Hizb 17

His people’s arrogant leaders said, ‘Shuayb, we will expel you and your fellow believers from our town unless you return to our religion.’ He said, ‘What! Even if we detest it

Translation 1260

If we were to return to your religion after God has saved us from it, we would be inventing lies about Him: there is no way we could return to it- unless by the will of God our Lord: in His knowledge He comprehends everything. We put our trust in God. Our Lord, expose the truth [and judge] between us and our people, for You are the best judge.’

Translation 1260

The disbelieving leaders among his people said, ‘You will certainly be losers if you follow Shuayb’

Translation 1260

an earthquake seized them: by the next morning they were lying dead in their homes

Translation 1260

it was as if those who had rejected Shuayb had never lived there; it was those who had rejected Shuayb who were the losers

Translation 1260

so he turned away from them, saying, ‘My people, I delivered my Lord’s messages to you and gave you sincere advice, so why should I grieve for people who refused to believe?’

Translation 1260

Whenever We sent a prophet to a town, We afflicted its [disbelieving] people with suffering and hardships, so that they might humble themselves [before God]

Translation 1260

and then We changed their hardship into prosperity, until they multiplied. But then they said, ‘Hardship and affluence also befell our forefathers,’ and so We took them suddenly, unawares

Translation 1260

If the people of those towns had believed and been mindful of God, We would have showered them with blessings from the heavens and earth, but they rejected the truth and so We punished them for their misdeeds

Translation 1260

Do the people of these towns feel secure that Our punishment will not come upon them by night, while they are asleep

Translation 1260

Do the people of these towns feel secure that Our punishment will not come upon them by day, while they are at play

Translation 1260

Do they feel secure against God’s plan? Only the losers feel secure against God’s plan

Translation 1260

Is it not clear to those who inherit the land from former generations that We can punish them too for their sins if We will? And seal up their hearts so that they cannot hear

Translation 1260

We have told you [Prophet] the stories of those towns: messengers came to them, and clear signs, but they would not believe in what they had already rejected- in this way God seals the hearts of disbelievers

Translation 1260

We found that most of them did not honour their commitments; We found that most of them were defiant

Translation 1260

After these, We sent Moses to Pharaoh and his leading supporters with Our signs, but they rejected them. See the fate of those who used to spread corruption

Translation 1260

Moses said, ‘Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of all the Worlds

Translation 1260

duty-bound to say nothing about God but the truth, and I have brought you a clear sign from your Lord. Let the Children of Israel go with me.’

Translation 1260

He said, ‘Produce this sign you have brought, if you are telling the truth.’

Translation 1260

So Moses threw his staff and- lo and behold!- it was a snake, clear to all

Translation 1260

and then he pulled out his hand and- lo and behold!- it was white for all to see

Translation 1260

The leaders among Pharaoh’s people said, ‘This man is a learned sorcerer

Translation 1260

He means to drive you out of your land!’ Pharaoh said, ‘What do you suggest?’

Translation 1260

They said, ‘Delay him and his brother for a while, and send messengers to all the cities

Translation 1260

to summon every learned sorcerer to you.’

Translation 1260

The sorcerers came to Pharaoh and said, ‘Shall we be rewarded if we win?’

Translation 1260

and he replied, ‘Yes, and you will join my inner court.’

Translation 1260

So they said, ‘Moses, will you throw first or shall we?’

Translation 1260

He said, ‘You throw,’ and they did, casting a spell on people’s eyes, striking fear into them, and bringing about great sorcery

Translation 1260

Then We inspired Moses, ‘Throw your staff,’ and- lo and behold!––it devoured their fakery

Translation 1260

The truth was confirmed and what they had produced came to nothing

Translation 1260

they were defeated there and utterly humiliated

Translation 1260

The sorcerers fell to their knees

Translation 1260

and said, ‘We believe in the Lord of the Worlds

Translation 1260

the Lord of Moses and Aaron!’

Translation 1260

but Pharaoh said, ‘How dare you believe in Him before I have given you permission? This is a plot you have hatched to drive the people out of this city! Soon you will see

Translation 1260

I will cut off your alternate hands and feet and then crucify you all!’

Translation 1260

They said, ‘And so we shall return to our Lord

Translation 1260

Your only grievance against us is that we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord, pour steadfastness upon us and let us die in devotion to You.’

Translation 1260

The leaders among Pharaoh’s people said to him, ‘But are you going to leave Moses and his people to spread corruption in the land and forsake you and your gods?’ He replied, ‘We shall kill their male children, sparing only the females: We have complete power over them.’

Translation 1260

Moses said to his people, ‘Turn to God for help and be steadfast: the earth belongs to God- He gives it as their own to whichever of His servants He chooses- and the happy future belongs to those who are mindful of Him,’

Translation 1260

and they replied, ‘We were being persecuted long before you came to us, and since then too.’ He said, ‘Your Lord may well destroy your enemy and make you successors to the land to see how you behave.’

Translation 1260

We inflicted years of drought and crop failure on Pharaoh’s people, so that they might take heed

Translation 1260

then, when something good came their way, they said, ‘This is our due!’. When something bad came, they ascribed it to the evil omen of Moses and those with him, but their ‘evil omen’ was really from God, though most of them did not realize it

Translation 1260

They said, ‘We will not believe in you, no matter what signs you produce to cast a spell on us,’

Translation 1260

and so We let loose on them the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, blood- all clear signs. They were arrogant, wicked people

Translation 1260

They would say, whenever a plague struck them, ‘Moses, pray to your Lord for us by virtue of the promise He has made to you: if you relieve us of the plague, we will believe you and let the Children of Israel go with you,’

Translation 1260

but when We relieved them of the plague and gave them a fixed period [in which to fulfil their promise]- lo and behold!- they broke it

Translation 1260

And so, because they rejected Our signs and paid them no heed, We exacted retribution from them: We drowned them in the sea

Translation 1260

and We made those who had been oppressed succeed to both the east and the west of the land that We had blessed. Your Lord’s good promise to the Children of Israel was fulfilled, because of their patience, and We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people were making and what they were building

Translation 1260

We took the Children of Israel across the sea, but when they came upon a people who worshipped idols, they said, ‘Moses, make a god for us like theirs.’ He said, ‘You really are foolish people

Translation 1260

[the cult] these people practise is doomed to destruction, and what they have been doing is useless

Translation 1260

Why should I seek any god other than God for you, when He has favoured you over all other people?’

Translation 1260

Remember how We saved you from Pharaoh’s people, who were subjecting you to the worst of sufferings, killing your male children, sparing only your females- that was a mighty ordeal from your Lord

Translation 1260

We appointed thirty nights for Moses, then added ten more: the term set by his Lord was completed in forty nights. Moses said to his brother Aaron, ‘Take my place among my people: act rightly and do not follow the way of those who spread corruption.’

Translation 1260

When Moses came for the appointment, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show Yourself to me: let me see You!’ He said, ‘You will never see Me, but look at that mountain: if it remains standing firm, you will see Me,’ and when his Lord revealed Himself to the mountain, He made it crumble: Moses fell down unconscious. When he recovered, he said, ‘Glory be to You! To You I turn in repentance! I am the first to believe!’

Translation 1260

He said, ‘Moses, I have raised you above other people by [giving you] My messages and speaking to you: hold on to what I have given you; be one of those who give thanks.’

Translation 1260

We inscribed everything for him in the Tablets which taught and explained everything, saying, ‘Hold on to them firmly and urge your people to hold fast to their excellent teachings. I will show you the end of those who rebel

Translation 1260