28. Surah Al-Qasas

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَقَالَ مُوسَى رَبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِمَن جَاء بِالْهُدَى مِنْ عِندِهِ...

28: 37. Moses said:

"My Lord knows best who it is that comes with guidance from Him

...وَمَن تَكُونُ لَهُ عَاقِبَةُ الدَّارِ...

and whose End will be best in the Hereafter:

...إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾

certain it is that the wrongdoers will not prosper."

C3369. Cf. 6:135.

The only argument in such a case is an appeal to Allah, and to the ultimate Future. Both of these appeals require Faith. But even if you do not rely on anything so high, you can see that Falsehood or evils crystallised in ancestral customs are not going to do any one any good.

وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرِي...

28: 38. Pharaoh said:

"O Chiefs! no god do I know for you but myself:

C3370. Pharaoh claimed, himself, to be God,-not only one god among many, but the only god: "I am your Lord Most High": 79:24.

At any rate he did not see why his people should worship any one but him.

...فَأَوْقِدْ لِي يَا هَامَانُ عَلَى الطِّينِ فَاجْعَل لِّي صَرْحًا...

therefore, o Haman! light me a (kiln to bake bricks) out of clay, and build me a lofty palace,

C3371. I understand his speech to his minister Haman to be sarcastic. But some Commentators have taken it very seriously and imagined that he actually thought of reaching the heavens by budding lofty towers.

...لَّعَلِّي أَطَّلِعُ إِلَى إِلَهِ مُوسَى...

that I may mount up to the god of Moses:

...وَإِنِّي لَأَظُنُّهُ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ﴿٣٨﴾

but as far as I am concerned, I think (Moses) is a liar!"

وَاسْتَكْبَرَ هُوَ وَجُنُودُهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ...

28: 39. And he was arrogant and insolent in the land, beyond reason -- he and his hosts:

...وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا يُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾

they thought that they would not have to return to Us!

C3372. They did not believe in the Hereafter. They did not understand that every deed must have its inevitable consequence, good, or evil, unless the Grace of Allah intervenes to save us from ourselves!

Asad’s Version:

28:37 And Moses replied: "My Sustainer knows best as to who comes with guidance from Him, and to whom the future belongs! 35 Verily, never will evildoers attain to a happy state!"

(28:38) Whereupon Pharaoh said: "O you nobles! I did not know that you could have any deity other than myself! 38 Well, then, O Haman, kindle me a fire for [baking bricks of] clay, and then build me a lofty tower, that haply I may have a look at the god of Moses 37 - although, behold, I am convinced that he is of those who [always] tell lies!"

28:39 Thus arrogantly, without the least good sense, 38 did he and his hosts behave on earth - just as if they thought that they would never have to appear before Us [for judgment]! 3 '

35 For an explanation of the above phrase, see surah 6, note 118.