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Sura Xxviii. Qaa, Or The Narration

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"The Holy Quran", tr. by Yusuf Ali, [1934],

p. 1002

Sra Xxviii.

\"QAA", Or The Narration.

In the name of God, Most Gracious,

Most Merciful.

1.
\"T". "Sn". "Mm".

2.
These are Verses of the Book

That makes (things) clear.

3.
We rehearse to thee some

Of the story of Moses

And Pharaoh in Truth,

For people who believe.

4.
Truly Pharaoh elated himself

In the land and broke up

Its people into sections,

Depressing a small group

Among them: their sons he slew,

But he kept alive their females:

For he was indeed

A maker of mischief.

5.
And We wished to be

Gracious to those who were

Being depressed in the land,

To make them leaders (in faith)

And make them heirs,

p. 1003

6.
To establish a firm place

For them in the land,

And to show Pharaoh, Haman,

And their hosts, at their hands,

The very things against which

They were taking precautions.

7.
So We sent this inspiration

To the mother of Moses:

"Suckle (thy child), but when

Thou hast fears about him,

Cast him into the river,

But fear not nor grieve:


For We shall restore him

To thee, and We shall make

Him one of Our apostles.
"

8. Then the people of Pharaoh

Picked him up (from the river):

(It was intended) that (Moses)

Should be to them an adversary

And a cause of sorrow:


For Pharaoh and Haman

And (all) their hosts were

Men of sin.

9.
The wife of Pharaoh said:


"(Here is) a joy of the eye,'

For me and for thee:

Slay him not. It may be

p. 1004

That he will be of use

To us, or we may adopt

Him as a son.
" And they

Perceived not (what they

Were doing)!

10.
But there came to be

A void in the heart

Of the mother of Moses:


She was going almost to

Disclose his (case), had We

Not strengthened her heart

(With faith), so that she

Might remain a (firm) believer.

11.
And she said to the sister

Of (Moses), "Follow him".

So she (the sister) watched him

In the character of a stranger.

And they knew not.

12.
And We ordained that he

Refused suck at first, until

(His sister came up

And
) said: "Shall I

Point out to you the people

Of a house that will nourish

And bring him up for you'"

And be sincerely attached

To him?"...

13.
Thus did We restore him

To his mother, that her eye

Might be comforted, that she

Might not grieve, and that

She might know that the promise

Of God is true: but

Most of them do not understand.

p. 1005

Section 2.

14.
When he reached full age,

And was firmly established

(In life), We bestowed on him

Wisdom and knowledge: for thus

Do We reward those

Who do good.

15.
And he entered the City

At a time when its people

Were not watching: and he

Found there two men fighting,--

One of his own religion,

And the other, of his foes.

Now the man of his own

Religion appealed to him

Against his foe, and Moses

Struck him with his fist

And made an end of him.

He said: "This is a work

Of Evil (Satan): for he is

An enemy that manifestly

Misleads!"

16.
He prayed: "O my Lord!

I have indeed wronged my soul!

Do Thou then forgive me!"

So (God) forgave him: for He

Is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

p. 1006

17.
He said: "O my Lord!

For that Thou hast bestowed

Thy Grace on me, never

Shall I be a help

To those who sin!"

18.
So he saw the morning

In the City, looking about,

In a state of fear, when

Behold, the man who had,

The day before, sought his help

Called aloud for his help

(Again). Moses said to him:


"Thou art truly, it is clear,

A quarrelsome fellow!"

19.
Then, when he decided to lay

Hold of the man who was

An enemy to both of them,

That man said: "O Moses!

Is it thy intention to slay me

As thou slewest a man

Yesterday? Thy intention is

None other than to become

A powerful violent man

In the land, and not to be

One who sets things right!

p. 1007

20.
And there came a man,

Running, from the furthest end

Of the City. He said:


"O Moses! the Chiefs

Are taking counsel together

About thee, to slay thee:


So get thee away, for I

Do give thee sincere advice."

21.
He therefore got away therefrom,

Looking about, in a state

Of fear. He prayed:


"O my Lord! save me

From people given to wrong-doing."

Section 3.

22.
When, when he turned his face

Towards (the land of) Madyan,

He said: "I do hope

That my Lord will show me

The smooth and straight Path."

23.
And when he arrived at

The watering (place) in Madyan;

He found there a group

Of men watering (their flocks),

And besides them he found

Two women who were keeping

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Back (their flocks). He said:

"What is the matter with you?"

They said: "We cannot water

(Our flocks) until the shepherds

Take back (their flocks):

And our father is

A very old man."

24.
So he watered (their flocks)

For them; then he turned back

To the shade, and said:


"O my Lord!

Truly am I

In (desperate) need

Of any good

That Thou dost send me!"

25.
Afterwards one of the (damsels)

Came (back) to him, walking

Bashfully. She said: "My father

Invites thee that he may

Reward thee for having watered

(Our flocks) for us.
" So when

He came to him and narrated

The story, he said:

p. 1009

\"Fear thou not: (well) hast thou

Escaped from unjust people."

26. Said one of the (damsels):


"O my (dear) father! engage

Him on wages: truly the best

Of men for thee to employ is

The (man) who is strong and trusty"

27.
He said: "I intend to wed

One of these my daughters

To thee, on, condition that

Thou serve me for eight years;

But if thou complete ten years,

It will be (grace) from thee.

But I intend not to place

Thee under a difficulty:

p. 1010

Thou wilt find me,

Indeed, if God wills,

One of the righteous."

28.
He said: "Be that (the agreement)

Between me and thee:

Whichever of the two terms

I fulfil, let there be

No ill-will to me.

Be God a witness

To what we say."

Section 4.

29.
Now when Moses had fulfilled

The term, and was travelling

With his family, he perceived

A fire in the direction

Of Mount r. He said

To his family: "Tarry ye;

I perceive a fire; I hope

To bring you from there

Some information, or a burning

Firebrand, that ye may

Warm yourselves."

30.
But when he came

To the (Fire), a voice

p. 1011

Was heard from the right bank

Of the valley, from a tree

In hallowed ground:


"O Moses! Verily

I am God, the Lord

Of the Worlds

31.
\"Now do thou throw thy rod!"

But when he saw it

Moving (of its own accord)

As if it had been a snake,

He turned back in retreat,

And retraced not his steps:

"O Moses!" (it was said),

"Draw near, and fear not:

For thou art of those

Who are secure.

32.
\"Move thy hand into

Thy bosom, and it will

Come forth white without stain

(Or harm), and draw thy hand

Close to thy side

(To guard) against fear.

Those are the two credentials

From thy Lord to Pharaoh

And his Chiefs: for truly

They are a people

Rebellious and wicked."

33.
He said: "O my Lord!

I have slain a man

p. 1012

Among them, and I fear

Lest they slay me.

34.
\"And my brother Aaron--

He is more eloquent in speech

Than I: so send him

With me as a helper,

To confirm (and strengthen) me:


For I fear that they may

Accuse me of falsehood."

35.
He said: "We will certainly

Strengthen thy arm through

Thy brother, and invest you both

With authority, so they

Shall not be able to

Touch you: with Our Signs

Shall ye triumph,--you two

As well as those

Who follow you."

36.
When Moses came to them

With Our Clear Signs, they said:

"This is nothing but sorcery

Faked up: never did we

Hear the like among our fathers

Of old!
"

p. 1013

37.
Moses said: "My Lord

Knows best who it is

That comes with guidance

From Him and whose End

Will be best in the Hereafter:


Certain it is that

The wrong-doers will not prosper."

38.
Pharaoh said: "O Chiefs!

No god do I know for you

But myself: therefore,

O Haman! light me a (kiln

To bake bricks
) out of clay,

And build me a lofty

Palace, that I may mount up

To the god of Moses:


But as far as I am concerned,

I think (Moses) is a liar!"

39.
And he was arrogant and insolent

In the land, beyond reason,--

He and his hosts: they thought

That they would not have

To return to Us!"

40.
So We seized him

And his hosts, and We

Flung them into the sea:


Now behold what was the End

Of those who did wrong!

p. 1014

41.
And We made them (but)

Leaders inviting to the Fire;

And on the Day of Judgment

No help shall they find.

42. In this world We made

A Curse to follow them:


And on the Day of Judgment

They will be among

The loathed (and despised).

Section 5.

43.
We did reveal to Moses

The Book after We had

Destroyed the earlier generations,

(To give) Insight to men,

And Guidance and Mercy,

That they might receive admonition.

p. 1015

44.
Thou wast not on the Western

Side when We decreed

The Commission to Moses,

Nor wast thou a witness

(Of those events).

45.
But We raised up (new)

Generations, and long were the ages

That passed over them;

But thou vast not a dweller

Among the people of Madyan,

Rehearsing Our Signs to them;

But it is We Who send

Apostles (with inspiration).

46.
Nor wast thou at the side

Of (the Mountain of) r

When We called (to Moses).

Yet (art thou sent)

As a Mercy from thy Lord,

To give warning to a people

To whom no warner had come

Before thee: in order that

They may receive admonition.

47.
If (We had) not (sent thee

To the Quraish
),--in case

A calamity should seize them

For (the deeds) that their hands

Have sent forth, they might say:

"Our Lord! why didst Thou not

p. 1016

Send us an apostle? We

Should then have followed

Thy Signs and been amongst

Those who believe!"

48.
But (now), when the Truth

Has come to them from Ourselves,

They say, "Why are not

(Signs) sent to him, like

Those which were sent to Moses?"

Do they not then reject

(The Signs) which were formerly

Sent to Moses? They say:

"Two kinds of sorcery,

Each assisting the other.

And they say: "For us,

We reject all (such things)!"

49.
Say: "Then bring ye

A Book from God,

Which is a better Guide

Than either of them,

That I may follow it!

(Do), if ye are truthful!"

50.
But if they hearken not

To thee, know that they

Only follow their own lusts:


And who is more astray

Than one who follows his own

Lusts, devoid of guidance

From God? For God guides not

People given to wrong-doing.

p. 1017

Section 6.

51.
Now have We caused

The Word to reach them

Themselves, in order that

They may receive admonition.

52.
Those to whom We sent

The Book before this,--they

Do believe in this (Revelation);

53.
And when it is recited

To them, they say: "We

Believe therein, for it is

The Truth from our Lord:


Indeed we have been Muslims

(Bowing to God's Will)

From before this.

54.
Twice will they be given

Their reward, for that they

Have persevered, that they avert

Evil with Good, and that

They spend (in charity) out of

What We have given them.

55.
And when they hear vain talk,

They turn away therefrom

And say: "To us our deeds,

And to you yours;

p. 1018

Peace be to you: we

Seek not the ignorant."

56.
It is true thou wilt not

Be able to guide every one;

Whom thou lowest; but God

Guides those whom He will.

And He knows best those

Who receive guidance.

57.
They say: "If we were

To follow the guidance with thee,

We should be snatched away

From our land.
" Have We not

Established for them a secure

Sanctuary, to which are brought

As tribute fruits of all kinds,--

A provision from Ourselves?

But most of them understand not.

58.
And how many populations

We destroyed, which exulted

In their life (of ease and plenty)!

Now those habitations of theirs,

After them, are deserted,--

All but a (miserable) few!

And We are their heirs!"

p. 1019

59.
Nor was thy Lord the one

To destroy a population until

He had sent to its Centre

An apostle, rehearsing to them

Our Signs; nor are We

Going to destroy a population

Except when its members

Practise iniquity.

60.
The (material) things which

Ye are given are but

The conveniences of this life

And the glitter ther;

But that which is with God

Is better and more enduring:

Will ye not then be wise?

Section 7.

61.
Are (these two) alike?--

One to whom We have made

A goodly promise, and who

Is going to reach its (fulfilment),

And one to whom We have

Given the good things of this

Life, but who, on the Day

Of Judgment, is to be among

Those brought up (for punishment)?

p. 1020

62. That Day (God) will

Call to them, and say:


"Where are My 'partners'?--

Whom ye imagined (to be such)?"

63.
Those against whom the charge

Will be proved, will say:

"Our Lord! These are the ones

Whom we led astray:

We led them astray, as we

Were astray ourselves: we free

Ourselves (from them) in Thy presence:

It was not us they worshipped."

64. It will be said (to them):


"Call upon your 'partners'

(For help)
": they will call

Upon them, but they will not

Listen to them; and they

Will see the Penalty (before them);

(How they will wish)

'If only they had been

Open to guidance!'

65. That Day (God) will

Call to them, and say:


"What was the answer

Ye gave to the apostles?"

66.
Then the (whole) story that day

Will seem obscure to them

(Like light to the blind)

And they will not be able

(Even) to question each other.

p. 1021

67.
But any that (in this life)

Had repented, believed, and worked

Righteousness, will have hopes

To be among those who

Achieve salvation.

68.
Why by Lord does create and choose

As He pleases: no choice

Have they (in the matter):


Glory to God! and far

Is He above the partners

They ascribe (to Him)!

69.
And thy Lord knows all

That their hearts conceal

And all that they reveal.

70.
And He is God: there is

No god. but He. To Him

Be praise, at the first

And at the last:


For Him is the Command,

And to Him shall ye

(All) be brought back.

71.
Say: See ye? If God

Were to make the Night

p. 1022

Perpetual over you to the Day

Of Judgment, what god

Is there other than God,

Who can give you enlightenment?

Will ye not then hearken?

72.
Say: See ye? If God

Were to make the Day

Perpetual over you to the Day

Of Judgment, what god

Is there other than God,

Who can give you a Night

In which ye can rest?

Will ye not then see?

73.
It is out of His Mercy

That He has made for you

Night and Day,--that ye

May rest therein, and that

Ye may seek of His Grace;--

And in order that ye

May be grateful.

74.
The Day that He will

Call on them, He will say:

"Where are My 'partners'?--

Whom ye imagined (to be such)?"

75.
And from each people

Shall We draw a witness,

And We shall say: "Produce

Your Proof
": then shall they

Know that the Truth is in

God (alone), and the (lies)

Which they invented will

Leave them in the lurch.

p. 1023

Section 8.

76.
Qrn was doubtless,

Of the people of Moses; but

He acted insolently towards them:

Such were the treasures We

Had bestowed on him, that

Their very keys would

Have been a burden to

A body of strong men.

Behold, his people said to him:


"Exult not, for God loveth not

Those who exult (in riches).

77.
\"But seek, with the (wealth)

Which God has bestowed on thee,

The Home of the Hereafter,

Nor forget thy portion in this

p. 1024

World: but do thou good,

As God has been good

To thee, and seek not

(Occasions for) mischief in the land:

For God loves not those

Who do mischief."

78.
He said: "This has been given

To me because of a certain

Knowledge which I have."

Did he not know that God

Had destroyed, before him,

(Whole) generations,--which were

Superior to him in strength

And greater in the amount

(Of riches) they had collected?

But the wicked are not

Called (immediately) to account

For their sins.

79.
So he went forth among

His people in the (pride

Of his worldly
) glitter.

Said those whose aim is

The Life of this World:


"Oh! that we had the like

Of what Qrn has got!

For he is truly a lord

Of mighty good fortune!"

80.
But those who had been granted

(True) knowledge said: "Alas

For you! The reward of God

(In the Hereafter) is best

For those who believe

And work righteousness: but this

p. 1025

None shall attain, save those

Who steadfastly persevere

(in good)."

81.
Then We caused the earth

To swallow up him and

His house; and he had not

(The least little) party

To help him against God,

Nor could he defend himself.

82.
And those who had envied

His position the day before

Began to say on the morrow:

"Ah! It is indeed God

Who enlarges the provision"'

Or restricts it, to any

Of His servants He pleases!

Had it not been that God

Was gracious to us, He

Could have caused the earth

To swallow us up! Ah!

Those who reject God

Will assuredly never prosper."

Section 9.

83.
What Home of the Hereafter

We shall give to those

Who intend not high-handedness

Or mischief on earth:

p. 1026

And the End is (best)

For the righteous.

84.
If any does good, the reward

To him is better than

His deed; but if any

Does evil, the doers of evil

Are only punished (to the extent)

Of their deeds.

85.
Verily He Who ordained

The Qur-n for thee, will bring

Thee back to the Place

Of Return. Say: "My Lord

Knows best who it is

That brings true guidance,

And who is in manifest error."

86.
And thou hadst not expected

That the Book would be

Sent to thee except as

A Mercy from thy Lord:


Therefore lend not thou support

In any way to those

p. 1027

Who reject (God's Message).

87.
And let nothing keep thee

Back from the Signs of God

After they have been revealed

To thee: and invite (men)

To thy Lord, and be not

Of the company of those

Who join gods with God.

88.
And call not, besides God,

On another god. There is

No god but He. Everything

(That exists) will perish

Except His own Face

To Him belongs the Command,

And to Him will ye

(All) be brought back.

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