Al-Qasas

Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and split its people into groups, crushing one of them, but Allah wanted to favour the oppressed. Musa’s mother is told to nurse him, and if she fears for him, to put him in the river and not to grieve. Pharaoh’s own household picks him up, and his wife says he may be a comfort to us. He refuses every nurse until his sister leads them to his own mother, and so Allah returns him to her. As a grown man he strikes a man who falls dead, and he begs forgiveness. Warned of a plot to kill him, he flees to Madyan with only a prayer. He waters the flocks of two women and prays, “My Lord, I am truly in need of whatever good You send down to me.” One of them comes walking shyly, her father offers him work and a marriage, and he serves his term. On the way back he sees a fire on the Mount and hears the call: his staff moves like a snake and his hand comes out shining white. He fears being killed, so Allah sends his brother Harun with him. Pharaoh says, “I know of no god for you other than me”, and he and his soldiers are drowned. You were not there, yet you were told it all. Some People of the Book hear the Quran and believe, and are given their reward twice. You cannot guide whom you love; Allah guides whom He wills. If Allah made the night or the day last forever, who could bring you the other? Qarun’s keys alone would weigh down a band of strong men. He said his wealth came from his own knowledge, and the earth swallowed him and his home, and those who had wished to be him were glad they were not. The Hereafter is for those who do not seek to be above others. Everything will perish except His Face.