God spoke to Moses

28, Sura al-Qasas, Mecca 49

The Quranic text and Ali’s version

فَلَمَّا قَضَى مُوسَىالْأَجَلَ وَسَارَ بِأَهْلِهِ آنَسَ مِن جَانِبِ الطُّورِ نَارًا...

28:29. Now when Moses had fulfilled the term, and was travelling with his family, he perceived a fire in the direction of Mount Tur.

C3359. The episode in the desert, full of human interest, now closes, and we come to the threshold of the sacred Call to the divine ministry of Moses. Here we may compare this passage with that in 27:7-14 and previous passages.

In this passage we are told, after reference to Moses' preparation for his high destiny, of the particular sin of Arrogance and Sacrilege of which Pharaoh was guilty (28:38-39), how it was punished, and with what instruments in the hands of Moses and Pharaoh.

The notes on the earlier passage should be read, as explanations already given need not now be repeated. (R).

...قَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ امْكُثُوا إِنِّي آنَسْتُ نَارًا...

He said to his family:

"Tarry ye; I perceive a fire;

...لَّعَلِّي آتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ جَذْوَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ ﴿٢٩﴾

I hope to bring you from there some information, or a burning firebrand, that ye may warm yourselves."

C3360. Note how the transition is effected from the happy life of Moses to the new prophetic mission.

فَلَمَّا أَتَاهَا نُودِي مِن شَاطِئِ الْوَادِي الْأَيْمَنِ...

28: 30. But when he came to the (Fire), a voice was heard from the right bank of the valley,

...فِي الْبُقْعَةِ الْمُبَارَكَةِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ أَن يَا مُوسَى...

from a tree in hallowed ground:

"O Moses!

C3361. We are to suppose the appearance of a bush burning but not consumed (Exod. 3:2), a device adopted by the Scottish Church in its armorial bearings. Scotland apparently took that emblem and motto (Nec tamen consumebatur, 'nevertheless it was not consumed') from the Synod of the Reformed Church of France, which had adopted it in 1583. (I am indebted for this information to the Rev. D.Y. Robertson, Chaplain of the Church of Scotland in Simla, India).

The real explanation of the Burning Bush will be found in 27:8, n. 3245: it was not a fire, but a reflection of the Glory of God.

...إِنِّي أَنَا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٣٠﴾

verily I am God, the Lord of the Worlds...

وَأَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ...

28: 31. "Now do thou throw thy rod!"

...فَلَمَّا رَآهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ وَلَّى مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ... ...

But when he saw it moving (of its own accord) as if it had been a snake, He turned back in retreat and retraced not his steps:

...يَا مُوسَى أَقْبِلْ وَلَا تَخَفْ... ...

"O Moses!" (it was said), "draw near, and fear not:

...إِنَّكَ مِنَ الْآمِنِينَ ﴿٣١﴾

for thou art of those who are secure.

C3362. The verbal meaning is: 'you have nothing to fear from what appears to be a snake: it is a snake, not for you, but for Pharaoh.'

But there is a deeper meaning besides.

Moses had now been called to a higher prophetic mission. He had to meet the hatred of the Egyptians and circumvent their trickery and magic. He had now the security of Faith: in all dangers and difficulties Allah would guide and protect him, for he was actually in Allah's service, one of the Elect.

اسْلُكْ يَدَكَ فِي جَيْبِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَاء مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ...

28: 32. "Move thy hand into thy bosom, and it will come forth white without stain (or harm),

...وَاضْمُمْ إِلَيْكَ جَنَاحَكَ مِنَ الرَّهْبِ...

and draw thy hand close to thy side (to guard) against fear.

C3363. Literally, "draw thy wing close to thy side, (away) from fear".

When a bird is frightened, it ruffles its wings and prepares to fly away, but when it is calm and composed, it sits with its wings drawn close to its sides, showing a mind secure from danger.

Cf. also n. 2550 to 20:22.

...فَذَانِكَ بُرْهَانَانِ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ...

Those are the two credentials from thy Lord to Pharaoh and his Chiefs:

...إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ ﴿٣٢﴾

for truly they are a people rebellious and wicked."

قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي قَتَلْتُ مِنْهُمْ نَفْسًا فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقْتُلُونِ ﴿٣٣﴾

28: 33. He said:

"O my Lord! I have slain a man among them, and I fear lest they slay me.

C3364. It is not that Moses is not reassured from all fear on account of the apparent snake which his rod had become, or from the sacred and unfamiliar surroundings in which he found himself.

On this point his heart has been completely assured. But he is still new to his mission, and the future is obscure to his mind. Pharaoh was after him, to take his life, and apparently with good cause, because one of Pharaoh's men had been slain at his hands. And now he is commanded to go to Pharaoh and rebuke him and his Chiefs.

The inner doubts and difficulties of his human mind he frankly lays before his Lord, and asks for a little human and visible support, which is granted him at once, viz.; the help of his brother Aaron.

وَأَخِي هَارُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّي لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِيَ رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِي...

28: 34. "And my brother Aaron -- he is more eloquent in speech than I:

so send him with me as a helper, to confirm (and strengthen) me;

...إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ ﴿٣٤﴾

for I fear that they may accuse me of falsehood."

قَالَ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجْعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلْطَانًا فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيْكُمَا...

28: 35. He said:

"We will certainly strengthen thy arm through thy brother, and invest you both with authority, so they shall not be able to touch you:

C3365. To touch you: to approach you anywhere near, in the wonders and Signs that you will show them under the divine authority with which you are invested.

...بِآيَاتِنَا أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكُمَا الْغَالِبُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾

with Our Signs shall ye triumph -- you two as well as those who follow you."

C3366. The potency of Allah's Light is such that its divine rays reach the humblest of those who seek after Him.

The Prophets can certainly work wonders, but their sincere followers in Faith can do so also in their own spheres. Wonders may appeal to people, but they are not the highest signs of Allah's workings, and they are around us every day in our lives.

فَلَمَّا جَاءهُم مُّوسَى بِآيَاتِنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالُوا مَا هَذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّفْتَرًى...

28: 36. When Moses came to them with Our Clear Signs, they said:

"This is nothing but sorcery faked up:

C3367. This is what Moses was thinking of when he had said: "They may accuse me of falsehood".

To accuse the purest Truth of lying is a favourite trick of those whose chief stock-in-trade is deception and sorcery and catching the attention of the vulgar by arts adapted to their ignorant minds!

...وَمَا سَمِعْنَا بِهَذَا فِي آبَائِنَا الْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿٣٦﴾

never did we hear the like among our fathers of old!"

C3368. 'As to this higher talk of the worship of the One true God, why, our ancestors have worshipped power and patronage, as concentrated in Pharaoh, from the most ancient times!'

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

28:37 [Ali] 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.

Asad’s version

28:29 AND WHEN Moses had fulfilled his term, and was wandering with his family [in the desert], he perceived a fire on the slope of Mount Sinai: 25 [and so] he said to his family: "Wait here. Behold, I perceive a fire [far away]; perhaps I may bring you from there some tiding, 24 or [at least] a burning brand from the fire, so that you might warm yourselves."

28:30 But when he came close to it, a call was sounded from the right-side bank of the valley, out of the tree [burning] on blessed ground: 25 "O Moses! Verily, I am God, the Sustainer of all the worlds!"

28:29 AND WHEN Moses had fulfilled his term, and was wandering with his family [in the desert], he perceived a fire on the slope of Mount Sinai: 23 [and so] he said to his family: "Wait here. Behold, I perceive a fire [far away]; perhaps I may bring you from there some tiding, 24 or [at least] a burning brand from the fire, so that you might warm yourselves."

28:30 But when he came close to it, a call was sounded from the right-side bank of the valley, out of the tree [burning] on blessed ground: 25 "O Moses! Verily, I am God, the Sustainer of all the worlds!"

28:31 And [then He said]: "Throw down thy staff!" But as soon as [Moses] saw it move rapidly, as if it were a snake, he drew back [in terror], and did not [dare to] return. 28 [And God spoke to him again:] "O Moses! Draw near, and have no fear for, behold, thou art of those who are secure [in this world and in the next]! 27

28:32 "[And now] put thy hand into thy bosom: it will come forth [shining] white, without blemish. 28 And [henceforth] hold thine arm close to thyself, free of all fear. 2 ' "These, then, shall be the two signs [of thy bearing a message] from thy Sustainer 30 unto Pharaoh and his great ones - for, behold, they are people depraved! "

28:33 Said [Moses]: "O my Sustainer! I have slain one of them, and so I fear that they will slay me..." (28:34) And my brother Aaron - he is far better in speech than I am. 32 Send him, therefore, as a helper, so that he might [more eloquently] bear witness to my speaking the truth: for I fear indeed that they will give me the lie."

28:35 Said He: "We shall strengthen thine arm through thy brother, and endow both of you with power, so that they will not be able to touch you: 33 by virtue of Our messages shall you two, and all who follow you, prevail!"

28:36 BUT AS SOON as Moses came unto them with Our clear messages [Pharaoh and his great ones] said: "All this is nothing but spellbinding eloquence devised [by man]: 34 and never did we hear [the like of] this, [nor has it ever been heard of] in the time of our forebears of old!"

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[[ Asad’s notes -

20 The inhabitants of Madyan (called Midian in the Bible) were Arabs of the Amorite group. Since they were racially and linguistically closely related to the Hebrews, they could be counted upon to help Moses in his plight. For the geographical location of the region of Madyan, see surah 7, note 67.

21 Lit., "water" or "waters". ]]

22 Lit., "one of the righteous".

23 For an explanation of Moses' wanderings in the desert, see note 7 on 20:10; for that of the allegory of the "fire", note 7 on 27:7-8. - Throughout this work, the noun at-tur ("the mountain") is being rendered as "Mount Sinai", for it is to this and to no other mountain that the Qur'an invariably refers in the above term.

24 Sc., "as to which way we are to pursue".

25 As in 1 9:52 and 20:80, the reference to the "right" side has a connotation of "blessedness" : see in this respect note 25 on 74:39. As regards the "blessed ground", see note 9 on the expression "twice-hallowed valley" in 20:12. The "tree" referred to in the above verse is obviously identical with the "burning bush" of the Bible (Exodus iii, 2).

26 The miracle of the staff has, possibly, a symbolic significance: see surah 20, note 14.

27 Cf. 27:10 - "no fear need the message-bearers have in My Presence".

28 See note 85 on 7:108.

29 As pointed out by Zamakhshari, the above idiomatic sentence is a metonym recalling a 'well- known gesture of terror - the involuntary stretching-forth of one's hands or arms when suddenly faced with something terrifying; conversely, the "holding of one's arm [lit., "wing"] close to oneself" is expressive of freedom from fear. In the present instance, the phrase echoes the concluding words of verse 3 1 - "behold, thou art of those who are secure [in this world and in the next] " .

30 The "two signs" (burhanan) may be understood as Moses' ability to remain, by virtue of his certainty of God's omnipresence, forever free of all physical or moral fear, as well as his ability to show that appearance and reality are not always identical.

31 Sc, "and thus make it impossible for me to accomplish my mission": for, as regards himself, Moses was henceforth free of fear.

32 Cf. 20:27-28 and 26:12-13, as well as the corresponding notes.

33 Lit., "so that they will not reach you".

34 See note 12 on 74:24, which is the earliest Qur'anic instance of the term sihr in the above connotation.

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!"