The Message of Moses (Musa), peace be upon him, to Pharaoh

We have not sent down the Qur’an to you [O Prophet] to cause you distress,

but as a reminder for those who fear Allah.

A revelation from the One Who created the earth and the high heavens.

The Most Compassionate rose over the Throne.

o Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, and all that is between them, and all that is beneath the soil.

Whether you speak loudly [or not], He surely knows what is secret and what is even more hidden.

Allah – none has the right to be worshiped except Him. He has the Most Beautiful Names.

Has there come to you the story of Moses?

When he saw a fire, he said to his family, “Stay here. I have spotted a fire; I may bring you a flaming brand from it, or find some guidance at the fire.”

When he came to it, he was called, “O Moses,

Indeed, I am your Lord, so take off your shoes; you are in the sacred valley of Tuwā.

I have chosen you, so listen to what is being revealed:

‘Indeed, I am Allah; none has the right to be worshiped except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer to remember me.

The Hour is certainly coming, but I almost keep it hidden, so that every soul will be recompensed for what it strives.

So do not let those who disbelieve in it and follow their desires distract you from it, or you will perish.’”

What is that in your right hand, O Moses?”

قال موسى عليه السلام: هي عصاي، أعتمد عليها فيHe said, “It is my staff. I lean on it and beat down leaves with it for my sheep, and I have other uses for it.”

Allah said, “Throw it down, O Moses!”

He threw it down, and it suddenly became a slithering snake.

Allah said, “Pick it up, and have no fear. We will restore it to its former state.

Put your hand under your armpit; it will come out shining white without blemish, as another sign,

so that We may show you some of Our greatest signs.

Go to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed all bounds.”

He said, “My Lord, reassure my heart for me,

and ease my task for me,

and loosen the knot from my tongue,

so that they may understand my speech.

And appoint for me a helper from my family,

Aaron, my brother.

Increase my strength through him,

and let him share my task,

so that we may glorify You much,

and remember You much.

For indeed You are All-Watchful over us.”

Allah said, “You are granted your request, O Moses.

And We had already conferred favor upon you before,

when We inspired your mother, saying,

‘Put him into the casket, then cast it into the river. The river will carry it to the shore, and he will be picked up by one who is an enemy to Me and enemy to him.’ I bestowed upon you love from Myself so that you would be brought up under My [watchful] Eye.

When your sister was going along and said, ‘Shall I show you someone who will nurse him?’ Thus We brought you back to your mother, so that she may rejoice and not grieve. Then you killed a man [by mistake], but We saved you from distress, and We put you through several trials. You stayed among the people of Midian for several years, then you came [here] at a destined time, O Moses.

I have chosen you for Myself.

Go forth, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in remembering Me.

Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has certainly transgressed all bounds.

But speak to him gently, so that he may take heed or fear Allah.”

They said, “Our Lord, we fear that he may hasten to punish us or transgress all bounds.”

He said, “Do not be afraid; I am with you both, hearing and seeing.

So go to him and say, ‘We are both messengers from your Lord, so let the Children of Israel go with us and do not oppress them. We have come to you with a sign from your Lord; and peace be upon he who follows the true guidance.

It has been revealed to us that the punishment awaits those who reject [the truth] and turn away.’”

Pharaoh said, “So who is the Lord of you two, O Moses?”

He said, “Our Lord is the One Who gave everything its form then guided it.”

Pharaoh said, “Then what about the former [disbelieving] nations?”

He said, “Its knowledge is with my Lord in a Record. My Lord never errs, nor does He forget.”

It is He Who spread out the earth for you and made therein pathways for you, and sent down rain from the sky; and We brought forth thereby various types of plants.

Eat and graze your livestock. Indeed, there are signs in this for people of sound intellect.

From this [earth] We created you, and to it We will return you, and from it We will raise you once again.

We showed Pharaoh all Our signs, but he rejected them and refused to believe.

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

We will surely bring you similar magic. So appoint a day between us that neither you nor we will fail to keep, in a convenient place.”

We will surely bring you similar magic. So appoint a day between us that neither you nor we will fail to keep, in a convenient place.”

So Pharaoh went away and put together his scheme, then came forth.

Moses said to them, “Woe to you, do not fabricate lies against Allah, lest He exterminate you with a punishment. Those who fabricate lies are bound to fail.”

Then they disputed the matter among themselves, and kept their talk private.

They said, “These two are merely magicians who want to drive you out of your land with their magic and destroy your exemplary way of life.

So gather your scheme, then line up in a row. Whoever prevails today is indeed the victor.”

They said, “O Moses, either you throw or shall we be the first to throw!”

He said, “No; you throw first.” Suddenly their ropes and staffs appeared to him, owing to their magic, as if they were slithering.

Then Moses sensed fear within himself.

We said, “Do not be afraid; it is you who will prevail.

Throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have contrived. They have only contrived a magic trick, and the magician will never prosper, wherever he goes.”

So the magicians fell down in prostration, saying, “We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.”

Pharaoh said, “How dare you believe in him before I give you permission! He must be your master who taught you magic! I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees; you will surely know whose punishment is more severe and more lasting!”

They said, “We will never choose you over the clear signs that have come to us, or over the One Who created us. So decide whatever you will. You can only make a decision about the life of this world.

We surely believe in our Lord so that He may forgive us our sins and the magic that you have compelled us to practice, for Allah is best [in reward] and more lasting [in punishment].”

Whoever comes to his Lord as an evildoer, for him is Hell; he will neither die therein nor live.

But whoever comes to Him as a believer, having done righteous deeds, it is they who will have the highest ranks:

Gardens of Eternity, under which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. Such is the reward of those who purify themselves.