Moses, called and given Messengership

And mention in the Book, Moses. Indeed, he was chosen, and he was a messenger and a prophet.¹

And We called him from the side of the mount¹ at [his] right and brought him near, confiding [to him].

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

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."

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

Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the blessed valley of Ṭuwā.

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

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

Indeed, the Hour is coming - I almost conceal it¹ - so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives.

So do not let one avert you from it¹ who does not believe in it and follows his desire, for you [then] would perish.

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

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

[Allāh] said, "Throw it down, O Moses."

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

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

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

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

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

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

And ease for me my task

And untie the knot from my tongue

That they may understand my speech.

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

Aaron, my brother.

Increase through him my strength

And let him share my task

That we may exalt You much

And remember You much.

Indeed, You are of us ever Seeing."

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

And We had already conferred favor upon you another time,

When We inspired to your mother what We inspired,

[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 Me¹ that you would be brought up under My eye [i.e., observation and care].

[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,¹ 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.

And I produced you for Myself.¹

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

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

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

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

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

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 peace¹ will be upon he who follows the guidance.

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

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

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

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

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

[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.

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

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.

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

And has the story of Moses reached you? -

And when Moses had completed the term and was traveling with his family, he perceived from the direction of the mount a fire. 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."

But when he came to it, he was called from the right side of the valley in a blessed spot - from the tree,¹ "O Moses, indeed I am Allāh, Lord of the worlds."

And [he was told], "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it writhing as if it was a snake, he turned in flight and did not return.¹ [Allāh said], "O Moses, approach and fear not. Indeed, you are of the secure.

Insert your hand into the opening of your garment; it will come out white, without disease. And draw in your arm close to you [as prevention] from fear, for those are two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his establishment. Indeed, they have been a people defiantly disobedient."

He said, "My Lord, indeed I killed from among them someone, and I fear they will kill me.

And my brother Aaron is more fluent than me in tongue, so send him with me as support, verifying me. Indeed, I fear that they will deny me."

[Allāh] said, "We will strengthen your arm through your brother and grant you both supremacy so they will not reach you. [It will be] through Our signs; you and those who follow you will be the predominant."