Moses in the Quran

Chapter 7 – al-Anaam

103. Then We sent after them Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his establishment, but they were unjust toward them. So see how was the end of the corrupters.

104. And Moses said, "O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds

105. [Who is] obligated not to say about Allah except the truth. I have come to you with clear evidence from your Lord, so send with me the Children of Israel."

106. [Pharaoh] said, "If you have come with a sign, then bring it forth, if you should be of the truthful."

107. So he [i.e., Moses] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent, manifest.

108. And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers.

109. Said the eminent among the people of Pharaoh, "Indeed, this is a learned magician

110. Who wants to expel you from your land [through magic], so what do you instruct?"

111. They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers

112. Who will bring you every learned magician."

113. And the magicians came to Pharaoh. They said, "Indeed for us is a reward if we are the predominant."

114. He said, "Yes, and, [moreover], you will be among those made near [to me]."

115. They said, "O Moses, either you throw [your staff], or we will be the ones to throw [first]."

116. He said, "Throw," and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.

117. And We inspired to Moses, "Throw your staff," and at once it devoured what they were falsifying.

118. So the truth was established, and abolished was what they were doing.

119. And they [i.e., Pharaoh and his people] were overcome right there and became debased.

120. And the magicians fell down in prostration [to Allah].

121. They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds,

122. The Lord of Moses and Aaron."

123. Said Pharaoh, "You believed in him359 before I gave you permission. Indeed, this is a conspiracy which you conspired in the city to expel therefrom its people. But you are going to know.

124. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides; then I will surely crucify you all."

125. They said, "Indeed, to our Lord we will return.

126. And you do not resent us except because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord, pour upon us patience360 and let us die as Muslims [in submission to You]."

127. And the eminent among the people of Pharaoh said, "Will you leave Moses and his people to cause corruption in the land and abandon you and your gods?" [Pharaoh] said, "We will kill their sons and keep their women alive; and indeed, we are subjugators over them."

128. Said Moses to his people, "Seek help through Allah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous."

129. They said, "We have been harmed before you came to us and after you have come to us." He said, "Perhaps your Lord will destroy your enemy and grant you succession in the land and see how you will do."

130. And We certainly seized the people of Pharaoh with years of famine and a deficiency in fruits that perhaps they would be reminded.

131. But when good [i.e., provision] came to them, they said, "This is ours [by right]." And if a bad [condition] struck them, they saw an evil omen in Moses and those with him. Unquestionably, their fortune is with Allah, but most of them do not know.

132. And they said, "No matter what sign you bring us with which to bewitch us, we will not be believers in you."

133. So We sent upon them the flood and locusts and lice and frogs and blood as distinct signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people.

134. And when the punishment descended upon them, they said, "O Moses, invoke for us your Lord by what He has promised you. If you [can] remove the punishment from us, we will surely believe you, and we will send with you the Children of Israel."

135. But when We removed the punishment from them until a term which they were to reach, then at once they broke their word.

136. So We took retribution from them, and We drowned them in the sea because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them.

137. And We caused the people who had been oppressed to inherit the eastern regions of the land and the western ones, which We had blessed. And the good word [i.e., decree] of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of what they had patiently endured. And We destroyed [all] that Pharaoh and his people were producing and what they had been building.

138. And We took the Children of Israel across the sea; then they came upon a people intent in devotion to [some] idols of theirs. They [the Children of Israel] said, "O Moses, make for us a god just as they have gods." He said, "Indeed, you are a people behaving ignorantly.

139. Indeed, those [worshippers] – destroyed is that in which they are [engaged], and worthless is whatever they were doing."

140. He said, "Is it other than Allah I should desire for you as a god while He has preferred you over the worlds?"

141. And [recall, O Children of Israel], when We saved you from the people of Pharaoh, [who were] afflicting you with the worst torment – killing your sons and keeping your women alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord.

142. And We made an appointment with Moses for thirty nights and perfected them by [the addition of] ten; so the term of his Lord was completed as forty nights. And Moses said to hisbrother Aaron, "Take my place among my people, do right [by them], and do not follow the way of the corrupters."

143. And when Moses arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, "My Lord, show me [Yourself] that I may look at You." [Allah] said, "You will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it should remain in place, then you will see Me." But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level, and Moses fell unconscious. Andwhen he awoke, he said, "Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first of the believers."

144. [Allah] said, "O Moses, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My words [to you]. So take what I have given you and be among the grateful."

145. And We wrote for him on the tablets [something] of all things – instruction and explanation for all things, [saying], "Take them with determination and order your people to take the best of it. I will show you the home of the defiantly disobedient."

146. I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the earth without right; and if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. And if they see the way of consciousness, they will not adopt it as a way; but if they see the way of error, they will adopt it as a way. That is because they have denied Our signs and they were heedless of them.

147. Those who denied Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter – their deeds have become worthless. Are they recompensed except for what they used to do?

148. And the people of Moses made, after [his departure], from their ornaments a calf – an image having a lowing sound. Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them to a way? They took it [for worship], and they were wrongdoers.

149. And when regret overcame them and they saw that they had gone astray, they said, "If our Lord does not have mercy upon us and forgive us, we will surely be among the losers."

150. And when Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said, "How wretched is that by which you have replaced me after [my departure]. Were you impatient over the matter of your Lord?" And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by [the hair of] his head, pulling him toward him. [Aaron] said, "O son of my mother, indeed the people oppressed

me and were about to kill me, so let not the enemies rejoice over me and do not place me among the wrongdoing people."

151. [Moses] said, "My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the most merciful of the merciful."

152. Indeed, those who took the calf [for worship] will obtain anger from their Lord and humiliation in the life of this world, and thus do We recompense the inventors [of falsehood].

153. But those who committed misdeeds and then repented after them and believed – indeed your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.

154. And when the anger subsided in Moses, he took up the tablets; and in their inscription was guidance and mercy for those who are fearful of their Lord.

155. And Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment. And when the earthquake seized them, he said, "My Lord, if You had willed, You could have destroyed

them before and me [as well]. Would You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is not but Your trial by which You send astray whom You will and guide whom You will. You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers.

156. And decree for us in this world [that which is] good and [also] in the Hereafter; indeed, we have turned back to You."

159. And among the people of Moses is a community which guides by truth and by it establishes justice.

160. And We divided them into twelve descendant tribes [as distinct] nations. And We inspired to Moses when his people implored him for water, "Strike with your staff the stone,"

and there gushed forth from it twelve springs. Every people [i.e., tribe] knew its watering place. And We shaded them with clouds and sent down upon them manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not, but they were [only] wronging themselves.

161. And [mention, O Muhammad], when it was said to them, "Dwell in this city [i.e., Jerusalem] and eat from it wherever you will and say, 'Relieve us of our burdens [i.e., sins],' and enter the gate bowing humbly; We will [then] forgive you your sins. We will increase the doers of good [in goodness and reward]."

162. But those who wronged among them changed [the words] to a statement other than that which had been said to them. So We sent upon them a punishment from the sky for the wrong that they were doing.

163. And ask them about the town that was by the sea – when they transgressed in [the matter of] the sabbath – when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We give them trial because they were defiantly disobedient.

164. And when a community among them said, "Why do you advise [or warn] a people whom Allah is [about] to destroy or to punish with a severe punishment?" they [the advisors] said, "To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they may fear Him."

165. And when they [i.e., those advised] forgot that by which they had been reminded, We saved those who had forbidden evil and seized those who wronged, with a wretched punishment, because they were defiantly disobeying.

166. So when they were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, "Be apes, despised."

167. And [mention] when your Lord declared that He would surely [continue to] send upon them until the Day of Resurrection those who would afflict them with the worst torment. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.

168. And We divided them throughout the earth into nations. Of them some were righteous, and of them some were otherwise. And We tested them with good [times] and bad that perhaps they would return [to obedience].

Chapter 10 – Yunus

75. Then We sent after them Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his establishment with Our signs, but they behaved arrogantly and were a criminal people.

76. So when there came to them the truth from Us, they said, "Indeed, this is obvious magic."

77. Moses said, "Do you say [thus] about the truth when it has come to you? Is this magic? But magicians will not succeed."

78. They said, "Have you come to us to turn us away from that upon which we found our fathers and so that you two may have grandeur in the land? And we are not believers in you."

79. And Pharaoh said, "Bring to me every learned magician."

80. So when the magicians came, Moses said to them, "Throw down whatever you will throw."

81. And when they had thrown, Moses said, "What you have brought is [only] magic. Indeed, Allah will expose its worthlessness. Indeed, Allah does not amend the work of corrupters.

82. And Allah will establish the truth by His words, even if the criminals dislike it."

83. But no one believed Moses, except [some] offspring [i.e., youths] among his people, for fear of Pharaoh and his establishment that they would persecute them. And indeed, Pharaoh was haughty within the land, and indeed, he was of the transgressors.

84. And Moses said, "O my people, if you have believed in Allah, then rely upon Him, if you should be Muslims [i.e., submitting to Him]."

85. So they said, "Upon Allah do we rely. Our Lord, make us not [objects of] trial for the wrongdoing people.

86. And save us by Your mercy from the disbelieving people."

87. And We inspired to Moses and his brother, "Settle your people in Egypt in houses and make your houses [facing the] qiblah and establish prayer and give good tidings to the believers."

88. And Moses said, "Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his establishment splendor and wealth in the worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [men] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment."

89. [Allah] said, "Your supplication has been answered." So remain on a right course and follow not the way of those who do not know."

90. And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said, "I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims."

91. Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters?

92. So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many among the people, of Our signs, are heedless.

Chapter 11 – Hud

17. So is one who [stands] upon clear evidence from his Lord [like the aforementioned]? And a witness from Him follows it, and before it was the Scripture of Moses to lead and as mercy. Those [believers in the former revelations] believe in it [i.e., the Quran]. But whoever disbelieves in it from the [various] factions – the Fire is his promised destination. So be not in doubt about it. Indeed, it is the truth from your Lord, but most of the people do not believe.

96. And We did certainly send Moses with Our signs and a clear authority

97. To Pharaoh and his establishment, but they followed the command of Pharaoh, and the command of Pharaoh was not [at all] discerning.

98. He will precede his people on the Day of Resurrection and lead them into the Fire; and wretched is the place to which they are led.

110. And We had certainly given Moses the Scripture, but it came under disagreement. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, it would have been judged between them.

And indeed they are, concerning it [i.e., the Quran], in disquieting doubt.

Chapter 14 – Ibraheem

5. And We certainly sent Moses with Our signs, [saying], "Bring out your people from darknesses into the light and remind them of the days of Allah." Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.

6. And [recall, O Children of Israel], when Moses said to his people, "Remember the favor of Allah upon you when He saved you from the people of Pharaoh, who were afflicting you with the worst torment and were slaughtering your [newborn] sons and keeping your females alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord.

7. And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' 

8. And Moses said, "If you should disbelieve, you and whoever is on the earth entirely – indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy."

Chapter 17 – al-Isra

2. And We gave Moses the Scripture and made it a guidance for the Children of Israel that you not take other than Me as Disposer of affairs,

101. And We had certainly given Moses nine evident signs, so ask the Children of Israel [about] when he came to them and Pharaoh said to him, "Indeed I think, O Moses, that you are affected by magic."

102. [Moses] said, "You have already known that none has sent down these [signs] except the Lord of the heavens and the earth as evidence, and indeed I think, O Pharaoh, that you are destroyed."

103. So he intended to drive them from the land, but We drowned him and those with him all together.

Chapter 18 – al-Kahaf

60. And [mention] when Moses said to his boy [i.e., servant], "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period."

61. But when they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, and it took its course into the sea, slipping away.

62. So when they had passed beyond it, [Moses] said to his boy, "Bring us our morning meal. We have certainly suffered in this, our journey, [much] fatigue."

63. He said, "Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan – that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly."

64. [Moses] said, "That is what we were seeking." So they returned, following their footprints.

65. And they found a servant from among Our servants [i.e., al-Khidhr] to whom We had given mercy from Us and had taught him from Us a [certain] knowledge.

66. Moses said to him, "May I follow you on [the condition] that you teach me from what you have been taught of sound judgement?"

67. He said, "Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience.

68. And how can you have patience for what you do not encompass in knowledge?"

69. [Moses] said, "You will find me, if Allah wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in [any] order."

70. He said, "Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I make to you about it mention [i.e., explanation]."

71. So they set out, until when they had embarked on the ship, he [i.e., al-Khidhr] tore it open. [Moses] said, "Have you torn it open to drown its people? You have certainly done a grave thing."

72. [Al-Khidhr] said, "Did I not say that with me you would never be able to have patience?"

73. [Moses] said, "Do not blame me for what I forgot and do not cover me in my matter with difficulty."

74. So they set out, until when they met a boy, he [i.e., al-Khidhr] killed him. [Moses] said, "Have you killed a pure soul for other than [having killed] a soul? You have certainly done a

deplorable thing."

75. [Al-Khidhr] said, "Did I not tell you that with me you would never be able to have patience?"

76. [Moses] said, "If I should ask you about anything after this, then do not keep me as a companion. You have obtained from me an excuse."

77. So they set out, until when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. And they found therein a wall about to collapse, so he [i.e., al-Khidhr] restored it. [Moses] said, "If you wished, you could have taken for it a payment."

78. [Al-Khidhr] said, "This is parting between me and you. I will inform you of the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience.

79. As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to cause defect in it as there was after them a king who seized every [good] ship by force.

80. And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief.

81. So we intended that their Lord should substitute for them one better than him in purity and nearer to mercy.

82. And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach

maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience."

83. And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about Dhul-Qarnayn. Say, "I will recite to you about him a report."

84. Indeed, We established him upon the earth, and We gave him to everything a way [i.e., means].

85. So he followed a way

86. Until, when he reached the setting of the sun [i.e., the west], he found it [as if] setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people. We [i.e., Allah] said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of]

goodness."

87. He said, "As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment [i.e., Hellfire].

88. But as for one who believes and does righteousness, he will have a reward of the best [i.e., Paradise], and we [i.e., Dhul-Qarnayn] will speak to him from our command with ease."

89. Then he followed a way

90. Until, when he came to the rising of the sun [i.e., the east], he found it rising on a people for whom We had not made against it any shield.

91. Thus. And We had encompassed [all] that he had in knowledge.

92. Then he followed a way

93. Until, when he reached [a pass] between two mountains, he found beside them a people who could hardly understand [his] speech.

94. They said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a

barrier?"

95. He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength [i.e., manpower]; I will make between you and them a dam.

Chapter 19 – Marium

51. And mention in the Book, Moses. Indeed, he was chosen, and he was a messenger and a prophet.

52. And We called him from the side of the mount at [his] right and brought him near, confiding [to him].

53. And We gave him out of Our mercy his brother Aaron as a prophet.

54. And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.

55. And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakah and was to his Lord pleasing [i.e., accepted by Him].

56. And mention in the Book, Idrees. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.

57. And We raised him to a high station.

Chapter 20 – Ta Ha

9. And has the story of Moses reached you? –

10. When he saw a fire and said to his family, "Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire; perhaps I can bring you a torch or find at the fire some guidance."

11. And when he came to it, he was called, "O Moses,

12. Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa.

13. And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed [to you].

14. Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.

15. Indeed, the Hour is coming – I almost conceal it – so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives.

16. So do not let one avert you from it who das not believe in it and follows his desire, for you [then] would perish.

17. And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?"

18. He said, "It is my staff; I lean upon it, and I bring down leaves for my sheep and I have therein other uses."

19. [Allah] said, "Throw it down, O Moses."

20. So he threw it down, and thereupon it was a snake, moving swiftly.

21. [Allah] said, "Seize it and fear not; We will return it to its former condition.

22. And draw in your hand to your side; it will come out white without disease – another sign,

23. That We may show you [some] of Our greater signs.

24. Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed [i.e., tyrannized]."

25. [Moses] said, "My Lord, expand [i.e., relax] for me my breast

[with assurance]

26. And ease for me my task

27. And untie the knot from my tongue

28. That they may understand my speech.

29. And appoint for me a minister [i.e., assistant] from my family –

30. Aaron, my brother.

31. Increase through him my strength

32. And let him share my task

33. That we may exalt You much

34. And remember You much.

35. Indeed, You are of us ever Seeing."

36. [Allah] said, "You have been granted your request, O Moses.

37. And We had already conferred favor upon you another time,

38. When We inspired to your mother what We inspired,

39. [Saying], 'Cast him into the chest and cast it into the river, and the river will throw it onto the bank; there will take him an enemy to Me and an enemy to him.' And I bestowed upon you love from Me that you would be brought up under My eye [i.e., observation and care].

40. [And We favored you] when your sister went and said, 'Shall I direct you to someone who will be responsible for him?' So We restored you to your mother that she might be content and not grieve. And you killed someone, but We saved you from retaliation and tried you with a [severe] trial. And you remained

[some] years among the people of Madyan. Then you came [here] at the decreed time, O Moses.

41. And I produced you for Myself.

42. Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance.

43. Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.

44. And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]."

45. They said, "Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress."

46. [Allah] said, "Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.

47. So go to him and say, 'Indeed, we are messengers of your Lord, so send with us the Children of Israel and do not torment them. We have come to you with a sign from your Lord. And peace779 will be upon he who follows the guidance.

48. Indeed, it has been revealed to us that the punishment will be upon whoever denies and turns away.' "

49. [Pharaoh] said, "So who is the Lord of you two, O Moses?"

50. He said, "Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it]."

51. [Pharaoh] said, "Then what is the case of the former generations?"

52. [Moses] said, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets."

53. [It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.

54. Eat [therefrom] and pasture your livestock. Indeed in that are signs for those of intelligence.

55. From it [i.e., the earth] We created you, and into it We will return you, and from it We will extract you another time.

56. And We certainly showed him [i.e., Pharaoh] Our signs – all of them – but he denied and refused.

57. He said, "Have you come to us to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moses?

58. Then we will surely bring you magic like it, so make between us and you an appointment, which we will not fail to keep and neither will you, in a place assigned."

59. [Moses] said, "Your appointment is on the day of the festival when the people assemble at mid-morning.

60. So Pharaoh went away, put together his plan, and then came [to Moses].

61. Moses said to them [i.e., the magicians summoned by Pharaoh], "Woe to you! Do not invent a lie against Allah or He will exterminate you with a punishment; and he has failed who invents [such falsehood]."

62. So they disputed over their affair among themselves and concealed their private conversation.

63. They said, "Indeed, these are two magicians who want to drive you out of your land with their magic and do away with your most exemplary way [i.e., religion or tradition].

64. So resolve upon your plan and then come [forward] in line. And he has succeeded today who overcomes."

65. They said, "O Moses, either you throw or we will be the first to throw."

66. He said, "Rather, you throw." And suddenly their ropes and staffs seemed to him from their magic that they were moving [like snakes].

67. And he sensed within himself apprehension, did Moses.

68. We [i.e., Allah] said, "Fear not. Indeed, it is you who are superior.

69. And throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have crafted. What they have crafted is but the trick of a magician, and the magician will not succeed wherever he is."

70. So the magicians fell down in prostration.782 They said, "We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses."

71. [Pharaoh] said, "You believed him [i.e., Moses] before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will surely know which of us is more severe in [giving] punishment and more enduring."

72. They said, "Never will we prefer you over what has come to us of clear proofs and [over] He who created us. So decree whatever you are to decree. You can only decree for this worldly life.

73. Indeed, we have believed in our Lord that He may forgive us our sins and what you compelled us [to do] of magic. And Allah is better and more enduring."

74. Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal – indeed, for him is Hell; he will neither die therein nor live.

75. But whoever comes to Him as a believer having done righteous deeds – for those will be the highest degrees [in position]:

76. Gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. And that is the reward of one who purifies himself.

77. And We had inspired to Moses, "Travel by night with My servants and strike for them a dry path through the sea; you will not fear being overtaken [by Pharaoh] nor be afraid [of drowning]."

78. So Pharaoh pursued them with his soldiers, and there covered them from the sea that which covered them,

79. And Pharaoh led his people astray and did not guide [them].

80. O Children of Israel, We delivered you from your enemy, and We made an appointment with you at the right side of the mount, and We sent down to you manna and quails,

81. [Saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you and do not transgress [or oppress others] therein, lest My anger should descend upon you. And he upon whom My anger descends has certainly fallen [i.e. perished]."

82. But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and das righteousness and then continues in guidance.

83. [Allah said], "And what made you hasten from your people, O Moses?"

84. He said, "They are close upon my tracks, and I hastened to You, my Lord, that You be pleased."

85. [Allah] said, "But indeed, We have tried your people after you [departed], and the Samiri has led them astray."

86. So Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved. He said, "O my people, did your Lord not make you a good promise? Then, was the time [of its fulfillment] too long for you, or did you wish that wrath from your Lord descend upon you, so you broke your promise [of obedience] to me?"

87. They said, "We did not break our promise to you by our will, but we were made to carry burdens from the ornaments of the people [of Pharaoh], so we threw them [into the fire], and thus did the Samiri throw."

88. And he extracted for them [the statue of] a calf which had a lowing sound, and they said, "This is your god and the god of Moses, but he forgot."

89. Did they not see that it could not return to them any speech [i.e., response] and that it did not possess for them any harm or benefit?

90. And Aaron had already told them before [the return of Moses], "O my people, you are only being tested by it, and indeed, your Lord is the Most Merciful, so follow me and obey my order."

91. They said, "We will never cease being devoted to it [i.e., the calf] until Moses returns to us."

92. [Moses] said, "O Aaron, what prevented you, when you saw them going astray,

93. From following me? Then have you disobeyed my order?"

94. [Aaron] said, "O son of my mother, do not seize [me] by my beard or by my head. Indeed, I feared that you would say, 'You caused division among the Children of Israel, and you did not observe [or await] my word.' "

95. [Moses] said, "And what is your case, O Samiri?"

96. He said, "I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful [of dust] from the track of the messenger and threw it, and thus did my soul entice me."

97. [Moses] said, "Then go. And indeed, it is [decreed] for you in [this] life to say, 'No contact. And indeed, you have an appointment [in the Hereafter] you will not fail to keep. And look at your 'god' to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and blow it [i.e., its ashes] into the sea with a blast.

98. Your god is only Allah, except for whom there is no deity. He has encompassed all things in knowledge."

Translation derived from Sahih International.

Imran Khan's half dozen mistakes.

1. Fired Gen. Asim Munir as DGISI and earned his fatal enmity.
2. Sent a reference to SJC against Justice Qazi Faez Isa who wrote accusatory letters to the President and became permanently biased against him.
3. After the CEC gave a slanderous official statement against him, he tried to have him removed from office on ground of partiality.
4. Cooperated with ex-army chief Bajwa in getting politicians put in jail and tamed as serfs of the army.
5. Tried to assert himself as the leader of the Muslim world, challenging the rulers of Saudi Arabia and other Muslim states.
6. Defied the decades old tradition of taking dictation from the Americans. 

How to Stop Terrorism

 A reproduction of my old blog dated May 21, 2012

Q: What motivates terrorism?
A: Revenge and desperation.
Q: Who supports terrorism?
A: Grudge groups who have grievances against past injustices.
Q: How does terrorism differ from protest?
A: Protest is done by those who have hope; terrorism by those who have lost hope.
Q: How does terrorism grow?
A: By the production of more revenge seekers as a result of killing suspected terrorists.
Q: How can the growth of terrorists be contained?
A: By restraining those who kill suspected terrorists.
Q: Is it legal to kill suspected terrorists?
A: No. It is a mockery of law and justice even if it is endorsed by the president of a super power.
Q: What goes on in the mind of a terrorist?
A: He thinks that he is doing justice.
Q: What events triggered the current spate of terrorism?
A: Apparently atrocities against the people of Palestine and Kashmir.
Q: What prevented the UN from resolving these issues?
A: The vested interests of superpowers and the inability of the small men who ruled them to rise above parochial considerations and think in terms of universal good.
Q: Is NATO involved in terrorism or ideologically opposed to terrorism?
A: None. It is only trying to establish military bases in all countries of the world like it has in most countries of Western Europe, Far East and Middle East.
Q: Then why is NATO fighting a war on terror?
A: Because they think that outfits like Al-Qaida and Taliban have their own agenda of world domination which challenges theirs.
Q: How can the war of terror be stopped?
A: By a civilian overthrow of the military influence in governments.
Q: What if that is not possible?
A: Preaching universal non-violence at every forum, especially to children. The next generation may benefit from it.
Q: What is wrong with tribal areas of Pakistan?
A: It is a modern reincarnation of the Wild West where the Toyota Pick-up has replaced the horse.
Q: Can these tribal areas be made 21^st century compliant?
A: The Wild West changed with the introduction of gold quest, rail-road, industry, food and grocery chains etc. Something similar might wok here.

The Forgery of Israel

 

For many centuries Jews were a constant irritation to European Christians. If ever there was a hated nation, it was them. Allegations of abduction and cannibalization of Christian children were common in many parts of Europe, particularly Germany. Their atrocities on debtors were the topic of European literature and they made themselves intimidating by having gold implants in their teeth. But their greatest intimidation was their assumed and publicized claim that they were descendants of Abraham, the most respected Biblical character who is credited with introducing the concepts of day of judgment, heaven, and hell. Their extreme maltreatment at the hands of the Nazis was perhaps the culmination of that simmering hatred.

The European Christians found a way to get rid of them by accepting their claim on Palestinian lands as per a covenant done between God and Abraham mentioned in the Torah. The new state was called Israel after the term children of Israel mentioned in the Torah/Pentateuch/Old Testament. The term children of Israel signifies the members of the clan or tribe of Mr. Israel and their descendants

As to how the children of the real or mythical Mr. Israel became the descendants of Abraham is an interesting story which can be traced in the Old Testament. It turns out that it was an adopted name of Jacob the grandson of Abraham and the son of Issac. When one reads the following verses of the Book of Moses in King James version of the Holy Bible, it becomes apparent that the name-change and its occasions were inserted in the text that contained only the history of Jacob.  This forgery may have been done when the Torah was published in the Masoretic version. The pages of earlier authentic copies such as the codices of Sinaiticus and Aleppo that could expose this forgery have been destroyed in some way or the other.

Given below are the verses which mention Israel versus Jacob and anyone who has edited a manuscript should be able to recognize the act of forgery and its poor implementation in this text.

Genesis 32

24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

27 And he said unto him, What is thy name ? And he said, Jacob.

28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel : for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name ? And he blessed him there.

30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [the face of God] : for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day ; because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.

Genesis 33

18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram ; and pitched his tent before the city.

19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money.

20 And he erected there an altar,  and called it El-Elohe-Israel [God the God of Israel].

Genesis 34

7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it : and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter ; which thing

ought not to be done.

Genesis 35

9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.

10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob : thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name ; and he called his name Israel.

11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty : be fruitful and multiply : a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins ;

12 and the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone : and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Beth-el.

19 2And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave : that is the pillar of Rachel’s

grave unto this day.

21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

22. And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine : and Israel heard it.

27 2And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arba, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

28 And the days of Isaac were a hundred and fourscore years.

29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days : and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Genesis 36

31 And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.

Genesis 37

1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren ; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives : and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age : and he made him a coat of many colors.

4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem ? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

Genesis 38

34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

Genesis 42

1 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another ?

2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt : get you down thither, and buy for us from thence ; that we may live, and not die.

3 And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.

4 But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren ; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came : for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

29 And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them ; saying,

30 The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.

36 And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children : Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away : all these things are against me.

Genesis 43

6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother ?

7 And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive ? have ye another brother ? and we told him according to the tenor of these words : Could we

certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down ?

8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go ; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

9 I will be surety for him ; of my hand shalt thou require him : if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever :

10 for except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second

time.

11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this ; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices and

myrrh, nuts and almonds :

12 and take double money in your hand ; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand ; peradventure it was an oversight.

Genesis 45

21 And the children of Israel did so : and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.

Genesis 46

1 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father : fear not to go down into Egypt ; for I will there make of thee a great nation.

4 I will go down with thee into Egypt ; and I will also surely bring thee up again : and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

5 And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba : and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

6 And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him :

7  sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons : Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.

26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, all the souls were threescore and six ;

27 and the sons of Joseph, which were borne him in Egypt, were two souls : all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.

28 And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen ; and they came into the land of Goshen.

29 And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him ; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

30 And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.

Genesis 47

27 And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen ; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years : so the whole age of Jacob was a hundred forty and seven years.

29 And the time drew nigh that Israel must die : and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and

truly with me ; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt :

30 but I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.

31 And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.

Genesis 48

2 And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee : and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

4 and said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people ; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.

8 And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these ?

9 And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see.  And he brought them near unto him ; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

11 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face : and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed.

12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him.

14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly ; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh : and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die ; but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

Genesis 49

2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob ; and hearken unto Israel your father.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce ; and their wrath, for it was cruel : I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel : and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them ; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

Genesis 50

1 And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father : and the physicians embalmed Israel.

3 And forty days were fulfilled for him ; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed : and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.

Note: If the Egyptians had so much respect and regard for Mr. Israel that they mourned his death for seventy days, then why hasn’t any archeologist found any relic related to him in the excavations in Egypt?

 

The Level Playing Field

 Much is being said about providing level playing field to various political parties in the upcoming general elections in Pakistan. 

The buldozer operators are acting on their own whims and prejudices, causing much distress to innocent, sincere and patriotic citizens.

The real issue is a poorly written constitution and the insolence of certain institutions that spare no opportunity of discrediting it. Insult is added to national injury by almost equal criminalization of political, civil, commercial and military entities where lust for laundered money rules Supreme.

The  Supreme Court  judges have extricated the appointment of CJ from politics by strictly following seniority for promotion and retiring routinely at fixed age.

The Army can benefit from following the same example,  rather than involving political wranglings.  The other option is to follow the parliamentary norm. Sack all starred generals every five years and recruit afresh on the basis of merit. The sacked ones should also be allowed to apply and compete in a well designed test of courage and integrity. The freshly appointed generals may then elect their Chief.

Thanks, Singaporeans

 I appreciate the recent surge in interest and pageviews from Singapore. I am expecting some comments from the able readers. It will encourage me, surely. 

Faith and Grammar

 

An ancient piece of text in any language written before the development of its grammar is always ambiguous and subject to multiple interpretations.

I asked  an AI chatbot about when the grammars of the languages in which most popular divine books are written were compiled. Here is the answer.

The grammar of the following languages was compiled at different times throughout history:

Greek: The grammar of the Greek language was compiled by ancient Greek scholars and grammarians starting from around the 4th century BCE. The most famous of these works is the "Art of Grammar" by Dionysius Thrax, which was written in the 2nd century BCE.

Latin: The grammar of the Latin language was also compiled by ancient Roman grammarians. One of the earliest Latin grammars is the "Ars grammatica" by Aelius Donatus, which was written in the 4th century CE. However, there were earlier works on Latin grammar as well.

Hebrew: The grammar of the Hebrew language was studied and compiled by Jewish scholars over centuries. One significant work on Hebrew grammar is the "Sefer Yetzirah," written in the early centuries CE. However, the most comprehensive and influential Hebrew grammar work is the "Kitāb al-ʼAyn" by Saadia Gaon, written in the 9th century CE.

Arabic: The grammar of the Arabic language was extensively studied and compiled by Arab linguists and scholars from the 8th century CE onwards. Some of the most notable works on Arabic grammar include "Al-Kitab" by Sibawayh, written in the 8th century CE, and "Al-Kitab fi al-Nahw" by Ibn Hisham, written in the 13th century CE.

End of Goodness

 Intelligence Report sent by an observer in a UFO circling the earth to its headquarters in Alpha Centauri.

Political situation in Pakistan has taken a bizarre turn. The country gives the impression if a huge concentration camp in which 230 million inmates are being tormented to break their will.  They failed to retake occupied Kashmir, instead became an occupied land in sympathy.

The army has embarked on a ruthless plan to restore its intimidation on public which seems to have tarnished significantly in the last few years due to the misdeeds of the last chief and the controversial appointment of the new one.

The failed assassination attempt on IK allegedly staged by the internal wing of an intelligence agency in collaboration with PMLN seems to have  alienated not only the public but also segments of the armed forces both active and retired. A number of retired and sacked military officers were openly advocating revolt against army chief and DG ISI.

It seems that there were numerous officers in army who honestly believed that the army should mind its own business and  stay away from the political quagmire. But unfortunately they ended up on the wrong side of the dominant segment that looked upon itself as the sovereign owner of the country.

Due to three decade long military dictatorships when they worked hand in glove there are strong links between the army hierarchy and civil beaurocracy including the police.  The army command is in a position to have any false case registered against any civilian in any part of the country including the remotest corners. When hundreds of false cases were registered against individual PTI leaders, although it could and maybe was done by the PDM coalition, many sober intellectuals were equally suspicious of both. The assassination of Arshad Sharif and abduction and torture of numerous journalists and PTI leaders by CTD was overly disturbing.

In his press conference DGISPR expressed pride that his men had succeeded in snaring PTI workers into military property  and obtaining video evidence against them that would be used in summary military trials. All the live broadcast videos showing PTI leaders screaming on loud hailers asking their people not to enter army property or take part in violence as well as those showing plainclothes men alighting services vehicles and merging with protesters have disappeared from the social media. The contempt with which he alluded to a political party and its leader clearly showed ill will. Medals would have been due if the ruse had been pulled off against an enemy.
At about the same time, two v-loggers reported about a meeting called by DGISI in which the owners of about a dozen TV news channels were indirectly threatened that even if the name of Imran Khan was mentioned on their channels their womenfolk could be kidnapped and their houses could be set on fire. There is no way to verify their veracity but the forbidden name has disappeared from all tv channels just as those v-loggers have disappeared from YouTube.
Imran Khan's campaign of public awareness of civil rights and the realisation by the masses of how they had been robbed and persecuted by a corrupt mafia of sorts had galvanised the nation. His inspirational slogan "We have shattered the idols of fear" echoed in all walks of life. Expectation arose that a virtuous revolution was about to take place without bloodshed.

It seems that the idea of a fearless public displeased the army top brass. If all the people became brave and ready to fight an invader, where would they stand? 

So it all started ..........