28: The Narrative (Al-Qasas)
Revealed at Makkah
This chapter is chiefly a narrative of the story of Moses. After relating events of the life of Moses it announces that a prophet like him had now appeared with true revelation like the revelation of Moses, and its opponents will be humbled. In the end it says that their great wealth will not make them successful and prophesies that the Holy Prophet will return to Makkah in triumph. This chapter belongs to the middle period at Makkah, although v. 85 would appear to have been revealed when the Holy Prophet was fleeing from Makkah to Madinah.
Section 1 (Verses 28:1–28:13): History of Moses — Infancy
28:3
نَتۡلُوۡا عَلَیۡکَ مِنۡ نَّبَاِ مُوۡسٰی وَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ بِالۡحَقِّ لِقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
We recite to you the story of Moses and Pharaoh with truth, for a people who believe.
28:4
اِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ جَعَلَ اَہۡلَہَا شِیَعًا یَّسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآئِفَۃً مِّنۡہُمۡ یُذَبِّحُ اَبۡنَآءَہُمۡ وَ یَسۡتَحۡیٖ نِسَآءَہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ مِنَ الۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿۴﴾
Surely Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into parties, weakening one party from among them; he slaughtered their sons and let their women live. Surely he was one of the mischief-makers.
The two parties were the Israelites and the Egyptians, the latter being made the taskmasters of the former. This refers no doubt to the persecutions of the Muslims. The Quraish, the stronger party, wanted to crush the weaker party of the Muslims.
28:5
وَ نُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ نَّمُنَّ عَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتُضۡعِفُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ نَجۡعَلَہُمۡ اَئِمَّۃً وَّ نَجۡعَلَہُمُ الۡوٰرِثِیۡنَ ۙ﴿۵﴾
And We desired to bestow a favour upon those who were considered weak in the land, and to make them the leaders, and to make them the heirs,
By making them heirs is not meant that they would be made heirs to Pharaoh’s possession, but heirs to a kingdom in the promised land of Canaan. And this refers also to the establishment of the kingdom of Islam and the defeat of its persecutors.
28:6
وَ نُمَکِّنَ لَہُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ نُرِیَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ ہَامٰنَ وَ جُنُوۡدَہُمَا مِنۡہُمۡ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَحۡذَرُوۡنَ ﴿۶﴾
and to grant them power in the land, and to make Pharaoh and Hāmān and their forces see from them what they feared.
Hāmān seems to have been a minister of Pharaoh. He is spoken of again in v. 8 and 38, and also in 29:39 and 40:24, 36. Pharaoh and his counsellors feared that the Israelites, who were aliens in the land of Egypt, might one day become powerful and supreme in the land. Hence they oppressed and persecuted them in various ways. Yet the Divine intention was to bring about what Pharaoh feared. Such also was the Divine intention with regard to the persecuted Muslims.
28:7
وَ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلٰۤی اُمِّ مُوۡسٰۤی اَنۡ اَرۡضِعِیۡہِ ۚ فَاِذَا خِفۡتِ عَلَیۡہِ فَاَلۡقِیۡہِ فِی الۡیَمِّ وَ لَا تَخَافِیۡ وَ لَا تَحۡزَنِیۡ ۚ اِنَّا رَآدُّوۡہُ اِلَیۡکِ وَ جَاعِلُوۡہُ مِنَ الۡمُرۡسَلِیۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
And We revealed to Moses’ mother, saying: Suckle him; then when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear, nor grieve; surely We shall bring him back to you and make him a messenger (of Ours).
28:8
فَالۡتَقَطَہٗۤ اٰلُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لِیَکُوۡنَ لَہُمۡ عَدُوًّا وَّ حَزَنًا ؕ اِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ ہَامٰنَ وَ جُنُوۡدَہُمَا کَانُوۡا خٰطِئِیۡنَ ﴿۸﴾
So Pharaoh’s people took him up — he would be an enemy and a grief for them. Surely Pharaoh and Hāmān and their forces were wrongdoers.
28:9
وَ قَالَتِ امۡرَاَتُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قُرَّتُ عَیۡنٍ لِّیۡ وَ لَکَ ؕ لَا تَقۡتُلُوۡہُ ٭ۖ عَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّنۡفَعَنَاۤ اَوۡ نَتَّخِذَہٗ وَلَدًا وَّ ہُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۹﴾
And Pharaoh’s wife said: A joy of the eyes to me and to you — do not kill him; maybe he will be useful to us, or we may take him for a son. And they did not perceive.
28:10
وَ اَصۡبَحَ فُؤَادُ اُمِّ مُوۡسٰی فٰرِغًا ؕ اِنۡ کَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِیۡ بِہٖ لَوۡ لَاۤ اَنۡ رَّبَطۡنَا عَلٰی قَلۡبِہَا لِتَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰﴾
And the heart of Moses’ mother was free (from anxiety). She would almost have disclosed it, if We had not strengthened her heart, that she might be one of the believers.
Her heart became free from anxiety on account of the assurance which she had received through Divine revelation; the words that follow show that her heart had been strengthened with patience, so it cannot be said to have become devoid, or free, of patience.
28:11
وَ قَالَتۡ لِاُخۡتِہٖ قُصِّیۡہِ ۫ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِہٖ عَنۡ جُنُبٍ وَّ ہُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۱﴾
And she said to his sister: Follow him up. So she watched him from a distance, while they did not perceive.
28:12
وَ حَرَّمۡنَا عَلَیۡہِ الۡمَرَاضِعَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ فَقَالَتۡ ہَلۡ اَدُلُّکُمۡ عَلٰۤی اَہۡلِ بَیۡتٍ یَّکۡفُلُوۡنَہٗ لَکُمۡ وَ ہُمۡ لَہٗ نٰصِحُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲﴾
And We did not allow him to be suckled before, so she said: Shall I point out to you the people of a house who will bring him up for you, and they will wish him well?
28:13
فَرَدَدۡنٰہُ اِلٰۤی اُمِّہٖ کَیۡ تَقَرَّ عَیۡنُہَا وَ لَا تَحۡزَنَ وَ لِتَعۡلَمَ اَنَّ وَعۡدَ اللّٰہِ حَقٌّ وَّ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَہُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۱۳﴾
So We gave him back to his mother that she might be comforted, and not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them do not know.
The reference is clearly to the opponents of the Holy Prophet, who did not know that the promise of Allah, as given to the faithful, would prove true.
Section 2 (Verses 28:14–28:21): History of Moses — Flees Egypt
28:14
وَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ اَشُدَّہٗ وَ اسۡتَوٰۤی اٰتَیۡنٰہُ حُکۡمًا وَّ عِلۡمًا ؕ وَ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
And when he attained his maturity and became full-grown, We granted him wisdom and knowledge. And thus do We reward those who do good (to others).
28:15
وَ دَخَلَ الۡمَدِیۡنَۃَ عَلٰی حِیۡنِ غَفۡلَۃٍ مِّنۡ اَہۡلِہَا فَوَجَدَ فِیۡہَا رَجُلَیۡنِ یَقۡتَتِلٰنِ ٭۫ ہٰذَا مِنۡ شِیۡعَتِہٖ وَ ہٰذَا مِنۡ عَدُوِّہٖ ۚ فَاسۡتَغَاثَہُ الَّذِیۡ مِنۡ شِیۡعَتِہٖ عَلَی الَّذِیۡ مِنۡ عَدُوِّہٖ ۙ فَوَکَزَہٗ مُوۡسٰی فَقَضٰی عَلَیۡہِ ٭۫ قَالَ ہٰذَا مِنۡ عَمَلِ الشَّیۡطٰنِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ عَدُوٌّ مُّضِلٌّ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۱۵﴾
And he went into the city at a time of carelessness on the part of its people, so he found in it two men fighting — one being of his community and the other of his enemies; and he who was of his community cried out to him for help against him who was of his enemies, so Moses struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: This is on account of the devil’s doing; surely he is an enemy, openly leading astray.
The word “this”, in Moses’ statement, refers to the punishment which he had given to the Egyptian, the meaning being that it was on account of his devilish deed that the Egyptian had been so punished. The Rabbinical explanation of Exodus 2:12 is that the Egyptian merited death “because he had forced an Israelitish woman to commit adultery with him” (Jewish Encyclopedia, vol. ix, p. 48). The Quran does not name the offence, but there is no doubt that it calls his offence a devilish deed. V. 17 shows clearly that Moses did not consider himself as one who had done an unjust deed or helped a guilty person. See also 26:14.
28:16
قَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِیۡ فَاغۡفِرۡ لِیۡ فَغَفَرَ لَہٗ ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ الۡغَفُوۡرُ الرَّحِیۡمُ ﴿۱۶﴾
He said: My Lord, surely I have done harm to myself, so protect me; so He protected him. Surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Moses’ prayer is not evidence of his being guilty, for the word ẓulm used here indicates making to suffer harm, loss, detriment or failure, and this is the meaning of ẓulm adopted in 7:160 and 18:33. The meaning here is that he had risked his own life in giving help to another.
28:17
قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَاۤ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَیَّ فَلَنۡ اَکُوۡنَ ظَہِیۡرًا لِّلۡمُجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
He said: My Lord, because You have bestowed a favour on me, I shall never be a backer of the guilty.
28:18
فَاَصۡبَحَ فِی الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ خَآئِفًا یَّتَرَقَّبُ فَاِذَا الَّذِی اسۡتَنۡصَرَہٗ بِالۡاَمۡسِ یَسۡتَصۡرِخُہٗ ؕ قَالَ لَہٗ مُوۡسٰۤی اِنَّکَ لَغَوِیٌّ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۱۸﴾
And (the next day) he was in the city, fearing, awaiting, when suddenly, he who had asked his assistance the day before was crying out to him for help. Moses said to him: You are surely clearly doing wrong.
Moses helped the man on the first occasion because he was oppressed, but now this very man was oppressing another. Therefore he refused to help him.
28:19
فَلَمَّاۤ اَنۡ اَرَادَ اَنۡ یَّبۡطِشَ بِالَّذِیۡ ہُوَ عَدُوٌّ لَّہُمَا ۙ قَالَ یٰمُوۡسٰۤی اَتُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ تَقۡتُلَنِیۡ کَمَا قَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسًۢا بِالۡاَمۡسِ ٭ۖ اِنۡ تُرِیۡدُ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ تَکُوۡنَ جَبَّارًا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا تُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ تَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُصۡلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹﴾
So when he desired to seize him who was an enemy to them both, he said: Moses, do you intend to kill me as you killed a person yesterday? You only desire to be a tyrant in the land, and you do not intend to be of those who act aright.
28:20
وَ جَآءَ رَجُلٌ مِّنۡ اَقۡصَا الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ یَسۡعٰی ۫ قَالَ یٰمُوۡسٰۤی اِنَّ الۡمَلَاَ یَاۡتَمِرُوۡنَ بِکَ لِیَقۡتُلُوۡکَ فَاخۡرُجۡ اِنِّیۡ لَکَ مِنَ النّٰصِحِیۡنَ ﴿۲۰﴾
And a man came running from the remotest part of the city. He said: Moses, the chiefs are consulting together to kill you, so depart (at once); surely I am one of your well-wishers.
28:21
فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآئِفًا یَّتَرَقَّبُ ۫ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِیۡ مِنَ الۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۲۱﴾
So he went forth from it, fearing, awaiting. He said: My Lord, deliver me from the unjust people.
Section 3 (Verses 28:22–28:28): History of Moses — In Midian
28:22
وَ لَمَّا تَوَجَّہَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡیَنَ قَالَ عَسٰی رَبِّیۡۤ اَنۡ یَّہۡدِیَنِیۡ سَوَآءَ السَّبِیۡلِ ﴿۲۲﴾
And when he turned his face towards Midian, he said: Maybe my Lord will guide me in the right path.
28:23
وَ لَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡیَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَیۡہِ اُمَّۃً مِّنَ النَّاسِ یَسۡقُوۡنَ ۬۫ وَ وَجَدَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِہِمُ امۡرَاَتَیۡنِ تَذُوۡدٰنِ ۚ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُکُمَا ؕ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِیۡ حَتّٰی یُصۡدِرَ الرِّعَآءُ ٜ وَ اَبُوۡنَا شَیۡخٌ کَبِیۡرٌ ﴿۲۳﴾
And when he came to the water of Midian, he found there a group of men watering, and he found besides them two women keeping back (their flocks). He said: What is the matter with you two? They said: We cannot water until the shepherds take away (their sheep) from the water; and our father is a very old man.
28:24
فَسَقٰی لَہُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلّٰۤی اِلَی الظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ لِمَاۤ اَنۡزَلۡتَ اِلَیَّ مِنۡ خَیۡرٍ فَقِیۡرٌ ﴿۲۴﴾
So he watered (their sheep) for them, then went back to the shade, and said: My Lord, I stand in need of whatever good You may send to me.
28:25
فَجَآءَتۡہُ اِحۡدٰىہُمَا تَمۡشِیۡ عَلَی اسۡتِحۡیَآءٍ ۫ قَالَتۡ اِنَّ اَبِیۡ یَدۡعُوۡکَ لِیَجۡزِیَکَ اَجۡرَ مَا سَقَیۡتَ لَنَا ؕ فَلَمَّا جَآءَہٗ وَ قَصَّ عَلَیۡہِ الۡقَصَصَ ۙ قَالَ لَا تَخَفۡ ٝ۟ نَجَوۡتَ مِنَ الۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۲۵﴾
Then one of the two women came to him walking bashfully. She said: My father invites you that he may reward you for having watered for us. So when he came to him and related to him the story, he said: Do not fear, you are secure from the unjust people.
The commentators say this man was Shuaib, and Shuaib is mentioned by the name of Jethro in the Bible.
28:26
قَالَتۡ اِحۡدٰىہُمَا یٰۤاَبَتِ اسۡتَاۡجِرۡہُ ۫ اِنَّ خَیۡرَ مَنِ اسۡتَاۡجَرۡتَ الۡقَوِیُّ الۡاَمِیۡنُ ﴿۲۶﴾
One of them said: Father, employ him; surely the best one you can employ is the strong, the faithful one.
28:27
قَالَ اِنِّیۡۤ اُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ اُنۡکِحَکَ اِحۡدَی ابۡنَتَیَّ ہٰتَیۡنِ عَلٰۤی اَنۡ تَاۡجُرَنِیۡ ثَمٰنِیَ حِجَجٍ ۚ فَاِنۡ اَتۡمَمۡتَ عَشۡرًا فَمِنۡ عِنۡدِکَ ۚ وَ مَاۤ اُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ اَشُقَّ عَلَیۡکَ ؕ سَتَجِدُنِیۡۤ اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
He said: I desire to marry one of these two daughters of mine to you on condition that you serve me for eight years; but, if you complete ten, it will be of your own free will, and I do not wish to be hard on you. If Allah please, you will find me (to be) one of the righteous.
In Moses’ stay at Midian for ten years, there is a prophetical reference to the ten years of the Prophet’s life at Madinah. The mention of eight years has another underlying significance, for it was after eight years that the Prophet came back to Makkah as a conqueror, a clear reference to which is contained further on in v. 85: He Who has made the Quran binding on you will surely bring you back to the Place of Return. This occurred exactly eight years after his Flight. That such is the real significance of relating this narrative is made clear in v. 45, where the Prophet is thus addressed: And you were not dwelling among the people of Midian, reciting to them Our messages. It is, as it were, to say that it was Moses who lived among the people of Midian, but his episode really conveys the news of what will happen to you. It may be added here that Moses was paid his wages, and the condition of his staying in Midian for eight or ten years was as much in his own interest as in the interest of Jethro, for as the Bible narrative shows, Pharaoh had died by the time that Moses’ stay in Midian had come to an end.
28:28
قَالَ ذٰلِکَ بَیۡنِیۡ وَ بَیۡنَکَ ؕ اَیَّمَا الۡاَجَلَیۡنِ قَضَیۡتُ فَلَا عُدۡوَانَ عَلَیَّ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی مَا نَقُوۡلُ وَکِیۡلٌ ﴿٪۲۸﴾
He said: That is (agreed) between me and you; whichever of the two terms I fulfil, there will be no injustice to me; and Allah is surety over what we say.
Section 4 (Verses 28:29–28:42): History of Moses — Prophethood and Mission
28:29
فَلَمَّا قَضٰی مُوۡسَی الۡاَجَلَ وَ سَارَ بِاَہۡلِہٖۤ اٰنَسَ مِنۡ جَانِبِ الطُّوۡرِ نَارًا ۚ قَالَ لِاَہۡلِہِ امۡکُثُوۡۤا اِنِّیۡۤ اٰنَسۡتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّیۡۤ اٰتِیۡکُمۡ مِّنۡہَا بِخَبَرٍ اَوۡ جَذۡوَۃٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَصۡطَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
Then when Moses had completed the term, and was travelling with his family, he perceived a fire on the side of the mountain. He said to his family: Wait, I see a fire; maybe I will bring you from it some news or a brand of fire, so that you may warm yourselves.
28:30
فَلَمَّاۤ اَتٰىہَا نُوۡدِیَ مِنۡ شَاطِیَٔ الۡوَادِ الۡاَیۡمَنِ فِی الۡبُقۡعَۃِ الۡمُبٰرَکَۃِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَۃِ اَنۡ یّٰمُوۡسٰۤی اِنِّیۡۤ اَنَا اللّٰہُ رَبُّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۰﴾
And when he came to it, he was called from the right side of the valley in the blessed spot of the bush: O Moses, surely I am Allah, the Lord of the worlds:
28:31
وَ اَنۡ اَلۡقِ عَصَاکَ ؕ فَلَمَّا رَاٰہَا تَہۡتَزُّ کَاَنَّہَا جَآنٌّ وَّلّٰی مُدۡبِرًا وَّ لَمۡ یُعَقِّبۡ ؕ یٰمُوۡسٰۤی اَقۡبِلۡ وَ لَا تَخَفۡ ۟ اِنَّکَ مِنَ الۡاٰمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۳۱﴾
And throw down your staff. So when he saw it in motion as if it were a snake, he turned away retreating, and did not look back. O Moses, come forward and do not fear; surely you are secure (here).
28:32
اُسۡلُکۡ یَدَکَ فِیۡ جَیۡبِکَ تَخۡرُجۡ بَیۡضَآءَ مِنۡ غَیۡرِ سُوۡٓءٍ ۫ وَّ اضۡمُمۡ اِلَیۡکَ جَنَاحَکَ مِنَ الرَّہۡبِ فَذٰنِکَ بُرۡہَانٰنِ مِنۡ رَّبِّکَ اِلٰی فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ مَلَا۠ئِہٖ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا قَوۡمًا فٰسِقِیۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
Insert your hand into your bosom, it will come forth white without harm, and remain calm in fear. These two are two arguments from your Lord to Pharaoh and his chiefs. Surely they are a transgressing people.
See 7:108, 20:20, 20:22.
28:33
قَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ قَتَلۡتُ مِنۡہُمۡ نَفۡسًا فَاَخَافُ اَنۡ یَّقۡتُلُوۡنِ ﴿۳۳﴾
He said: My Lord, I killed one of them, so I fear that they may kill me.
28:34
وَ اَخِیۡ ہٰرُوۡنُ ہُوَ اَفۡصَحُ مِنِّیۡ لِسَانًا فَاَرۡسِلۡہُ مَعِیَ رِدۡاً یُّصَدِّقُنِیۡۤ ۫ اِنِّیۡۤ اَخَافُ اَنۡ یُّکَذِّبُوۡنِ ﴿۳۴﴾
And my brother, Aaron, he is more eloquent in speech than I, so send him with me as a helper to confirm me. Surely I fear that they would reject me.
28:35
قَالَ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَکَ بِاَخِیۡکَ وَ نَجۡعَلُ لَکُمَا سُلۡطٰنًا فَلَا یَصِلُوۡنَ اِلَیۡکُمَا ۚۛ بِاٰیٰتِنَاۤ ۚۛ اَنۡتُمَا وَ مَنِ اتَّبَعَکُمَا الۡغٰلِبُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
He said: We will strengthen your arm with your brother, and We will give you both an authority, so that they shall not reach you. With Our signs, you two and those who follow you, will triumph.
The meaning is, so that they will not be able to injure you.
28:36
فَلَمَّا جَآءَہُمۡ مُّوۡسٰی بِاٰیٰتِنَا بَیِّنٰتٍ قَالُوۡا مَا ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا سِحۡرٌ مُّفۡتَرًی وَّ مَا سَمِعۡنَا بِہٰذَا فِیۡۤ اٰبَآئِنَا الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾
So when Moses came to them with Our clear signs, they said: This is nothing but fabricated deceit, and we never heard of it among our fathers of old!
28:37
وَ قَالَ مُوۡسٰی رَبِّیۡۤ اَعۡلَمُ بِمَنۡ جَآءَ بِالۡہُدٰی مِنۡ عِنۡدِہٖ وَ مَنۡ تَکُوۡنُ لَہٗ عَاقِبَۃُ الدَّارِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ لَا یُفۡلِحُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾
And Moses said: My Lord knows best who comes with guidance from Him, and whose shall be the good end of the abode. Surely the wrongdoers will not be successful.
28:38
وَ قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ یٰۤاَیُّہَا الۡمَلَاُ مَا عَلِمۡتُ لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرِیۡ ۚ فَاَوۡقِدۡ لِیۡ یٰہَامٰنُ عَلَی الطِّیۡنِ فَاجۡعَلۡ لِّیۡ صَرۡحًا لَّعَلِّیۡۤ اَطَّلِعُ اِلٰۤی اِلٰہِ مُوۡسٰی ۙ وَ اِنِّیۡ لَاَظُنُّہٗ مِنَ الۡکٰذِبِیۡنَ ﴿۳۸﴾
And Pharaoh said: Chiefs, I know no god for you besides myself; so kindle a fire for me, Hāmān, on (bricks of) clay, then prepare for me a tower, so that I may reach the God of Moses, and surely I think him a liar.
Pharaoh mocks at the idea of the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and derisively commands one of his ministers to prepare bricks — such being the significance of kindling a fire on clay — and to erect a tower so that he may look into the heavens to discover the Lord of the heavens and the earth.
28:39
وَ اسۡتَکۡبَرَ ہُوَ وَ جُنُوۡدُہٗ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ بِغَیۡرِ الۡحَقِّ وَ ظَنُّوۡۤا اَنَّہُمۡ اِلَیۡنَا لَا یُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۳۹﴾
And he was unjustly proud in the land, he and his armies, and they thought that they would not be brought back to Us.
28:40
فَاَخَذۡنٰہُ وَ جُنُوۡدَہٗ فَنَبَذۡنٰہُمۡ فِی الۡیَمِّ ۚ فَانۡظُرۡ کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۴۰﴾
So We caught hold of him and his armies, then We cast them into the sea, and see what was the end of the wrongdoers.
28:41
وَ جَعَلۡنٰہُمۡ اَئِمَّۃً یَّدۡعُوۡنَ اِلَی النَّارِ ۚ وَ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ لَا یُنۡصَرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۱﴾
And We made them leaders who call to the Fire, and on the day of Resurrection they will not be helped.
Pharaoh is made a prototype of evil, and the opponents of the Prophet are warned that by walking in Pharaoh’s footsteps they will meet a similar fate.
28:42
وَ اَتۡبَعۡنٰہُمۡ فِیۡ ہٰذِہِ الدُّنۡیَا لَعۡنَۃً ۚ وَ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ ہُمۡ مِّنَ الۡمَقۡبُوۡحِیۡنَ ﴿٪۴۲﴾
And We made a curse to follow them in this world, and on the day of Resurrection they will be hideous.
Section 5 (Verses 28:43–28:50): A Prophet like Moses
28:43
وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنَا مُوۡسَی الۡکِتٰبَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَاۤ اَہۡلَکۡنَا الۡقُرُوۡنَ الۡاُوۡلٰی بَصَآئِرَ لِلنَّاسِ وَ ہُدًی وَّ رَحۡمَۃً لَّعَلَّہُمۡ یَتَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾
And certainly We gave Moses the Book after We had destroyed the former generations — clear arguments for people and a guidance and a mercy, that they may be mindful.
28:44
وَ مَا کُنۡتَ بِجَانِبِ الۡغَرۡبِیِّ اِذۡ قَضَیۡنَاۤ اِلٰی مُوۡسَی الۡاَمۡرَ وَ مَا کُنۡتَ مِنَ الشّٰہِدِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۴﴾
And you were not on the western side when We revealed to Moses the commandment, nor were you among those present;
Moses’ prophecy about the advent of the Prophet — of a prophet like him from among the Ishmaelites, the brethren of the Israelites — was so clear that one would think that the Prophet was there at the side of the mountain and Moses saw him with his own eyes. The opening words of the next verse show that a very long time had elapsed between these two prophets. The prophecy of Moses of the advent of a prophet like him was fulfilled after about two thousand years, and yet none of the prophets who followed Moses had ever claimed to be a prophet like Moses, not even Jesus Christ, the last of the line of the Israelite prophets.
28:45
وَ لٰکِنَّاۤ اَنۡشَاۡنَا قُرُوۡنًا فَتَطَاوَلَ عَلَیۡہِمُ الۡعُمُرُ ۚ وَ مَا کُنۡتَ ثَاوِیًا فِیۡۤ اَہۡلِ مَدۡیَنَ تَتۡلُوۡا عَلَیۡہِمۡ اٰیٰتِنَا ۙ وَ لٰکِنَّا کُنَّا مُرۡسِلِیۡنَ ﴿۴۵﴾
but We raised up generations, then life became prolonged to them. And you were not dwelling among the people of Midian, reciting to them Our messages, but We are the Sender (of messengers).
See v. 27. Moses lived in Midian for ten years, just as the Prophet passed ten years of his life at Madinah, yet what a transformation was wrought in the course of these ten years! This very fact was a clear proof of his truth.
28:46
وَ مَا کُنۡتَ بِجَانِبِ الطُّوۡرِ اِذۡ نَادَیۡنَا وَ لٰکِنۡ رَّحۡمَۃً مِّنۡ رَّبِّکَ لِتُنۡذِرَ قَوۡمًا مَّاۤ اَتٰىہُمۡ مِّنۡ نَّذِیۡرٍ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِکَ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَتَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۶﴾
And you were not at the side of the mountain when We called, but a mercy from your Lord that you may warn a people to whom no warner came before you, that they may be mindful.
The meaning of v. 44–46 is: You were not there, but it was Divine mercy that put a prophecy into the mouth of Moses regarding you. This is made clear by the words a mercy from your Lord that you may warn…. The people to whom no warner had come before were the Arabs. Compare 32:3, 36:6.
28:47
وَ لَوۡ لَاۤ اَنۡ تُصِیۡبَہُمۡ مُّصِیۡبَۃٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتۡ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ فَیَقُوۡلُوۡا رَبَّنَا لَوۡ لَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡتَ اِلَیۡنَا رَسُوۡلًا فَنَتَّبِعَ اٰیٰتِکَ وَ نَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۴۷﴾
And in case, if a disaster should befall them for what their hands have already done, they should say: Our Lord, why did You not send to us a messenger so that we might have followed Your messages and been from among the believers?
28:48
فَلَمَّا جَآءَہُمُ الۡحَقُّ مِنۡ عِنۡدِنَا قَالُوۡا لَوۡ لَاۤ اُوۡتِیَ مِثۡلَ مَاۤ اُوۡتِیَ مُوۡسٰی ؕ اَوَ لَمۡ یَکۡفُرُوۡا بِمَاۤ اُوۡتِیَ مُوۡسٰی مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ۚ قَالُوۡا سِحۡرٰنِ تَظٰہَرَا ۟ٝ وَ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا بِکُلٍّ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾
But (now) when the Truth has come to them from Us, they say: Why is he not given the like of what was given to Moses? Did they not disbelieve in what was given to Moses before? They say: Two enchantments backing up each other! And they say: Surely we are disbelievers in both.
The disbelievers did not adopt any one firm position against the Holy Prophet, and whenever one objection was shown to be erroneous, they took refuge in another. At the advent of the Prophet they said that he should have received a revelation like the revelation of Moses, but when the likeness was pointed out to them, they said that both Moses and Muhammad were deceivers who enchanted people by their eloquence, the one helping the other, and therefore they believed neither in the one nor in the other.
28:49
قُلۡ فَاۡتُوۡا بِکِتٰبٍ مِّنۡ عِنۡدِ اللّٰہِ ہُوَ اَہۡدٰی مِنۡہُمَاۤ اَتَّبِعۡہُ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۴۹﴾
Say: Then bring some (other) Book from Allah which is a better guide than these two, I will follow it — if you are truthful.
The meaning is that, if you do not admit the truth of either revelation, you should show some other revelation existing in the world, which should offer better guidance. This statement only draws attention to the fact that the revelation granted to Moses and that granted to the Holy Prophet both occupy a higher position than any other revelation. And this is in fact true, for among all the sacred books of the world the Bible occupies a position second only to the Quran.
28:50
فَاِنۡ لَّمۡ یَسۡتَجِیۡبُوۡا لَکَ فَاعۡلَمۡ اَنَّمَا یَتَّبِعُوۡنَ اَہۡوَآءَہُمۡ ؕ وَ مَنۡ اَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ اتَّبَعَ ہَوٰىہُ بِغَیۡرِ ہُدًی مِّنَ اللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَہۡدِی الۡقَوۡمَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۵۰﴾
But if they do not answer you, know that they only follow their low desires. And who is more in error than he who follows his low desires without any guidance from Allah? Surely Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.
Section 6 (Verses 28:51–28:60): The Truth of Revelation
28:51
وَ لَقَدۡ وَصَّلۡنَا لَہُمُ الۡقَوۡلَ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَتَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۵۱﴾
And certainly We have made the Word to have many connections for their sake, so that they may be mindful.
What is implied here is that the word of Allah, as contained in the Quran, is made to have many points of connection with previous revelation, so that it may be the easier for them to be reminded of its truth. Even if they did not believe in previous revelation, the broad points of likeness in the principles of two different prophets appearing at such a distance of time from each other, among entirely different nations, and under totally different circumstances, and the fulfilment of the prophecies uttered by one in the other, afforded conclusive evidence of the truth of them both.
28:52
اَلَّذِیۡنَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمُ الۡکِتٰبَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہٖ ہُمۡ بِہٖ یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۵۲﴾
Those to whom We gave the Book before it, they are believers in it.
It is not meant that all those who have previously been given the Scriptures believe in the Quran. The verse only draws attention to the fact that all believe in the truth of revelation from Allah, and they cannot deny the points of connection between the two revelations, the truth of the fundamental principles and the fulfilment of prophecies. But only those would believe who have submitted themselves already to Allah, as the verse that follows shows.
28:53
وَ اِذَا یُتۡلٰی عَلَیۡہِمۡ قَالُوۡۤا اٰمَنَّا بِہٖۤ اِنَّہُ الۡحَقُّ مِنۡ رَّبِّنَاۤ اِنَّا کُنَّا مِنۡ قَبۡلِہٖ مُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۵۳﴾
And when it is recited to them they say: We believe in it; surely it is the Truth from our Lord; we were indeed, before this, submitting ones.
28:54
اُولٰٓئِکَ یُؤۡتَوۡنَ اَجۡرَہُمۡ مَّرَّتَیۡنِ بِمَا صَبَرُوۡا وَ یَدۡرَءُوۡنَ بِالۡحَسَنَۃِ السَّیِّئَۃَ وَ مِمَّا رَزَقۡنٰہُمۡ یُنۡفِقُوۡنَ ﴿۵۴﴾
These will be granted their reward twice, because they are steadfast, and they repel evil with good and spend (on good works) out of what We have given them.
The reason for a double reward — which only means a greater reward — is given in the words that follow. They had to suffer persecution, and not only did they remain steadfast in these great trials, but they repelled the evil of their persecutors with good, and in addition to all this made great sacrifices by spending in the cause of Truth. For double reward, see also 33:31 and 57:28.
28:55
وَ اِذَا سَمِعُوا اللَّغۡوَ اَعۡرَضُوۡا عَنۡہُ وَ قَالُوۡا لَنَاۤ اَعۡمَالُنَا وَ لَکُمۡ اَعۡمَالُکُمۡ ۫ سَلٰمٌ عَلَیۡکُمۡ ۫ لَا نَبۡتَغِی الۡجٰہِلِیۡنَ ﴿۵۵﴾
And when they hear idle talk, they turn aside from it and say: For us are our deeds and for you your deeds. Peace be on you! We do not desire the ignorant.
28:56
اِنَّکَ لَا تَہۡدِیۡ مَنۡ اَحۡبَبۡتَ وَ لٰکِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَہۡدِیۡ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ۚ وَ ہُوَ اَعۡلَمُ بِالۡمُہۡتَدِیۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾
Surely you cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He pleases; and He knows best those who walk aright.
It is related that when Abu Talib was on his deathbed, the Holy Prophet asked him to believe in Divine Unity. Abu Jahl, being by him at the time, dissuaded him from doing so, saying that he should not desert the religion of his fathers. Abu Talib died an unbeliever, and the words you cannot guide whom you love were a comfort to the Prophet (Bukhari, 65.28:1). But the words are true in a general sense as well. The Prophet wished that all people should accept the Truth and better their lives. But all this was to be brought about gradually.
28:57
وَ قَالُوۡۤا اِنۡ نَّتَّبِعِ الۡہُدٰی مَعَکَ نُتَخَطَّفۡ مِنۡ اَرۡضِنَا ؕ اَوَ لَمۡ نُمَکِّنۡ لَّہُمۡ حَرَمًا اٰمِنًا یُّجۡبٰۤی اِلَیۡہِ ثَمَرٰتُ کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ رِّزۡقًا مِّنۡ لَّدُنَّا وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَہُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۵۷﴾
And they say: If we follow the guidance with you, we should be carried off from our country. Have We not settled them in a safe, sacred territory to which fruits of every kind are drawn? A sustenance from Us — but most of them do not know.
The verse speaks first of the unfounded fears of those who thought that the weakness of the Muslims would result in the seizure, death, or expulsion of those who accepted the faith of Islam. In reply they are told that the prophecies which declare Makkah to be a safe and sacred territory, to which people will flock in all ages, must come to fulfilment, and Makkah will ultimately be theirs for whose sake these prophecies were uttered.
28:58
وَ کَمۡ اَہۡلَکۡنَا مِنۡ قَرۡیَۃٍۭ بَطِرَتۡ مَعِیۡشَتَہَا ۚ فَتِلۡکَ مَسٰکِنُہُمۡ لَمۡ تُسۡکَنۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِہِمۡ اِلَّا قَلِیۡلًا ؕ وَ کُنَّا نَحۡنُ الۡوٰرِثِیۡنَ ﴿۵۸﴾
And how many a town have We destroyed which exulted in its means of subsistence! So those are their abodes: they have not been dwelt in after them except a little. And We are ever the Inheritors.
That is, even now the Divine kingdom will be established, and the true believers in God will be made masters of the country.
28:59
وَ مَا کَانَ رَبُّکَ مُہۡلِکَ الۡقُرٰی حَتّٰی یَبۡعَثَ فِیۡۤ اُمِّہَا رَسُوۡلًا یَّتۡلُوۡا عَلَیۡہِمۡ اٰیٰتِنَا ۚ وَ مَا کُنَّا مُہۡلِکِی الۡقُرٰۤی اِلَّا وَ اَہۡلُہَا ظٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۵۹﴾
And your Lord never destroyed the towns, until He had raised in their metropolis a messenger, reciting to them Our messages, and We never destroyed the towns except when their people were wrongdoers.
28:60
وَ مَاۤ اُوۡتِیۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ شَیۡءٍ فَمَتَاعُ الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا وَ زِیۡنَتُہَا ۚ وَ مَا عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ خَیۡرٌ وَّ اَبۡقٰی ؕ اَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿٪۶۰﴾
And whatever things you have been given are only a provision of this world’s life and its adornment, and whatever is with Allah is better and more lasting. Do you not then understand?
Section 7 (Verses 28:61–28:75): Opponents Shall be Brought Low
28:61
اَفَمَنۡ وَّعَدۡنٰہُ وَعۡدًا حَسَنًا فَہُوَ لَاقِیۡہِ کَمَنۡ مَّتَّعۡنٰہُ مَتَاعَ الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ثُمَّ ہُوَ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ مِنَ الۡمُحۡضَرِیۡنَ ﴿۶۱﴾
Is he to whom We have promised a goodly promise, which he will meet with, like him whom We have provided with the provisions of this world’s life, then on the day of Resurrection he will be of those brought up (for punishment)?
There are two parties spoken of here: the Prophet and his followers, who have received a goodly promise from Allah, though weak and oppressed at the time, and the powerful enemy, who has all the provisions of life in his possession, but who will one day be called upon to receive judgment.
28:62
وَ یَوۡمَ یُنَادِیۡہِمۡ فَیَقُوۡلُ اَیۡنَ شُرَکَآءِیَ الَّذِیۡنَ کُنۡتُمۡ تَزۡعُمُوۡنَ ﴿۶۲﴾
And the day when He will call them and say: Where are those whom you asserted to be My partners?
28:63
قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ حَقَّ عَلَیۡہِمُ الۡقَوۡلُ رَبَّنَا ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ الَّذِیۡنَ اَغۡوَیۡنَا ۚ اَغۡوَیۡنٰہُمۡ کَمَا غَوَیۡنَا ۚ تَبَرَّاۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ ۫ مَا کَانُوۡۤا اِیَّانَا یَعۡبُدُوۡنَ ﴿۶۳﴾
Those against whom the word has proved true will say: Our Lord, these are they whom we caused to deviate — we caused them to deviate as we ourselves deviated. We declare our innocence before You. Us they never worshipped.
By those against whom the word has proved true are meant the leaders in unbelief. Their saying Us they never worshipped shows that these very leaders are spoken of as the gods whom their followers worship.
28:64
وَ قِیۡلَ ادۡعُوۡا شُرَکَآءَکُمۡ فَدَعَوۡہُمۡ فَلَمۡ یَسۡتَجِیۡبُوۡا لَہُمۡ وَ رَاَوُا الۡعَذَابَ ۚ لَوۡ اَنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا یَہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۶۴﴾
And it will be said: Call your associate-gods. So they will call upon them, but they will not answer them, and they will see the punishment. If only they had followed the right way!
28:65
وَ یَوۡمَ یُنَادِیۡہِمۡ فَیَقُوۡلُ مَاذَاۤ اَجَبۡتُمُ الۡمُرۡسَلِیۡنَ ﴿۶۵﴾
And the day He will call them, then say: What was the answer you gave to the messengers?
28:66
فَعَمِیَتۡ عَلَیۡہِمُ الۡاَنۡۢبَآءُ یَوۡمَئِذٍ فَہُمۡ لَا یَتَسَآءَلُوۡنَ ﴿۶۶﴾
On that day excuses will become obscure to them, so they will not ask each other.
They will not be able to offer an excuse, for the vanity of the false excuses, which satisfied them here, would then become manifest to them. Nor will they ask each other, for each will know the falsity of the excuses of the others.
28:67
فَاَمَّا مَنۡ تَابَ وَ اٰمَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَعَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُفۡلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۶۷﴾
But as to him who repents and believes and does good, maybe he will be among the successful.
28:68
وَ رَبُّکَ یَخۡلُقُ مَا یَشَآءُ وَ یَخۡتَارُ ؕ مَا کَانَ لَہُمُ الۡخِیَرَۃُ ؕ سُبۡحٰنَ اللّٰہِ وَ تَعٰلٰی عَمَّا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿۶۸﴾
And your Lord creates and chooses whom He pleases. To choose is not theirs. Glory be to Allah and supremely exalted is He above what they set up as partners (with Him)!
28:69
وَ رَبُّکَ یَعۡلَمُ مَا تُکِنُّ صُدُوۡرُہُمۡ وَ مَا یُعۡلِنُوۡنَ ﴿۶۹﴾
And your Lord knows what their hearts conceal and what they proclaim.
28:70
وَ ہُوَ اللّٰہُ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ ؕ لَہُ الۡحَمۡدُ فِی الۡاُوۡلٰی وَ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ۫ وَ لَہُ الۡحُکۡمُ وَ اِلَیۡہِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۷۰﴾
And He is Allah, there is no God but He! His is the praise in this (life) and the Hereafter; and His is the judgment, and to Him you will be brought back.
28:71
قُلۡ اَرَءَیۡتُمۡ اِنۡ جَعَلَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡکُمُ الَّیۡلَ سَرۡمَدًا اِلٰی یَوۡمِ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ مَنۡ اِلٰہٌ غَیۡرُ اللّٰہِ یَاۡتِیۡکُمۡ بِضِیَآءٍ ؕ اَفَلَا تَسۡمَعُوۡنَ ﴿۷۱﴾
Say: Do you see if Allah were to make the night to continue incessantly on you till the day of Resurrection, who is the god besides Allah that could bring you light? Will you not then hear?
28:72
قُلۡ اَرَءَیۡتُمۡ اِنۡ جَعَلَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡکُمُ النَّہَارَ سَرۡمَدًا اِلٰی یَوۡمِ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ مَنۡ اِلٰہٌ غَیۡرُ اللّٰہِ یَاۡتِیۡکُمۡ بِلَیۡلٍ تَسۡکُنُوۡنَ فِیۡہِ ؕ اَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۷۲﴾
Say: Do you see if Allah were to make the day to continue incessantly on you till the day of Resurrection, who is the god besides Allah that could bring you the night in which you take rest? Do you not then see?
28:73
وَ مِنۡ رَّحۡمَتِہٖ جَعَلَ لَکُمُ الَّیۡلَ وَ النَّہَارَ لِتَسۡکُنُوۡا فِیۡہِ وَ لِتَبۡتَغُوۡا مِنۡ فَضۡلِہٖ وَ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَشۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿۷۳﴾
And out of His mercy He has made for you the night and the day, that you may rest in it, and that you may seek of His grace (in the day), and that you may give thanks.
28:74
وَ یَوۡمَ یُنَادِیۡہِمۡ فَیَقُوۡلُ اَیۡنَ شُرَکَآءِیَ الَّذِیۡنَ کُنۡتُمۡ تَزۡعُمُوۡنَ ﴿۷۴﴾
And the day when He will call them and say: Where are those whom you asserted to be My partners?
28:75
وَ نَزَعۡنَا مِنۡ کُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ شَہِیۡدًا فَقُلۡنَا ہَاتُوۡا بُرۡہَانَکُمۡ فَعَلِمُوۡۤا اَنَّ الۡحَقَّ لِلّٰہِ وَ ضَلَّ عَنۡہُمۡ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَفۡتَرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۷۵﴾
And We shall draw forth from among every nation a witness and say: Bring your proof. Then shall they know that the Truth is Allah’s and what they forged will fail them.
Section 8 (Verses 28:76–28:82): Korah’s Wealth Leads him to Ruin
28:76
اِنَّ قَارُوۡنَ کَانَ مِنۡ قَوۡمِ مُوۡسٰی فَبَغٰی عَلَیۡہِمۡ ۪ وَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُ مِنَ الۡکُنُوۡزِ مَاۤ اِنَّ مَفَاتِحَہٗ لَتَنُوۡٓاُ بِالۡعُصۡبَۃِ اُولِی الۡقُوَّۃِ ٭ اِذۡ قَالَ لَہٗ قَوۡمُہٗ لَا تَفۡرَحۡ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یُحِبُّ الۡفَرِحِیۡنَ ﴿۷۶﴾
Korah was surely from among the people of Moses, but he oppressed them, and We gave him treasures, so much so that his hoards of wealth would weigh down a body of strong men. When his people said to him: Do not exult; surely Allah does not love the exultant.
The story of Korah, or Qārūn, his revolt against the leadership of Moses and Aaron, and his being swallowed up by the earth, is given in the Bible in the book of Numbers, ch. 16. The only addition of any importance to the story as given in the Quran is the mention of his wealth, a fact noticed in Rabbinical literature. There may be a reference in the mention of Korah’s wealth to the modern materialistic tendency of making the accumulation of wealth the great object of life to the utter neglect of the Truth. The hankering after wealth and the amassing of gold leads undoubtedly to ruin, as it is leading the world today.
28:77
وَ ابۡتَغِ فِیۡمَاۤ اٰتٰىکَ اللّٰہُ الدَّارَ الۡاٰخِرَۃَ وَ لَا تَنۡسَ نَصِیۡبَکَ مِنَ الدُّنۡیَا وَ اَحۡسِنۡ کَمَاۤ اَحۡسَنَ اللّٰہُ اِلَیۡکَ وَ لَا تَبۡغِ الۡفَسَادَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یُحِبُّ الۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿۷۷﴾
And seek the abode of the Hereafter by means of what Allah has given you, and do not neglect your portion of the world, and do good (to others) as Allah has done good to you, and do not seek to make mischief in the land. Surely Allah does not love the mischief-makers.
28:78
قَالَ اِنَّمَاۤ اُوۡتِیۡتُہٗ عَلٰی عِلۡمٍ عِنۡدِیۡ ؕ اَوَ لَمۡ یَعۡلَمۡ اَنَّ اللّٰہَ قَدۡ اَہۡلَکَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہٖ مِنَ الۡقُرُوۡنِ مَنۡ ہُوَ اَشَدُّ مِنۡہُ قُوَّۃً وَّ اَکۡثَرُ جَمۡعًا ؕ وَ لَا یُسۡـَٔلُ عَنۡ ذُنُوۡبِہِمُ الۡمُجۡرِمُوۡنَ ﴿۷۸﴾
He said: I have been given this only on account of the knowledge I have. Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations who were mightier in strength than he and greater in assemblage? And the guilty are not questioned about their sins.
They will not be asked to give any explanation for their sins, as Allah is All-Knowing.
28:79
فَخَرَجَ عَلٰی قَوۡمِہٖ فِیۡ زِیۡنَتِہٖ ؕ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ یُرِیۡدُوۡنَ الۡحَیٰوۃَ الدُّنۡیَا یٰلَیۡتَ لَنَا مِثۡلَ مَاۤ اُوۡتِیَ قَارُوۡنُ ۙ اِنَّہٗ لَذُوۡ حَظٍّ عَظِیۡمٍ ﴿۷۹﴾
So he went out to his people in his finery. Those who desired this world’s life said: If only we had the like of what Korah is given! Surely he is possessed of mighty good fortune!
28:80
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡعِلۡمَ وَیۡلَکُمۡ ثَوَابُ اللّٰہِ خَیۡرٌ لِّمَنۡ اٰمَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا ۚ وَ لَا یُلَقّٰہَاۤ اِلَّا الصّٰبِرُوۡنَ ﴿۸۰﴾
But those who were given the knowledge said: Woe to you! Allah’s reward is better for him who believes and does good, and none is made to receive this except the patient.
28:81
فَخَسَفۡنَا بِہٖ وَ بِدَارِہِ الۡاَرۡضَ ۟ فَمَا کَانَ لَہٗ مِنۡ فِئَۃٍ یَّنۡصُرُوۡنَہٗ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ ٭ وَ مَا کَانَ مِنَ الۡمُنۡتَصِرِیۡنَ ﴿۸۱﴾
So We made the earth to swallow him up and his abode. He had no army to help him against Allah, nor could he defend himself.
The meaning conveyed is that he perished.
28:82
وَ اَصۡبَحَ الَّذِیۡنَ تَمَنَّوۡا مَکَانَہٗ بِالۡاَمۡسِ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ وَیۡکَاَنَّ اللّٰہَ یَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِہٖ وَ یَقۡدِرُ ۚ لَوۡ لَاۤ اَنۡ مَّنَّ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا ؕ وَیۡکَاَنَّہٗ لَا یُفۡلِحُ الۡکٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۸۲﴾
And those who had yearned for his place the day before began to say: Ah! (know) that Allah amplifies provision for whom He pleases of His servants and restricts (it also); if Allah had not been gracious to us, He would have humbled us. Ah! (know) that the ungrateful are never successful.
Section 9 (Verses 28:83–28:88): The Prophet will Return to Makkah
28:83
تِلۡکَ الدَّارُ الۡاٰخِرَۃُ نَجۡعَلُہَا لِلَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُرِیۡدُوۡنَ عُلُوًّا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ لَا فَسَادًا ؕ وَ الۡعَاقِبَۃُ لِلۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ ﴿۸۳﴾
That abode of the Hereafter, We assign it to those who have no desire to exalt themselves in the earth nor to make mischief. And the good end is for those who keep their duty.
28:84
مَنۡ جَآءَ بِالۡحَسَنَۃِ فَلَہٗ خَیۡرٌ مِّنۡہَا ۚ وَ مَنۡ جَآءَ بِالسَّیِّئَۃِ فَلَا یُجۡزَی الَّذِیۡنَ عَمِلُوا السَّیِّاٰتِ اِلَّا مَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۸۴﴾
Whoever brings good, he will have better than it; and whoever brings evil, those who do evil will be recompensed only for what they did.
28:85
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡ فَرَضَ عَلَیۡکَ الۡقُرۡاٰنَ لَرَآدُّکَ اِلٰی مَعَادٍ ؕ قُلۡ رَّبِّیۡۤ اَعۡلَمُ مَنۡ جَآءَ بِالۡہُدٰی وَ مَنۡ ہُوَ فِیۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۸۵﴾
He Who has made the Quran binding on you will surely bring you back to the Place of Return. Say: My Lord knows best him who has brought the guidance and him who is in manifest error.
The “Place of Return” (ma‘ād) here has been taken to mean Makkah in classical interpretations, because the conquest of it was promised to the Prophet, so that it was the place to which he would return. But Makkah is really called the Place of Return because the pilgrims return to it. According to some, this verse was revealed on the Prophet’s departure from Makkah, i.e., on his way to Madinah. It contains a clear promise of the Prophet being brought back to the city from which he was now being expelled.
28:86
وَ مَا کُنۡتَ تَرۡجُوۡۤا اَنۡ یُّلۡقٰۤی اِلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبُ اِلَّا رَحۡمَۃً مِّنۡ رَّبِّکَ فَلَا تَکُوۡنَنَّ ظَہِیۡرًا لِّلۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۫۸۶﴾
And you did not expect that the Book would be inspired to you, but it is a mercy from your Lord, so do not be a backer of the disbelievers.
28:87
وَ لَا یَصُدُّنَّکَ عَنۡ اٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ بَعۡدَ اِذۡ اُنۡزِلَتۡ اِلَیۡکَ وَ ادۡعُ اِلٰی رَبِّکَ وَ لَا تَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۸۷﴾
And let them not turn you aside from the messages of Allah after they have been revealed to you, and call (people) to your Lord and do not be of those who set up partners (with Allah).
28:88
وَ لَا تَدۡعُ مَعَ اللّٰہِ اِلٰـہًا اٰخَرَ ۘ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ ۟ کُلُّ شَیۡءٍ ہَالِکٌ اِلَّا وَجۡہَہٗ ؕ لَہُ الۡحُکۡمُ وَ اِلَیۡہِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿٪۸۸﴾
And do not call with Allah any other god. There is no God but He. Everything will perish but He. His is the judgment, and to Him you will be brought back.