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In the name
of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful |
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SECTION: 1
Tuã Sïn M'ïm.[1] These are the verses of the Glorious Book that
makes the things clear.[2] In all truth, We narrate to you some
information about Musa (Moses) and Fir'on (Pharaoh)
for the instruction of the believers.[3]
28:[1-3] |
Story of the Prophet Musa |
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The fact is that Fir'on elevated himself in
the land and divided its residents into groups, one group of
which he persecuted, putting their sons to death and sparing
only their females. Indeed he was one of the mischief-makers.[4]
But We wanted to favor those who were oppressed in the land, and
make them leaders, and make them the heirs,[5] establish them in
the land, and show Fir'on, Hamãn and their warriors at their
hands the same which they feared.[6] So We revealed Our will to
the mother of Musa: “Suckle him, and when you feel any danger to
his life, cast him into the river without any fear or
grief; for We shall certainly restore him to you and make him
one of Our Rasools."[7] We made Fir'on’s family pick him
up from the river: it was intended that Musa may become
their adversary and a cause of their sorrow; for Fir'on, Hamãn
and their warriors were all sinners.[8] The wife of Fir'on said:
“This child may become the comfort of the eyes for me and for
you. Do not kill him. He may prove useful to us or it may be
that we will adopt him as our son." They were unaware of the
result of what they were doing.[9] On the other hand, the
heart of Musa’s mother was sorely troubled. She would have
disclosed as to who he was, had We not strengthened her heart so
that she might become one of the true believers.[10] She said to
Musa’s sister: “Go, and follow him." So she (Musa's
sister) watched him from a distance in such a way that the
others did not notice it.[11] We had already ordained that he
would refuse to suck any foster mother. His sister
came to Fir'on's wife and said: “Shall I point out to you a
house whose people will take care of him for you and they will
be sincere to him?”[12] 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 Allah is true. Yet most
of the people do not understand.[13]
28:[4-13] |
Fir'on plotted to kill the sons of the Israelites to save his
kingship, while Allah planned to bring up one of them in
Fir'on's own household |
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SECTION: 2
When he reached maturity and became full-grown, We bestowed on
him wisdom and knowledge. Thus do We reward the righteous.[14]
One day he entered the city at a time when its people
were not yet active, he found two men reaching to each others
throats; one was from his own race and the other of his foes.
The man of his own race appealed for his help against his foe,
whereupon Musa gave his foe a blow which killed him. On
seeing what he has done he said: “This is the work of
Shaitãn, surely he is an enemy that openly misleads."[15] Then
he prayed: “O my Rabb! I have indeed wronged my soul, please
forgive me." So Allah forgave him, surely He is the
Forgiving, the Merciful.[16] Musa promised: “O my Rabb!
After this favor that You have bestowed on me, I shall never be
a helping hand to the criminals."[17] Next morning as he was
walking in the city in fear and caution, suddenly he saw the
same man whom he had helped the day before cried out to him
again for help. Musa replied: “You are certainly a misguided
person."[18] Then when Musa was about to lay his hands on
a man who was an enemy to both of them, he cried out: “O Musa!
Do you intend to kill me as you killed a person yesterday? You
only want to become a tyrant in the land and have no intention
of reforming anything."[19] At that time, there came a
man running from the other end of the city and said: “O Musa!
The chiefs are plotting to kill you, therefore, run away, surely
I am your well wisher."[20] Hearing this, Musa left that place
in fear and caution, praying: “O my Rabb! Deliver me from the
nation of wrongdoers."[21]
28:[14-21] |
The Prophet Musa's youth, his folly of killing a man, and his
escape from Fir'on's retribution |
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SECTION: 3
As he made his way towards Madyan, he said: “Soon my Rabb shall
guide me to the Right Way."[22] When he arrived at the well of
Madyan, he saw a multitude of men watering their flocks,
and besides them two women who were keeping their flocks
back. He asked: “What is the problem?” They replied: “We cannot
water our flocks until the shepherds take away their
flocks from the water, because we are weak and our father is
a very old man."[23] So he watered their flocks for them and
went back to the shade and prayed: “O Rabb! Surely I am in
desperate need of whatever good that You may send down to
me."[24] Soon after that, one of the two women came to him
walking bashfully and said: “My father is calling you. He wishes
to reward you for watering our flocks for us." When
Musa came to him and narrated his story, the old man said:
“Have no fear. You have escaped from those wicked people."[25]
One of the daughters said: “Father, hire this man. The
best that one can hire is a man who is strong and
trustworthy."[26] The old man said to Musa: “I am
willing to give you one of my daughters in marriage if you stay
in my service for eight years; but you may complete ten if you
wish. I do not want to put you in trouble; Allah willing, you
will find me one of the righteous."[27] Musa replied: “So
be it an agreement between me and you. Whichever of the
two terms I complete, let there be no compulsion on me. Allah is
the witness to what we have agreed upon."[28]
28:[22-28] |
His arrival at Madyan, acceptance of a ten year term of
employment, and marriage |
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SECTION: 4
After completing the term of his agreement, when Musa (Moses)
was travelling with his family, he saw a fire in the direction
of Mount Tür. He said to his family: “Stay here, I saw a fire
and I hope to bring some information from there or a lighted
torch with which you may warm yourselves."[29] But when he
reached there, a voice called out to him from the right side of
the valley of the blessed spot from a tree , saying: “O Musa,
surely I am Allah the Rabb of the Worlds."[30] Then Allah
commanded, “Throw down your staff." When Musa saw
that the staff was writhing like a snake, he turned his back and
fled, and did not even look behind. Allah said, “O Musa,
come back and do not fear; you are quite safe.[31] Now put your
hand into your pocket: it will come out shining white without
any harm to you - whenever you feel afraid, draw your
hand towards yourself to ward off fear - these are two
credentials from your Rabb towards Fir'on and his chiefs, surely
they are wicked people."[32] Musa submitted: “Rabb! I
have killed one of them: I fear that they will put me to
death.[33] My brother Haroon (Aaron), he is more eloquent
in speech than I: send him with me as a helper to confirm my
words; I fear that they will treat me as a liar."[34] Allah
replied: “We will certainly strengthen your arm with your
brother and give both of you such authority that they shall not
be able to harm you. Now proceed with Our signs. You, and those
who follow you, will surely triumph.”[35]
28:[29-35] |
His arrival at Mount Tür, seeing a fire, conversation with
Allah, and his appointment as a Rasool to Fir'on and his chiefs
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When Musa (Moses) came to them (Fir'on
and his chiefs) with Our clear signs and invited them to
Islam, they said: “This is nothing but baseless sorcery; we
never heard such a thing in the time of our forefathers."[36]
Musa stated: “My Rabb knows best who it is that comes with
guidance from Him and who will gain the reward of the hereafter;
surely the wrongdoers will not attain felicity."[37] Fir'on
said: “O Chiefs! You have no other god that I know of, except
myself. O Hamãn! Bake for me bricks from clay and build me a
high tower so that I may climb it to see the God of Musa; most
surely I think him to be one of the liars."[38] He and his
warriors were arrogant in the land without any right; they
thought that they would never be brought back to Us.[39] So We
seized him and his warriors, and flung them into the sea. See
what was the end of wrongdoers?[40] We made them leaders who
started calling people to hellfire, but on the Day of
Resurrection they will not get any help.[41] We laid a curse on
them in this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be
of the despised.[42]
28:[36-42]
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Fir'on and his chiefs disbelieved; as a result, Allah destroyed
them but saved the Children of Israel |
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SECTION: 5
We gave Musa (Moses) the Book (Torah), after We
had destroyed the former generations, an eye opener, a guide,
and a blessing so that they may be reminded.[43] O Muhammad,
you were not present on the western side of the mountain
when We gave Musa the Law, nor did you witness that event.[44]
We raised many generations and a long time has passed over them;
you were not living among the people of Madyan, reciting to them
Our revelations; but it is We Who are sending to you the news
of that time.[45] Nor were you at the side of the
mountain of Tür when We called out to Musa, but it is
your Rabb’s mercy that you are being given this information
so that you may forewarn a nation to whom no Warner had come
before you. Maybe they will take heed,[46] so that they may not
be able to say, when a disaster befalls them on account of their
misdeeds: “Our Rabb, had You sent us a Rasool, we should have
followed Your revelations and become the believers."[47] Now
that the Truth has come to them from Us, they are saying: “Why
is he (Muhammad) not given the like of what was given to
Musa?” Have they not rejected that which was given to Musa
before? They claim: “These (Torah and Qur’an) are the two
works of sorcery complementing each other!” And they say: “We
believe in neither."[48] Ask them: “Bring a Book from Allah
which is a better guide than these two, I will follow it, if
what you say be true!”[49] So if they do not meet this demand,
you should know that they only follow their own desires. And who
is more misguided than the one who follows his own desires
rather than the guidance from Allah? In fact, Allah does not
guide such wrongdoing people.[50]
28:[43-50] |
Information about the destruction of prior generations is given
to teach a lesson |
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SECTION: 6
We have conveyed Our Word to them over and over again in order
that they may take heed.[51] Those to whom the scriptures were
given before this (Jews and Christians), they do
recognize the Truth and believe in this (Qur’an).[52] When it is
recited to them they say: “We believe in it, surely this is the
Truth from our Rabb: indeed we were Muslims even before
this."[53] They are the ones who will be given their reward
twice, because they have endured with fortitude, repelling evil
with good and giving in charity out of what We have given
them.[54] When they hear vain talk, they withdraw from it
saying: “Our deeds are for us and yours for you; peace be on to
you: we do not desire the way of the ignorant."[55]
28:[51-55] |
Righteous Jews and Christians can recognize the truth of The
Qur'an and feel that they were Muslims even before hearing it
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O Prophet, you cannot give guidance to
whom you wish, it is Allah Who gives guidance to whom He
pleases, and He is quite aware of those who are guided.[56]
Those who do not wish to be guided say: “If we go along with
you and accept this guidance, we shall be driven out from our
land." But have We not given them a secure sanctuary to which
are brought the fruits of all kinds as a provision from Us? But
most of them have no knowledge.[57] How many towns have We
destroyed which once flourished in their economy? Just see those
dwellings of theirs, only a few of which have been inhabited
after them; at last We Alone became their inheritors.[58] Your
Rabb would never destroy the towns until He had sent in their
metropolis a Rasool, proclaiming to them Our revelations; and We
would not destroy towns except when their dwellers had become
wrongdoers.[59] The things which you have been given are but the
provisions and adornments of this worldly life; and that which
is with Allah is better and more lasting. Why don’t you use your
common sense?[60]
28:[52-60] |
Prophets cannot give guidance; it is Allah who gives guidance
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SECTION: 7
Can a person to whom We have made a handsome promise and he is
sure to receive it, be like the one to whom We have only given
the provisions of this world and he is scheduled to be presented
on the Day of Resurrection for punishment?[61] Let
them not forget that Day when We shall call them and ask:
“Where are those whom you deemed to be My associates?”[62] Those
who are proven guilty as charged will say: “Our Rabb! These are
the ones whom we led astray; we led them astray as we were
astray ourselves. However, we plead our innocence before You; it
was not us that they worshipped.”[63] Then they will be told:
“Appeal to your shorakã' (associate gods),” so they will
appeal them but will get no answer. They will see the punishment
and wish that they had accepted guidance.[64] Let them also
not forget that, on that Day, He will call them and ask:
“How did you answer Our Rasools?”[65] They will be so confused
on that Day that they will not even ask one another.[66]
However, the one who has repented in this life, and believed,
and done good deeds may hope to be among those who will achieve
salvation.[67]
28:[61-67] |
On
the Day of Judgement, the disbelievers will wish that they had
accepted Guidance |
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Your Rabb creates whatever He wills and
chooses for His work whom He pleases. It is not for them
(mushrikïn) to choose and assign the powers of Allah
to whom they want. Glory be to Allah! He is far above the
shirk that these people commit.[68] Your Rabb knows all that
they conceal in their hearts and all that they reveal.[69] He is
Allah; there is no god but Him. Praise belongs to Him in this
world and in the hereafter: His is the Judgement and to Him you
all shall be brought back.[70] O Prophet, ask them: “Have
you ever considered that if Allah were to make the night
perpetual till the Day of Resurrection, which deity other than
Allah could bring you light?" Will you not listen?[71] Ask them
again: “Have you ever considered that if Allah were to make the
day perpetual till the Day of Resurrection, which deity other
than Allah could bring you the night in which you could rest?
Will you not see?[72] It is out of His mercy that He has made
for you the night that you may rest in it, and the day that you
may seek His bounty, so that you may render thanks.[73] They
should be mindful of that Day when He will call them and
ask: “Where are those deities whom you deemed My
associates?”[74] And We shall bring forth a witness from every
nation and ask: “Bring your proof about other deities besides
Me." Then they shall come to know that in reality there is
only One God, Allah, and gods of their own inventions have left
them in the lurch."[75]
28:[68-75] |
Allah has not allowed the mushrikïn to assign His powers to
whomever they want |
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SECTION: 8
The fact is that Qarün (Korah) was one of Musa’s people,
but he rebelled against them. We had given him such treasures
that their very keys were a heavy burden to a band of strong
men. When his people said to him: “Do not exult, for Allah does
not love the exultant.[76] Rather seek, by means of what Allah
has given you, to attain the abode of the hereafter, while not
neglecting your share in this world. Be good to others as Allah
has been good to you, and do not seek mischief in the land, for
Allah does not love the mischief mongers."[77] He replied: “All
that I have been given is by virtue of the knowledge that I
possess." Did he (Qarün) not know that Allah had
destroyed many people before, who were mightier in strength and
greater in riches than him? But the criminals are not called to
account immediately for their sins.[78 ] One day he came
out before his people in his worldly glitter, those who sought
the life of this world said: “Would that we had the like of
Qarün’s fortune! He is indeed a very lucky man."[79] But those
who were endowed with knowledge said: “Alas for you! Better is
the reward of Allah for him that has faith and does good deeds;
but none shall attain it save those who endured with
fortitude."[80] Then We caused the earth to swallow him,
together with his dwelling, and he had no host to help him
against Allah; nor was he able to defend himself.[81] Now the
same people who envied him for his lot the day before, began to
say: “Alas! We had forgotten that it is indeed Allah Who
enlarges the provision for whom He wills and restricts it from
whom He pleases. If Allah had not been gracious to us, He could
have caused the earth to swallow us too. Alas! We did not
remember that the disbelievers never attain felicity."[82]
28:[76-82] |
Story of Qarün, the rich man, who was from the people of Musa
but he rebelled against the guidance of Allah |
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SECTION: 9
As for the abode of the Hereafter, We have reserved it for those
who seek neither glory nor corruption in the earth; the ultimate
good is for the righteous.[83] Anyone who brings a good deed
shall have something even better; while anyone who brings an
evil deed will find that those who perform evil deeds
will be punished only to the extent of their misdeeds.[84] O
Prophet, rest assured that He Who charged you with The Qur'an
will bring you to the best destination. Say: “My Rabb best knows
him who has brought guidance and him who is in manifest
error."[85] You (O Muhammad) never expected that the Book
would be revealed to you. Only through your Rabb's mercy has
it been revealed to you: therefore do not be a helper in any
way to the unbelievers.[86] Let no one turn you away from the
revelations of Allah now that they have been revealed to you.
Invite people to your Rabb and be not of the mushrikïn (who
join other deities with Allah).[87] Invoke no other god
besides Allah. There is no god but Him. Everything is perishable
except Him. To him belongs the judgement and to him will you all
be returned.[88]
28:[83-88] |
Revelation of The Qur'an is the mercy of Allah, let no one turn
you away from it |
Major Issues, Divine
Law and Guidance:
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* The story of Fir'on (Pharaoh) who
plotted to kill all the male children of the Israelites. How
Allah saved Musa (pbuh) and arranged for him to be brought up in
Fir'on's own household.
* Youth of Prophet Musa (pbuh), his folly of killing a man, his
escape to Madyan, his marriage, his seeing a fire at Mount Tür,
and his assignment as a Rasool to Fir'on.
* The stories of prior generations are related in The Qur'an as
an eye opener for the disbelievers to learn a lesson.
* Unbiased Jews and Christians - when they hear The Qur'an, can
recognize the Truth and feel that they were Muslims even before
hearing it.
* The Prophets cannot give guidance; it is Allah Who gives
guidance.
* The fact that on the Day of Judgement, disbelievers will wish
that they had accepted guidance and become Muslims.
* Allah has not allowed the mushrikïn to assign His powers to
whom they want.
* The story of Qarün, the legendary rich man.
* Allah’s commandment that the revelation of The Qur’an is His
mercy; a believer should let no one turn him away from it.
This Sürah removes the doubts and
objections that were being raised against the Prophethood of the
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and invalidates the excuses which the
unbelievers had for not believing in him. Then the story of the
Prophet Musa (pbuh) is related to emphasize that Allah is
All-Powerful and can provide the means for whatever He wills to
do. He arranged for the child Musa, through whom Fir'on was to
be removed from power, to be brought up in Fir'on's own house
thus Fir'on would not know whom he was fostering.
The unbelievers wondered about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) - how he
could be blessed with Prophethood all of a sudden. This is
explained through the example of the Prophet Musa (pbuh) who was
given the Prophethood unexpectedly during a journey, while he
himself did not know what he was going to be blessed with. In
fact, he had gone to bring a piece of fire, but had returned
with the gift of Prophethood.
The unbelievers were wondering why Allah would assign the
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) this mission without any special help or
supernatural forces to aid him. Again, the example of the
Prophet Musa (pbuh) is used to explain that a person from whom
Allah wants to take some service always appears without any
apparent helper or force behind him, yet he can put up with much
stronger and better-equipped opponents. The contrast between the
strengths of Musa (pbuh) and those of Fir'on is far more extreme
than that between Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qureysh; yet the whole
world knows who came out victorious in the end and who was
defeated.
The unbelievers were referring to the Prophet Musa (pbuh) again
and again, saying: “Why has Muhammad not been given the same
which was given to Musa (pbuh)?" That is to say, the miracles of
the Staff and the Shining Hand; as if to suggest that they would
readily believe only if they were shown the kind of the miracles
that Musa (pbuh) showed to Fir'on. The disbelievers are
admonished, that those who were shown those miracles did not
believe even after seeing the miracles. Instead they said: “This
is nothing but magic,” for they were full of stubbornness and
hostility to the Truth just like the disbelievers of Makkah.
Then a warning is given by citing the fate of those who
disbelieved after witnessing those miracles. This was the
background against which the story of the Prophet Musa was
narrated and a perfect analogy is made in every detail between
the conditions then prevailing in Makkah and those which were
existing at the time of the Prophet Musa (pbuh).
In conclusion, the disbelievers of Makkah are admonished for
mistreating those Christians who came to Makkah and embraced
Islam after hearing the verses of the Qur'an from the Prophet.
Instead of learning a lesson from their acceptance of Islam, the
Makkans leader, Abu Jahl, humiliated them publicly. Then the
real reason for not believing in the Prophet is mentioned. The
disbelievers were thinking, “If we give up the polytheistic
creed of the Arabs and accept the doctrine of Tawhïd (Oneness of
God), it will be an end to our supremacy in the religious,
political and economic fields. As a result, our position as the
most influential tribe of Arabia will be destroyed and we shall
be left with no refuge anywhere in the land." This was the real
motive of the chiefs of the Qureysh for their antagonism towards
the Truth, and their doubts and objections were only a pretense
invented to deceive the common people. |
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