28. Al-Qasas/The Narratives

I/We begin by the Blessed Name of Allah

The Immensely Merciful to all, The Infinitely Compassionate to everyone.

28:01
a. Ta. Sin. Mim.

28:02
a. These are the Messages of the Clear Book - The Divine Qur’an.

28:03
a. WE are going to recount to you some of the narratives of Moses and Pharaoh truthfully, for a people who believe.

28:04
a. Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land of Egypt, and
b. divided its citizens into different ethnic and social factions,
c. seeking to oppress one faction among them - Descendants of Jacob – and depriving them of all human rights and civil liberties,
d. and, slaughtering their baby-boys at birth, while sparing their women/baby-girls.
e. He - Pharaoh - was truly of the oppressors and tyrants.

28:05
a. However, WE wanted to empower those very people who were being oppressed in the land
of Egypt – Descendants of Jacob, and
b. to make them the leaders and to make them the inheritors.

28:06
a. And to empower them in the land by giving them political power and religious authority,
b. and to show Pharaoh and Haman and their armies - through them - the very thing that they had dreaded - and trying to prevent.

28:07
a. And so when Moses was born, WE inspired Moses’ mother by saying that:
b. ‘Keep breast feeding him as usual, but when you fear for his life, then put him afloat into the River Nile,
c. and, once you have done so, then do not fear and do not grieve for he will be saved.
d. Surely WE are going to bring him back to you sooner than later,
e. and then make him one of OUR Messengers’ as well.

28:08
a. So once she feared for Moses’ life, she put him afloat into the River Nile.
b. The river waves threw him on the shore along the Pharaoh’s palace.
c. There Pharaoh’s family picked him up -
d. and not realizing that in due course he might be an enemy to them and a source of grief -
e. Pharaoh and Haman and their armies were indeed in gross error.

28:09
a. And looking at his features and complexion, Pharaoh’s wife noted that it was a baby of Descendants of Jacob who would have been put afloat into the River for fear of persecution, she said to Pharaoh:
b. It is quite possible that he may be a source of joy to the eye for me and for you -
c. do not kill him.
d. It may well be that he will be of some benefit to us, or we may even adopt him as a son.’
e. And they could not foresee what he was to become.

28:10
a. And unaware of the fate of her son, the heart of Moses’ mother became full of fear and apprehension as she felt emptiness in her heart,
b. She would have almost disclosed his true identity in the hope that he would be returned to her, had WE not strengthened her heart with conviction to be steadfast in such a situation,
c. so that she may be of those who have faith in OUR Promise.

28:11
a. And she said to his older sister:
b. ‘Follow his tracks’ cautiously to be aware of his whereabouts.
c. So she watched him from a distance, while they - who picked him up from the shore - were unaware.

28:12
a. And WE had already made him to refuse breastfeeding by Egyptian wet nurses.
b. So, when Moses’ sister was able to get there she said:
c. ‘Shall I point you to a family who will look after him for you and will also be his well- wishers?’

28:13
a. After due consultations, they agreed.
b. Thus, WE returned him to his mother,
c. so that her eyes may be comforted, and she may not grieve, and
d. that she may know that Allah’s Promise is always true.
e. But most of them do not understand this.

28:14
a. And when he - Moses - attained his maturity and was firmly established in life,
b. WE granted him knowledge and wisdom.
c. In this way, WE reward those who seek excellence in righteousness.

28:15
a. And one afternoon he - Moses - left the palace and entered the downtown , unnoticed by its people.

b. There he found two persons fighting each other: one of his own faction - Descendant of Jacob/Israelite, and the other from his enemy - the Egyptian/Pharaohite.
c. And the one from his own faction cried out to him for help against the one from his enemy.
d. Whereupon Moses rushed to the assistance of the Israelite out of an instinctive sense of ethnic kinship, and punched him, and killed him.
e. Moses was shocked at the sudden death and became deeply remorseful.
f. So he said to himself:
g. ‘This killing of him is Satan’s doing - inciting my anger.
h. He is definitely an enemy who clearly leads everyone astray.’

28:16
a. He remorsefully submitted:
b. O ‘My Rabb - The Lord!
c. I have definitely wronged myself.
d. So forgive me!’
e. And HE forgave him.
f. Surely HE – HE is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful, especially toward the repentant.

28:17
a. He submitted:
b. O ‘My Rabb - The Lord!
c. In as much as YOU have favoured me by forgiving me of killing a person, I will never be a helper of those who do evil.’

28:18
a. So the next day he was vigilant of his surroundings in the city and fearful of what may come next in reaction,
b. when suddenly the one who had sought his help the day before, was again screaming for his help against another Egyptian.
c. Moses told him:
d. ‘Surely you are clearly a troublemaker!’

28:19
a. But then, while he was about to get hold of the one who was an enemy of both of them and kill him, the latter said:
b. ‘O Moses!
c. Do you want to kill me just as you killed a person yesterday?
d. You only want to be a despot and tyrant in the land, and
e. you do not want to be of those who set things right!’

28:20
a. And just then a man came running from the outskirts of the city to warn Moses before Pharaoh’s soldiers could arrest him, and said:
b. ‘O Moses!
c. The authorities are talking about killing you for the incident of yesterday.
d. So get out - leave the city immediately.
e. Surely I am of your sincere well-wishers’ in suggesting you to leave.

28:21
a. So he fled from there – Egypt - fearful and wary of what they may do to him now which they could not do when he was a baby.

b. And he prayed:
c. ‘O My Rabb - The Lord!
d. Save me from these people who are oppressors’ and tyrants.

28:22
a. And as he set out eastwards trying to evade his chasers to Midian, a territory outside Pharaoh’s rule, he said to himself:
b. ‘I do hope my Rabb - The Lord will guide me to the right way’ so as to avoid arrest by Pharaoh’s soldiers.

28:23
a. And when he arrived at the Waters of Midian, he found a large crowd of people watering
their flocks,
b. and, at some distance, he noticed two young ladies waiting on the side to water their flocks.
c. He approached and asked the two:
d. ‘What is the matter with you two?’ i.e., what are you waiting for.
e. The two said:
f. ‘We cannot water our flocks until the shepherds leave and make space for us.
g. And we are here because our father is very old’ and unable to come and water our flocks.
h. He offered to water their flocks, which they accepted.

28:24
a. So he joined the crowd and watered their flocks for them.
b. Then he went back to the shade of a tree where he was sitting tired and exhausted, and prayed in helplessness:
c. O ‘My Rabb - The Lord!
d. I am definitely in dire need of YOUR help in whatever good – food and shelter - YOU may send down to me.’

28:25
a. Moses’ prayer was quickly answered.
b. Then one of the two young ladies came back to him, walking shyly/modestly.
c. She said:
d. ‘My father is calling for you at home, so that he may reward you for having watered our
flocks for us.’
e. And when Moses came to him, and recounted the narrative to him of his predicament.
f. The old man comforted him and said:
g. ‘Do not be afraid!
h. You have been saved from those oppressive people.’

28:26
a. One of the two young ladies said:
b. ‘O My Dear Father!
c. Employ him so that he can tend our flocks.
d. Surely, for the best person whom you can employ should be strong and worthy of trust’ -
and he appears to be so!

28:27
a. He - the father acted on his daughter’s advice, and said to Moses:
b. ‘I would like to marry one of these two daughters of mine to you, on the understanding that you will work for me to tend my flocks for eight full years – as the bridal money.

c. However, if you complete ten years, that will be a charitable act from you.
d. I do not wish to overburden you by insisting for a term of ten years.
e. Nevertheless, you will find me, Allah Willing, a person of righteousness, i.e., a fair person in dealings.

28:28
a. Moses responded:
b. ‘This understanding is settled between me and you.
c. No matter which of the two terms I complete - eight or ten years - there will be no compulsion on me.
d. And Allah be the witness to whatever we speak’ in this understanding.

28:29
a. Once Moses had completed his term of service, he got married to one of the daughters and set out to Egypt with his family in search of a better livelihood.
b. On their way through the desert, they apparently lost way on a dark cold night.
c. There he perceived a fire far away by the side of the mountain - Tur/Mt. Sinai.
d. So he said to his family:
e. ‘Stay here.
f. In fact, I perceive a fire by the mountain.
g. I am going to it in the hope that perhaps I may bring you some information on the direction of our way to Egypt from there,
h. or at least bring you a burning log/branch so that you may warm up yourselves.’

28:30
a. But when he came close to it, he was called out by a Voice from the right side of the Valley, out of the blessed place, from the olive tree:
b. ‘O Moses!
c. Truly, it is I, I am Allah, Rabb - The Lord of all existence.’

28:31
a. The Voice continued:
b. ‘And cast down your staff!’
c. Moses obeyed.
d. So when he cast down the staff he saw it moving swiftly, as if it were a live snake.
e. He turned and fled in horror, and did not look back.
f. The Voice followed, reassuring:
g. ‘O Moses!
h. Come back and do not be afraid!
i. It would not do you any harm.
j. Surely, you are of those who are safe.

28:32
a. The instructions continued:
b. ‘Now slip your right hand inside your cloak, and then take it out, it will come out glowing
white, without harm.
c. Moses did as was told, and brought it out glowing white without harm.
d. Then press tight your right hand to yourself to ward off the fear.
e. These are the two miracles – the staff turning in to a snake and the glowing hand - from your Rabb - The Lord for Pharaoh and his courtiers.
f. Go to them for they have surely become a defiant and disobedient people.’

28:33
a. He - Moses - submitted:
b. O ‘My Rabb - The Lord!
c. I have killed a person of them, so I am afraid that they will kill me in retaliation.
d. And thus I will not be able to accomplish the assigned Mission.

28:34
a. Furthermore, my elder brother, Aaron, he is more eloquent and fluent in speech than me.
b. So assign him with me to back me up, so that he will defend the Message and confirm my truthfulness -
c. if I were to go alone I do really apprehend that they will belie me.’

28:35
a. The Voice sounded:
b. ‘WE will strengthen your arm with your brother Aaron,
c. and WE will grant both of you such a power that will keep them away from harming you -
d. from the awe of OUR Miracles,
e. the two of you as well as whoever follows you both will overwhelm.’

28:36
a. So when Moses and Aaron came to them in Egypt with OUR Clear Miracles,
b. they dismissed them by saying:
c. ‘This is nothing but sheer magic.
d. And we never heard the like of this message from the time of our forefathers of the past.’

28:37
a. And Moses responded:
b. ‘My Rabb - The Lord knows best who came with true guidance from HIM, and who will have the best in the realm of the Hereafter.
c. However, it is certain that the oppressors and tyrants will never succeed.’

28:38
a. And Pharaoh said:
b. ‘O The Courtiers!
c. I have not known you to have an entity of worship other than me.’
d. So in sarcasm he said:
e. ‘O Haman!
f. Light a fire-furnace for me to bake clay bricks,
g. and, then, build me a high tower, so that I may climb up and have a look at Allah of Moses,
h. even though I am convinced that he is of the big liars.’

28:39
a. Thus, he grew arrogant and his soldiers/army became high-handed throughout the land, with no right and justification,
b. thinking that they would never be brought back to US for accountability.

28:40
a. And, so WE seized him and his soldiers,
b. and then WE dumped them into the Red Sea.
c. See, then, how was the fate of the oppressors and tyrants!

28:41
a. And WE made them – Pharaohites - leaders calling others to the Fire.
b. And during the Time of Final Judgment, they will not be helped in having the punishment averted from them.

28:42
a. And WE pursued them with a curse in this world.
b. And during the Time of Final Judgment, they will be among those in bad condition -
despised and deprived of Allah’s mercy.

28:43
a. And, indeed, WE granted Moses the Scripture – Torah - after WE had destroyed the earlier
defiant communities of Noah, ‘Ad, Thamud, Lot, and others,
b. the Torah was a source of enlightenment for the people and a guidance and a mercy,
c. so that they – Descendants of facts - may reflect and take heed.

28:44
a. O The Prophet!
b. And you were neither present on the Western Side of Mount Sinai when WE gave OUR
Command to Moses - to deliver the Message to Pharaoh and his people,
c. nor were you present among the eye witnesses to those events.
d. So what else is this narration except the Divine Revelation of the unwitnessed?

28:45
a. But WE raised up many generations between them and you, and long were the ages that passed over them.
b. And again you were not living among the People of Midian as did Sho’ayb - reciting to them OUR Messages.
c. However, WE kept assigning Messengers to them – one after the other.
d. Thus, you are not the first of OUR Messengers;
e. you are, in fact, the last of them.

28:46
a. And you were also not present by the Western Side of Mount Sinai when WE called out to Moses.
b. Enlightening you on all these events of the unwitnessed past is, in fact, it is an act of your Rabb’s - The Lord Grace,
c. so that you may warn this people to whom no Warner/Prophet came before you for a long time after Ishmael,
d. and thus they may be reminded and take heed.

28:47
a. WE have assigned you - O The Prophet - as OUR Messenger lest they say during the Time of Final Judgment when punishment befalls them as a result of what their hands have sent forward:
b. O ‘Our Rabb - The Lord!
c. If only YOU had assigned a Messenger for us, we would have followed YOUR Messages
diligently,
d. and would have been among the true believers.’

28:48
a. And yet, even now when the Truth - the Qur’an - has come to them from US, they say:

b. ‘Why has he – Muhammad ibn Abdallah - not been given the miracles like of what was given to Moses?’
c. Is it not that they also denied what was given to Moses earlier?
d. They alleged:
e. ‘Both are magic - reinforcing each other.’
f. And they added:
g. ‘We definitely deny and belie each of them.’

28:49
a. Say O The Prophet:
b. ‘Then bring some other Scripture from Allah, which would offer better guidance than these two – the Qur’an and the Torah – and, so,
c. I may follow it too if you are truthful!’

28:50
a. But if they do not respond to you and bring a Scripture,
b. then know that they are only following their fancies and vain whims.
c. And who can be more misguided than the one who follows one’s fancies and whims, without any guidance from Allah?
d. Surely Allah will not guide such people who are unjust and evildoers.

28:51
a. And, in fact, WE have repeatedly conveyed the Word – The Qur’an - to them,
b. so they may reflect and become mindful.

28:52
a. Those to whom WE granted the Scripture before this - the Qur’an, they - some of them - believe in this too.

28:53
a. And whenever this Qur’an is recited to them, they say:
b. ‘We believe in it.
c. Surely, this is the Truth from our Rabb - The Lord.
d. And, in fact, we had already submitted ourselves to Allah even before this’ came to us.

28:54
a. Those – they are going to be rewarded twice:
- for what they have endured, and
- for they ward off evil with good, and
- they give out in charity of provisions that WE provide for them.

28:55
a. Whenever they hear provocative talk - deriding their faith - they disregard it, and say:
b. ‘For us are our deeds and for you are your deeds.
c. Peace be to you!
d. We do not bother about the ignorant.’

28:56
a. It is not for you to bring someone you like to Guidance because your mission is not to force Faith through someone’s heart.
b. But, it is only Allah, WHO guides whoever HE Wants.
c. And HE knows the best who are deserving to be guided aright.

28:57
a. And they say:
b. ‘In case we were to follow the Guidance along with you O Muhammad, we would definitely
be uprooted from our homeland’ and people.
c. However, is it not that WE have established for them a Secure Sanctuary of al-Masjid al-Haram in their own homeland - Makkah - where all kinds of foods and fruits are brought in trade from all over the World as a bounty from US?
d. Yet most of them do not understand it.

28:58
a. And if they really want to be spared the loss of their homelands, they should learn from the plight of other disbelieving people of the World as to how many habitations have WE destroyed that once exulted in their means of livelihood!
b. And their mansions and fortresses have not been inhabited after them, leaving no offspring to inherit them except for a few.
c. Thus, it is always WE WHO are the true Inheritors after them of their wealth and power.

28:59
a. Yet your Rabb - The Lord will never destroy any habitation without first assigning a
Messenger in their midst, reciting OUR Messages to them.
b. And WE will also never destroy any habitation unless their inhabitants are habitual unjust and evildoers.

28:60
a. Yet whatever you are now given is merely for an enjoyment of this worldly life and its
temporary splendour: short-lived and bound to perish.
b. Whereas that which is with Allah as the reward for your righteousness is so much better, and longer lasting too.
c. Will you not then understand this fact that what lasts is better than what perishes?

28:61
a. Is the one to whom WE promised a good promise of so much better life in the Hereafter,
b. be the like of one whom WE have given all enjoyment of this worldly life,
c. but who will be of those brought up for the punishment during the Time of Final Judgment?

28:62
a. And the Time when HE will call them, and say in rebuke:
b. ‘Where are those entities of your worship whom you imagined as MY partners’ as well as sources of worldly bounties?

28:63
a. Whereupon, those against whom the word of punishment will have become justified, will
submit:
b. O ‘Our Rabb - The Lord!
c. These are the ones whom we led astray, just as we, too, were led astray.
d. But right now, in front of YOU, we renounce them.
e. It was not us they were really worshipping.’

28:64
a. And they will then be told:
b. ‘Call for help now those entities of yours whom you imagined to be Allah’s partners!’
c. So even though they will try to call them,

d. but they will not be able to respond to them,
e. and they will see the inevitable end in great punishment that awaits them,
f. and wish that punishment could have been avoided if they had followed guidance.

28:65
a. And visualize the Time, when HE will call them, and ask in rebuke:
b. ‘What response did you give to the Messengers’ when they called you for guidance?

28:66
a. But during that Time all their usual arguments will be of no use to them.
b. And they will not be able to consult one another for formulating an excuse.

28:67
a. Nevertheless, whoever
- repented, and
- believed, and
- practiced righteousness,
b. it may well be that he will be of the successful in the Hereafter.

28:68
a. And thus it is your Rabb - The Lord WHO creates without a precedent whatever HE Wants, and
b. HE chooses whoever HE wills of HIS servants – choice is never theirs.
c. Glory be to Allah!
d. HE is Exalted above all those entities of their worship they ascribe to HIM in partnership.

28:69
a. And your Rabb - The Lord Knows all that their hearts conceal,
b. and all that they reveal.

28:70
a. And HE is Allah -
b. there is no entity worthy of worship but HIM.
c. To HIM be all praise – in this life and the Hereafter.
d. And with HIM is the Final Judgment,
e. and to HIM you are going back for judgment and awards.

28:71
a. Say:
b. ‘Have you ever considered:
c. if Allah were ever to make the night time continuous for you, without break, until the Time of Resurrection,
d. which entity of your worship, besides Allah, can bring you daylight?
e. Will you not, then, listen to the Truth, see the reality and reflect?’

28:72
a. Say:
b. ‘Have you ever considered:
c. if Allah were ever to make the daytime continuous for you, without break, until the Time of Resurrection,
d. which entity of your worship, besides Allah, can bring you night time to rest?
e. Will you not, then, listen to the Truth, see the reality and reflect?’

28:73
a. And it is out of HIS Mercy that HE made for you the alternating pattern of night time and the daytime,
b. so that you may rest during it - the night time, and seek some of HIS Bounty during the daytime by working to earn a livelihood, and
c. that you may be grateful to HIM for both.

28:74
a. And visualize the Time of Final Judgment when HE will call out to them - those who ascribe as partners to HIM - saying:
b. ‘Where are those entities whom you imagined as MY partners?’

28:75
a. Then WE will bring a witness from every community,
b. and then WE will ask:
c. ‘Bring your proof’ for anyone having a share in Allah’s unity, divinity, and worship!
d. They will then realize that the Truth is Allah’s,
e. and all falsehood which they used to fabricate besides Allah will have abandoned them.

28:76
a. Indeed, Korah was of the People of Moses - yet he betrayed them by becoming an agent of Pharaoh and exploited them.
b. And WE had granted him such great treasures, the keys of which would indeed have been a burden for a group of strong men to carry.
c. Remember when his own people perceived his arrogance and warned him:
d. ‘Do not exult in your riches!
e. Surely, Allah has no love for those who exult.’

28:77
a. ‘But seek the Home of the Hereafter by means of what Allah has given you,
b. and without foregoing your rightful share in this world.
c. And be/do good to others just as Allah has been/done good to you,
d. and do not seek to promote oppression in the land.
e. Surely, Allah has no love for the promoters of oppression.’

28:78
a. However, he - Korah - answered:
b. Why should I not exult?
c. ‘I have come to possess this extraordinary wealth by virtue of my own professional
knowledge’ wisdom and skills!
d. Did he not realize that Allah had in fact destroyed many generations before him who were more powerful than him in might and had amassed more of riches and wealth?
e. The criminals like Korah will not be questioned about their crimes - they will just be tossed
into the Hellfire.

28:79
a. And one day he came out to his people in all pomp and show.
b. Those whose aim was only the life of this world marvelled at him, and said:
c. ‘Ah, wish we had the like of riches what Korah has been given!
d. He is really a person of immense luck and great fortune!’

28:80
a. But, on the other hand, those who had been granted real knowledge and did not care for the riches of this world said:
b. ‘Woe to you Korah!
c. Allah’s reward is far better than these riches for those who believe and practice righteousness.
d. And no one can attain it except those who are steadfast in adversity.’

28:81
a. Thereupon, WE made the earth to cave in upon him together with his riches and his mansion and erstwhile grandeur.
b. There was then neither anyone to rescue him and help him against Allah,
c. nor could he be of those who help themselves.

28:82
a. Now the same people who wished to be in his place of prominence the day earlier were
found saying:
b. We had forgotten that ‘it is only Allah, WHO gives in abundance to whoever HE Wills, among HIS servants, in as much as HE gives in small measure to whoever HE Wills.
c. Had Allah not been gracious to us, HE would have made the earth to cave in upon us too.
d. Know that the disbelievers will never succeed.’

28:83
a. The Home of the Hereafter - the Paradise -
b. WE will assign it to those who neither seek exaltation on the earth nor incline to spread
corruption.
c. And the blessed ending is for the Allah-conscious.

28:84
a. Whoever comes with a deed of righteousness during the Time of Final Judgment, will have
a reward far better than it,
b. and whoever comes with an evil deed - those who have done evil deeds will only be rewarded for what they had done: one-for-one.

28:85
a. O The Prophet!
b. Surely the One WHO has entrusted you with The Qur’an will surely bring you back to your home in Makkah.
c. So say to them:
d. ‘My Rabb - The Lord Knows best who is guided aright, and who is lost in clear error.’

28:86
a. And you could not have expected that this Book - the Qur’an - would be conferred upon you, but it is being conferred only as a mercy from your Rabb - The Lord.
b. Therefore, never be a supporter for the disbelievers.

28:87
a. And never let them distract you from Allah’s Messages - the Qur’an - now that these have been sent down to you -
b. but keep calling people to the Path of your Rabb - The Lord.
c. And never be of those who ascribe partners to Allah in unity, divinity, and worship.

28:88
a. And never call on any entity of worship with Allah.
b. There is no entity of worship, and can never be, except HIM!
c. Everything is bound to perish except HIS Face.
d. With HIM rests the Judgment, and
e. to HIM you all are going to be brought back for accountability and award.