28. The Narrative (Al-Qasas)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
<section
begin="28:1"/>Benignant, Hearing, Knowing God! <section
end="28:1"/>
<section
begin="28:2"/>These are the verses of the Book that makes manifest. <section
end="28:2"/>
<section
begin="28:3"/>We recite to thee the story of Moses and Pharaoh with truth, for a people who believe. <section end="28:3"/>
<section
begin="28:4"/>Surely Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into parties, weakening one party from among them; he slaughtered their sons and let their women live. Surely he was one of the mischief-makers. <section end="28:4"/>
<section
begin="28:5"/>And We desired to bestow a favour upon those who were deemed weak in the land, and to make them the leaders, and to make them the heirs, <section end="28:5"/>
<section
begin="28:6"/>And to grant them power in the land, and to make Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts see from them what they feared. <section end="28:6"/>
<section
begin="28:7"/>And We revealed to Moses' mother, saying: Give him suck; then when thou fearest for him, cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve surely We shall bring him back to thee and make him one of the messengers. <section end="28:7"/>
<section
begin="28:8"/>So Pharaoh's people took him up that he might be an enemy and a grief for them. Surely Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts were wrongdoers. <section end="28:8"/>
<section
begin="28:9"/>And Pharaoh's wife said: A refreshment of the eye to me and to thee -- slay him not maybe he will be useful to us, or we may take him for a son. And they perceived not. <section end="28:9"/>
<section
begin="28:10"/>And the heart of Moses' mother was free (from anxiety). She would almost have disclosed it, had We not strengthened her heart, so that she might be of the believers. <section end="28:10"/>
<section
begin="28:11"/>And she said to his sister: Follow him up. So she watched him from a distance, while they perceived not. <section end="28:11"/>
<section
begin="28:12"/>And We did not allow him to suck before, so she said: Shall I point our to you the people of a house who will bring him up for you, and they will wish him well? <section end="28:12"/>
<section
begin="28:13"/>So We gave him back to his mother that her eye might be refreshed, and that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them know not. <section end="28:13"/>
<section
begin="28:14"/>And when he attained his maturity and became full-grown, We granted him wisdom and knowledge. And thus do We reward those who do good (to others). <section end="28:14"/>
<section
begin="28:15"/>And he went into the city at a time of carelessness on the part of its people, so he found therein two men fighting -- one being of his party and the other of his foes; and he who was of his party cried out to him for help against him who was of his enemies, so Moses struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: This is on account of the devil's doing; surely he is an enemy, openly leading astray. <section end="28:15"/>
<section
begin="28:16"/>He said: My Lord, surely I have done harm to myself, so do Thou protect me; so He protected him. Surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. <section end="28:16"/>
<section
begin="28:17"/>He said: My Lord, because Thou hast bestowed a favour on me, I shall never be a backer of the guilty. <section end="28:17"/>
<section
begin="28:18"/>And he was in the city, fearing, awaiting, when lo, he who had asked his assistance the day before was crying out to him for help. Moses said to him: Thou art surely one erring manifestly. <section end="28:18"/>
<section
begin="28:19"/>So when he desired to seize him who was an enemy to them both, he said: O Moses, dost thou intend to kill me as thou didst kill a person yesterday? Thou only desirest to be a tyrant in the land, and thou desirest not to be of those who act aright. <section end="28:19"/>
<section
begin="28:20"/>And a man came running from the remotest part of the city. He said: O Moses, the chiefs are consulting together to slay thee, so depart (at once); surely I am of those who wish thee well. <section end="28:20"/>