Sūrah al-Qaṣaṣ

This is Sūrah Ṭā Sīn Mīm. These are verses of a very clear Book. For the guidance of those who want to accept faith, We narrate to you the accounts of Moses and the Pharaoh in all truth.

In reality, the Pharaoh had become tyrannical in the land of Egypt. He had divided its inhabitants into groups. He had harshly suppressed one of the groups; he slaughtered their sons after fervently searching them out and let their women live. Indeed, he was from among those who spread disorder. And, on the other hand, We had decided to look upon those with favour who had been suppressed in that country and grant them leadership and make them the inheritors of the country and grant them the political authority of that country and make the Pharaoh and Hāmān and their armies see from them precisely what they feared.

[Thus when Moses was born, boys were being killed. For this very reason,] We revealed to the mother of Moses: “Now suckle him with your milk. Then when you feel danger [for his life], consign him to the river, and fear and grieve not. We have decided to have him brought back to you and make him [a messenger] from among messengers.”

[She ultimately did as she was told.] Then the family of the Pharaoh picked him [while seeing him drifting in the river] so that [the word of God be fulfilled and] as a result he becomes their enemy and a means of grief for them. In reality, the Pharaoh, Hāmān and their armies were great wrongdoers [because they would regard themselves to be the owner of all authority and sovereignty]. [When] the Pharaoh’s wife [saw the child], she said [to the Pharaoh]: “He is the comfort of my and your eyes; you people do not kill him. It may well be that he gives us benefit or we even make him our son.” [They were conversing with one another in this manner] and did not the slightest know what would happen to them.

On the other hand, the heart of Moses’ mother became extremely anxious. Had We not got hold of her heart so that she remain convinced of Our promise, she would have revealed his secret. And, [in this state of anxiety,] she said to the child’s sister: “Follow him.” Thus she kept observing him from afar [posing as a stranger], and the people of the Pharaoh had not the slightest knowledge of this.

And here We had already stopped Moses from the milk of the wet nurses. Thus [when Moses’ sister arrived there and saw this,] she said to them: “If you people say, I can lead you to a house that will bring him up for you and will look after him very sincerely?” In this way, We restored Moses to his mother so that her eyes are soothed and she is not inflicted with grief and so that she well knows that God’s promise is destined to be fulfilled, but most people know not.

When Moses reached adolescence [after being brought up under the Pharaoh] and became mature in every sense, We blessed him with knowledge and wisdom. Thus do We reward the righteous.

[Then one day by co-incidence,] he entered the city at a time when people of the city would be unaware; so he saw that two men were fighting there. One belonged to his own nation and the other to his enemy one. Then the person of his nation asked for his help against the other who belonged to his enemies. At this, Moses punched him and killed him. [As soon as this happened,] Moses said: “This is a satanic deed that I have done. No doubt, Satan is an open enemy who leads astray.” He prayed: “Lord! I have been unjust to my soul; so forgive me.” Thereupon, his Lord forgave him. In reality, He alone is the Forgiver, the Ever-Merciful. Moses said: “My Lord! This favour that you have done me, after this I shall never become a helper of such wrongdoers.”

[The night passed peacefully.] So, the next day, Moses entered the city scared and a little watchful. Then all of a sudden he saw that the one who had called him yesterday for help is again asking for his help today. Moses said to him: “There is no doubt now that you are a plain mischievous person.” Then [while trying to reconcile both] when the matter reached the extent that Moses decided to grab his and that person’s enemy [so that he also stop fighting, the person thought that Moses wanted to grab him; so], he cried out: “Moses! Do you want to kill me today the way you killed a person yesterday? Do you only want to stay in this country as a tyrant; you do not want to live here as those who reform.”

[When this matter reached the royal court,] a person came running from the far end of the city [where royal palaces were situated]. He said: “Moses! The elders of the court are discussing to kill you. So, go away from here. Be convinced that I am among your well-wishers.” Thus Moses set off from there scared and watchful. [At that time,] he supplicated: “My Lord! Save me from these unjust people.”

When [finally] Moses turned towards Madyan [after departing from Egypt], he said in his heart: “Hopefully my Lord will show me the straight path.” [Thus while walking] when he reached the well of Madyan, he saw a large cluster of people there and they were watering their flock and he also saw two women standing there while withholding their flock. He asked: “What is your issue?” They replied: “We cannot make our animals drink water unless these shepherds draw away their animals [and it is we who have to come for this task because] our father is very old. Hearing this, Moses watered their flock for them. Then withdrew and came to a shade and prayed: “My Lord! Whatever good you may send down to me at this time, I am in need of it.”

Then [not much time passed when] one of them walked up to him bashfully and said: “My father is calling you so that he can reward you for watering [the flock] for us.” [Moses set off.] Then when he reached her father and narrated all his account, he assured him: “Do not fear; you have been saved from unjust people.”

[When on one occasion,] one of those women [saw all this], she said [to her father]: “Dear Father! take this person into your service because the best person you can hire can only be one who is strong and trustworthy.”

Her father said to Moses: “I want to wed one of these two daughters of mine to you on the condition that you serve me for eight years. Then if you go on to complete ten years, it is your will. I do not want to put any burden on you. God willing, you will find me to be an upright person in future.” Moses said: “[Alright;] This is now agreed between you and me. Whichever of these two periods I complete, there would be no compulsion on me after this, and God is a witness on the agreement we are making.”

Then when Moses completed the term and departed [from there] with his family, he saw something like fire from the direction of Ṭūr. He said to his family: “I have seen fire. You people just wait here so that I can bring some news to you [about the way] or bring some burning ember so that you can protect yourself [from the cold].”

Then when Moses reached there, he heard a voice from a tree in the valley of Ayman found in that blessed land: “Moses! I am God; Lord of the worlds and that place your staff [on the ground].” Then when Moses saw it slithering as if it were a serpent, he turned and fled and did not even look back. God said: “Moses! Come forward and fear not. You are absolutely secure. Just insert your hand into the opening of your garment [at the chest]; it will come out [shining] white without any ailment, and for this draw your arm towards yourself as is done in fright.” So, these are two signs from your Lord to go to the Pharaoh and his courtiers. In reality, they are a very disobedient people.¹

Moses said: “Lord! I have slain one of their men. Hence, I fear that they will slay me. And my brother Aaron, he is more eloquent in language than me; thus, send him with me as my helper so that he may support me; I fear that they will deny me.” God said: “We shall strengthen your arm with your brother and bless both of you with such awe that they will not be able to reach you. Go with Our signs; it is you and those who follow you who shall remain dominant.”

Then when Moses came to them with these clear signs of Ours, they said: “This is merely fabricated magic and never have we heard such a thing from our forefathers.” (36)

Moses replied: “My Lord knows full well that person also who has brought guidance from Him and he also who has a good fate in the next abode.” [His disbelievers are unjust to themselves and] in reality, such unjust people shall never prosper.

The Pharaoh said: “Courtiers! I am not aware of any deity for you except myself. So, Hāmān! Ignite bricks of clay for me and build a lofty palace for me so that I can peep [in the sky] to see the God of Moses, and I regard this person to be a liar.”

The Pharaoh and his army showed arrogance without any basis in the land and thought that they would not be returned to Us. Ultimately, We seized him and his armies, then cast them into the sea; so, see what fate these wrongdoers met. We gave them [respite and] made them into such leaders that they continued to call towards Hell. On the Day of Judgement, now they shall not be helped in any way. We have put a curse behind them in this world and on the Day of Judgement it is they who shall be among those disgraced.

After killing a lot of earlier nations, We had given Moses the Book as a means of many insights for people and as a guide and mercy so that they pay heed.

When We informed Moses of Our decision [O Prophet], you were neither present on the western side of Ṭūr nor were you among the observers of this incident. But We raised many generations; then a long period of time passed on them [and they forgot Our reminder; so with God’s grace, it is you who is reminding people]. You were also not present among the people of Madyan, while reciting out Our revelations, but We had decided to make you a messenger. [Hence you are narrating their incidents as well.] And you were also not present at the side of Ṭūr when We had called Moses but with the mercy of God you were informed of it as well in order that you warn those people to whom no warner came before you so that they pay heed.

We would not have sent you had it not been that when a calamity comes to them because of whatever they have sent forward, they start saying: “Our Lord! Why did you not send a messenger to Us so that We would have followed your revelations and been among the believers?” Then when the truth came to them from Us, they said: “Whatever Moses was given, why was not the same given to this messenger?” Before this, have they not denied what Moses had been given? They said: “Both [the Torah and the Qur’ān] are magic, complementing one another, and said: “We believe in none of them.”

Tell them: Then bring some other Book from God which gives more guidance than both of these, I shall follow it, if you are truthful. Now if they do not accept this statement of yours, then know that they are only led by their desires. And who can be farther away from the truth than those who without any guidance from God have been led by their desire. God shall never guide such wrongdoers.

We have continued our word for these people so that they pay heed. [Then this also is a reality that] those to whom We had given the Book before them, they believe in this Qur’ān and when it is read out to them, they say: “We have believed in it. No doubt, it is the truth which has come from our Lord. In reality, we had already believed in it before its revelation.” It is these people who shall be rewarded twice for their perseverance. They requite evil with good and spend from the sustenance We have blessed them with and when they listen to anything nonsensical, they ignore it and tell such people: “For us, our deeds and for you, yours; peace be to you; we do not want to engage with those who are overcome by emotions.”

[In spite of this, they will not believe; so, do not worry much O Prophet.] You cannot guide those who you want; in fact, only God guides [according to His law] whomsoever He wills and only He knows well those who are guided.

These [oppressors] say: “If while being with you we become followers of this guidance, we shall be snatched from this land.” [Before this,] have We not settled them in this peaceful Ḥaram towards which the produce of everything is continuously being drawn with Our special grace? But most of them do not know this.

[People of the Quraysh!] how many a settlement have We destroyed who becoming ungrateful showed arrogance on their economic status. So, these are their dwellings which have seldom been inhabited by anyone after them, and it was We Who became their inheritors then. In reality, your Lord was not One to destroy these settlements unless He sends a messenger in their focal settlement who recites out Our revelations to them. At the same time, this too is a fact that We destroy settlements only when their people become unjust to themselves.

Whatever you have been given are provisions of worldly life and only its adornment, and what is with God is better than this and also lasting. Then do you not understand? Now, will that person with whom We have made a good promise and he will certainly see it fulfilled become equal to that person who We gave the provisions of this world, then he is one who will be summoned in the Hereafter?

They should remember the Day when God is going to call them, then ask them: Where are my partners you had claimed? [Their leaders] on which the word would have been fulfilled [fearing that they will be held responsible for everything] will immediately speak out: “Our Lord! These people whom we misled, we misled them the very way we were misled ourselves. We acquit ourselves from them in Your presence. They did not used to worship us.”

[At that time,] it will be said: “Now call your partners.” So, they will call them [worriedly;] but they will not answer them and they will see their punishment. Would that they had been ones who accepted guidance!

And they should bear in mind the day when God shall call them and ask: “What answer had you given to the messengers?” So, on that day, they will be dumbfounded; then they will also not be able to ask anything from one another. Except he who repented and accepted faith and did righteous deeds, he should hope that on that day he shall be from among those who succeed.

Your Lord creates whatever He wants and chooses whomsoever He wants. They have no say in this. [Hence] God is exalted and above the partners they associate with Him. Your Lord knows what they hide in their chests and what they reveal. [Then why will He make anyone His partner?] Only He is God; there is no god except Him. In this world and the next, He alone is worthy of gratitude. The judgement rests in His authority and you will be returned to Him only.²

Tell them: Speak up; if God enshrouds you with the night until the Day of Judgement, then which other deity except God will bring you light? Then, do you not listen? Say: Speak up! If God continues the day on you forever until the Day of Judgement, then which deity except God can bring you the night in which you receive comfort? Then do you not see? It is His mercy that He has made the night and day for you so that you can receive comfort by night and so that you can find the bounty of your Lord by day and so that you can be grateful to Him.

They should bear in mind the day when God will call them; then ask them: “Where are My associates you used to claim?” And We shall bring out one witness from each community; then shall ask people: “Bring your proof.” Then it will become evident to them that the truth is from God and all the lies they had been fabricating will all be lost from them.

[They should not show arrogance on their means and resources. Tell them:] Korah was from among the nation of Moses; then he became rebellious against them. We had given him so many treasures that its keys were barely lifted by a band of many strong men. When the people of his nation counselled him: “Do not show conceit because God does not like the conceited and seek the abode of the Hereafter in whatever God has given you and from this world do not forget to take your share there and the way God has looked upon you with favour, you also look upon others with favour and do not seek disorder in the land because God does not like those who spread disorder.”

He replied: “I have received all this on the basis of the knowledge I have” – Did he not know how many a nation God has destroyed before this that were mightier and greater in number than him. Such wrongdoers are not even questioned about their sins.

Then, [one day,] he came out before the people of his nation in splendour and majesty; so, [upon seeing him,] those who desire the life of this world said: “Would that we also had what Korah has! Undoubtedly, he is very fortunate.” And those who were given the treasure of knowledge cried out: “Wretched ones! Those who accept faith and do righteous deeds, for them God’s reward is much better than this” – [It is this wisdom which everyone should desire] and it is acquired only by the patient.

Then it happened that We thrust Korah and his house in the ground; then neither did a group came to his defence against God to help him nor could he save himself. Now, those who yesterday were desiring to be in his place cried out in amazement: “O! [What was being told to us] has been fulfilled that God alone provides in abundance to whomsoever of His servants He wills and restricts it for whomsoever He wills. Had God not looked upon us with favour, He would have thrust us too in a similar way. Ah! This is the same thing that the disbelievers shall not succeed.”

This abode of the hereafter [that has been mentioned], We shall specifically keep it for those who do not desire their superiority in this world nor want disorder. [It is they who fear God] and it is those who fear God for whom only there is a triumphant fate. He who brings a virtue [on that day], for him is a better virtue and he who brings a vice, then they who have committed vices shall earn precisely what they had been doing [in the previous world].

[For this reason,] be convinced [O Prophet that] he who has imposed this responsibility of the Qur’ān on you shall surely lead you to a good fate. Tell them [now] that my Lord knows full well he who has brought God’s guidance and he also who is in manifest error.

Never did you expect that this Book be revealed to you. It is merely a favour of your Lord [that He has chosen you for this responsibility]. So, [recite out to them exactly the way it is and] never become a helper of these disbelievers. And this should never happen that these people stop you from the revelations of God when they have been revealed to you. Keep calling towards your Lord and never be among the polytheists and also do not invoke any other deity besides God. There is no deity except Him. Everything except Him is mortal. Judgement rests in His hand only and you shall be returned to Him alone.