28:1  Ţā. SÄ«n. MÄ«m.

28:2  These are verses of the Book that makes things clear.

28:3  We shall relate to you some of the story of Moses and Pharaoh, setting forth the truth for people who will believe.

28:4  Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and divided its people into castes. One group of them he persecuted, slaying their sons and keeping their women alive. For certain, he was one who sows corruption.

28:5  But it was Our will to bestow Our favour upon those who were oppressed in the land and to make them leaders, and to make them the ones to inherit [the land],

28:6  and to establish them securely on earth, and to let Pharaoh, Hāmān and their hosts experience at their hands the very things against which they were taking precautions.

28:7  We revealed to the mother of Moses: “Breast-feed him, and then when you have cause to fear for him, cast him in the river, and have no fear and do not grieve. We shall restore him to you, and shall make him one of Our messengers.'

28:8  Pharaoh's household picked him up; and so [in time] he would become an enemy to them and a source of grief. Pharaoh, Hāmān and their hosts were sinners indeed.

28:9  Pharaoh's wife said: A joy to the eye he will be for me and for you. Do not kill him. He may well be of use to us, or we may adopt him as our son.' They had no inkling [of what was to happen].

28:10  By the morning an aching void came over the heart of Moses' mother, and she would indeed have disclosed his identity had We not strengthened her heart so that she could continue to have faith.

28:11  She said to his sister: 'Follow him.' So she watched him from a distance, while they were unaware.

28:12  Right from the very beginning We caused him to refuse all nurses' breasts. So, his sister said: 'Shall I direct you to a family who might bring him up for you and take good care of him?'

28:13  Thus We restored him to his mother, so that she might rejoice in him and grieve no more, and that she might know that God's promise always comes true; even though most people do not know this.

28:14  When he attained his full manhood and became fully mature, We bestowed on him wisdom and knowledge. Thus do We reward those who do good.

28:15  One day he entered the city at a time when its people were unaware [of his presence]. He found there two men fighting, one belonging to his own people and the other to his enemies. And the one from his own people cried out to him for help against the one from his enemies, whereupon Moses struck him down with his fist and killed him. He said: “This is of Satan's doing! Indeed, he is an open foe, seeking to lead man astray.'

28:16  He then prayed: 'My Lord! I have certainly wronged myself, so forgive me.' So He forgave him. He alone is Much- Forgiving, Merciful.

28:17  He said: “My Lord! For all that with which You have blessed me, never shall I give help to wrongdoers.'

28:18  Next morning, he was in the city, fearful, vigilant, when he saw the man who sought his help the day before again crying out to him for help. Moses said to him: “Indeed, you are clearly a quarrel- some fellow.'

28:19  But then, when he was about to strike the one who was their enemy, the latter exclaimed: “Moses! Do you want to kill me as you killed another man yesterday? You want only to become a tyrant in the land, and you do not want to be one who sets things right.'

28:20  Then a man came at speed from the farthest end of the city. He said: “Moses! The nobles are plotting to kill you. So get yourself away. I am giving you sincere advice.'

28:21  So he left the city in fear, vigilant. He prayed: “My Lord! Save me from all wrongdoing folk.'

28:22  And as he turned his face towards Madyan, he said: “I do hope that my Lord will guide me to the right path.'

28:23  When he arrived at the wells of Madyan, he found there a large group of people drawing water [for their herds and flocks], and at some distance from them he found two women who were keeping back their flock. He asked them: 'What is the matter with you two?' They said: “We cannot water [our animals] until the herdsmen drive home. Our father is a very old man.'

28:24  So he watered their flock for them, and then he withdrew into the shade and prayed: 'My Lord! Truly am I in dire need of any good which You may send me.'

28:25  One of the two women then came hack to him, walking shyly, and said: “My father invites you, so that he might duly reward you for having watered our flock for us.' And when [Moses] went to him and told him his story, he said: 'Have no fear. You are now safe from those wrongdoing folk.'

28:26  Said one of the two women: “My father! Hire him; for the best person that you could hire is one who is strong and worthy of trust.'

28:27  [The father] said: “I will give you one of these two daughters of mine in marriage on the understanding that you will remain eight years in my service. If you should complete ten years, it will be of your own choice. I do not wish to impose any hardship on you. You will find me, if God so wills, an upright man.'

28:28  Answered [Moses]: “This is agreed between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I fulfil, I trust I shall not be wronged. God is the witness to all we say.'

28:29  When Moses had fulfilled his term, and was travelling with his family, he perceived a fire on the slope of Mount Sinai. So he said to his family: 'Wait here, for I perceive a fire. Perhaps I may bring you from there some information, or a burning brand from the fire so that you may warm yourselves.'

28:30  But when he came close to it, he was addressed from the right-side bank of the valley, out of the tree on the blessed site: 'Moses! Truly, I am God, the Lord of all the worlds.'

28:31  “Throw down your staff!' But when he saw it moving, as if it were a serpent, he turned and fled, with no thought of turning back. [God said]: “Moses! Draw near and have no fear! You are certainly secure.

28:32  “Now place your hand inside your garment, and it will come out [shining] white without blemish. Then draw your arm close to your side to allay your fear. These, then, are two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his nobles. They are indeed wicked people.'

28:33  He said: 'My Lord! I have killed one of them and I fear that they will kill me.

28:34  And my brother, Aaron, is better in speech than I am. So send him with me as a helper, so that he will confirm what I say, for I fear that they will accuse me of lying.'

28:35  Said He: “We shall strengthen your arm with your brother, and will endow both of you with power, so that they will not be able to touch you. By virtue of Our signs shall you two and those who follow you prevail.'

28:36  When Moses came to them with Our clear signs, they said: 'This is nothing but forged sorcery. Never did we hear of the like of this among our forefathers of old.'

28:37  Moses replied: “My Lord knows best who comes with guidance from Him, and to whom the future belongs. Never will the evildoers be successful.'

28:38  “Nobles!' said Pharaoh. 'I know of no deity that you could have other than myself. Well, Hāmān, kindle for me a fire [to bake bricks] of clay, and then build me a lofty tower, so that I may have a look at the god of Moses; even though I am convinced that he is one who tells lies.'

28:39  Thus arrogantly did he and his hosts behave on earth, against all right, thinking that they would never return to Us.

28:40  And so We seized him and his hosts and cast them in the sea. Look what happened in the end to those wrongdoers.

28:41  And We made them leaders who called others to the fire. No help will they ever receive on the Day of Resurrection.

28:42  We caused a curse to follow them in this world, and on Resurrection Day they will be among those who are spurned.

28:43  And so after We had destroyed those earlier generations, We gave Moses the book providing insight for mankind, as a guidance and grace, so that they may reflect.

28:44  You certainly were not present on the western side of the mountain when We issued the Commandments to Moses, nor were you one of those who witnessed [those events].

28:45  But We raised up many generations, and long was their span of life. Nor did you dwell among the people of Madyan, reciting Our revelations to them. Rather, it is We who send messengers.

28:46  Nor indeed were you present on the slopes of Mount Sinai when We called out [to Moses]. Rather, it is an act of your Lord's mercy so that you may warn people to whom no warner has come before you, so that they may perchance reflect.

28:47  [We have sent you] lest they say when a disaster befalls them as an outcome of what their own hands have wrought, “Our Lord! If only You had sent us a messenger, we would have followed Your revelations, and would have been among the believers.'

28:48  Now when the truth has come to them from Us, they say: “Why has he not been given the like of what Moses was given?' But did they not deny the truth of what Moses was formerly given? Indeed they said: “These are two kinds of sorcery, each supporting the other.' And they add: “We reject both of them.'

28:49  Say: “Produce, then, a Book from God which would offer better guidance than these two and I shall follow it, if what you say be true!

28:50  But if they do not respond to you, then know that they are following only their own whims. Who could be more astray than one who follows his own whims without any guidance from God. Certainly God does not guide those who are wrongdoing.

28:51  We have indeed caused this word [of Ours] to reach them so that they may reflect.

28:52  Those to whom We sent the book before this believe in it.

28:53  And when it is recited to them, they say: “We believe in it, for it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed even before this have we submitted ourselves to Him.'

28:54  These are the ones who shall be given their reward twice for having been patient in adversity, having repelled evil with good, and having spent in charity out of what We have provided for them.

28:55  And whenever they hear frivolous talk they turn away from it and say: “To us our deeds and to you yours. Peace be to you! We will have nothing to do with ignorant folk.'

28:56  Indeed, you cannot guide aright everyone whom you love. It is God who guides whom He wills. He knows best those who are guided aright.

28:57  They say: “If we were to follow the guidance along with you, we would be torn away from our land.' Have We not given them a secure sanctuary to which are brought the fruits of all things, as a provision from Us? But most of them have no knowledge.

28:58  How many a community that exulted in its life [of ease and plenty] have We destroyed. The dwellings they left behind were but scarcely inhabited. It is We who are the only heirs.

28:59  Your Lord would never destroy a community without first sending them a messenger who would recite to them Our revelations. Never would We destroy a community unless its people are intent on wrongdoing.

28:60  'Whatever you are given is but for the enjoyment of life in this world and for its embellishment, but that which is with God is much better and more enduring. Will you not use your reason?

28:61  Is the one to whom We have given a goodly promise which he shall certainly see fulfilled comparable to one whom We have given much of the enjoyment of this world but who, on Resurrection Day, will be one of those brought before Us?

28:62  On that day, He will call to them and ask: “Where are those whom you alleged to be My partners?'

28:63  Those against whom the word [of judgement] has come to pass will say: “Our Lord! Those whom we have led astray, we only led them astray as we ourselves had gone astray. We now disown them before You. It was not us that they worshipped.'

28:64  They will be told: “Call on those you alleged to be [God's] partners,' and they will call to them, but the latter will not respond to them. They will then see the suffering [that awaits them]. If only they had been open to guidance!

28:65  On that day, He will call to them and ask: “What answer did you give to My messengers?'

28:66  But to them all information will be blotted out and they will not even ask any questions.

28:67  However, anyone who repents, believes and does righteous deeds may well be among those who are successful.

28:68  Your Lord creates and chooses whatever He pleases. Never can they have such choice. Limitless is God in His glory and exalted is He above all those they associate with Him as partners.

28:69  And your Lord knows all that their hearts conceal and all that they bring out into the open.

28:70  He is God, other than whom there is no deity. To Him all praise is due at the first and at the last; with Him rests all judgement, and to Him you shall all return.

28:71  Say: “Have you considered if God were to make the night perpetual over you, without break, till the Day of Resurrection, is there any deity other than God that could bring you light? Will you not, then, listen?'

28:72  Say: “Have you considered if God were to make the day perpetual over you, without break, till the Day of Resurrection, is there any deity other than God that could bring you a night in which to rest? Will you not, then, see?'

28:73  It is out of His grace that He has made for you the night and the day, so that you might have rest and seek to obtain some of His bounty, and that you may have cause to be grateful.

28:74  On that day, He will call to them and ask: 'Where are those whom you alleged to be My partners?'

28:75  We shall draw from each community a witness, and We shall then say [to the unbelievers]: “Produce your evidence!' They will then come to realize that all truth belongs to God alone, and all the falsehood they invented will forsake them.

28:76  QārÅ«n [or Korah] was one of the people of Moses, but he treated them unjustly. We had granted him such treasures that their very keys would have been too heavy a burden for a band of strong men. His people said to him: 'Do not exult [in your riches]; for God does not love those who are exultant.

28:77  Seek instead, by means of what God has granted you, the good of the life to come, without forgetting your rightful share in this world; and do good just as God has done good to you, and do not seek to spread corruption on earth; for God does not love the ones who spread corruption.'

28:78  Answered he: 'I have been given this wealth only by virtue of the knowledge that I have.' Did he not know that God had destroyed many a generation that preceded him, and who were far more powerful and greater in wealth than he? The guilty are not questioned about their sins.

28:79  And so he went forth before his people in all his pomp. Those who cared only for the life of this world said: 'Oh, would that we had the like of what QārÅ«n has been given! He is certainly a man of great fortune!'

28:80  But those who had been granted true knowledge said: 'Woe to you! God's reward is by far the best for any who believes and does what is right. Yet none can attain this other than those who are patient in adversity.'

28:81  Then We caused the earth to swallow him, together with his dwelling. He had none to give him support against God, nor was he able to protect himself.

28:82  By the morning, those who but yesterday had longed to be in his place were now saying: 'Behold! It is indeed God who gives in abundance, or gives in small measure, to whom He wills of His servants. Had not God been gracious to us, He might have caused the earth to swallow us, too. Behold! The unbelievers will not achieve success.'

28:83  We grant that happy life in the hereafter to those who do not seek to exalt themselves on earth or to spread corruption. The future belongs to the God- fearing.

28:84  Whoever comes [before Him] with a good deed shall have far better than it; but anyone who comes with an evil deed will be requited with nothing more than the like of what they have done.

28:85  He who has made the Qur'ān binding on you will surely bring you back to the place of return. Say: 'My Lord knows best who has come with right guidance, and who is lost in obvious error.'

28:86  You could never hope that this book would be conferred on you. But it came by your Lord's grace. Hence, lend no support to the unbelievers.

28:87  Never let them turn you away from revelations after they have been bestowed upon you from on high; but continue to call people to [believe in] your Lord. And never be one of those who associate partners with God.

28:88  Never call on any deity side by side with God. There is no deity other than Him. Everything is bound to perish except Himself. With Him rests all judgement, and to Him you all shall return.