28. Surah Al-Qasad

, (The Story)

Mecca Period 49

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى أُمِّ مُوسَى أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ...

28: 7. So We sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses:

"Suckle (thy child),

...فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِي وَلَا تَحْزَنِي...

but when thou hast fears about him, cast him into the river, but fear not nor grieve:

C3333. The Egyptian midwives had orders to kill Israelite babies. Moses was saved from them, and his mother nursed the infant at her breast herself.

But when the danger of discovery was imminent, she put him into a chest or basket, and Boated him on the river Nile. It flowed by the King's palace, and the chest with the baby was picked up, as related further on.

The mother had no -cause to fear or grieve afterwards, as the child grew up under her tender care and became afterwards one of the Prophets of Allah.

...إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿٧﴾

for We shall restore him to thee, and We shall make him one of Our Messengers."

فَالْتَقَطَهُ آلُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِيَكُونَ لَهُمْ عَدُوًّا وَحَزَنًا...

28: 8. Then the people of Pharaoh picked him up (from the river):

(it was intended) that (Moses) should be to them an adversary and a cause of sorrow:

C3334. This was the Plan of Providence: that the wicked might cast a net round themselves by fostering the man who was to bring them to naught and be the instrument of their punishment, or

(looking at it from the other side) that Moses might learn all the wisdom of the Egyptians in order to expose all that was hollow and wicked in it.

...إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا كَانُوا خَاطِئِينَ ﴿٨﴾

for Pharaoh and Haman and (all) their hosts were men of sin.

Other versions:

28:7 And so, [when he was born,] We inspired [thus] the mother of Moses: "Suckle him [for a time], and then, when thou hast cause to fear for him. cast him into the river, 8 and have no fear and do not grieve - for We shall restore him to thee, and shall make him one of Our message- bearers!"

28:8 And [some of] Pharaoh's household9 found [and spared] him: for [We had willed] that he become an enemy unto them and [a source of grief, seeing that Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts were sinners indeed!