Al-Qasas

In the name of God,
the Gracious, the Merciful.
1. Ta, Seen, Meem.
2. These are the Verses of the Clear Book.
3. We narrate to you from the history of
Moses and Pharaoh—in truth—for people
who believe.
4. Pharaoh exalted himself in the land, and
divided its people into factions. He persecuted
a group of them, slaughtering their
sons, while sparing their daughters. He
was truly a corrupter.
5. But We desired to favor those who were

oppressed in the land, and to make them
leaders, and to make them the inheritors.
6. And to establish them in the land; and
to show Pharaoh, Hamaan, and their
troops, the very thing they feared.
7. We inspired the mother of Moses:
“Nurse him; then, when you fear for him,
cast him into the river, and do not fear,
nor grieve; We will return him to you, and
make him one of the messengers.”
8. Pharaoh’s household picked him up, to
be an opponent and a sorrow for them.
Pharaoh, Hamaan, and their troops were
sinners.
9. Pharaoh’s wife said, “An eye's delight for
me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps
he will be useful to us, or we may adopt
him as a son.” But they did not foresee.
10. The heart of Moses’ mother became
vacant. She was about to disclose him, had
We not steadied her heart, that she may
remain a believer.
11. She said to his sister, “Trail him.” So
she watched him from afar, and they were
unaware.
12. We forbade him breastfeeding at first.
So she said, “Shall I tell you about a family
that can raise him for you, and will look
after him?”
13. Thus We returned him to his mother,
that she may be comforted, and not grieve,
and know that God’s promise is true. But
most of them do not know.
14. And when he reached his maturity, and
became established, We gave him wisdom
and knowledge. Thus do We reward the
virtuous.
15. Once he entered the city, unnoticed by
its people. He found in it two men
fighting—one of his own sect, and one
from his enemies. The one of his sect solicited
his assistance against the one from
his enemies; so Moses punched him, and
put an end to him. He said, “This is of Satan's
doing; he is an enemy that openly
misleads.”
16. He said, “My Lord, I have wronged myself,
so forgive me.” He forgave him. He is
the Forgiver, the Merciful.
17. He said, “My Lord, in as much as you
have favored me, I will never be a supporter
of the criminals.”
18. The next morning, he went about in the
city, fearful and vigilant, when the man
who had sought his assistance the day before
was shouting out to him. Moses said
to him, “You are clearly a troublemaker.”
19. As he was about to strike the one who
was their enemy, he said, “O Moses, do
you intend to kill me, as you killed someone
yesterday? You only want to be a bully
in the land, and do not want to be a
peacemaker.”
20. A man came from the farthest part of
the city running. He said, “O Moses, the
authorities are considering killing you, so
leave; I am giving you good advice.”
21. So he left, fearful and vigilant. He said,
“My Lord, deliver me from the wrongdoing
people.”
22. As he headed towards Median, he said,
“Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the
right way.”
23. And when he arrived at the waters of
Median, he found there a crowd of people
drawing water, and he noticed two women
waiting on the side. He said, “What is the
matter with you?” They said, “We cannot
draw water until the shepherds depart,
and our father is a very old man.”
24. So he drew water for them, and then
withdrew to the shade, and said, “My
Lord, I am in dire need of whatever good
you might send down to me.”
25. Then, one of the two women approached
him, walking bashfully. She said,
“My father is calling you, to reward you
for drawing water for us.” And when he
came to him, and told him the story, he
said, “Do not fear, you have escaped from
the wrongdoing people.”
26. One of the two women said, “Father,
hire him; the best employee for you is the
strong and trustworthy.”
27. He said, “I want to marry you to one of
these two daughters of mine, provided you
work for me for eight years. But if you
complete ten, that is up to you. I do not
intend to impose any hardship on you.
You will find me, God willing, one of the
righteous.”
28. He said, “Let this be an agreement between
you and me. Whichever of the two
terms I fulfill, there shall be no reprisal
against me; and God is witness over what
we say.”
29. When Moses had completed the term,
and departed with his family, he noticed a
fire by the side of the mount. He said to
his family, “Stay here, I have glimpsed a
fire. Perhaps I can bring you some information
from there, or an ember from the
fire, that you may warm yourselves.”
30. When he reached it, he was called from
the right side of the valley, at the blessed
spot, from the bush: “O Moses, it is I, God,
the Lord of the Worlds.
31. Throw down your staff.” And when he
saw it wiggling, as if it were possessed, he
turned his back to flee, and did not look
back. “O Moses, come forward, and do not
fear, you are perfectly safe.
32. Put your hand inside your pocket, and
it will come out white, without blemish.
And press your arm to your side, against
fear. These are two proofs from your Lord,
to Pharaoh and his dignitaries. They are
truly sinful people.”
33. He said, “My Lord, I have killed one of
them, and I fear they will kill me.
34. And my brother Aaron, he is more eloquent
than me, so send him with me, to
help me, and to confirm my words, for I
fear they will reject me.”
35. He said, “We will strengthen your arm
with your brother, and We will give you
authority, so they will not touch you. By
virtue of Our signs, you and those who
follow you will be the triumphant.”
36. But when Moses came to them with
Our signs, clear and manifest, they said,
“This is nothing but fabricated magic, and
We never heard of this from our ancestors
of old.”
37. Moses said, “My Lord is well aware of
him who brings guidance from Him, and
him who will have the sequel of the abode.
The wrongdoers will not succeed.”
38. Pharaoh said, “O nobles, I know of no
god for you other than me. So fire-up the
bricks for me O Hamaan, and build me a
tower, that I may ascend to the God of
Moses, though I think he is a liar.”
39. He and his troops acted arrogantly in
the land, with no justification. They
thought they would not be returned to Us.
40. So We seized him, and his troops, and
We threw them into the sea. Observe,
therefore, what was the end of the oppressors.
41. And We made them leaders calling to
the Fire. And on Resurrection Day, they
will not be saved.
42. And We pursued them in this world
with a curse. And on Resurrection Day,
they will be among the despised.
43. We gave Moses the Scripture after We
had annihilated the previous generations;
as an illumination for mankind, and guidance,
and mercy, so that they may remember.
44. You were not on the Western Side
when We decreed the command to Moses,
nor were you among the witnesses.
45. But We established many generations,
and time took its toll on them. Nor were
you among the people of Median, reciting
Our revelations to them. But We kept
sending messengers.
46. Nor were you by the side of the Mount
when We proclaimed. Rather, it was a
mercy from your Lord, that you may warn
people who received no warner before
you, so that they may take heed.
47. Otherwise, if a calamity befell them as a
result of what their hands have perpetrated,
they would say, “Our Lord, if only You
had sent us a messenger, we would have
followed Your revelations, and been
among the believers.”
48. But when the truth came to them from
Us, they said, “If only he was given the like
of what was given to Moses.” Did they not
disbelieve in what was given to Moses in
the past? They said, “Two works of magic
backing one another.” And they said, “We
are disbelieving in both.”
49. Say, “Then bring a scripture from God,
more conductive to guidance than both,
and I will follow it, if you are truthful.”
50. But if they fail to respond to you, know
that they follow their fancies. And who is
more lost than him who follows his fancy
without guidance from God? God does
not guide the unjust people.
51. We have delivered the Word to them,
that they may remember.
52. Those to whom We gave the Scripture
before it believe in it.
53. When it is recited to them, they say,
“We have believed in it; it is the truth from
our Lord; we were Muslims prior to it.”
54. These will be given their reward twice,
because they persevered; and they counter
evil with good; and from Our provisions
to them, they give.
55. And when they hear vain talk, they
avoid it, and say, “We have our deeds, and
you have your deeds; peace be upon you;
we do not desire the ignorant.”
56. You cannot guide whom you love, but
God guides whom He wills, and He knows
best those who are guided.
57. And they say, “If we follow the guidance
with you, we will be snatched from
our land.” Did We not establish for them a
Safe Sanctuary, to which are brought all
kinds of fruits, as provision from Ourselves?
But most of them do not know.
58. And how many a city did We destroy
for turning unappreciative of its livelihood?
Here are their homes, uninhabited
after them, except for a few. And We became
the inheritors.
59. Your Lord never destroys cities without
first sending a messenger in their midst,
reciting to them Our revelations. And We
never destroy the cities, unless their people
are wrongdoers.
60. Whatever thing you are given is but the
material of this world, and its glitter. But
what is with God is better, and longer lasting.
Do you not comprehend?
61. Can someone to whom We have made
a fine promise—which he will attain—be
equal to someone to whom We have given
enjoyments in this world, but who will be,
on Resurrection Day, among the arraigned?
62. On the Day when He will call to them,
and say, “Where are My associates whom
you used to claim?”
63. Those against whom the sentence is
justified will say, “Our Lord, these are they
whom we misled. We misled them, as we
were misled. We beg Your forgiveness; it
was not us they used to worship.”
64. And it will be said, “Call on your partners.”
And they will call on them, but they
will not respond to them. And they will
see the suffering. If only they were guided.
65. On the Day when He will call to them,
and say, “What did you answer the Messengers?”
66. They will be blinded by the facts on that
Day, and they will not question each other.
67. But he who repents, and believes, and
does righteous deeds, may well be among
the winners.
68. Your Lord creates whatever He wills,
and He chooses. The choice is not theirs.
Glory be to God, and exalted be He above
the associations they make.
69. And your Lord knows what their hearts
conceal, and what they reveal.
70. And He is God. There is no god but He.
To Him belongs all praise in this life, and
in the next. And His is the decision, and to
Him you will be returned.
71. Say, “Have you considered? Had God
made the night perpetual over you until
the Day of Resurrection, which god other
than God will bring you illumination? Do
you not hear?”
72. Say, “Have you considered? Had God
made the day perpetual over you until the
Day of Resurrection, which god other than
God will bring you night to rest in? Do
you not see?”
73. It is out of His mercy that He made for
you the night and the day, that you may
rest in it, and seek some of His bounty;
and that you may give thanks.
74. On the Day when He will call to them,
and say, “Where are My associates which
you used to claim?”
75. And We will draw out from every
community a witness, and say, “Produce
your evidence.” Then they will realize that
the truth is God’s, and those they used to
invent have forsaken them.
76. Quaroon belonged to the clan of Moses,
but he oppressed them. We had given
him treasures, the keys of which would
weigh down a group of strong men. His
people said to him, “Do not exult; God
does not love the exultant.
77. But seek, with what God has given you,
the Home of the Hereafter, and do not
neglect your share of this world. And be
charitable, as God has been charitable to
you. And do not seek corruption in the
land. God does not like the seekers of corruption.”
78. He said, “I was given all this on account
of knowledge I possess.” Did he not know
that God destroyed many generations before
him, who were stronger than he, and
possessed greater riches? But the guilty
will not be asked about their sins.
79. And he went out before his people in
his splendor. Those who desired the
worldly life said, “If only we possessed the
likes of what Quaroon was given. He is
indeed very fortunate.”
80. But those who were given knowledge
said, “Woe to you! The reward of God is
better for those who believe and do righteous
deeds.” Yet none attains it except the
steadfast.
81. So We caused the earth to cave in on
him and his mansion. He had no company
to save him from God, and he could not
defend himself.
82. Those who had wished they were in his
position the day before were saying, “Indeed,
it is God who spreads the bounty to
whomever He wills of His servants, and
restricts it. Had God not been gracious to
us, He would have caved in on us. No
wonder the ungrateful never prosper.”
83. That Home of the Hereafter—We assign
it for those who seek no superiority
on earth, nor corruption. And the outcome
is for the cautious.
84. Whoever brings a virtue will receive
better than it. But whoever brings evil—
the evildoers will be rewarded only according
to what they used to do.
85. He Who ordained the Quran for you
will return you Home. Say, “My Lord
knows best who comes with guidance, and
who is in manifest error.”
86. You did not expect the Book to be
transmitted to you, except as mercy from
your Lord. Therefore, do not be a supporter
of the disbelievers.
87. And do not let them divert you from
God’s revelations after they have been revealed
to you. And pray to your Lord, and
never be of the polytheists.
88. And do not invoke with God any other
god. There is no god but He. All things
perish, except His presence. His is the
judgment, and to Him you will be returned.