Indeed, Pharaoh ˹arrogantly˺ elevated himself in the land and divided its people into ˹subservient˺ groups, one of which he persecuted, slaughtering their sons and keeping their women. He was truly one of the corruptors.
We inspired the mother of Moses: “Nurse him, but when you fear for him, put him then into the river, and do not fear or grieve. We will certainly return him to you, and make him one of the messengers.”
And ˹it so happened that˺ Pharaoh’s people picked him up, only to become their enemy and source of grief. Surely Pharaoh, Hamân, and their soldiers were sinful.
28:9
waqālati im'ra-atu fir'ʿawna qurratu ʿaynin lī walaka lā taqtulūhu ʿasā an yanfaʿanā aw nattakhidhahu waladan wahum lā yashʿurūna
Pharaoh’s wife said ˹to him˺, “˹This baby is˺ a source of joy for me and you. Do not kill him. Perhaps he may be useful to us or we may adopt him as a son.” They were unaware ˹of what was to come˺.
28:10
wa-aṣbaḥa fuādu ummi mūsā fārighan in kādat latub'dī bihi lawlā an rabaṭnā ʿalā qalbihā litakūna mina l-mu'minīna
And the heart of Moses’ mother ached so much that she almost gave away his identity, had We not reassured her heart in order for her to have faith ˹in Allah’s promise˺.
And she said to his sister, “Keep track of him!” So she watched him from a distance, while they were unaware.
28:12
waḥarramnā ʿalayhi l-marāḍiʿa min qablu faqālat hal adullukum ʿalā ahli baytin yakfulūnahu lakum wahum lahu nāṣiḥūna
And We had caused him to refuse all wet-nurses at first, so his sister suggested, “Shall I direct you to a family who will bring him up for you and take good care of him?”
28:13
faradadnāhu ilā ummihi kay taqarra ʿaynuhā walā taḥzana walitaʿlama anna waʿda l-lahi ḥaqqun walākinna aktharahum lā yaʿlamūna
This is how We returned him to his mother so that her heart would be put at ease, and not grieve, and that she would know that Allah’s promise is ˹always˺ true. But most people do not know.
And when he reached full strength and maturity, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. This is how We reward the good-doers.
28:15
wadakhala l-madīnata ʿalā ḥīni ghaflatin min ahlihā fawajada fīhā rajulayni yaqtatilāni hādhā min shīʿatihi wahādhā min ʿaduwwihi fa-is'taghāthahu alladhī min shīʿatihi ʿalā alladhī min ʿaduwwihi fawakazahu mūsā faqaḍā ʿalayhi qāla hādhā min ʿamali l-shayṭāni innahu ʿaduwwun muḍillun mubīnun
˹One day˺ he entered the city unnoticed by its people. There he found two men fighting: one of his own people, and the other of his enemies. The man from his people called to him for help against his foe. So Moses punched him, causing his death. Moses cried, “This is from Satan’s handiwork. He is certainly a sworn, misleading enemy.”
And so Moses became fearful, watching out in the city, when suddenly the one who sought his help the day before cried out to him again for help. Moses rebuked him, “Indeed, you are clearly a trouble-maker.”
28:19
falammā an arāda an yabṭisha bi-alladhī huwa ʿaduwwun lahumā qāla yāmūsā aturīdu an taqtulanī kamā qatalta nafsan bil-amsi in turīdu illā an takūna jabbāran fī l-arḍi wamā turīdu an takūna mina l-muṣ'liḥīna
Then when Moses was about to lay his hands on their foe, the enemy said, “O Moses! Do you intend to kill me as you killed a man yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land. You do not intend to make peace!”
28:20
wajāa rajulun min aqṣā l-madīnati yasʿā qāla yāmūsā inna l-mala-a yatamirūna bika liyaqtulūka fa-ukh'ruj innī laka mina l-nāṣiḥīna
And there came a man, rushing from the farthest end of the city. He said, “O Moses! The chiefs are actually conspiring against you to put you to death, so leave ˹the city˺. I really advise you ˹to do so˺.”
28:21
fakharaja min'hā khāifan yataraqqabu qāla rabbi najjinī mina l-qawmi l-ẓālimīna
So Moses left the city in a state of fear and caution, praying, “My Lord! Deliver me from the wrongdoing people.”
When he arrived at the well of Midian, he found a group of people watering ˹their herds˺. Apart from them, he noticed two women holding back ˹their herd˺. He asked ˹them˺, “What is the matter?” They replied, “We cannot water ˹our animals˺ until the ˹other˺ shepherds are done, for our father is a very old man.”
So he watered ˹their herd˺ for them, then withdrew to the shade and prayed, “My Lord! I am truly in ˹desperate˺ need of whatever provision You may have in store for me.”
Then one of the two women came to him, walking bashfully. She said, “My father is inviting you so he may reward you for watering ˹our animals˺ for us.” When Moses came to him and told him his whole story, the old man said, “Have no fear! You are ˹now˺ safe from the wrongdoing people.”
One of the two daughters suggested, “O my dear father! Hire him. A strong, trustworthy person is definitely the best to hire.”
28:27
qāla innī urīdu an unkiḥaka iḥ'dā ib'natayya hātayni ʿalā an tajuranī thamāniya ḥijajin fa-in atmamta ʿashran famin ʿindika wamā urīdu an ashuqqa ʿalayka satajidunī in shāa l-lahu mina l-ṣāliḥīna
The old man proposed, “I wish to marry one of these two daughters of mine to you, provided that you stay in my service for eight years. If you complete ten, it will be ˹a favour˺ from you, but I do not wish to make it difficult for you. Allah willing, you will find me an agreeable man.”
Moses responded, “˹Then˺ it is ˹settled˺ between you and I. Whichever term I fulfill, there will be no ˹further˺ obligation on me. And Allah is a Witness to what we say.”
28:29
falammā qaḍā mūsā l-ajala wasāra bi-ahlihi ānasa min jānibi l-ṭūri nāran qāla li-ahlihi um'kuthū innī ānastu nāran laʿallī ātīkum min'hā bikhabarin aw jadhwatin mina l-nāri laʿallakum taṣṭalūna
When Moses had completed the term and was travelling with his family, he spotted a fire on the side of Mount Ṭûr. He said to his family, “Stay here, ˹for˺ I have spotted a fire. Perhaps from there I can bring you some directions or a torch from the fire so you may warm yourselves.”
28:30
falammā atāhā nūdiya min shāṭi-i l-wādi l-aymani fī l-buq'ʿati l-mubārakati mina l-shajarati an yāmūsā innī anā l-lahu rabbu l-ʿālamīna
But when he came to it, he was called from the bush in the sacred ground to the right side of the valley: “O Moses! It is truly I. I am Allah—the Lord of all worlds.