28:1 Ta-Seen-Meem

28:2 These are the verses of the manifest Book (the Quran).

28:3 We narrate to you (O' Prophet  ﷺ) from the story of Musa (عليه السلام) and Pharaoh in truth for people who believe.

28:4 Truly Pharaoh elevated himself in the land and divided its residents into groups, one group of which he persecuted, putting their sons to death and sparing only their females. Indeed he was one of the mischief makers.

28:5 And We wished to be Gracious to those who were being oppressed in the land, to make them leaders (in faith) and make them heirs,

28:6 and to establish them in the land; and through them show Pharaoh, Hamaan, and their soldiers (the fulfillment of) what they feared (most).

28:7 And We inspired the mother of Musa (عليه السلام) , (saying) : 'Suckle him (Musa  عليه السلام), but when you fear for his life, then cast him into the river (in a wooden box) and fear not, nor grieve. Verily! We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Apostles.

28:8 (She did as per the inspiration) and the family of Pharaoh picked him up (from of the river without realizing) that he would become to them an enemy and a (cause of) grief (later). Indeed, Pharaoh and Haman (his assistant/minister) and their soldiers were deliberate sinners.

28:9 (When the child was picked up by Pharaoh's guards from the river and shown to Pheraoh's wife) She said (to Pharaoh that the child will be) 'a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.' And they perceived not (what was to come later). 

28:10 (When infant Musa عليه السلام  was placed into the river in a wooden box) the heart of Musa's (عليه السلام) mother became empty (of everything with grief).  She was about to disclose (the facts to the people) had We (Allah) not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers.

28:11 Then she said to (her eldest daughter) the sister of Musa  عليه السلام),  (to) Follow the wooden box (from the bank of the river); so she watched him from a distance while they (people) perceived not. 

28:12 (When Musa  عليه السلام was picked up by Pharaoh's guards and was taken into Palace),  We (Allah) had prevented from him (all) wet nurses, so (Musa's  عليه السلام big sister who followed the wooden box) told Pharaoh's people, 'Shall I direct you to a household that will be responsible for him  for you, since they are sincere for his upbringing'.

28:13 So We (Allah) restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true.  But most of the people do not know.

28:14 And when Musa (عليه السلام) attained his full strength and was mature, We bestowed upon him judgement and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.

28:15 (On one day) Musa (عليه السلام) entered the city at a quiet time (when the streets were relatively empty) of people and found therein two men fighting; one was from his people (Israelis) and the other from among his enemy (Egyptians). And the one from his people (Israelis) called him for help against the one from his enemy.  So Musa (عليه السلام) (went to help him and) struck a blow to Egyptian and he was killed (unintentionally by that blow). (Musa - عليه السلام) said (to himself), 'This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy.'

28:16 He said, 'My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me,' and He (Allah) forgave him.   Indeed, He is All Forgiving, Most Merciful.

28:17 Musa (عليه السلام) said, 'My Lord, for the favor You bestowed upon me, I will never assist any  criminals.'

28:18 And he became fearful anticipating (the exposure of killing) in the city. (The next day, it so happened that) the one who sought his help the previous day cried out to him (once again as he was fighting with another Egyptian that day). Musa (عليه السلام) said to him, 'Indeed, you are a manifest wrongdoer.

28:19 And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he said, 'O Musa (عليه السلام), do you intend to kill me as you killed that man yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the amending ones.'

28:20 (Meanwhile)  a man came from the farthest end of the city, running.  He said, 'O Musa (عليه السلام), indeed the eminent ones (security personnel) are conferring over you (intending) to kill you, so leave (the city); indeed, I am to you of the sincere advisors.'

28:21 So Musa (عليه السلام) left the city (into the desert across Sinai Peninsula), fearful and anticipating (persecution). He said, 'My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.'

28:22 And when he directed himself toward Madian (across Sinai Peninsula), he said, 'Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the sound way.'

28:23 And when he came to a well in Madian, he found there a crowd of people watering (their flocks), and he found, aside from them, two women driving back (their flocks of sheep). He said, 'What is your difficulty?' They said, 'We do not water until the shepherds dispatch (their flocks); and our father (Shuaib  عليه السلام) is an old man.'

28:24  So he watered (their flocks) for them; then he went back to the shade and said, 'My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.'

28:25 (After sometime) one of the two women came to him walking with shyness. She said, 'Indeed, my father invites you so that he may reward you for having watered (our sheep)  for us.'  So when he came to him (the father of the girls) and related to him his story, he said, 'Fear not. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people.'

28:26 One of the women said, 'O my father, hire him.  Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy.'

28:27 (When the father saw the sincerity of Musa عليه السلام) he said, 'Indeed, I wish to wed you one of my two daughters, on (the condition) that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten, it will be (a favor) from you. And I do not wish to put you in difficulty. You will find me, if Allah wills, from among the righteous.'

28:28 (Musa  عليه السلام) said, 'That is (an agreement) between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I complete,  there is no injustice to me, and Allah, over what we say, is Witness.' 

28:29 When Musa (عليه السلام) had completed the term and was traveling with his family (back to Egypt after more than a decade), he perceived from the direction of the mount (Tur) a fire (in the dark of a cold night).  He said to his family, 'Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there (some) information or burning wood from the fire that you may warm yourselves.'

28:30 But when he came to it (the fire), he was called from the right side of the valley in a blessed spot from the tree, 'O Musa (عليه السلام), indeed I am Allah, Lord of the worlds.

28:31 'Now, throw down your staff!' (He did that as per the command) but when he saw it slithering (by becoming) like a snake, he ran away without looking back. (Allah reassured him), 'O Musa (عليه السلام)! Draw near (and pick it up), and have no fear. You are perfectly secure.

28:32 (And) 'Put your (right) hand into your bosom (from the opening of your shirt) : it will come forth shining white without flaw.  And now hold your arms close to yourself free of awe (and be ready to receive My command). These are two evidences (of your Apostleship) from your Lord (for you to demonstrate) to Pharaoh and his chiefs. Surely, they are transgressing people.'

28:33 Musa (عليه السلام) said, 'My Lord, I have killed one of their people and fear that they may kill me.'

28:34 'And my brother Haroon (عليه السلام) is more eloquent than me, so send him with me as a helper to support what I say, for I truly fear they may reject me.'

28:35 Allah said : 'We shall strengthen your arm with your brother, and give you power with Our signs and give you authority, so that they will not be able to harm you. Both of you  and your followers will be victorious.'

28:36 When Musa (عليه السلام) came to them (Pharaoh and his chiefs) with Our clear signs, they said,  'this is nothing but fabricated magic. We never heard this from our forefathers.'

28:37  Musa (عليه السلام) said, 'My Lord knows best who has come with guidance from Him and whose end will be good in the Hereafter. Those who are unjust never succeed.'

28:38  Pharaoh declared, 'O chiefs! I know of no other god, for you,  but myself.  So bake bricks out of clay for me, and O' Haman (Pharaoh's Minister), build a high tower so I may (go up and) look at the God of Musa (عليه السلام), although I am sure he is a liar.'

28:39  Pharaoh and his armies behaved arrogantly in the land with no right.  They thought they would not be brought back to Us.

28:40  So We seized him and his soldiers and threw them into the sea.   Behold,  then how was the end of the wicked!

28:41  We made them leaders (Pharaoh and his chiefs) calling (others) only to the Fire.  On the Day of Resurrection they will not be helped.

28:42  We have caused a curse to follow them in this world and, on the Day of Judgement, they will be among the despised.

28:43  After We had destroyed the earlier generations, We gave Musa (عليه السلام) the Book as enlightenment to the people, and as guidance and mercy so that they might be reminded.

28:44  You were not there (O Prophet  ﷺ) on the western side of the mountain when We entrusted the Commandments to Musa (عليه السلام), nor were you present (in his time).

28:45  But (after them) We brought into being many generations and long indeed were the ages that passed over those generations. You were not living (physically) among the people of Midian, reciting to them Our revelations; but it is We Who are sending to you the news of that time. 

28:46  And you were not at the side of Mount Ṭur when We called out (to Musa - عليه السلام). But (you have been sent) as a mercy from your Lord to warn a people to whom no warner has come before you, so perhaps they may be mindful. 

28:47  In case a disaster had struck them (Makkan Pagans) because of what they had already done, they would have said, 'Our Lord, why did You not send us an Apostle so that we could have followed Your commands, and been with those who are believers;'

28:48  But when the truth came to them from Us, they said, 'If only he (the Prophet  ﷺ) was given the like of what Musa (عليه السلام) had been given.'  Did they not deny what had been given Musa (عليه السلام) earlier? They (Makkan pagans) claimed, 'Both (Scriptures, Quran and Taurait) are works of magic, supporting each other!' Adding, 'We truly deny both.'

28:49  Say, (O Prophet  ﷺ), 'Bring then a scripture from Allah which is a better guide than these two so I may follow it, if your claim is true.' 

28:50  But if they do not respond to you, then know that they are only following their whims and desires. And who is more lost than one who follows his own whims and desires without guidance from Allah? Allah does not guide unjust people. 

28:51 Verily We have conveyed to them the Word (one verse after the other, and one chapter after the other for their good) so that they may reflect and be mindful. 

28:52 (As for) those (faithfuls) to whom We had given the Scripture before this (the Quran), they do believe in it. 

28:53 When it (the Quran) is recited to them, they say, 'We believe in it. It is the Truth from our Lord. We had devoted ourselves to Allah even before this came to us.' 

28:54 They are the ones who will be given their reward twice, because they have endured with fortitude, repelling evil with good and giving in charity out of what We have given them. 

28:55 And when they hear evil vain talk, they withdraw from it and say : 'To us are our deeds and to you are your deeds. Peace be on you. We don’t seek the (way of the) ignorant.' 

28:56 You surely cannot guide whoever you like (O Prophet  ﷺ) but it is Allah Who guides whoever He wills, and He knows best who are (fit to be) guided. 

28:57 They say (to the Prophet  ﷺ), 'If we were to follow the guidance with you, we would certainly be snatched away from our land.'  Have We not established for them a safe haven (in Makka) to which fruits of all kinds are brought as a provision from Us?  But most of them do not realize (this favor). 

28:58 How many towns have We destroyed which lived in ease and plenty but were ungrateful? Here are their dwellings (in ruins), virtually uninhabited since their time.  We have inherited them. 

28:59 Your Lord would never destroy a society until He had sent to its capital an Apostle, reciting Our revelations to them. Nor would We ever destroy a society unless its people persisted in wrongdoing.

28:60 The possessions you have been granted are merely the provisions and adornments of the life of this world.  And what is with Allah is better and more lasting; so will you not use reason?

28:61 Is the one (who is a believer) who sees the fulfillment of the excellent promise We made to him (about the Hereafter),  like the one (who is a disbeliever) We provided with worldly enjoyment (but) who, on the Day of Resurrection, will be summoned (for punishment).?

28:62 On that Day, Allah will call them (the idol worshipers) and say, 'Where are My partners whom you used to claim?'

28:63 Those (who led others to associate partners with Allah, and) against whom Allah's punishment has been decreed will say : 'Our Lord! Those whom we led astray, we led them astray just because we ourselves were astray (they imitated us out of their free will). Now in Your Presence we declare our innocence (of their taking us as partners with You). It was not us that they worshiped. (Rather, they worshiped their own desires).

28:64 It will be said (to the disbelievers), 'Call upon your false gods you associated with Allah (for help).'  So they will call them, but will receive no response.  And they will face the punishment, wishing they had been (rightly) guided! 

28:65 On that Day, Allah will call them and Say : 'What was the answer you gave to (Our) Apostles?'

28:66 They will be too dumbstruck on that Day to ask one another (for answers).

28:67 Yet anyone who repented, believed and did good deeds (in this world) may possibly be among those who are successful.

28:68 Your Lord creates whatever He wills and chooses; the choice is never theirs.  Glorified and Exalted is Allah above what they associate (with Him).

28:69 Your Lord knows what they conceal in their hearts and what they disclose.

28:70 He is Allah. There is no god but He.  All praise belongs to Him in this life and the next.  All authority is His.  And to Him you will (all) be returned.

28:71 Say, ‘Tell me, if Allah were to make the night perpetual over you until the Day of Resurrection, which (of your false) god,  other than Allah could bring you light? Will you not then listen?’

28:72 Say, ‘Tell me, if Allah were to make the day perpetual over you until the Day of Resurrection, which (of your false) gods,  other than Allah could bring you night wherein you could rest? Will you not then perceive?’

28:73 It is out of His Mercy that He has made for you the night and the day so that you may rest (during the night) and seek His bounty (during the day), and that you may be grateful.

28:74 On that Day He will call them and say, 'Where are those you used to claim as My partners?'

28:75 We will bring forth a witness from every nation and say, 'produce your evidence.' They will then know that the Truth belongs to Allah alone, and (the gods) they have invented have forsaken them.

28:76 Indeed, Qaaroon (Korah) was from the people of Musa (عليه السلام), but he behaved arrogantly towards them.  We had granted him such treasures that even their keys would burden a group of strong men. (Some of) his people advised him, (saying) 'Do not be prideful.  Surely Allah does not like the prideful.

28:77 So seek the abode of the Hereafter through charity from what Allah has given you, but forget not your share in this world.  Do good to others as Allah has done good to you, and do not try to spread corruption in the land. Surely Allah does not like corrupt ones.

28:78 He said : 'I have attained all this (wealth) only because of my own acumen.'  Did he not realize that Allah had annihilated before him generations that were much stronger than he, and greater in riches.  The transgressors were not asked about their crimes.

28:79 (Qaaroon) showed off before his people all his pomp. Those who cared only for the life of this world said : 'Ah, if we  had the like of what Qaaroon has been given! What immense good fortune he possesses.'

28:80 But those who had been given the knowledge (of truth) said : 'Woe to you! The reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous deeds; and none shall attain it except those who are patient.'

28:81 And We caused the earth to swallow him and his house. There was no one to help him against Allah, nor could he help himself.

28:82 And those who had craved his position the previous day began to say, 'Ah! It is certainly Allah Who gives abundant or limited provisions to whoever He wills of His servants. But for Allah's favor upon us, He could have made us to be swallowed too. Alas, we had forgotten that the unbelievers do not prosper.

28:83 As for the (reward of the) abode of the Hereafter, We have reserved it for those who seek neither glory nor corruption in the earth; the ultimate good is for the righteous.

28:84 Whoever comes (on the Day of Judgment) with a good deed will have a better reward, and whoever comes with an evil deed will be punished only for what they have done.

28:85 Surely He Who has entrusted you (O' Prophet  ﷺ) with the (responsibility of conveying) the Quran, will certainly bring you round to the fulfillment of the promise (you will be returned in victory to the home you were compelled to abandon). Tell them : 'My Lord knows best,  who has the (true) guidance and who is lost in obvious error.'

28:86 You yourself could not have expected the book (the Quran) to be sent to you; it came only as a mercy from your Lord.  So do not lend any support to those who  reject faith.

28:87 And never let them prevent you from the verses of Allah after they have been sent down to you.  Call people towards your Lord and never let them be among those who ascribe partners (to Allah).

28:88 And (let them) not invoke any other (false) god with Allah. There is no god but He.  Everything is bound to perish except His Entity.  All authority belongs to Him. And to Him you will (all) return.