32. Then he flung down his staff and it became a serpent manifest, 33. And he drew forth his hand and lo! it was white to the beholders.
34. (Pharaoh) said unto the chiefs about him: Lo, this is verily a knowing wizard, 35. Who would drive you out of your land by his magic. Now what counsel ye?
36. They said: Put him off, (him) and his brother, and send into the cities summoners 37. Who shall bring unto thee every knowing wizard.
38. So the wizards were gathered together at a set time on a day appointed.
39. And it was said unto the people: Are ye (also) gathering?
40. (They said): Aye, so that we may follow the wizards if they are the winners.
41. And when the wizards came they said unto Pharaoh: Will there surely be a reward for us if we are the winners?
THE GLORIOUS KORAN SURAH 42. He said: Aye, and ye will then surely be of those brought near (to me).
43. Moses said unto thent; Throw what ye are going to throw!
44. Then they threw down their cords and their staves and said: By Pharaoh’s might, lo! we verily are the winners.
45. Then Moses threw his staff and lo! it swallowed that which they did falsely show.
46. And the wizards were flung prostrate, 47. Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, 48. The Lord of Moses and Aaron.
49. (Pharaoh) said: Ye put your faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he doubtless is your chief who taught you magic! But verily ye shall come to know. Verily I will cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and verily I will crucify you every one.
50. They said: It is no hurt, for lo! unto our Lord we shall return.
51. Lo! we ardently hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we are the first of the believers.
52. And We inspired Moses, saying: Take away My slaves by night, for ye will be pursued, 53. Then Pharaoh sent into the cities summoners, 54. (Who said): Lo! these indeed are but a little troop, 55. And lo! they are offenders against us.
56. And lo! we are a ready host.
57. Thus did We take them away from gardens and water- springs, 58. And treasures and a fair estate.
59. Thus (were those things taken from them) and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit them.
60. And they overtook them at sunrise.
61. And when the two hosts saw each ocher, those with Moses said: Lo! we are indeed caught.
XXVI THE POETS 62. He said: Nay, verily! for lo! my Lord is with me. He will guide me. 63. Then We inspired Moses, saying: Smite the sea with thy staff. And it parted, and each part was as a mountain vast.
64. Then brought We near the others to that place.
65. And We saved Moses and those with him, every one; 66. And We drowned the others.
67. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.
68. And lo, thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.
69. Recite unto them the story of Abraham: 70. When he said unto his father and his folk; What worship ye?
71. They said: We worship idols, and are ever devoted unto them.
72. He said: Do they hear you when ye cry?
73. Or do they benefit or harm you?
74. They said: Nay, but we found our fathers acting on this wise.
75. He said: See now that which ye worship, 76. Ye and your forefathers!
77. Lo! they are (all) an enemy unto me, save the Lord of the Worlds, 78. Who created me, and He doth guide me, 79. And Who feedeth me and watereth me.
80. And when I sicken, then He healeth me, 81. And Who causeth me to die, then giveth me life (again), 82. And Who, I ardently hope, will forgive me my sin on the Day of Judgement.
83. My Lord! Vouchsafe me wisdom and unite me to the righteous.
84. And give unto me a good report in later generations.
s6rah 378 THE GLORIOUS KORAN 85. And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of Delight, 86. And forgive my father. Lo! he is of those who err.
87. And abase me not on the day when they are raised, 88. The day when wealth and sons avail not (any man) 89. Save him who bringeth unto Allah a whole heart.
90. And the Garden will be brought nigh for those who ward off (evil).
91. And hell will appear plainly to the erring.
92. And it will be said unto them: Where is (all) that ye used to worship 93. Instead of Allah? Can they help you or help themselves?
94. Then will they be hurled therein, they and the seducers 95. And the hosts of Iblis, together.
96. And they will say, when they are quarrelling therein: 97. By Allah, of a truth we were in error manifest 98. When we made you equal with the Lord of the Worlds.
99. It was but the guilty who misled us.
100. Now we have no intercessors 101. Nor any loving friend.
102. Oh, that we had another turn (on earth), that we might be of the believers!
103. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers!
104. And lo, thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.
105. Noah’s folk denied the messengers (of Allah), 106. When their brother Noah said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?
107. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you, 108. So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.
XXVI THE POETS 379 109. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.
no. So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.
111. They said: Shall we put faith in thee, when the lowest (of the people) follow thee?
112. He said: And what knowledge have I of what they may have been doing (in the past)?
113. Lo! their reckoning is my Lord’s concern, if ye but knew; 114. And I am not (here) to repulse believers.
115. I am only a plain warner.
116. They said: If thou cease not, O Noah, thou wilt surely be among those stoned (to death).
117. He said: My Lord! Lo! my own folk deny me.
118. Therefor judge Thou between us, a (conclusive) judgement, and save me and chose believers who are with me.
119. And We saved him and those with him in the laden ship.
120. Then afterward We drowned the others.
121. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.
122. And lo, thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful. 123. (The tribe of) A'ad denied the messengers (of Allah), 124. When their brother Hud said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?
125. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you, 126. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.
127. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the ^A/^orlds.
128. Build ye on every high place a monument for vain delight?
SLfRAH 380 THE GLORIOUS KORAN 129. And seek ye out strongholds, that haply ye may last for ever?
130. And if ye seize by force, seize ye as tyrants?
131. Rather keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.
132. Keep your duty toward Him who hath aided you with (the good things) that ye know, 133. Hath aided you with cattle and sons 134. And gardens and watersprings.
135. Lo! I fear for you the retribution of an awful day.
136. They said: It is all one to us whether thou preachest or art not of those who preach; 137. This is but a fable of the men of old, 138. And we shall not be doomed.
139. And they denied him; therefor We destroyed them. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.
140. And lo! thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.
141. (The tribe of) Thamud denied the messengers (of Allah) 142. When their brother Salih said unto them; Will ye not ward off (evil)?
143. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you, 144. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.
145. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.
146. Will ye be left secure in that which is here before us, 147. In gardens and watersprings 148. And tilled fields and heavy-sheathed palm-trees, 149. Though ye hew out dwellings in the mountain, being skilful?
150. Therefor keep your duty to Allah and obey me, 151. And obey not the command of the prodigal, XXVI THE POETS 381 152. Who spread corruption in the earth, and reform not.
153. They said: Thou art but one of the bewitched; 154. Thou art but a mortal like us. So bring some token if thou art of the truthful.
155. He said: (Behold) this she-camel. She hath the right to drink (at the well), and ye have the right to drink, (each) on an appointed day.
156. And touch her not with ill lest there come on you the retribution of an awful day.
157. But they hamstrung her, and then were penitent.
158. So the retribution came on them. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers. 159. And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.
160. The folk of Lot denied the messengers (of Allah), 161. When their brother Lot said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?
162. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you, 163. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.
164. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the W^orlds.
165. What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males, 166. And leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are froward folk.
167. They said: If thou cease not, O Lot, thou wilt soon be of the outcast.
168. He said: I am in truth of those who hate your conduct.
169. My Lord! Save me and my household from what they do.
170. So We saved him and his household, every one, 171. Save an old woman among those who stayed behind.
172. Then afterward We destroyed the others.
382 THE GLORIOUS KORAN s<)rah 173. And We rained on them a rain. And dreadful is the rain of those who have been warned.
174. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.
175. And lo! thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.
176. The dwellers in the wood (of Midian) denied the messengers (of Allah), 177. When ShuTyb said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?
178. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you, 179. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.
180. And I ask of you no wage for it; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.
i8t. Give full measure, and be not of those who give less (than the due).
182. And weigh with the true balance.
183. Wrong not mankind in their goods, and do not evil, making mischief, in the earth.
184. And keep your duty unto Him Who created you and the generations of the men of old.
185. They said: Thou art but one of the bewitched; 186. Thou art hut a mortal like us, and lo! we deem thee of the liars.
187. Then make fragments of the heaven fall upon us, if thou art of the truthful.
188. He said: My Lord is best aware of what ye do.
189. But they denied him, so there came on them the retribution of the day of gloom. Lo! it was the retribution of an awful day.
190. Lo! herein is indeed a portent; yet most of them are not believers.
191. And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.
XXVI THEPOETS 383 192. And lo! it is a revelation of the Lord of the Worlds, 193. Which the True Spirit hath brought down 194. Upon thy heart, that thou mayest be (one) of the war nets, 195. In plain Arabic speech.
196. And lo, it is in the Scriptures of the men of old.
197. Is it not a token for them that the doctors of the Children of Israel' know it?
198. And if We had revealed it unto one of any other nation than the Arabs, 199. And he had read it unto them, they would not have believed in it.
200. Thus do We make it traverse the hearts of the guilty.
201. They will not believe in it till they behold the painful doom, 202. So that it will come upon them suddenly, when they perceive not.
203. Then they will say: Are we to be reprieved?
204. Would they (now) hasten on Our doom?
205. Hast thou then seen, if We content them for (long) years, 206. And then cometh that which they were promised, 207. (How) that wherewith they were contented naught availeth them?
208. And We destroyed no township but it had its warners 209. For reminder, for We never were oppressors.
210. The devils did not bring it down.
211. It is not meet for them, nor is it in their power, 212. Lo! verily they are banished from the hearing.
213. Therefor invoke not with Allah another god, lest thou be one of the doomed.
214. And warn thy tribe of near kindred, ' The Jews knew, from their Scripture, that a Prophet had been promised to the Arabs.
THE GLORIOUS KORAN s^rah xxvi 215. And lower thy wing (in kindness) unto those believers who follow thee.
216. And if they (thy kinsfolk) disobey thee, say: Lo! I am innocent of what they do.
217. And put thy trust in the Mighty, the Merciful.
218. Who seeth thee when thou standest up (to pray) 219. And (seeth) thine abasement among those who fall prostrate (in worship).
220. Lo! He, only He, is the Hearer, the Knower.
221. Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend?
222. They descend on every sinful, false one.
223. They listen eagerly, but most of them are liars.
224. As for poets, the erring follow them.
225. Hast thou not seen how they stray in every valley, 226. And how they say that which they do not?
227. Save those who believe and do good works, and remember Allah nmch, and vindicate themselves after they have been wronged. Those who do wrong will come to know by what a (great) reverse they will be overturned!
SORAH XXVII An-Naml, “The Ant,’’ takes its name from the ant mentioned in v. i8. Some commentators, objecting to the miraculous, seek to explain the ants, in the story of Solomon, as an old Arab tribe, the birds as cavalry, Hudhud (the hoopoe) as a man’s name, and the Jinn as foreign troops.
It belongs to the middle group of Meccan Surahs.
THE ANT Revealed at Mecca In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, 1. Ta. Sin.' These are revelations of the Qur’an and a Scripture that maketh plain; 2. A guidance and good tidings for believers 3. Who establish worship and pay the poor-due and are sure of the Hereafter.
4. Lo! as for those who believe not in the Hereafter, We have made their works fair-seeming unto them so that they are all astray.
5. Those are they for whom is the worst of punishment, and in the Hereafter they will be the greatest losers.
6. Lo! as for thee (Muhammad), thou verily receivest the Qur’an from the presence of One Wise, Aware.
7. (Remember) when Moses said unto his household: Lo! I spy afar off a fire; I will bring you tidings thence, or bring to you a borrowed flame that ye may warm yourselves.
8. But when he reached it, he was called, saying; Blessed is ' See Sur. II, v. i, footnote, cc 3^6 THE GLORIOUS KORAN s^jrah Whosoever is in the fire and whosoever is round about it! And glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!
9. O Moses! Lo! it is I, Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.
10. And throw down thy staff! But when he saw it writhing as it were a demon, he turned to flee headlong; (but it was said unto him): O Moses! Fear not! Lo! the emissaries fear not in My presence, 11. Save him who hath done wrong and afterward hath changed evil for good.' And lo! I am Forgiving, Merciful.
12. And put thy hand into the bosom of thy robe, it will come forth white but unhurt. (This will be one) among nine tokens unco Pharaoh and his people. Lo! they were ever evilliving folk.
13. But when Our tokens came unto them, plain to see, they said: This is mere magic, 14. And they denied them, though their souls acknowledged them, for spice and arrogance. Then see the nature of the consequence for the wrong-doers!
15. And We verily gave knowledge unto David and Solomon, and they said: Praise be to Allah, Who hath preferred us above many of His believing slaves! 16. And Solomon was David’s heir. And he said: O mankind! Lo! we have been taught the language of birds, and have been given (abundance) of all things. This surely is evident favour.
17. And there were gathered together unto Solomon his armies of the jinn and humankind, and of the birds, and they were set in battle order; 18. Till, when they reached the Valley of the Ants, an ant exclaimed: O ants! Enter your dwellings lest Solomon and his armies crush you, unperceiving.
19. And (Solomon) smiled, laughing at her speech, and ^ Moses had been guilty of a crime in Egypt.
XXVII THE ANT said: My Lord, arouse me to be thankful for Thy favour wherewith Thou hast favoured me and my parents, and to do good that shall be pleasing unto Thee, and include me in (the number of) Thy righteous slaves.
20. And he sought among the birds and said: How is it that I see not the hoopoe, or is he among the absent?
21. I verily will punish him with hard punishment or I verily will slay him, or he verily shall bring me a plain excuse.
22. But he was not long in coming, and he said: I have found out (a thing) that thou apprehendest not, and I come unto thee from Sheba with sure tidings.
23. Lo! I found a woman ruling over them, and she hath been given (abundance) of all things, and hers is a mighty throne. 24. I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of Allah; and Satan maketh their works fair-seeming unto them, and debarreth them from the way (of Truth), so that they go not aright; 25. So that they worship not Allah, Who bringeth forth the hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knoweth what ye hide and what ye proclaim, 26. Allah; there is no God save Him, the Lord of the tremendous Throne.
27. (Solomon) said: We shall see whether thou speakest truth or whether thou arc of the liars.
28. Go with this my letter and throw it down unto them; then turn away and see what (answer) they return, 29. (The Queen of Sheba) said (when she received the letter): O chieftains! Lo! there hath been thrown unto me a noble letter.
30. Lo! it is from Solomon, and lo! it is; In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful; THE GLORIOUS KORAN SURAH 31. Exalt not yourselves against me, but come unto me as those who surrender.
32. She said: O chieftains! Pronounce for me in my case. I decide no case till ye are present with me.
33. They said: We are lords of might and lords of great prowess, but it is for thee to command; so consider what thou wilt command. 34. She said: Lo! kings, when they enter a township, ruin it and make the honour of its people shame. Thus will they do.
35. But lo! I am going to send a present unto them, and to see with what (answer) the messengers return.
36. So when (the envoy) came unto Solomon, (the King) said: What! Would ye help me with wealth? But that which Allah hath given me is better than that which He hath given you. Nay it is ye (and not I) who exult in your gift.
37. Return unto them. We verily shall come unto them with hosts that they cannot resist, and we shall drive them out from thence with shame, and they will be abased.
38. He said: O chiefs! Which of you will bring me her throne before they come unto me, surrendering?
39. A stalwart of the Jinn said: I will bring it thee before thou canst rise from thy place. Lo! I verily am strong and trusty for such work. 40. One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said: I will bring it thee before thy gaze returneth unto thee. And when he saw it set in his presence, (Solomon) said: This is of the bounty of my Lord, that He may try me whether I give thanks or am ungrateful. Whosoever giveth thanks he only giveth thanks for (the good of) his own soul; and whosoever is ungrateful (is ungrateful only to his own soul’s hurt). For lo! my Lord is Absolute in independence. Bountiful.
41. He said: Disguise her throne for her that we may see whether she will go aright or be of those not rightly guided.
XXVII THE ANT 389 42. So, when she came, it was said (unto her): Is thy throne like this? She said: (It is) as though it were the very one. And (Solomon said): We were given the knowledge before her and we had surrendered (to Allah).
43. And (all) that she was wont to worship instead of Allah hindered her, for she came of disbelieving folk.
44. It was said unto her: Enter the hall. And when she saw it she deemed it a pool and bared her legs. (Solomon) said: Lo! it is a hall, made smooth, of glass. She said: My Lord! Lo! I have wronged myself, and I surrender with Solomon unto Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. 45. And We verily sent unto Thamud their brother SSlih, saying: Worship Allah. And lo! they (then) became two parties quarrelling.
46. He said: O my people! Why will ye hasten on the evil rather than the good? Why will ye not ask pardon of Allah, that ye may receive mercy, 47. They said: We augur evil of thee and those with thee. He said: Your evil augury is with Allah. Nay, but ye are folk that are being tested.
48. And there were in the city nine persons who made mischief in the land and reformed not.
49. They said: Swear one to another by Allah that we verily will attack him and his household by night, and afterward we will surely say unto his friend: W^e witnessed not the destruction of his household. And lo! we are truthtellers, 50. So they plotted a plot: and We plotted a plot, while they perceived not.
51. Then see the nature of the consequence of their plotting, for lo! We destroyed them, and their people, every one.
52. See, yonder are their dwellings empty and in ruins because they did wrong. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for a people who have knowledge.
THE GLORIOUS KORAN sArah And we saved tKose who believed and used to ward off (evil). 54. And Lot! when he said unto his folk: will ye commit abomination knowingly?
55. Must ye needs lust after men instead of women? Nay, but ye are folk who act senselessly.
56. But the answer of his folk was naught save that they said: Expel the household of Lot from your township, for they (forsooth) are folk who would keep clean!
57. Then We saved him and his household save his wife; We destined her to be of those who stayed behind.
58. And We rained a rain upon them. Dreadful is the rain of those who have been warned.
59. Say (O Muhammad): Praise be to Allah, and peace be on His slaves whom He hath chosen! Is Allah best, or (all) that ye ascribe as partners (unto Him)?
60. Is not He (best) Who created the heavens and the earth, and sendeth down for you water from the sky wherewith We cause to spring forth joyous orchards, whose trees it never hath been yours to cause to grow. Is there any God beside Allah? Nay, but they are folk who ascribe equals (unto Him)!
61. Is not He (best) Who made the earth a fixed abode, and placed rivers in the folds thereof, and placed firm hills therein, and hath set a barrier between the two seas? Is there any God beside Allah? Nay, but most of them know not! 62. Is not He (best) Who answereth the wronged one when he crieth unto Him and removeth the evil, and hath made you viceroys of the earth? Is there any God beside Allah? Little do they reflect!
63. Is not He (best) Who guideth you in the darkness of the land and the sea. He Who sendeth the winds as heralds of XXVII THE ANT 391 His mercy? Is there any God beside Allah? High exalted be Allah from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him)!
64. Is not He (best) Who produceth creation, then reproduceth it, and Who provideth for you from the heaven and the earth? Is there any God beside Allah? Say: Bring your proof, if ye are truthful I 65. Say (O Muhammad): None in the heavens and the earth knoweth the Unseen save Allah; and they know not when they will he raised (again).
66. Nay, but doth their knowledge reach to the Hereafter? Nay, for they are in doubt concerning it. Nay, for they cannot see it, 67. Yet those who disbelieve say: When we have become dust like our fathers, shall we verily be brought forth (again)?
68. We were promised this, forsooth, we and our fathers. (All) this is naught but fables of the men of old.
69. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Travel in the land and see the nature of the sequel for the guilty! 70. And grieve thou not for them, nor be in distress because of what they plot (against thee).
71. And they say: When (will) this promise (be fulfilled), if ye are truthful?
72. Say: It may be that a part of that which ye would hasten on is close behind you.
73. Lol thy Lord is full of bounty for mankind, but most of them do not give thanks.
74. Lo! thy Lord knoweth surely all that their bosoms hide, and all that they proclaim.
75. And there is nothing hidden in the heaven or the earth but it is in a clear Record.
76. Lo! this Qur’an narrateth unto the Children of Israel most of that concerning which they differ.
77. And lo! it is a guidance and a mercy for believers.
THE GLORIOUS KORAN stjRAH m 78. Lo! thy Lord will judge between them of His wisdom, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
79. Therefor (O Muhammad) put thy trust in Allah, for thou (standest) on the plain Truth.
80. Lo! thou canst not make the dead to hear, nor canst thou make the deaf to hear the call when they have turned to flee; 81. Nor canst thou lead the blind out of their error. Thou canst make none to hear, save those who believe Our revelations and who have surrendered. 82. And when the word is fulfilled concerning them, We shall bring forth a beast of the earth to speak unto them because mankind had not faith in Our revelations.
83. And (remind them of) the Day when We shall gather out of every nation a host of those wTo denied Our revelations, and they will be set in array; 84. Till, when they come (before their Lord), He will say: Did ye deny My revelations when ye could not compass them in knowledge, or what was it that ye did?
85. And the Word will be fulfilled concerning them because they have done wrong, and they will not speak.
86. Have they not seen how We have appointed the night that they may rest therein, and the day sight-giving? Lo! therein verily are portents for a people who believe.
87. And (remind them of) the Day when the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and the earth will start in fear, save him whom Allah willeth. And all come unto Him, humbled.
88. And thou seest the hills thou deemest solid flying with the flight of clouds: the doing of Allah Who perfecteth all things. Lo! He is Informed of what ye do.
89. Whoso bringeth a good deed will have better than its worth; and such are safe from fear that Day.
XXVII THE ANT 90. And whoso bringeth an ill deed, such will be flung down on their faces in the Fire. Are ye rewarded aught save what ye did?
91. (Say): I (Muhammad) am commanded only to serve the Lord of this land which He hath hallowed, and unto Whom all things belong. And I am commanded to be of those who surrender (unto Him), 92. And to recite the Qur’an, And whoso goeth right, goeth right only for (the good of) his own soul; and as for him who goeth astray— (Unto him) say: Lo! I am only a w'arner.
93. And say: Praise be to Allah Who will show you His portents so that ye shall know them. And thy Lord is not unaware of what ye (mortals) do.
sOrah xxviii Al-Qasas, “The Story,” takes its name from a word in v. 25. The name is moreover justified by the nature of the Surah, which consists mostly of the story of Moses, his early struggles and ultimate triumph, revealed at a time when the Prophet’s case seemed desperate. It is one of the last Meccan Surahs. Some Arabic writers even say that it was revealed during the Hijrah, while others are of opinion that v. 85 only was revealed during the flight.
A late Meccan Surah, except v. 85 revealed during the Prophet’s flight from Mecca to Al-Madinah, and vv. 52—55 revealed at Al- Madinah.'
THE STORY Revealed at Mecca In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1. TT Sin. Mlm."'
2. These are revelations of the Scripture that maketh plain.
3. We narrate unto thee (somewhat) of the story of Moses and Pharaoh with truth, for folk who believe.
4. Lo! Pharaoh exalted himself in the earth and made its people castes. A tribe among them he oppressed, killing their sons and sparing their women. Lo! he was of those who work corruption.
5. And We desired to show favour unto those who were oppressed in the earth, and to make them examples and to make them the inheritors, ^ See Sur. II, v. l, footnote.
s6rah XXVIII THE STORY 395 6. And to establish them in the earth, and to show Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts that which they feared from them.
7. And We inspired the mother of Moses, saying: Suckle him and, when thou fearest for him, then cast him into the river and fear not nor grieve. Lo! We shall bring him back unto thee and shall make him (one) of Our messengers.
8. And the family of Pharaoh took him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a sorrow. Lo! Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts were ever sinning. 9. And the wife of Pharaoh said: (He will be) a consolation for me and for thee. Kill him not. Peradventure he may be of use to us, or we may choose him for a son. And they perceived not.
10. And the heart of the mother of Moses became void, and she would have betrayed him if We had not fortified her heart, that she might be of the believers.
11. And she said unto his sister: Trace him. So she observed him from afar, and they perceived not.
12. And We had before forbidden fostermothers for him, so she said: Shall I show you a household who will rear him for you and take care of him?
13. So We restored him to his mother that she might be comforted and not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them know not.
14. And when he reached his full strength and was ripe, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus do We reward the good.
15. And he entered the city at a time of carelessness of its folk, and he found therein two men fighting, one of his own caste, and the other of his enemies; and he who was of his caste asked him for help against him who was of his enemies. So Moses struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: 396 THE GLORIOUS KORAN sI^rah This is of the devil’s doing. Lo! he is an enemy, a mere misleader, 16. He said: My Lord/ Lo! I have wronged my soul, so forgive me. Then He forgave him. Lo/ He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
17. He said: My Lord/ Forasmuch as Thou hast favoured me, I will nevermore be a supporter of the guilty.
18. And morning found him in the city, fearing, vigilant, when behold/ he who had appealed to him the day before cried out to him for help. Moses said unto him: Lo / thou art indeed a mete hothead.
19. And when he would have fallen upon the man who was an enemy unto them both, he said: O Moses/ Wouldst thou kill me as thou didst kill a person yesterday. Thou wouldst be nothing but a tyrant in the land, thou wouldst not be of the reformers.
20. And a man came from the uttermost part of the city, running. He said: O Moses/ Lo/ the chiefs take counsel against thee to slay thee; therefor escape. Lo, I am of those who give thee good advice.
21. So he escaped from thence, fearing, vigilant. He said: My Lord! Deliver me from the wrongdoing folk.
22. And when he turned his face toward Midian, he said: Peradventure my Lord will guide me in the right road. 25. And when he came unto the water of Midian he found there a whole tribe of men, watering. And he found apart from them two women keeping back (their flocks). He said: What aileth you? The two said: We cannot give (our flocks) to drink till the shepherds return from the water; and our father is a very old man.
24. So he watered (their flock) for them. Then he turned aside into the shade, and said: My Lord /1 am needy of whatever good thou sendest down for me.
XXVIII THE STORY 25. Then there came unto him one of the two women, walking shyly. She said: Lol my father biddeth thee, that he may reward thee with a payment for that thou didst water (the flock) for us. Then, when he came unto him and told him the (whole) story, he said: Fear not! Thou hast escaped from the wrongdoing folk.
26. One of the two women said: O my father! Hire him! For the best (man) that thou canst hire is the strong, the trustworthy.
27. He said: Lo! I fain would marry thee to one of these two daughters of mine on condition that thou hirest thyself to me for (the term of) eight pilgrimages, Then if thou com- pletest ten it will be of thine own accord, for I would not make it hard for thee. Allah willing, thou wilt find me of the righteous.
28. He said: That (is settled) between thee and me. Whichever of the two terms I fulfil, there will be no injustice to me, and Allah is Surety over what we say.
29. Then, when Moses had fulfilled the term, and was travelling with his housefolk, he saw in the distance a fire and said unto his housefolk: Bide ye (here). Lo! I see in the distance a fire; peradventure I shall bring you tidings thence, or a brand from the fire that ye may warm yourselves.
30. And when he reached it, he was called from the right side of the valley in the blessed field, from the tree: O Moses! Lo! I, even I, am Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; 31. Throw down thy staff. And when he saw it writhing as it had been a demon, he turned to flee headlong, (and it was said unto him): O Moses! Draw nigh and fear not. Lo! thou art of those who are secure.
32. Thrust thy hand into the bosom of thy robe, it will come forth white without hurt. And guard thy heart from fear. Then these shall be two proofs from your SURAH 398 THE GLORIOUS KORAN Lord unto Pharaoh and his chiefs. Lo! they are evil-living folk.
33. He said: My Lord! Lo! I killed a man among them and I fear that they will kill me.
34. My brother Aaron is more eloquent than me in speech. Therefor send him with me as a helper to confirm me. Lo! I fear that they will give the lie to me. 35 He said: We will strengthen thine arm with thy brother, and We will give unto you both power so that they cannot reach you for Our portents. Ye twain, and those who follow you, will be the winners.
36. But when Moses came unto them with Our clear tokens, they said: This is naught but invented magic. We never heard of this among our fathers of old.
37. And Moses said: My Lord is best aware of him who bringeth guidance from His presence, and whose will be the sequel of the Home (of bliss). Lo! wrong-doers will not be successful.
38. And Pharaoh said: O chiefs! I know not that ye have a god other than me, so kindle for me (a fire), O Hainan, to bake the mud; and set up for me a lofty tower in order that I may survey the god of Moses; and lo! I deem him of the liars.
39. And he and his hosts were haughty in the land without right, and deemed that they would never be brought back to Us.
40. Therefor We seized him and his hosts, and abandoned them unto the sea. Behold the nature of the consequence for evil-doers!
41. And We made them patterns that invite unto the Fire, and on the Day of Resurrection they will not be helped. 42. And We made a curse to follow them in this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be among the hateful.
43. And We verily gave the Scripture unto Moses after We XXVIII THE STORY had destroyed the generations of old: clear testimonies for mankind, and a guidance and a mercy, that haply they might reflect.
44. And thou (Muhammad) wast not on the western side (of the Mount) when We expounded unto Moses the commandment, and thou wast not among those present; 45. But We brought forth generations, and their lives dragged on for them. And thou wast not a dweller in Midian, reciting unto them Our revelations, but We kept sending (messengers to men).
46. And thou wast not beside the Mount when We did call; but (the knowledge of it is) a mercy from thy Lord that thou mayest warn a folk unto whom no warner came before thee, that haply they may give heed.
47. Otherwise, if disaster should afllict them because of that which their own hands have sent before (them), they might say: Our Lord! Why sentest Thou no messenger unto us, that we might have followed Thy revelations and been of the believers?