and always leading to the wrong path.” He implored, “My Sustainer God, I have done harm to myself, therefore forgive and protect me.” So God protected him and God is ever Forgiving, Merciful! He (Moses) said, “My Sustainer God, since you have granted me a favor, I will never support a guilty person.” (v. 14-17)
The following morning, Moses was in the city, fearful and watchful, and the same person who had asked for his help the day before, cried out again asking for help. Moses said to him, “You are clearly wrong.” So, he desired to strike him who was an enemy to both, when he said to Moses, “Do you intend to kill me, as you killed a person yesterday? You desire to be a tyrant in the land and not the one who acts righteously.” (v. 18-19)
(At that moment), a man came running from the outskirt of the city and said, “O Moses, the chiefs are conspiring to kill you; leave (as soon as possible). I am one of those who wish you well.” Moses left immediately, fearful and watchful, and said, “My Sustainer God, save me from corrupt people.” (v. 20-21)
Then Moses directed himself towards Midian and wished, “May be my Sustainer God will guide me to the right way.” Once he arrived at the wells of Midian, he found a group of men watering (their sheep) and two women holding back (their sheep). He asked them (women), “What is our story?” They replied, “We do not give water to ours until the shepherds are done and our father is an old man.” He watered theirs for them and then went back to the shade (of a tree) and reflected, “My Sustainer God, I am truly in need of any good that you can descend on me!” (v. 22-24)
(Soon) one of two women came back to him, approaching bashfully, and said, “My father invites you and wish to reward you for securing water for us.” So he came and related his story to him, who said, “Don’t worry, you are now secure from unjust people.” (v. 25)
One of the daughters said, “Father, hire him. Surely the best one to employ is the one who is strong and worthy of trust.” He (the father) said to Moses, “I wish to marry one of my daughters on the condition that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten years, that will be out of your own free will. I desire no hardship for you. You will find, if God wills, that I am a righteous man.” He (Moses) said, “It is between you and me—whichever term I fulfil, there will be no ill will toward me, and God is a Guardian over what we say and commit.” (v. 26-28)
Once Moses completed his contract, he was traveling with his family and saw a fire on the side of the mountain. He said to his family, “Wait, I see a fire. Perhaps I can bring some news for you from there or a brand of fire to keep us warm.” When he came near it, a voice called out to him from the right side of the valley, from a tree on the blessed ground, "O Moses, I am God, the Sustainer of the Universe! Throw your stick.” But when he saw it moving like a snake, he ran away in fear and would not look back. “O Moses, come back and don’t be afraid. You are of those who are secure! Insert your hand in your cloak and it will turn white without any harm. Draw back your arm to yourself without fear. These are two proofs from your God to Pharaoh and his chiefs – they are indeed a group who make mischiefs and practice evils.” (v. 29-32)
He (Moses) said, “My Cherisher God, I have killed one of them and I am afraid they will kill me. Aaron, my brother who is more eloquent than I am, let him come with me as a helper and to confirm what I say. I am afraid that they will reject me.” God said, “We will affirm your position with your brother, and We will give you both authority from Us such that they can’t harm you. With Our signs, you both and those who follow you will triumph in the end!” (v. 33-35)
When Moses came to them with clear evidence from Us, they said, “This is nothing but pure deception. We never heard of such things from our forefathers!” Moses replied, “My Cherisher God knows best who comes with guidance from God and who will reach their destinations. The unjust will never achieve success!” Pharoah said to his chiefs, “Fire up, O Haman and make bricks to build a tall structure for me that I can gain knowledge of Moses’s God. I think he is a liar!” He and his compatriots were arrogant with false pride and reckoned that they will not be brought back to Us (God). We seized him and his compatriots and threw them into the sea. See how the end of those who were unjust unfolded! We gave them leadership to call people to fire and on the Day of Resurrection they will have no help. We made our curse to pursue them in this worldly life and on the Day of Resurrection they will be despised and forsaken! (v. 36-42)
We indeed gave Moses the Book (Torah) - after We replaced the former generations - a source of insights for mankind, a guidance and mercy so that they can take lessons. And you (Prophet) were neither on the western side (of the mountain) when We revealed the Commandments, nor were you among those who were present (at the time). We raised many generations whom We granted long lives. You neither lived with the people of Midian when We recited Our messages to them, We being the Sender (of messengers), nor were you at the side of the mountain when We called (Moses). (Now We sent) you (Prophet) as a mercy to a people and to warn them as they received no messenger before – perhaps they will become mindful! Or, if a calamity were to touch them, based on what they have done to themselves, they should say, “O our Sustainer God, why did You not send a messenger to us that we may have followed Your messages and became believers!” (v. 43-47)
But now that the truth has been revealed to them from Us, they say, “How come he has not been given the signs like what was given to Moses?” But did they not disbelieve in what was given to Moses before? They further say, “Two lies backing up each other. We reject both!” Tell them, “Then bring another book from Allah that is better in guiding than these two and I will follow – if you really believe in what you say!” But if they do not give you an answer, you know that they are making vain claims. Who are more erroneous than those who makes false claims without any guidance from Allah? Allah does not guide people who refuse the truth! (v. 48-50)
We have made the Word (the Qur’an) repeated for their sake, so that they may be mindful. Those who were given the book before, they believed in it. When the Qur’an is recited to them, they say, “We believe in it – it is the truth from our Cherisher God. We were already muslims (submitted)!” They will be rewarded twice over – for being patient and steadfast, repelling evil with goodness, and dedicating resources what We gave them (to benefit others). When they hear frivolous talks, they turn aside and say, “For us are our deeds and for you are your deeds. We wish you peace! We do not associate with foolishness!” (v. 51-55)
You cannot guide any, even if you love them whereas Allah guides those that He pleases, because God knows best who is striving to walk aright. They say, “If we follow his guidance, we will suffer dislocation from our land.” Have We not settled them in a land- safe and sacred – where provisions of all kinds are brought in, sustenance from Us but most fail to comprehend! How many habitations have We destroyed that prided in their provisions. You see their dwelling places, where they lived but for a short time. We are the Inheritors (of them all)! (v. 56-57)
Your Cherisher God never destroys a town until a messenger is brought in to explain Our guidance and unless they persist in injustice afterwards! What you have are only a provision for this world and its vanities whereas what is with Allah is better and lasts longer! How is it that you do not comprehend? (v. 58-60)
The one to whom We made a promise for good cannot be the same as the one whom We had provided with the provisions of this life but will be raised on the Day of Resurrection to face the consequences. On that Day, God will call them and ask, “Where are those whom you deemed to be My associates? These (associates) against whom truth has already been rendered will say, “These are the ones that we caused to stray – we made them to deviate as we ourselves also deviated. We declare our innocence before You – they never truly worshipped us!” (v. 61-63)
They will be told, “Call on your associate gods” and they will but they will hear no answers. Instead, they will see the impending consequences – how they wish that they had followed the right path! On that Day God will call them and say, “What response did you give to the messengers?” On that Day, they will recognize the futility of making arguments or excuses such that they will not even consult one another! But those who repent, then believe and do good, maybe they will attain success! (v. 64-67)
Your Cherisher God creates and chooses as God pleases – it is not for them to make those choices. Glory be to Allah – exalted is God above any partners they ascribe! God knows what they conceive and what they conceal in their hearts and what they proclaim in public. It is Allah – there is no god but God! – to be praised and exalted in this life and in the life to come. Judgement belongs to God and to God will all be brought back! (v. 68-70)
Say (Prophet), “Think for a second - if Allah were to make the night persist without any cessation till the Day of Resurrection, is there another god beside Allah who can bring you daylight? Do you not hear? Or, if Allah were to make the day persist without any cessation till the Day of Resurrection, is there another god beside Allah who can bring you the night to take rest therein? Do you not see?” It is out of God’s mercy and blessings that there are days and nights such that you can rest, you can seek bounty from God, and you can be thankful! On the Day God will call them and ask, “Where are My partners that you falsely claimed?” From every community We will bring out a witness and will ask, “Bring your proof.” It is only then they will know that Allah is the Truth and whatever they had fabricated will fail them. (v. 71-75)
Corah was one of the men from Moses’s tribe but was oppressive to his people. We (God) gave him wealth to the extent that to carry his wealth would weigh heavily on a group of strong men! His people told him, “Do not be arrogant. Allah does not love arrogant people! Seek the surety of the afterlife by means of what Allah has given you and be mindful of what is expected of you in this life. Do good to others as Allah has done to you. Do not make mischief in the land – indeed, Allah does not love those who makes mischiefs.” But he replied, “What I have is due to knowledge that I have.” Does he not know Allah had destroyed before him generations that were even greater in strength and in assembly. (Does he think that) guilty will not be questioned about their sins? (v. 76-78)
He went around among his people with all his pomp and finery. Those who were inclined to this world said, “Oh that we were given the likes of what Corah has. He is the owner of mighty good fortune for sure!” But those who were given the real knowledge said, “We feel sorry for you. Indeed, Allah’s reward is better for those who believe and do good, and none can receive such rewards except through commitment and patience.” We made the earth swallow him and his house. There was none to help him against Allah, nor he could defend himself. Those who were inclined to him the day before, said, “Ah! Allah indeed amplifies or constraints the provisions for whomever God wills in God’s creation. Had God not been gracious to us, we would have surely been swallowed as well. Yes indeed, those who deny the truth will never prosper! (v. 79-82)
God assigns, the good residency of the Hereafter, only to those who do not aspire for undue dominance on this earth, nor they cause any corruptions. The good end-result belongs to those who act responsibly! Whoever does good, they will be rewarded with something better, and whoever does evil, such evil will be requited to the extent of its evilness. (v. 83-84)
God Who has made the Qur’an binding on you, will surely bring you back to the Place of Return1. Say (Prophet), “My Cherisher God knows best who has found the true guidance and who has gone blatantly astray!” You did not expect the Book will be inspired into you, but it is a mercy from your Cherisher God. Therefore, do not align with the deniers. Do not let them turn you away from the messages of Allah after these have been revealed to you. Invite people to God and do not be an idol worshipper (polytheist)! Do not call Allah with any other deities. There is no other deity but God. Everything will perish but God. God is the Decision Maker and To God you all will be brought back! (v. 85-88)
1 The place of return can be home or death but in this context, it might refer to Makkah from where the Prophet was forced to leave for fear of his safety and atrocities committed against his followers in Makkah. It is commonly understood that this verse was neither revealed in Makkah nor Madinah but in Juhfa – a place between Makkah and Madinah – during his escape from Makkah towards Madinah. This is another example of the intimacy that God had with the Prophet (in that way with people who truly are inclined to God) who was constantly being consoled and supported even in the darkest days of his life.
