بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Transcription
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
Edip-Layth
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Compassionate.
The Monotheist Group
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
Muhammad Asad
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace:
Rashad Khalifa
In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. ,
Shabbir Ahmed
All praise is due to God, the Lord/Cherisher/Sustainer of the Universe and everything therein.
Çeviriyazı
Bismillâhir rahmânir rahîm.
Edip Yüksel
Rahman, Rahim Allah'ın ismiyle
Yaşar Nuri Öztürk
Rahman ve Rahim Allah'ın adıyla...
Muhammed Esed
RAHMÂN, RAHÎM ALLAH ADINA
Ali Bulaç
Rahman ve Rahim olan Allah'ın adıyla

28:1 طسم

28:1 Tsm
Transcription (English)
28:1 Ta-seen-meem
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:1 T9S60M40.1

Note 1

T9S60M40. This combination of letters/numbers plays an important role in the mathematical system of the Quran based on code 19. See 74:1; 1:1; 2:1; 13:38; 27:82; 38:1; 40:28; 46:10; 72:28.

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:1 T'SM.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:1 Ta. Sin. Mim.1

Note 1
See Appendix II.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:1 T. S. M.,1

Note 1
See Appendix 1for details of the Quran's miraculous mathematical code, and the meaningor significance of these Quranic Initials.
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:1 T.S.M. Ta-Seen-Meem (Toor-e-Sina, Musa. commandments were given to Moses at Mount Sinai.)1

Note 1


This is the 28th Surah of the Qur’an. It has 88 verses. This Surah touches upon history with its lessons as well as other precious guidance for everyday life. Denounce not the life of this world for the Hereafter or vice versa.



With the Glorious Name of God, the Instant and Sustaining Source of all Mercy and Kindness



28:2 تلك ءايت الكتب المبين

Transcription (English)
28:2 Tilka ayatu alkitabialmubeeni
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:2 These are the signs of the clear book.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:2 These are the signs of the clear Book.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:2 These are messages of a divine writ clear in itself and clearly showing the truth.2

Note 2
For an explanation of the above rendering of the adjective mubin, see note 2 on 12:1.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:2 These (letters) constitute proofs of this profound book.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:2 These are verses of the Book clear in itself, and it makes things clear.

28:3 نتلوا عليك من نبا موسى وفرعون بالحق لقوم يؤمنون

Transcription (English)
28:3 Natloo AAalayka min naba-i moosawafirAAawna bialhaqqi liqawmin yu/minoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
Moses28:3 We recite to you from the news of Moses and Pharaoh with truth, for a people who acknowledge.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:3 We recite to you from the news of Moses and Pharaoh with fact, for a people who believe.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:3 We [now] convey unto thee some of the story of Moses and Pharaoh, setting forth the truth for [the benefit of] people who will believe.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:3 We recite to you herein some history of Moses and Pharaoh, truthfully, for the benefit of people who believe.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:3 We narrate to you some history of Moses and Pharaoh, setting forth the truth for the benefit of those who will believe.

28:4 ان فرعون علا فى الارض وجعل اهلها شيعا يستضعف طائفة منهم يذبح ابناءهم ويستحى نساءهم انه كان من المفسدين

Transcription (English)
28:4 Inna firAAawna AAala fee al-ardiwajaAAala ahlaha shiyaAAan yastadAAifu ta-ifatanminhum yuthabbihu abnaahum wayastahyeenisaahum innahu kana mina almufsideena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:4 Pharaoh became mighty in the land, and he turned its people into factions, he oppressed a group of them by killing their children and shaming their women. He was of those who corrupted.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:4 Pharaoh became mighty in the land, and he turned its people into factions; he oppressed a group of them by killing their children and raping their women. He was of those who corrupted.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:4 Behold, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and divided its people into castes.3 One group of them he deemed utterly low; he would slaughter their sons and spare (only) their women:4 for, behold, he was one of those who spread corruption [on earth].

Note 3
Lit., "parties" or "sects" - here undoubtedly referring to the division of people into "high" and "low-born": a division which the Qur'an utterly condemns. The group which, as mentioned in the next sentence, Pharaoh "deemed utterly low" were the Israelites, who had been placed on the lowest rung of the Egyptian social scale and were deprived of almost all human rights.

Note 4
see note 7.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:4 Pharaoh turned into a tyrant on earth, and discriminated against some people. He persecuted a helpless group of them, slaughtering their sons, while sparing their daughters. He was indeed wicked.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:4 Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and divided people into castes. A tribe among them (the Israelites) he oppressed, killing their sons and sparing their women. Surely, he was of the corrupters. (2:49, 7:141, 40:25)2

Note 2
Prophet Joseph son of Prophet Israel Jacob had died around 1600 BC. His successors gradually lost control of the government and the native Egyptians started up a slow but steady rebellion against the Israelites. About a century later around 1500 BC, the Egyptians wrested control of the government and established a kingdom. The Egyptian kings from then on assumed the title of ‘Pharaoh’. They began persecuting the Israelites about 1400 BC and this persecution reached its zenith in the times of Prophet Moses, under the rule of Pharaoh Ramses II, 1290 to 1224 BC

28:5 ونريد ان نمن على الذين استضعفوا فى الارض ونجعلهم ائمة ونجعلهم الورثين

Transcription (English)
28:5 Wanureedu an namunna AAala allatheenaistudAAifoo fee al-ardi wanajAAalahum a-immatanwanajAAalahumu alwaritheena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:5 We wanted to help those who were oppressed in the land, and to make them role models, and to make them the inheritors.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:5 And We wanted to help those who were oppressed in the land, and to make them leaders, and to make them the inheritors.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:5 But it was Our will to bestow Our favour upon those [very people] who were deemed [so] utterly low in the land, and to make them forerunners in faith.5 and to make them heirs [to Pharaoh's glory],

Note 5
Lit., "leaders" or "exemplars" (a'immah, sing. imam) - an allusion to the historical fact that the Hebrews were the first to accept a monotheistic creed in a clear, unequivocal formulation, and thus became the forerunners of both Christianity and Islam.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
God Compensates the Oppressed28:5 We willed to compensate those who were oppressed on earth, and to turn them into leaders, and make them the inheritors.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:5 But it was Our will to bestow favor to those who were oppressed in the land, and to make them leaders, and to make them inheritors.

28:6 ونمكن لهم فى الارض ونرى فرعون وهمن وجنودهما منهم ما كانوا يحذرون

Transcription (English)
28:6 Wanumakkina lahum fee al-ardi wanuriyafirAAawna wahamana wajunoodahuma minhum makanoo yahtharoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:6 To enable them in the land, and to show Pharaoh and Haman and their troops what they had feared.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:6 And to enable them in the land, and to show Pharaoh and Haamaan and their troops what they had feared.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:6 and to establish them securely on earth, and to let Pharaoh and Haman6 and their hosts experience through those [children of Israel] the very thing against which they sought to protect themselves.7

Note 6
This Haman, who is mentioned several times in the Qur'an as Pharaoh's chief adviser, is not to be confused with the Persian Haman of the Old Testament (The Book of Esther iii ff). Most probably, the word "Haman" as used in the Qur'an is not a proper name at all but the Arabicized echo of the compound designation Ha-Amen given to every high priest of the Egyptian god Amon. Since at the time in question the cult of Amon was paramount in Egypt, his high priest held a rank second only to that of the reigning Pharaoh. The assumption that the person spoken of in the Qur'an as Haman was indeed the high priest of the cult of Amon is strengthened by Pharaoh's demand (mentioned in verse 38 of this surah as well as in 40:36) that Haman erect for him "a lofty tower" from which he could "have a look at [or "ascend to"] the god of Moses": which may be, among other things, an allusion to the hieratic purpose of the great pyramids of Egypt and to the function of the high priest as their chief architect. (But see also note 37).

Note 7
The Egyptians - obviously remembering the earlier, alien Hyksos dynasty that had invaded Egypt and subsequently allied itself with the Hebrews (see surah 12 note 42) - feared that the latter might in the future, too, make common cause with foreign invaders (cf. Exodus i, 10): and to protect themselves against this danger, they decided - as mentioned in several places in the Qur'an as well as in the Bible - to have every male Hebrew child killed.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:6 And to establish them on earth, and to give Pharaoh, Hamaan, and their troops a taste of their own medicine.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:6 And to establish them on earth, and to show Pharaoh (the King) and Haman (the Chief Adviser and High Priest) and their troops what they feared from the Israelites.3

Note 3
‘Feared from the Israelites’: The Israelites in Egypt had allied with the invading Hyksos dynasty 1700-1580 BC. See 12:44. Haaman: This Haman is quite different from the Persian Haman of the Old Testament who was an adviser to the Persian King Xerxes, who ruled eight hundred years later, from 486 To 465 BC. ‘Haman’ of Pharaoh derives his name from the title borne by every successive High Priest of the Egyptian Kingdom. ‘Ha-Amen’ = High Priest of the Egyptian god Amon. So the Haman mentioned in the Qur’an refers to the High Priest during the reign of Ramses II. The ability to translate the hieroglyphic language system of the Egyptians had been utterly lost for centuries at the time of the revelation of the Qur’an, and would remain lost until the year 1799. After the discovery in that year of the Rosetta Stone, scholars were able to unlock the mystery of the hieroglyphs and, eventually, to confirm that there was really a Haman, unmentioned in the Hebrew scriptures, who was close to this Pharaoh in this period, and who was involved in construction of towers and of temples just as the Qur’an says. This information is important to bear in mind in order to avoid confusion. Some historical records propose that the Pyramids of Egypt began to be built under the royal decree of one of the Pharaohs. The Qur’an alludes to that possibility in 38:12

28:7 واوحينا الى ام موسى ان ارضعيه فاذا خفت عليه فالقيه فى اليم ولا تخافى ولا تحزنى انا رادوه اليك وجاعلوه من المرسلين

Transcription (English)
28:7 Waawhayna ila ommi moosaan ardiAAeehi fa-itha khifti AAalayhi faalqeehi feealyammi wala takhafee wala tahzaneeinna raddoohu ilayki wajaAAiloohu minaalmursaleena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:7 We inspired to Moses' mother: "Suckle him, and when you become fearful for him, then cast him off in the sea, and do not fear nor grieve. We will return him to you and We will make him of the messengers."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:7 And We inspired to Moses' mother: "Suckle him, and when you become fearful for him, then cast him off in the sea, and do not fear nor grieve. We will return him to you and We will make him of the messengers."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:7 And so, [when he was born,] We inspired [thus] the mother of Moses: Suckle him [for a time], and then, when thou hast cause to fear for him, cast him into the river,8 and have no fear and do not grieve - for We shall restore him to thee, and shall make him one of Our message-bearers!"

Note 8
Sc., "and he will be saved": cf. 20:39.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Confidence in God28:7 We inspired Moses' mother: "Nurse him, and when you fear for his life, throw him into the river without fear or grief. We will return him to you, and will make him one of the messengers.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:7 We inspired the mother of Moses, “Nourish him and when you worry for his life, (place him in a box and) cast him into the river, and have no fear nor grieve. We shall bring him back to you and make him one of Our Messengers."4

Note 4
The mother of Moses was the wife of Amram Imran. They had three children: Miriam, Aaron and Moses in that order. Mary, mother of Jesus had descended from Amram through Aaron, and that is why the Qur’an refers to her as Maryam daughter of Imran. The Royal decree of Pharaoh applied to the new born boys when Aaron was already a few years old

28:8 فالتقطه ءال فرعون ليكون لهم عدوا وحزنا ان فرعون وهمن وجنودهما كانوا خطين

Transcription (English)
28:8 Failtaqatahu alufirAAawna liyakoona lahum AAaduwwan wahazanan innafirAAawna wahamana wajunoodahuma kanookhati-eena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
Raised by the Pharaoh's Family28:8 Then the family of Pharaoh picked him up, so he would be an enemy to them and a source of sadness. Certainly, Pharaoh and Haman and their troops were doing wrong.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:8 Then the family of Pharaoh picked him up, so he would be an enemy to them and a source of sadness. Certainly, Pharaoh and Haamaan and their troops were wrongdoers.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:8 And [some of] Pharaoh's household9 found [and spared] him: for [We had willed] that he becomes an enemy unto them and [a source of] grief, seeing that Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts were sinners indeed!

Note 9
As is evident from the next verse as well as from 66:11, it was Pharaoh's own wife.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:8 Pharaoh's family picked him up, only to have him lead the opposition and to be a source of grief for them. That is because Pharaoh, Hamaan, and their troops were transgressors.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:8 And the family of Pharaoh picked him up, not knowing that he would become an enemy to them and a source of grief. That is because Pharaoh, Haman and their troops were a people bent on committing fault upon fault.

28:9 وقالت امرات فرعون قرت عين لى ولك لا تقتلوه عسى ان ينفعنا او نتخذه ولدا وهم لا يشعرون

Transcription (English)
28:9 Waqalati imraatu firAAawna qurratuAAaynin lee walaka la taqtuloohu AAasa an yanfaAAanaaw nattakhithahu waladan wahum la yashAAuroona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:9 Pharaoh's wife said, "A pleasure to my eye and yours, so do not kill him, perhaps he will benefit us or we may take him as a son!", while they did not perceive.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:9 And the wife of Pharaoh said: "A pleasure to my eye and yours, so do not kill him, perhaps he will benefit us or we may take him as a son;" while they did not perceive.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:9 Now the wife of Pharaoh said: “A joy to the eye [could this child be] for me and thee! Slay him not: he may well be of use to us, or we may adopt him as a son!" And they had no presentiment [of what he was to become].
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Inside the Lion's Den28:9 Pharaoh's wife said, "This can be a joyous find for me and you. Do not kill him, for he may be of some benefit for us, or we may adopt him to be our son." They had no idea.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:9 The wife of Pharaoh said, "A joy to the eye for me and you! Do not slay him. He may well be of use to us, or we may adopt him as a son.” And they did not perceive (the future).

28:10 واصبح فؤاد ام موسى فرغا ان كادت لتبدى به لولا ان ربطنا على قلبها لتكون من المؤمنين

Transcription (English)
28:10 Waasbaha fu-adu ommimoosa farighan in kadat latubdee bihi lawlaan rabatna AAala qalbiha litakoonamina almu/mineena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:10 Moses' mother's heart became anxious, that she nearly revealed her identity. But We strengthened her heart, so that she would be of those who acknowledge.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:10 And the heart of Moses' mother became anxious, that she nearly revealed her identity. But We strengthened her heart, so that she would be of the believers.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:10 On the morrow, however, an aching void grew up in the heart of the mother of Moses, and she would indeed have disclosed all about him10 had We not endowed her heart with enough strength to keep alive her faith [in Our promise].11

Note 10
I.e., disclose his true identity in the hope that he would he returned to her.

Note 11
Lit., "so that she might be of those who have faith".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:10 The mind of Moses' mother was growing so anxious that she almost gave away his identity. But we strengthened her heart, to make her a believer.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:10 And the heart of the mother of Moses became void. She almost gave away his identity had We not strengthened her heart, so that she might remain a firm believer.

28:11 وقالت لاخته قصيه فبصرت به عن جنب وهم لا يشعرون

Transcription (English)
28:11 Waqalat li-okhtihi qusseehifabasurat bihi AAan junubin wahum la yashAAuroona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:11 She said to his sister: "Follow his path." So she watched him from afar, while they did not notice.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:11 And she said to his sister: "Follow his path." So she watched him from afar, while they did not notice.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:11 And so she said to his sister, “Follow him" - and [the girl] watched him from afar, while they [who had taken him in] were not aware of it,
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:11 She said to his sister, "Trace his path." She watched him from afar, while they did not perceive.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:11 And so she said to his sister, “Follow him!” And the girl (the 12 year old Miriam) watched him from afar, while they were not aware.

28:12 وحرمنا عليه المراضع من قبل فقالت هل ادلكم على اهل بيت يكفلونه لكم وهم له نصحون

Transcription (English)
28:12 Waharramna AAalayhi almaradiAAamin qablu faqalat hal adullukum AAala ahli baytinyakfuloonahu lakum wahum lahu nasihoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:12 We forbade him from accepting all the nursing mothers. Then his sister said, "Shall I lead you to a family that can nurse him for you, and take good care of him?"
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:12 And We forbade him from accepting all the nursing mothers. Then his sister said: "Shall I lead you to a household that can nurse him for you, and take good care of him?"
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:12 Now from the very beginning We caused him to refuse the breast of [Egyptian] nurses; and [when his sister came to know this,] she said: “Shall I guide you to a family that might rear him for you, and look after him with good will?"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
The Infant Returned to His Mother28:12 We forbade him from accepting all the nursing mothers. (His sister) then said, "I can show you a family that can raise him for you, and take good care of him.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:12 From the very beginning We caused him to refuse suckling from foster mothers. She (Miriam, the sister of baby Moses) said, "Shall I tell you of a family that can raise him for you and take good care of him?"

28:13 فرددنه الى امه كى تقر عينها ولا تحزن ولتعلم ان وعد الله حق ولكن اكثرهم لا يعلمون

Transcription (English)
28:13 Faradadnahu ila ommihi kaytaqarra AAaynuha wala tahzana walitaAAlamaanna waAAda Allahi haqqun walakinnaaktharahum la yaAAlamoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:13 Thus, We returned him to his mother, so that she may be pleased and not be saddened, and to let her know that God's promise is the truth. However, most of them do not know.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:13 Thus, We returned him to his mother, so that she may be pleased and not be saddened, and to let her know that the promise of God is the truth. However, most of them do not know.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:13 And thus We restored him to his mother, so that her eye might he gladdened, and that she might grieve no longer, and that she might know that God's promise always comes true - even though most of them know it not!
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:13 Thus, we restored him to his mother, in order to please her, remove her worries, and to let her know that GOD's promise is the truth. However, most of them do not know.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:13 And thus We restored him to his mother so that her eye might be gladdened and that she might grieve no longer, and that she might know that God’s promise always comes true. But most of them know not.

28:14 ولما بلغ اشده واستوى ءاتينه حكما وعلما وكذلك نجزى المحسنين

Transcription (English)
28:14 Walamma balagha ashuddahu waistawaataynahu hukman waAAilman wakathalikanajzee almuhsineena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:14 When he reached his maturity and strength, We bestowed him with wisdom and knowledge. We thus reward the good doers.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:14 And when he reached his independence and was established, We bestowed him with wisdom and knowledge. We thus reward the good doers.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:14 Now when [Moses] reached full manhood and had become mature [of mind]. We bestowed upon him the ability to judge [between right and wrong] as well as [innate] knowledge: for thus do We reward the doers of good.12

Note 12
This statement, almost entirely identical with 12:22 (where it refers to Joseph), stresses the supreme divine blessing of spiritual consciousness (ilm in its deepest significance) combined with rational thought, as expressed in the concept of hukm, the "ability to judge [between right and wrong]". As is evident from 26:20, Moses reached this spiritual maturity after the events described in verses 15 ff.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:14 When he reached maturity and strength, we endowed him with wisdom and knowledge. We thus reward the righteous.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:14 When he reached his prime and full maturity, We bestowed upon him wisdom and knowledge. This is how We reward the doers of good to others.5

Note 5
Wisdom and knowledge are granted to all those who benefit people since youth. 12:22

28:15 ودخل المدينة على حين غفلة من اهلها فوجد فيها رجلين يقتتلان هذا من شيعته وهذا من عدوه فاستغثه الذى من شيعته على الذى من عدوه فوكزه موسى فقضى عليه قال هذا من عمل الشيطن انه عدو مضل مبين

Transcription (English)
28:15 Wadakhala almadeenata AAala heenighaflatin min ahliha fawajada feeha rajulayniyaqtatilani hatha min sheeAAatihi wahathamin AAaduwwihi faistaghathahu allathee minsheeAAatihi AAala allathee min AAaduwwihifawakazahu moosa faqada AAalayhi qala hathamin AAamali alshshaytani innahu AAaduwwun mudillunmubeenun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
Manslaughter28:15 He entered the city unexpectedly, without being noticed by the people. He found in it two men who were fighting, one was from his own race, and the other was from his enemy's. So the one who was from his own race called on him for help against his enemy, whereby Moses punched him, killing him. He said, "This is from the work of the devil; he is an enemy that clearly misleads."2

Note 2

Moses attributes this event to devil, since he acted with racist emotions by trusting the account of his tribesman without cross examining him or without questioning the other party about the issue. This is a common crime we tend to commit frequently. We make judgment about other people by just listening one party. If a wise man like Moses (28:14; 26:21) fall into the trap of tribalism and racism, we should investigate thoroughly before siding with one party against the other. We are expected to side with justice, even if against us and our family members. (See also: 38:24 and 4:135).

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:15 And he entered the city unexpectedly, without being noticed by the people. He found in it two men who were fighting, one was from his clan, and the other was from that of his enemy. So the one who was from his clan called on him for help against his enemy, whereby Moses punched him, killing him. He said: "This is from the work of the devil; he is an enemy that clearly misleads."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:15 And [one day] he entered the city at a time when [most of] its people were [resting in their houses,] unaware of what was going on [in the streets];13 and there he encountered two men fighting with one another - one of his own people,14 and the other of his enemies. And the one who belonged to his own people cried out to him for help against him who was of his enemies - whereupon Moses struck him down with his fist, and [thus] brought about his end. [But then] he said [to himself]: “This is of Satan's doing! Verily, he is an open foe, leading [man] astray!"15

Note 13
Lit., "at a time of its people's unawareness".

Note 14
I.e., of the Hebrews.

Note 15
Regarding the reference to "Satan's doing", see first half of note 16 on 15:17. In the present instance, verses 16-17 seem to indicate that it was the Israelite, and not the Egyptian, who had been in the wrong (cf. next note). Apparently, Moses had come to the assistance of the Israelite out of an instinctive sense of racial kinship without regard to the rights and wrongs of the case; but immediately afterwards he realized that he had committed a grave sin not only by killing, however inadvertently, an innocent person, but also by basing his action on a mere tribal - or, as would describe it today, racial or national - prejudice. Evidently, this is the purport of the above Quranic segment of the story of Moses. Its moral has been stressed and explained by the Prophet on many occasions: cf. his famous saying, "He is not of us who proclaims the cause of tribal partisanship (asabiyyah); and he is not of us who fights in the cause of tribal partisanship; and he is not of us who dies in the cause of tribal partisanship" (Abu Da'ud, on the authority of Jubayr ibn Mut'im). When he was asked to explain the meaning of "tribal partisanship", the Prophet answered, it means helping thine own people in an unjust cause" (ibid., on the authority of Wathilah ibn al-Asqa).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Moses Commits Manslaughter28:15 Once he entered the city unexpectedly, without being recognized by the people. He found two men fighting; one was (a Hebrew) from his people, and the other was (an Egyptian) from his enemies. The one from his people called on him for help against his enemy. Moses punched him, killing him. He said, "This is the work of the devil; he is a real enemy, and a profound misleader.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:15 And one day the young Moses entered the city at a time when most of its people were resting unaware of what was going on in the streets. And there he encountered two men fighting with each other. One was of his people (an Israeli) the other of his (Egyptian) adversaries. His tribesman cried out to him for help against the one who was of the enemies - Whereupon Moses struck him with his fist and thus, (accidentally) brought about his end. But then he said to himself, "This is of Satan’s doing! Surely, he is an open enemy, a misleader.”6

Note 6
Moses, not yet commissioned to Prophethood, was denouncing his emotions

28:16 قال رب انى ظلمت نفسى فاغفر لى فغفر له انه هو الغفور الرحيم

Transcription (English)
28:16 Qala rabbi innee thalamtunafsee faighfir lee faghafara lahu innahu huwa alghafoorualrraheemu
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:16 He said, "My Lord, I have wronged my person, so forgive me." He then forgave him, for He is the Forgiver, the Compassionate.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:16 He said: "My Lord, I have wronged my soul, so forgive me." He then forgave him, for He is the Forgiver, the Merciful.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:16 [And] he prayed: O my Sustainer! Verily, I have sinned against myself! Grant me, then, Thy forgiveness!" And He forgave him - for, verily, He alone is truly forgiving, a dispenser of grace.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:16 He said, "My Lord, I have wronged my soul. Please forgive me," and He forgave him. He is the Forgiver, Most Merciful.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:16 And he prayed, "My Lord! Surely, I have hurt my ‘self’. Forgive me then.” And He forgave him, for, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.7

Note 7
Moses had intended only to help the weak and not to kill the other man

28:17 قال رب بما انعمت على فلن اكون ظهيرا للمجرمين

Transcription (English)
28:17 Qala rabbi bima anAAamtaAAalayya falan akoona thaheeran lilmujrimeena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:17 He said, "My Lord, for what blessings you have bestowed upon me, I will never be a supporter of the criminals."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:17 He said: "My Lord, for what blessings you have bestowed upon me, I will never be a supporter for the criminals."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:17 Said he: “O my Sustainer! [I vow] by all the blessings which Thou hast bestowed on me: Never­more shall I aid such as are lost in sin!"16

Note 16
According to Ibn Abbas and Muqatil (both of them quoted by Baghawi), "this is an indication that the Israelite whom Moses had helped was a denier of the truth (kafir)" - i.e., in the moral sense of this definition. (See also last sentence of verse 86 of this surah.)
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:17 He said, "My Lord, in return for Your blessings upon me, I will never be a supporter of the guilty ones.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:17 He said, "My Lord! Since You have bestowed Your grace on me, never again will I support the guilty."

28:18 فاصبح فى المدينة خائفا يترقب فاذا الذى استنصره بالامس يستصرخه قال له موسى انك لغوى مبين

Transcription (English)
28:18 Faasbaha fee almadeenati kha-ifanyataraqqabu fa-itha allathee istansarahu bial-amsiyastasrikhuhu qala lahu moosa innakalaghawiyyun mubeenun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:18 So he spent the night in the city, afraid and watchful. Then the one who sought his help yesterday, was asking again for his help. Moses said to him: "You are clearly a trouble maker."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:18 So he spent the night in the city, afraid and watchful. Then the one who sought his help yesterday, was asking again for his help. Moses said to him: "You are clearly a trouble maker."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:18 And next morning he found himself in the city, looking fearfully about him, when lo! the one who had sought his help the day before [once again] cried out to him [for help17 whereupon] Moses said unto him: “Behold, thou art indeed, most clearly, deeply in the wrong!18

Note 17
Sc., "against another Egyptian".

Note 18
Lit., "lost in grievous error" or "deviating from what is right".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:18 In the morning, he was in the city, afraid and watchful. The one who sought his help yesterday, asked for his help again. Moses said to him, "You are really a trouble maker.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:18 In the morning he was in the city, fearing, watchful when the man who had asked him the day before cried out to him for help. Moses said to him, "You are one obvious troublemaker."

28:19 فلما ان اراد ان يبطش بالذى هو عدو لهما قال يموسى اتريد ان تقتلنى كما قتلت نفسا بالامس ان تريد الا ان تكون جبارا فى الارض وما تريد ان تكون من المصلحين

Transcription (English)
28:19 Falamma an arada an yabtishabiallathee huwa AAaduwwun lahuma qalaya moosa atureedu an taqtulanee kama qataltanafsan bial-amsi in tureedu illa an takoona jabbaranfee al-ardi wama tureedu an takoona mina almusliheena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:19 But when he was about to strike their common enemy, he said, "O Moses, do you want to kill me, as you killed that person yesterday? Obviously, you wish to be a tyrant on earth; you do not wish to be of the righteous."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:19 But when he was about to strike their common enemy, he said: "O Moses, do you want to kill me, as you killed that person yesterday? Obviously, you wish to be a tyrant on the earth; you do not wish to be of the righteous."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:19 But then19 as soon as he was about to lay violent hands on the man who was their [common] enemy, the latter exclaimed: “O Moses, dost thou intend to slay me as thou didst slay another man yesterday? Thy sole aim is to become a tyrant in this land, for thou dost not care to be of those who would set things to rights!"

Note 19
Sc., "swayed once again by his feeling of kinship with the Israelite", as indicated in the subsequent reference to the Egyptian as "their [common] enemy".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Moses' Crime Exposed28:19 Before he attempted to strike their common enemy, he said, "O Moses, do you want to kill me, as you killed the other man yesterday? Obviously, you wish to be a tyrant on earth; you do not wish to be righteous.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:19 But then, as soon as he was about to lay his hands on their enemy, the man said, “O Moses! Would you kill me as you killed a person yesterday? Your aim is to become a tyrant in the land, for you do not care to be of those who set things right."

28:20 وجاء رجل من اقصا المدينة يسعى قال يموسى ان الملا ياتمرون بك ليقتلوك فاخرج انى لك من النصحين

Transcription (English)
28:20 Wajaa rajulun min aqsaalmadeenati yasAAa qala ya moosa innaalmalaa ya/tamiroona bika liyaqtulooka faokhruj innee lakamina alnnasiheena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:20 A man came running from the far side of the city, saying: "O Moses, the commanders are plotting to kill you, so leave immediately. I am giving you good advice."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:20 And a man came running from the farthest part of the city, saying: "O Moses, the commanders are plotting to kill you, so leave immediately. I am giving you good advice."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:20 And [then and there] a man came running from the farthermost end of the city, and said: “O Moses! Behold, the great ones [of the kingdom] are deli­berating upon thy case with a view to killing thee! Begone, then: verily, I am of those who wish thee well!"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:20 A man came running from the other side of the city, saying, "O Moses, the people are plotting to kill you. You better leave immediately. I am giving you good advice.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:20 And then and there a man came running from the other side of the city, and said, "O Moses! The chiefs are considering your case with a view to kill you. You better leave immediately. Surely, I wish you well.”

28:21 فخرج منها خائفا يترقب قال رب نجنى من القوم الظلمين

Transcription (English)
28:21 Fakharaja minha kha-ifanyataraqqabu qala rabbi najjinee mina alqawmi alththalimeena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:21 He exited the city, afraid and watchful. He said, "My Lord, save me from the wicked people."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:21 He exited the city, afraid and watchful. He said: "My Lord, save me from the wicked people."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:21 So he went forth from thence, looking fearfully about him, and prayed: “O my Sustainer! Save me from all evildoing folk!"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:21 He fled the city, afraid and watchful. He said, "My Lord, save me from the oppressive people.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:21 So he escaped from there, fearful, vigilant and said, "My Lord! Save me from the oppressive people."

28:22 ولما توجه تلقاء مدين قال عسى ربى ان يهدينى سواء السبيل

Transcription (English)
28:22 Walamma tawajjaha tilqaamadyana qala AAasa rabbee an yahdiyanee sawaaalssabeeli
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:22 As he traveled towards Midyan, he said, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the right path."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:22 And as he traveled towards Midyan, he said: "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the right path."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:22 And as he turned his face towards Madyan, he said [to himself]: “It may well be that my Sustainer will [thus] guide me onto the right path"20

Note 20
The inhabitants of Madyan (called Midian in the Bible) were Arabs of the Amorite group. Since they were racially and linguistically closely related to the Hebrews, they could he counted upon to help Moses in his plight. For the geographical location of the region of Madyan, see surah 7 note 67.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
In Midyan28:22 As he traveled towards Midyan, he said, "May my Lord guide me in the right path.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:22 As he turned his face towards Midyan, he said to himself, “It may well be that my Lord will guide me onto the right road."

28:23 ولما ورد ماء مدين وجد عليه امة من الناس يسقون ووجد من دونهم امراتين تذودان قال ما خطبكما قالتا لا نسقى حتى يصدر الرعاء وابونا شيخ كبير

Transcription (English)
28:23 Walamma warada maa madyanawajada AAalayhi ommatan mina alnnasi yasqoonawawajada min doonihimu imraatayni tathoodani qalama khatbukuma qalata lanasqee hatta yusdira alrriAAaowaaboona shaykhun kabeerun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:23 When he arrived at the watering hole of Midyan, he found a crowd of people watering. He noticed two women waiting on the side. He said, "What is holding you back." They said, "We cannot draw water until the shepherds finish, and our father is an old man."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:23 When he arrived at the watering hole of Midyan, he found a crowd of people watering, and he found two women waiting on the side. He said: "What is holding you back." They said: "We cannot draw water until the shepherds finish, and our father is an old man."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:23 NOW WHEN he arrived at the wells21 of Madyan, he found there a large group of men who were watering [their herds and flocks]; and at some distance from them he came upon two women who were keeping back their flock. He asked [them]: “What is the matter with you?" They answered: “We cannot water [our animals] until the herdsmen drive [theirs] home - for [we are weak and] our father is a very old man."

Note 21
Lit., "water" or "waters".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:23 When he reached Midyan's water, he found a crowd of people watering, and noticed two women waiting on the side. He said, "What is it that you need?" They said, "We are not able to water, until the crowd disperses, and our father is an old man.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:23 When he arrived at the wells of Midyan, he found a crowd of people watering their herds and flocks. And he found two women who were keeping away their flocks. He asked, "What is the matter with you?" They said, "We cannot water our flocks until the shepherds take back their flocks. And our father is a very old man."

28:24 فسقى لهما ثم تولى الى الظل فقال رب انى لما انزلت الى من خير فقير

Transcription (English)
28:24 Fasaqa lahuma thumma tawallaila alththilli faqala rabbiinnee lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqeerun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:24 So he drew water for them, then he turned to a shaded area, and he said, "My Lord, I am poor, lacking any provisions You may have sent down."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:24 So he drew water for them, then he turned to a shaded area, and he said: "My Lord, I am poor, lacking any provisions You may have sent down."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:24 So he watered [their flock] for them: and when he withdrew into the shade and prayed: “O my Sus­tainer! Verily, in dire need am I of any good which Thou mayest bestow upon me!"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:24 He watered for them, then turned to the shade, saying, "My Lord, whatever provision you send to me, I am in dire need for it.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:24 So he watered their flocks for them; then he turned back to the shade (of the tree he had been relaxing under). And he said, "My Lord! I am in dire need of any good that You bestow upon me and any opportunity that You provide me for doing good."

28:25 فجاءته احدىهما تمشى على استحياء قالت ان ابى يدعوك ليجزيك اجر ما سقيت لنا فلما جاءه وقص عليه القصص قال لا تخف نجوت من القوم الظلمين

Transcription (English)
28:25 Fajaat-hu ihdahumatamshee AAala istihya-in qalat innaabee yadAAooka liyajziyaka ajra ma saqayta lanafalamma jaahu waqassa AAalayhi alqasasaqala la takhaf najawta mina alqawmi alththalimeena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:25 So one of the two women approached him, shyly, and said, "My father invites you to reward you for watering for us." So when he came to him, and told him his story, he said, "Do not fear, for you have been saved from the wicked people."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:25 So one of the two women approached him, shyly, and said: "My father invites you to reward you for watering for us." So when he came to him, and told to him the stories, he said: "Do not fear, for you have been saved from the wicked people."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:25 [Shortly] afterwards, one of the two [maidens] approached him, walking shyly, and said: “Behold, my father invites thee, so that he might duly reward thee for thy having watered [our flock] for us." And as soon as [Moses] came unto him and told him the story [of his life], he said: “Have no fear! Thou art now safe from those evildoing folk!"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:25 Soon, one of the two women approached him, shyly, and said, "My father invites you to pay you for watering for us." When he met him, and told him his story, he said, "Have no fear. You have been saved from the oppressive people.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:25 Shortly afterward, one of the two maidens came to him walking shyly, and said, "My father invites you, so that he might duly reward you for having watered our flocks for us." As soon as Moses came to him and told him the story, he said, "Have no fear! You are now safe from those oppressive people.”

28:26 قالت احدىهما يابت استجره ان خير من استجرت القوى الامين

Transcription (English)
28:26 Qalat ihdahuma yaabati ista/jirhu inna khayra mani ista/jarta alqawiyyu al-ameenu
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
Moses Marries the Woman Who Chooses Him28:26 One of the two women said, "O my father, hire him. For the best to be hired is one who is strong and honest."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:26 One of the two women said: "O my father, hire him. For the best to be hired is one who is strong and honest."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:26 Said one of the two [daughters]: “O my father! Hire him: for, behold, the best [man] that thou couldst hire is one who is [as] strong and worthy of trust [as he]!"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Moses Marries28:26 One of the two women said, "O my father, hire him. He is the best one to hire, for he is strong and honest.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:26 One of the two maidens said, "O My father! Hire him! For, the best one you can hire is the competent, the trustworthy."

28:27 قال انى اريد ان انكحك احدى ابنتى هتين على ان تاجرنى ثمنى حجج فان اتممت عشرا فمن عندك وما اريد ان اشق عليك ستجدنى ان شاء الله من الصلحين

Transcription (English)
28:27 Qala innee oreedu an onkihakaihda ibnatayya hatayni AAala anta/juranee thamaniya hijajin fa-in atmamta AAashranfamin AAindika wama oreedu an ashuqqa AAalayka satajiduneein shaa Allahu mina alssaliheena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:27 He said, "I wish you to marry one of my two daughters, on condition that you work for me through eight pilgrimage periods; if you complete them to ten, it will be voluntary on your part. I do not wish to make this matter too difficult for you. You will find me, God willing, of the righteous."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:27 He said: "I wish you to marry one of my two daughters, on condition that you work for me through eight pilgrimage periods; if you complete them to ten, it will be voluntary on your part. I do not wish to make this matter too difficult for you. You will find me, God willing, of the righteous."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:27 [After some time, the father] said: “Behold, I am willing to let thee wed one of these two daughters of mine on the understanding that thou wilt remain eight years in my service; and if thou shouldst com­plete ten [years], that would be [an act of grace] from thee, for I do not want to impose any hardship on thee: [on the contrary,] thou wilt find me, if God so wills, righteous in all my dealings."22

Note 22
Lit., "one of the righteous".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:27 He said, "I wish to offer one of my two daughters for you to marry, in return for working for me for eight pilgrimages; if you make them ten, it will be voluntary on your part. I do not wish to make this matter too difficult for you. You will find me, GOD willing, righteous.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:27 He said, "I am willing to let you marry one of these two daughters of mine on the understanding that you will remain eight pilgrimages (years) in my service. Then if you make it ten, it will be a grace from you. I do not want to impose any hardship on you. God willing, you will find me righteous in all my dealings."

28:28 قال ذلك بينى وبينك ايما الاجلين قضيت فلا عدون على والله على ما نقول وكيل

Transcription (English)
28:28 Qala thalika baynee wabaynakaayyama al-ajalayni qadaytu fala AAudwanaAAalayya waAllahu AAala ma naqooluwakeelun
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:28 He said, "It is then an agreement between me and you. Whichever period I fulfill, you will not be averse to either one. God is entrusted over what we said."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:28 He said: "It is then an agreement between me and you. Whichever period I fulfill, you will not be averse to either one. And God is entrusted over what we said."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:28 Answered [Moses]: “Thus shall it be between me and thee! Whichever of the two terms I fulfill, let there be no ill will against me. And God be witness to all that we say!"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:28 He said, "It is an agreement between me and you. Whichever period I fulfill, you will not be averse to either one. GOD is the guarantor of what we said.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:28 He (Moses) said, "Be that the agreement between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there will be no injustice to me. And God be Witness to all that we say.”8

Note 8
Moses married Sho’aib’s daughter Zipporah and in time they had two sons

28:29 فلما قضى موسى الاجل وسار باهله ءانس من جانب الطور نارا قال لاهله امكثوا انى ءانست نارا لعلى ءاتيكم منها بخبر او جذوة من النار لعلكم تصطلون

Transcription (English)
28:29 Falamma qada moosaal-ajala wasara bi-ahlihi anasa min janibi alttoorinaran qala li-ahlihi omkuthoo innee anastu naranlaAAallee ateekum minha bikhabarin aw jathwatinmina alnnari laAAallakum tastaloona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
Back to Egypt28:29 So when Moses fulfilled his obligation, he was traveling with his family and he saw a fire from the slope of the mount. He said to his family: "Stay here. I have seen a fire. Perhaps I can bring to you news from there, or a portion of the fire to warm you."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:29 So after Moses fulfilled his obligation and was traveling with his family, he saw a fire on the slope of the mount. He said to his family: "Stay here, I have seen a fire, perhaps I can bring you from there some news or a burning piece of the fire so that you may be warmed."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:29 And when Moses had fulfilled his term and was wandering with his family [in the desert], he per­ceived a fire on the slope of Mount Sinai;23 [and so] he said to his family: “Wait here. Behold, I perceive a fire [far away]; perhaps I may bring you from there some tiding,24 or [at least] a burning brand from the fire, so that you might warm yourselves.

Note 23
For an explanation of Moses' wanderings in the desert, see note 7 on 20:10; for that of the allegory of the "fire", note 7 on 27:7. Throughout this work, the noun at-tur ("the mountain") is being rendered as "Mount Sinai", for it is to this and to no other mountain that the Qur'an invariably refers in the above term.

Note 24
Sc., "as to which way we are to pursue".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Back to Egypt28:29 When he had fulfilled his obligation, he traveled with his family (towards Egypt). He saw from the slope of Mount Sinai a fire. He said to his family, "Stay here. I have seen a fire. Maybe I can bring to you news, or a portion of the fire to warm you.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:29 And when Moses had fulfilled his term, and was traveling with his family, he saw a fire on the slope of Mount Toor of Sinai. He said to his family, "Stay here. I have seen a fire. I hope to bring you some information from there, or a burning torch, that you may warm yourselves." [20:10, 27:7]

28:30 فلما اتىها نودى من شطئ الواد الايمن فى البقعة المبركة من الشجرة ان يموسى انى انا الله رب العلمين

Transcription (English)
28:30 Falamma ataha noodiyamin shati-i alwadi al-aymani fee albuqAAati almubarakatimina alshshajarati an ya moosa innee anaAllahu rabbu alAAalameena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:30 When he reached it, he was called from the tree at the edge of the right side of the valley on blessed ground: "O Moses, it is Me, God, the Lord of the worlds."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:30 So when he reached it, he was called from the edge of the right side of the valley at the blessed area of the tree: "O Moses, it is I, God, Lord of the worlds."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:30 But when he came close to it, a call was sounded from the right-side bank of the valley, out of the tree [burning] on blessed ground:25 “O Moses! Verily, I am God, the Sustainer of all the worlds!"

Note 25
As in 19:52 and 20:80, the reference to the "right" side has a connotation of "blessedness": see in his respect note 25 on 74:39. As regards the "blessed ground", see note 9 on the expression "twice-hallowed valley" in 20:12. The "tree" referred to in the above verse is obviously identical with the "burning bush" of the Bible (Exodus iii. 2).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Moses Appointed28:30 When he reached it, he was called from the edge of the right side of the valley, in the blessed spot where the burning bush was located: "O Moses, this is Me. GOD; Lord of the universe.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:30 But when he came close to it, he was called from the right side of the valley in the blessed field, from the tree, "O Moses! Certainly, I am God, the Lord of the Worlds."

28:31 وان الق عصاك فلما رءاها تهتز كانها جان ولى مدبرا ولم يعقب يموسى اقبل ولا تخف انك من الءامنين

Transcription (English)
28:31 Waan alqi AAasaka falamma raahatahtazzu kaannaha jannun walla mudbiranwalam yuAAaqqib ya moosa aqbil wala takhafinnaka mina al-amineena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:31 "Now, throw down your staff." So when he saw it vibrate as if it were a Jinni, he turned around to flee and would not return. "O Moses, come forward and do not be afraid. You are of those who are safe."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:31 "And cast down your staff." So when he saw it vibrate as if it were a Jinn, he turned around to flee and would not return. "O Moses, come forward and do not be afraid. You are of those who are safe."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:31 And [then He said]: “Throw down thy staff!" But as soon as [Moses] saw it move rapidly, as if it were a snake, he drew back [in terror], and did not [dare to] return.26 [And God spoke to him again:] “O Moses! Draw near, and have no fear - for, behold, thou art of those who are secure [in this world and in the next]!27

Note 26
The miracle of the staff has, possibly, a symbolic significance: see surah 20 note 14.

Note 27
Cf. 27:10 - "no fear need the message-bearers have in My Presence".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:31 "Throw down your staff." When he saw it moving like a demon, he turned around and fled. "O Moses, come back; do not be afraid. You are perfectly safe.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:31 "Rehearse your supporting power of truth.” Moses felt as if the mission assigned to him was like holding a huge python, and he retreated hesitating. (God said), "O Moses! Draw near (to conviction), and fear not, you are secure from harm."9

Note 9
See 27:10. Ka-annaha jaann = As if it was a python, applies to the living truth. 7:107, 20:17, 26:32, 27:10

28:32 اسلك يدك فى جيبك تخرج بيضاء من غير سوء واضمم اليك جناحك من الرهب فذنك برهنان من ربك الى فرعون وملايه انهم كانوا قوما فسقين

Transcription (English)
28:32 Osluk yadaka fee jaybika takhruj baydaamin ghayri soo-in waodmum ilayka janahakamina alrrahbi fathanika burhanani minrabbika ila firAAawna wamala-ihi innahum kanooqawman fasiqeena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:32 "Place your hand into your pocket. It will come out white without any blemish, and fold your hand close to your side against fear. These are two proofs from your Lord, to Pharaoh and his entourage. They have been a wicked people."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:32 "Place your hand into your pocket. It will come out white without any blemish, and fold your hand close to your side against fear. These are two proofs from your Lord, to Pharaoh and his commanders; for they are a wicked people."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:32 “[And now] put thy hand into thy bosom: it will come forth [shining] white, without blemish.28 And [henceforth] hold thine arm close to thyself, free of all fear.29 “These, then, shall be the two signs [of thy bearing a message] from thy Sustainer30 unto Pharaoh and his great ones - for, behold, they are people depraved!"

Note 28
See note 85 on 7:108.

Note 29
As pointed out by Zamakhshari, the above idiomatic sentence is a metonym recalling a well-known gesture of terror - the involuntary stretching-forth of one's hands or arms when suddenly faced with something terrifying; conversely, the "holding of one's arm [lit., "wing"] close to oneself" is expressive of freedom from fear. In the present instance, the phrase echoes the concluding words of verse 31 - "behold, thou art of those who are secure (in this world and in the next)".

Note 30
The "two signs" (burhanan) may be understood as Moses' ability to remain, by virtue of his certainty of God's omnipresence, forever free of all physical or moral fear, as well as his ability to show that appearance and reality are not always identical.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:32 "Put your hand into your pocket; it will come out white without a blemish. Fold your wings and settle down from your fear. These are two proofs from your Lord, to be shown to Pharaoh and his elders; they have been wicked people.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:32 “The guidance enshrined in your heart will shine unblemished when you present it with confidence. And guard your heart against all fear. Then these two shall be your evidences from your Lord to Pharaoh and his chiefs, (the Divine truth and your confident presentation). Surely, they are people drifting away from Moral Values.”

28:33 قال رب انى قتلت منهم نفسا فاخاف ان يقتلون

Transcription (English)
28:33 Qala rabbi innee qataltu minhumnafsan faakhafu an yaqtulooni
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:33 He said, "My Lord, I have killed a person from them, so I fear that they will kill me."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:33 He said: "My Lord, I have killed a person from them, so I fear that they will kill me."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:33 Said [Moses] “O my Sustainer! I have slain one of them, and so I fear that they will slay me.31

Note 31
Sc., "and thus make it impossible for me to accomplish my mission": for, as regards himself, Moses was henceforth free of fear.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:33 He said, "My Lord, I killed one of them, and I fear lest they kill me.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:33 Moses said, "My Lord! I killed a man among them and I am afraid they will kill me.

28:34 واخى هرون هو افصح منى لسانا فارسله معى ردءا يصدقنى انى اخاف ان يكذبون

Transcription (English)
28:34 Waakhee haroonu huwa afsahuminnee lisanan faarsilhu maAAiya rid-an yusaddiquneeinnee akhafu an yukaththibooni
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:34 "My brother Aaron is more eloquent in speech than I. So send him with me to help and to confirm me. For I fear that they will deny me."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:34 "And my brother Aaron is more eloquent in speech than I. So send him with me to help and to confirm me. For I fear that they will deny me."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:34 And my brother Aaron - he is far better in speech than I am.32 Send him, therefore, as a helper, so that he might [more eloquently] bear witness to my speaking the truth: for I fear indeed that they will give me the lie."

Note 32
Cf. 20:27 and 26:12, as well as the corresponding notes.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:34 "Also, my brother Aaron is more eloquent than I. Send him with me as a helper to confirm and strengthen me. I fear lest they disbelieve me.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:34 And my brother Aaron – he is far better in speech than I am. Send him, therefore, as a helper, so that he might more eloquently bear witness to my speaking the truth. I am afraid that they will accuse me of lying.”

28:35 قال سنشد عضدك باخيك ونجعل لكما سلطنا فلا يصلون اليكما بايتنا انتما ومن اتبعكما الغلبون

Transcription (English)
28:35 Qala sanashuddu AAadudakabi-akheeka wanajAAalu lakuma sultanan falayasiloona ilaykuma bi-ayatinaantuma wamani ittabaAAakuma alghaliboona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:35 He said, "We will strengthen you with your brother, and We will provide you both with authority. Thus, they will not be able to touch either one of you. With Our signs, the two of you, along with those who follow you, will be the victors."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:35 He said: "We will strengthen you with your brother, and We will provide you both with authority. Thus, they will not be able to touch either one of you. With Our signs, the two of you, along with those who follow you, will be the victors."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:35 Said He: “We shall strengthen thine arm through thy brother, and endow both of you with power, so that they will not be able to touch you:33 by virtue of Our messages shall you two, and all who follow you, prevail!"

Note 33
Lit., "so that they will not reach you".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:35 He said, "We will strengthen you with your brother, and we will provide you both with manifest authority. Thus, they will not be able to touch either one of you. With our miracles, the two of you, together with those who follow you, will be the victors.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:35 God said, "We shall strengthen your abilities with your brother, and We will give both of you power that they will not be able to touch you. With Our signs, you shall triumph; you two as well as those who follow you.”

28:36 فلما جاءهم موسى بايتنا بينت قالوا ما هذا الا سحر مفترى وما سمعنا بهذا فى ءابائنا الاولين

Transcription (English)
28:36 Falamma jaahum moosabi-ayatina bayyinatin qaloo mahatha illa sihrun muftaran wamasamiAAna bihatha fee aba-inaal-awwaleena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:36 So when Moses went to them with Our clear signs, they said, "This is nothing but fabricated magic; nor did we hear of this from our fathers of old!"
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:36 So when Moses went to them with Our clear signs, they said: "This is nothing but fabricated magic; nor did we hear of this from our fathers of old!"
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:36 But as soon as Moses came unto them with Our clear messages [Pharaoh and his great ones] said: “All this is nothing but spellbinding eloquence devised [by man]:34 and never did we hear [the like of] this, [nor has it ever been heard of] in the time of our forebears of old!"

Note 34
See note 12 on 74:24, which is the earliest Quranic instance of the term sihr in the above connotation.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Pharaoh's Arrogance28:36 When Moses went to them with our proofs, clear and profound, they said, "This is fabricated magic. We have never heard of this from our ancient ancestors.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:36 But as soon as Moses came to them with Our clear verses, they said, "This is nothing but magic (mysteriously forged lie). And we have never heard such (sermon) from our ancestors."

28:37 وقال موسى ربى اعلم بمن جاء بالهدى من عنده ومن تكون له عقبة الدار انه لا يفلح الظلمون

Transcription (English)
28:37 Waqala moosa rabbee aAAlamubiman jaa bialhuda min AAindihi wamantakoonu lahu AAaqibatu alddari innahu layuflihu alththalimoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:37 Moses said, "My Lord is fully aware of who has brought the guidance from Him, and who will have the best deal in the Hereafter. The wicked never succeed."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:37 And Moses said: "My Lord is fully aware of who has come with the guidance from Him, and who will have the best deal in the Hereafter. The wicked never succeed."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:37 And Moses replied: “My Sustainer knows best as to who comes with guidance from Him, and to whom the future belongs!35 Verily, never will evil­doers attain to a happy state!"

Note 35
For an explanation of the above phrase, see surah 6 note 118.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:37 Moses said, "My Lord knows best who brought the guidance from Him, and who will be the ultimate victors. Surely, the transgressors never succeed.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:37 Moses replied, "My Lord is best Aware as to who comes with guidance from Him, and to whom the future belongs. Surely, the oppressors do not attain a happy state of mind."

28:38 وقال فرعون يايها الملا ما علمت لكم من اله غيرى فاوقد لى يهمن على الطين فاجعل لى صرحا لعلى اطلع الى اله موسى وانى لاظنه من الكذبين

Transcription (English)
28:38 Waqala firAAawnu ya ayyuhaalmalao ma AAalimtu lakum min ilahin ghayreefaawqid lee ya hamanu AAala altteenifaijAAal lee sarhan laAAallee attaliAAuila ilahi moosa wa-innee laathunnuhumina alkathibeena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
Pharaoh Mocks Moses28:38 Pharaoh said, "O commanders, I have not known of any god for you other than me. Therefore, O Haman, fire up the bricks and build me a platform, so perhaps I may take a look at the god of Moses! I am certain he is a liar."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:38 And Pharaoh said: "O commanders, I have not known of any god for you other than me. Therefore, O Haamaan, fire-up the bricks and make for me a high platform, so perhaps I may take a look at the god of Moses; though I think he is one of the liars."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:38 Whereupon Pharaoh said: “O you nobles! I did not know that you could have any deity other than myself36 Well, then, O Haman, kindle me a fire for [baking bricks of] clay, and then build me a lofty tower, that haply I may have a look at the god of Moses37 although, behold, I am convinced that he is of those who [always] tell lies!"

Note 36
In view of the fact that the ancient Egyptians worshipped many gods, this observation is not to be taken literally; but since each of the Pharaohs was regarded as an incarnation of the divine principle as such, he claimed - and received - his people's adoration as their "Lord All-Highest" (cf. 79:24), combining within himself, as it were, all the qualities attributable to gods.

Note 37
Or: "ascend to the god of Moses". Whichever of the two meanings is given to the verb ittaliu, Pharaoh's demand for a "lofty tower" is not only an allusion to the building of one of the great pyramids,(see note 6 above) but also a derisory, contemptuous reference to Moses' concept of God as an all-embracing Power, inconceivably high above all that exists.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:38 Pharaoh said, "O you elders, I have not known of any god for you other than me. Therefore, fire the adobe, O Hamaan, in order to build a tower, that I may take a look at the god of Moses. I am sure that he is a liar.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:38 Pharaoh said, "O Chiefs! I have not known any god for you other than myself. Well, then, O Haman! Kindle me a fire for baking bricks and then build me a lofty tower so that I may have a look at the ‘god’ of Moses, although I think, he is of the liars."

28:39 واستكبر هو وجنوده فى الارض بغير الحق وظنوا انهم الينا لا يرجعون

Transcription (English)
28:39 Waistakbara huwa wajunooduhu feeal-ardi bighayri alhaqqi wathannooannahum ilayna la yurjaAAoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:39 He and his soldiers were arrogant in the land without any right, and they thought that they would not be returned to Us.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:39 And he and his soldiers were arrogant in the land without any right, and they thought that they would not be returned to Us.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:39 Thus arrogantly, without the least good sense,38 did he and his hosts behave on earth - just as if they thought that they would never have to appear before Us [for judgment]!39

Note 38
lit., "without (any) truth" or "justification" (bi-ghayr al-haqq).

Note 39
Lit., "and they thought that they would not be brought back to Us". There is no doubt that the ancient Egyptians did believe in a life after death, and that this belief included the concept of a divine judgment as well. Since, however, the particular Pharaoh whom Moses confronted is said to have behaved with an arrogance opposed to all good sense, the Qur'an - by implication - likens his attitude to that of a person who does not believe in resurrection and in man's ultimate responsibility before God: hence my rendering of the conjunctive particle wa at the beginning of the above clause as "just as if".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:39 Thus, he and his troops continued to commit arrogance on earth, without any right, and thought that they would not be returned to us.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:39 Thus Pharaoh and his forces continued to behave with unjust pride in the land, as they thought that they would never have to appear before Us.

28:40 فاخذنه وجنوده فنبذنهم فى اليم فانظر كيف كان عقبة الظلمين

Transcription (English)
28:40 Faakhathnahu wajunoodahufanabathnahum fee alyammi faonthurkayfa kana AAaqibatu alththalimeena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:40 So We took him and his soldiers, and We cast them into the sea. So see what the end of the wicked was!
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:40 So We took him and his soldiers, and We cast them into the sea. So see how was the end of the wicked!
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:40 And so We seized him and his hosts and cast them into the sea: and behold what happened in the end to those evildoers:
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:40 Consequently, we punished him and his troops, by throwing them into the sea. Note the consequences for the transgressors.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:40 And so We seized him and his armies, and threw them into the sea. Remember what happened to those oppressors in the end.

28:41 وجعلنهم ائمة يدعون الى النار ويوم القيمة لا ينصرون

Transcription (English)
28:41 WajaAAalnahum a-immatan yadAAoona ilaalnnari wayawma alqiyamati la yunsaroona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:41 We made them role models for inviting to the fire. On the day of Resurrection, they will not be supported.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:41 We made them leaders, inviting to the Fire. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will not be supported.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:41 [We destroyed them,] and We set them up as archetypes [of evil] that show the way to the fire [of hell];40 and [whereas] no succour will come to them on Resurrection Day,

Note 40
Lit., "archetypes (aimmah) inviting to the fire". This is the pivotal sentence of the above fragment of the story of Moses. Just as verses 15-16 are meant to draw our attention to the sin of tribal or racial prejudice, the present reference to Pharaoh as an "archetype [of evil]" points to the fact that false pride (takabbur) and arrogance (istikbar) are truly "satanic" attitudes of mind, repeatedly exemplified in the Qur'an by Iblis's symbolic "revolt" against God (for the meaning of which see note 26 on 2:34 and note 31 on 15:41). Inasmuch as they are intrinsically evil, these "satanic" impulses lead to evil actions and, consequently, to a weakening or even a total destruc­tion of man's spiritual potential: which, in its turn, is bound to cause suffering in the hereafter.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:41 We made them imams who led their people to Hell. Furthermore, on the Day of Resurrection, they will have no help.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:41 And We made them leaders inviting to the fire, and no help shall they find on the Day of Resurrection.

28:42 واتبعنهم فى هذه الدنيا لعنة ويوم القيمة هم من المقبوحين

Transcription (English)
28:42 WaatbaAAnahum fee hathihi alddunyalaAAnatan wayawma alqiyamati hum mina almaqbooheena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:42 We made them followed by a curse in this world, and on the day of Resurrection they will be despised.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:42 And We made them followed by a curse in this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be despised.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:42 We have caused a curse to follow them in this world as well;41 and on Resurrection Day they will find themselves among those who are bereft of all good.42

Note 41
I.e., in the pejorative connotation universally given to the adjective "pharaonic". It is to be noted that the term la'nah, here rendered as "curse", primarily denotes "estrangement" (ibad), i.e., from all that is good and, hence, really desirable.

Note 42
I.e., among those who by their own actions will have removed themselves from God's grace: a meaning given to the term maqbuh, in this context, by most of the classical commentators and philologists (cf. Lisan al Arab, Taj al-'Arus, etc.).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:42 They incurred in this life condemnation, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be despised.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:42 In this world, We did cause condemnation to follow them, and they shall be among the despised ones on the Day of Resurrection.

28:43 ولقد ءاتينا موسى الكتب من بعد ما اهلكنا القرون الاولى بصائر للناس وهدى ورحمة لعلهم يتذكرون

Transcription (English)
28:43 Walaqad atayna moosaalkitaba min baAAdi ma ahlakna alquroonaal-oola basa-ira lilnnasi wahudanwarahmatan laAAallahum yatathakkaroona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:43 We had given Moses the book after We had destroyed the earlier generations, as an example for people and a guidance and mercy, perhaps they will take heed.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:43 We had given Moses the Book after We had destroyed the earlier generations; as an example for the people and a guidance and a mercy, perhaps they will take heed.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:43 And [then,] indeed, after We had destroyed those earlier generations [of sinners], We vouchsafed unto Moses [Our] revelation as a means of insight for men,43 and as a guidance and grace, so that they might bethink themselves [of Us].

Note 43
By virtue of its being the first instance of a divinely-inspired Law, the Torah inaugurated a new phase in mankind's religious history (cf. the reference to the children of Israel as "forerunners in faith" in verse 5 of this surah).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
The Book of Moses28:43 We gave Moses the scripture - after having annihilated the previous generations, and after setting the examples through them - to provide enlightenment for the people, and guidance, and mercy, that they may take heed.2 ,

Note 2
The Torah is the collection of all the scriptures revealed to all the prophets of Israel, including the book of Moses. The Quran consistentlystates that Moses was given a book, or "the Statute Book." Nowhere in theQuran do we see that Moses was given "the Torah." Today's Old Testament,therefore, is the Torah (see3:50,5:46).
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:43 We had given the scripture to Moses - after We had annihilated several earlier communities – to give insight to people, and a guidance and a mercy, that they might reflect.

28:44 وما كنت بجانب الغربى اذ قضينا الى موسى الامر وما كنت من الشهدين

Transcription (English)
28:44 Wama kunta bijanibialgharbiyyi ith qadayna ila moosaal-amra wama kunta mina alshshahideena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:44 You were not on the western slope when We decreed the command to Moses. You were not a witness.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:44 And you were not on the western slope when We decreed the command to Moses. You were not a witness.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:44 NOW [as for thee, O Muhammad,] thou wert not present on the sunset slope [of Mount Sinai] when We imposed the Law upon Moses, nor wert thou among those who witnessed [his times]:44

Note 44
Implying that the story of Moses as narrated in the Qur'an could not have come to Muhammad's knowledge otherwise than through revelation: consequently, the Qur'an as such must obviously be a result of divine revelation. The term al-amr, rendered above as "the Law", is the Arabic equivalent of he Hebrew word torah ("law" or "precept"), the commonly accepted title of the revelation granted to Moses.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Addressing God's Messenger of the Covenant28:44 You were not present on the slope of the western mount, when we issued the command to Moses; you were not a witness.,3

Note 3
The name of this messenger is confirmed mathematically: by placing the gematrical value of "Rashad Khalifa" (1230) next to the verse number(44), we get 123044=19x6476.
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:44 And (O Prophet) you were not present on the western slope (of Mount Sinai) when We expounded the commandments to Moses, nor were you among those who witnessed his times.

28:45 ولكنا انشانا قرونا فتطاول عليهم العمر وما كنت ثاويا فى اهل مدين تتلوا عليهم ءايتنا ولكنا كنا مرسلين

Transcription (English)
28:45 Walakinna ansha-naquroonan fatatawala AAalayhimu alAAumuru wama kuntathawiyan fee ahli madyana tatloo AAalayhim ayatinawalakinna kunna mursileena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:45 We established many generations, and many ages passed them by. You were not living among the people of Midyan, reciting Our signs to them. But We did send messengers.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:45 And We established many generations, and many ages passed them by. And you were not living among the people of Midyan, reciting Our revelations to them. But We were to send messengers.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:45 nay, but [between them and thee] We brought into being [many] generations, and long was their span of life. And neither didst thou dwell among the people of Madyan, conveying Our messages unto them:45 nay, but We have [always] been sending [Our message-bearers unto man].

Note 45
I.e., "thou art not the first of Our apostles, O Muhammad: We have sent thee to the people of thy time just as We sent Shu'ayb to the people of Madyan (Ad-Dahhak, as quoted by Razi).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:45 But we established many generations, and, because of the length of time, (they deviated). Nor were you among the people of Midyan, reciting our revelations to them. But we did send messengers.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:45 Nay, but between them and you We brought forth many generations, and long was their life-span. And neither did you dwell among the people of Midyan, conveying to them Our messages. Nay, but We have been sending Messengers.

28:46 وما كنت بجانب الطور اذ نادينا ولكن رحمة من ربك لتنذر قوما ما اتىهم من نذير من قبلك لعلهم يتذكرون

Transcription (English)
28:46 Wama kunta bijanibi alttooriith nadayna walakin rahmatanmin rabbika litunthira qawman ma atahum minnatheerin min qablika laAAallahum yatathakkaroona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:46 Nor were you on the side of the mount when We called. But it is a mercy from your Lord, so that you may warn a people who received no warner before you, perhaps they may take heed.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:46 And nor were you on the side of the mount when We called. But it is a mercy from your Lord, so that you may warn a people who received no warner before you, perhaps they may take heed.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:46 And neither wert thou present on the slope of Mount Sinai when We called out [to Moses]:46 but [thou, too, art sent] as an act of thy Sustainer's grace, to warn people to whom no warner has come before thee, so that they might bethink themselves [of Us];

Note 46
According to some of the classical commentators, this second reference to "the slope of Mount Sinai" contains an allusion to the divine assurance mentioned in 7:156: "My grace overspreads everything . . ." (Tabari, Razi). This interpretation is most plausible in view of the subsequent reference to Muhammad's mission as "an act of thy Sustainer's grace (rahmah)".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:46 Nor were you on the slope of Mount Sinai when we called (Moses). But it is mercy from your Lord, (towards the people,) in order to warn people who received no warner before you, that they may take heed.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:46 And neither were you present on the slope of Mount Sinai when We called Moses. But you are sent as a grace from your Lord to warn people to whom no warner has come before you, so that they may reflect.10

Note 10
32:3, 36:6. Prophet Ishmael, the ancestor of Arabs, cannot be considered a Prophet to them since Children of Ishmael multiplied and inhabited Arabia as the Arab community long after his death. See 2:125 and introduction to Surah 11 Hud

28:47 ولولا ان تصيبهم مصيبة بما قدمت ايديهم فيقولوا ربنا لولا ارسلت الينا رسولا فنتبع ءايتك ونكون من المؤمنين

Transcription (English)
28:47 Walawla an tuseebahum museebatunbima qaddamat aydeehim fayaqooloo rabbana lawlaarsalta ilayna rasoolan fanattabiAAa ayatikawanakoona mina almu/mineena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:47 Thus, if any disaster strikes them as a consequence of their own deeds they cannot say, "Our Lord, if only You sent a messenger to us, so that we would follow Your signs, and we would be of those who acknowledge."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:47 Thus, if any disaster strikes them as a consequence of their own deeds they cannot Say: "Our Lord, if only You sent a messenger to us, so that we would follow Your revelations, and we would be of the believers."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:47 and [We have sent thee] lest they say [on Judg­ment Day], when disaster befalls them as an outcome of what their own hands have wrought, “O our Sus­tainer, if only Thou had sent an apostle unto us, we would have followed Thy messages, and would have been among those who believe!"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
No Excuse28:47 Thus, they cannot say, when a disaster strikes them as a consequence of their own deeds, "Our Lord, had You sent a messenger to us, we would have followed Your revelations, and would have been believers.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:47 Otherwise, if disaster struck them as a result of their own actions, they might say, "Our Lord! Why did You not send a Messenger to us, that we might have followed Your revelations and been of the believers?"

28:48 فلما جاءهم الحق من عندنا قالوا لولا اوتى مثل ما اوتى موسى اولم يكفروا بما اوتى موسى من قبل قالوا سحران تظهرا وقالوا انا بكل كفرون

Transcription (English)
28:48 Falamma jaahumu alhaqqumin AAindina qaloo lawla ootiya mithla maootiya moosa awa lam yakfuroo bima ootiya moosamin qablu qaloo sihrani tathaharawaqaloo inna bikullin kafiroona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
Religious People do not Appreciate New Signs28:48 But when the truth came to them from Us, they said, "If only he was given the same that was given to Moses!" Had they not rejected what was given to Moses before? They had said, "Two magicians assisting one another." They said, "We reject all these things."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:48 But when the truth came to them from Us, they said: "If only he was given the same that was given to Moses!" Had they not rejected what was given to Moses before? They had said: "Two magicians assisting one another." And they said: "We reject all these things."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:48 And yet, now that the truth has come unto them from Us, they say, “Why has he not been vouch­safed the like of what Moses was vouchsafed?"47 But did they not also, before this, deny the truth of what Moses was vouchsafed? [For] they do say, “Two examples of delusion, [seemingly] supporting each other!"48 And they add, “Behold, we refuse to accept either of them as true!"

Note 47
As the Qur'an frequently points out, the basic ethical truths enunciated in it are the same as those of earlier revelations. It is this very statement which induced the opponents of Muhammad - in his own time as well as in later times - to question the authenticity of the Qur'an: "If it had really been revealed by God," they argue, "would so many of its propositions, especially its social laws, differ so radically from the laws promulgated in that earlier divine writ, the Torah?" By advancing this argument (and quite apart from the question of whether the text of the Bible as we know it today has or has not been corrupted in the course of time), the opponents of Muhammad's message deliberately overlook the fact, repeatedly stressed in the Qur'an, that the earlier systems of law were conditioned by the spiritual level of a particular people and the exigencies of a particular chapter of human history, and therefore had to he superseded by new laws at a higher stage of human development (see in this connection the second paragraph of 5:48 and the corresponding note 66). However, as is evident from the immediate sequence - and especially from the last sentence of this verse - the above specious argument is not meant to uphold the authenticity of the Bible as against that of the Qur'an, but, rather, aims at discrediting both - and, through them, the basic religious principle against which the irreligious mind always revolts: namely, the idea of divine revelation and of man's absolute dependence on and responsibility to God, the Ultimate Cause of all that exists.

Note 48
A contemptuous allusion, on the one hand, to Old-Testament predictions of the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (cf. surah 2 note 33), and, on the other, to the oft-repeated Quranic statement that this divine writ had been revealed to "confirm the truth of earlier revelations". As regards my rendering of the term sihr (lit., "magic" or "sorcery") as "delusion" - and occasionally as "spellbinding eloquence" - see note 12 on 74:24.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
The Torah and The Quran28:48 Now that the truth has come to them from us, they said, "If only we could be given what was given to Moses!" Did they not disbelieve in what was given to Moses in the past? They said, "Both (scriptures) are works of magic that copied one another." They also said, "We are disbelievers in both of them.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:48 And yet, now that the truth has come to them from Us, they say, "Why is he not given the like of what Moses was given?" (The supernatural miracles they had heard about). But, did not the generations before this revelation reject the truth of what Moses was given? They used to say, “Two examples of delusion, supporting each other (Moses and Aaron)! And they said, “Certainly, we reject both of them.”

28:49 قل فاتوا بكتب من عند الله هو اهدى منهما اتبعه ان كنتم صدقين

Transcription (English)
28:49 Qul fa/too bikitabin min AAindi Allahihuwa ahda minhuma attabiAAhu in kuntum sadiqeena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:49 Say, "Then bring forth a book from God that is better in guidance so I may follow it, if you are truthful."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:49 Say: "Then bring forth a book from God that is better than them in guidance so I may follow it, if you are truthful."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:49 Say: “Produce, then, [another] revelation from God which would offer better guidance than either of these two49 [and] I shall follow it, if you speak the truth!"

Note 49
I.e., the Torah and the Qur'an. The Gospel is not mentioned in this context because, as Jesus himself had stressed, his message was based on the Law of Moses, and was not meant to displace the latter.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:49 Say, "Then produce a scripture from GOD with better guidance than the two, so I can follow it, if you are truthful.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:49 Say, "Produce then, a Book from God that would offer better guidance than either of these two (the Torah in its original form, and the Qur’an), and I shall follow it! Do it if you are truthful."11

Note 11
The Gospel Injeel is not mentioned here since, according to Jesus, he only came to fulfill the law. Another point worth mentioning is that the Qur’an embraces all of the truth that was given in the Torah while rejecting human interpolations or deletions. 2:101, 3:78, 5:48

28:50 فان لم يستجيبوا لك فاعلم انما يتبعون اهواءهم ومن اضل ممن اتبع هوىه بغير هدى من الله ان الله لا يهدى القوم الظلمين

Transcription (English)
28:50 Fa-in lam yastajeeboo laka faiAAlamannama yattabiAAoona ahwaahum waman adallumimmani ittabaAAa hawahu bighayri hudan mina Allahiinna Allaha la yahdee alqawma alththalimeena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:50 But if they fail to respond to you, then know that they follow only their desires. Who is more astray than one who follows his desire, without guidance from God? God does not guide the wicked people.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:50 But if they fail to respond to you, then know that they follow only their desires. And who is more astray than he who follows his desire, without guidance from God? God does not guide the wicked people.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:50 And since they cannot respond to this thy challenge,50 know that they are following only their own likes and dislikes: and who could be more astray than he who follows [but] his own likes and dislikes without any guidance from God? Verily, God does not grace with His guidance peo­ple who are given to evildoing!

Note 50
Lit., "if they do not respond to thee", implying that they are unable to accept the above challenge.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
God Sends His Teachings to Us Through His Messengers28:50 If they fail to respond to you, then know that they follow only their own opinions. Who is farther astray than those who follow their own opinions, without guidance from GOD? GOD does not guide such wicked people.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:50 If they fail to respond to you, then know that they only follow their own desires. Who can be farther astray than one who follows his own desires, without guidance from God? God does not guide people who choose to do wrong.

28:51 ولقد وصلنا لهم القول لعلهم يتذكرون

Transcription (English)
28:51 Walaqad wassalna lahumualqawla laAAallahum yatathakkaroona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
The People of the Book Should Recognize the Message28:51 We have delivered the message, perhaps they may take heed.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:51 And We have delivered the message, perhaps they may take heed.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:51 NOW, INDEED, We have caused this word [of Ours] to reach mankind step by step, so that they might [learn to] keep it in mind.51

Note 51
Lit., "We have caused this word to reach them gradually": this meaning is implied in the verbal form wassalna, which - like the grammatically identical form nazzalna - points to the gradual, step-by-step revelation of the Qur'an during the twenty-three years of Muhammad's prophetic ministry.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
All True Believers Accept the Quran28:51 We have delivered the message to them, that they may take heed.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:51 We have caused this Word to reach mankind step by step, so that they might take it to heart.12

Note 12
Wassalna embraces ‘step by step’

28:52 الذين ءاتينهم الكتب من قبله هم به يؤمنون

Transcription (English)
28:52 Allatheena ataynahumualkitaba min qablihi hum bihi yu/minoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:52 Those whom We gave the book to before this, they will acknowledge it.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:52 Those to whom We had given the Book before this, they will believe in it.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:52 As for those unto whom We have vouchsafed revelation aforetime - they [are bound to] believe in this one [as well];52

Note 52
This is both a statement of historical fact - alluding to conversions of Jews and Christians in Muhammad's lifetime - and a prophecy. It must, however, be understood that, in the above context, God's "vouchsafing" revelation implies a conscious, sincere acceptance of its teachings by those to whom it has been conveyed: for it is this sincerity that has enabled them - or will enable them - to realize that the Qur'an preaches the same ethical truths as those forthcoming from earlier revelations. (Cf. 26:196 and the corresponding notes 83-85.)
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:52 Those whom we blessed with the previous scriptures will believe in this.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:52 As for those whom We have given the scripture before, will in time, come to believe in this one as well.13

Note 13
26:196. People of the Book that sincerely reflect on the Qur’an, will accept it

28:53 واذا يتلى عليهم قالوا ءامنا به انه الحق من ربنا انا كنا من قبله مسلمين

Transcription (English)
28:53 Wa-itha yutla AAalayhim qalooamanna bihi innahu alhaqqu min rabbinainna kunna min qablihi muslimeena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:53 If it is recited to them, they say, "We acknowledge it. It is the truth from our Lord. Indeed, we had peacefully surrendered before it."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:53 And if it is recited to them, they say: "We believe in it. It is the truth from our Lord. Indeed, we had submitted before it."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:53 and whenever it is [clearly] conveyed unto them, they [are bound to] profess, “We have come to believe in it, for, behold, it is the truth from our Sustainer - and, verily, even before this have we surrendered ourselves unto Him!"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:53 When it is recited to them, they will say, "We believe in it. This is the truth from our Lord. Even before we heard of it, we were submitters.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:53 And whenever it is recited (and explained) to them, they say, "We believe in it, for, it is the truth from our Lord. Even before it, we have been Muslims.”14

Note 14
Tilaawah= Recitation with understanding. ‘We have been Muslims’ = We have always known that Divine revelation alone is the authority and we have surrendered ourselves to God

28:54 اولئك يؤتون اجرهم مرتين بما صبروا ويدرءون بالحسنة السيئة ومما رزقنهم ينفقون

Transcription (English)
28:54 Ola-ika yu/tawna ajrahum marrataynibima sabaroo wayadraoona bialhasanatialssayyi-ata wamimma razaqnahum yunfiqoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:54 To these We grant twice the reward for that they have been patient. They counter evil with good, and from Our provisions to them, they give.3

Note 3

Countering evil with goodness is a common trait of muslims or rational monotheists. See, 4:140.

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:54 To these We grant twice the reward for that they have been patient. And they counter evil with good, and from Our provisions to them, they give.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:54 These it is that shall receive a twofold reward for having been patient in adversity, and having repelled evil with good,53 and having spent on others out of what We provided for them as sus­tenance,

Note 53
See note 44 on the identical phrase in 13:22. In the present context, the reference to "patience in adversity" and "repelling evil with good" evidently relates to the loss of erstwhile communal links, social ostracism, and all manner of physical or moral persecution which is so often the lot of persons who accept religious tenets different from those of their own community.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Twice the Reward for Christians & Jews Who Recognize the Truth28:54 To these we grant twice the reward, because they steadfastly persevere. They counter evil works with good works, and from our provisions to them, they give.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:54 These will receive a twofold reward because they persevere, counter harsh behavior in a kind manner and distribute Our provision of guidance and sustenance among others. [13:22]

28:55 واذا سمعوا اللغو اعرضوا عنه وقالوا لنا اعملنا ولكم اعملكم سلم عليكم لا نبتغى الجهلين

Transcription (English)
28:55 Wa-itha samiAAoo allaghwa aAAradooAAanhu waqaloo lana aAAmaluna walakumaAAmalukum salamun AAalaykum la nabtagheealjahileena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:55 If they come across vain talk, they disregard it and say, "To us are our deeds, and to you is your deeds. Peace be upon you. We do not seek the ignorant."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:55 And if they come across vain talk, they disregard it and say: "To us are our deeds, and to you are your deeds. Peace be upon you. We do not seek the ignorant."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:55 and, whenever they heard frivolous talk,54 having turned away from it and said: “Unto us shall be accounted Our deeds, and unto you, your deeds. Peace be upon you - [but] we do not seek out such as are ignorant [of the meaning of right and wrong]."

Note 54
This obviously refers to attempts, based on prejudice, at deriding the spiritual re-orientation of the person concerned.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:55 When they come across vain talk, they disregard it and say, "We are responsible for our deeds, and you are responsible for your deeds. Peace be upon you. We do not wish to behave like the ignorant ones.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:55 (Additionally) whenever they hear vain talk, they withdraw from it decently and say, "To us our deeds and to you yours; Peace be upon you, we do not seek to join the ignorant.” [25:72]

28:56 انك لا تهدى من احببت ولكن الله يهدى من يشاء وهو اعلم بالمهتدين

Transcription (English)
28:56 Innaka la tahdee man ahbabtawalakinna Allaha yahdee man yashao wahuwaaAAlamu bialmuhtadeena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
Only God Guides28:56 You cannot guide whom you love. But it is God who guides whom He wills; and He is fully aware of those who receive the guidance.4

Note 4

Compare this verse to 42:52.

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:56 You cannot guide whom you love. But it is God who guides whom He wills; and He is fully aware of those who receive the guidance.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:56 VERILY, thou canst not guide aright everyone whom thou lovest: but it is God who guides him that wills [to be guided];55 and He is fully aware of all who would let themselves be guided.56

Note 55
Or: "God guides whomever He wills" - either of these two renderings being syntactically correct. According to several extremely well authenticated Traditions, the above verse relates to the Prophet's inability to induce his dying uncle Abu Talib, whom he loved dearly and who had loved and protected him throughout his life, to renounce the pagan beliefs of his ancestors and to profess faith in God's oneness. Influenced by Abu Jahl and other Meccan chieftains, Abu Talib died professing, in his own words, "the creed of Abd al-Muttalib" (Bukhari) or, according to another version (quoted by Tabari), "the creed of my ancestors (al-ashyakh)". However, the Quranic statement "thou canst not guide aright everyone whom thou lovest" has undoubtedly a timeless import as well: It stresses the inadequacy of all human endeavours to "convert" any other person, however loving and loved, to one's own beliefs, or to prevent him from falling into what one regards as error, unless that person wills to be so guided.

Note 56
The above rendering of the expression al-muhtadin conforms to the interpretations offered in this context by many classical commentators - e.g., "those who accept guidance" (Zamakhshari), "everyone who in time would find the right way" (Razi), "those who are prepared (musta'iddin) for it" (Baydawi), "all who deserve guidance" (Ibn Kathir), and so forth. Thus, God's guidance is but the final act of His grace with which He rewards all who desire to be guided. For a further consideration of this problem, the reader is referred to Zamakhshari's illuminating remarks quoted in the note 4 on 14:4.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Only God Guides28:56 You cannot guide the ones you love. GOD is the only One who guides in accordance with His will, and in accordance with His knowledge of those who deserve the guidance.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:56 Surely, you cannot guide everyone you love, but it is God Who guides him who wishes to be guided. And He is best Aware of those who will be rightly guided. [2:272, 4:88, 10:99-100]

28:57 وقالوا ان نتبع الهدى معك نتخطف من ارضنا اولم نمكن لهم حرما ءامنا يجبى اليه ثمرت كل شىء رزقا من لدنا ولكن اكثرهم لا يعلمون

Transcription (English)
28:57 Waqaloo in nattabiAAi alhudamaAAaka nutakhattaf min ardina awa lamnumakkin lahum haraman aminan yujba ilayhithamaratu kulli shay-in rizqan min ladunna walakinnaaktharahum la yaAAlamoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:57 They said, "If we follow the guidance with you, we will be deposed from our land." Did We not establish for them a safe territory, to which all kinds of fruits are offered, as a provision from Us? Indeed, most of them do not know.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:57 And they said: "If we follow the guidance with you, we will be deposed from our land." Did We not establish for them a safe territory, to which all kinds of fruits are offered, as a provision from Us? Indeed, most of them do not know.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:57 Now some say, “If we were to follow the guidance to which thou invitest us, we would be torn away from our very soil!"57 Why - have We not established for them a sanc­tuary secure, to which, as a provision from Us, shall be gathered the fruits of all (good) things?58 But most of them are unaware [of this truth].

Note 57
Lit., If we were to follow the guidance together with thee, we would be snatched away from our land" (or "our soil"). This passage has obviously twofold connotation. On the historical plane, it echoes an objection voiced by many pagan Meccans to Muhammad's preaching: "If we were to accept thy call, most of the other tribes would regard this as a betrayal of our common ancestral beliefs, and would drive us away from our land." In a more general, timeless sense it reflects the hesitation of so many people - of whatever period, environment or religious persuasion - who, while realizing the truth of a new spiritual call, are yet fearful of acknowledging it as true lest this acknowledgment cause a total breach between them and their community and thus, as were, cut the ground from under their feet.

Note 58
Like the preceding expression of fear, this Quranic answer, too, can be understood in two senses. In the limited, historical sense it is an allusion to Abraham's prayer that the land around the Kabah be made secure for all times and its natural barrenness be compensated by fruitful help from outside (cf. 14:35 also 2:126), and to God's acceptance of this prayer: thus, the Prophet's Meccan contemporaries are reminded that they need not fear to be dispossessed of this holy land so long as they remain righteous and trust in God. In its purely spiritual connotation, on the other hand, the "sanctuary secure" is God's promise - referred to in verse 61 below - that all who have faith in Him and are conscious of their responsibility to Him shall be graced with a sense of inner peace in this world and with enduring bliss in the life to come; and since they are thus to be rewarded with the "fruits" of all their good deeds, "no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve" (cf. 2:62, 3:170, 5:69, 6:48, 7:35, 10:62, 46:13). See also note 59 on 29:67.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:57 They said, "If we follow your guidance, we will suffer persecution." Did we not establish for them a Sacred Sanctuary, to which all kinds of fruits are offered, as a provision from us? Indeed, most of them do not know.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:57 They (the Quraish) say, "If we were to follow the guidance to which you invite us, we would be torn away from our land." Why! Have We not established for them a Secure Sanctuary, to which are brought all kinds of produce, a provision from Our Presence? But most of them do not make use of what they know.

28:58 وكم اهلكنا من قرية بطرت معيشتها فتلك مسكنهم لم تسكن من بعدهم الا قليلا وكنا نحن الورثين

Transcription (English)
28:58 Wakam ahlakna min qaryatin batiratmaAAeeshataha fatilka masakinuhum lam tuskan minbaAAdihim illa qaleelan wakunna nahnu alwaritheena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:58 How many a town have We destroyed for turning boastful of their lifestyles. So here are their homes, nothing but uninhabited ruins after them, except a few. We were the inheritors.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:58 And how many a town have We destroyed that had become unappreciative of its livelihood. So here are their dwellings, they remained uninhabited after them, except for a few. And We were the inheritors.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:58 And how many a community that [once] exult­ed in its wanton wealth and ease of life have We destroyed, so that those dwelling-places of theirs – all but a few - have never been dwelt-in after them: for it is indeed We alone who shall remain when all else will have passed away!59

Note 59
Lit., "We are indeed (kunna) the inheritors". For an explanation of my rendering of this phrase, see note 22 on 15:23. The above passage stresses the insignificance and brittleness of all worldly "advantages" as compared with the imperishable good of divine guidance.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:58 Many a community we annihilated for turning unappreciative of their lives. Consequently, here are their homes, nothing but uninhabited ruins after them, except a few. We were the inheritors.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:58 And how many a town We annihilated, which exulted in their life of ease and plenty! - Such that most of their dwelling places have remained deserted after them. For it is We alone Who shall remain when all else have passed away!

28:59 وما كان ربك مهلك القرى حتى يبعث فى امها رسولا يتلوا عليهم ءايتنا وما كنا مهلكى القرى الا واهلها ظلمون

Transcription (English)
28:59 Wama kana rabbuka muhlikaalqura hatta yabAAatha fee ommiharasoolan yatloo AAalayhim ayatina wamakunna muhlikee alqura illa waahluha thalimoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:59 Your Lord never annihilates the towns without sending a messenger to their capital, to recite Our signs to them. We never annihilate the towns unless their people are wicked.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:59 And your Lord was not to destroy the towns until He sends a messenger to their capital, to recite Our revelations to them. And We do not destroy the towns unless its people are wicked.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:59 Yet, withal, thy Sustainer would never destroy a community without having [first] raised in its midst an apostle who would convey unto them Our mes­sages;60 and never would We destroy a community unless its people are wont to do wrong [to one another].61

Note 60
Sc., "and thus make them aware of the meaning of right and wrong": cf. 6:130 and the corresponding notes 116 and 117.

Note 61
Cf. in this connection note 149 on 11:117. All the three passages referred to in this as well as the preceding note (i.e., 6:130, 11:117 and ) are interdependent and must, therefore, be read side by side. The present passage connects with verse 58 above and its reference to "wanton wealth and ease of life", for the sake of which people so often wrong one another.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:59 For your Lord never annihilates any community without sending a messenger in the midst thereof, to recite our revelations to them. We never annihilate any community, unless its people are wicked.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:59 Yet, your Lord never destroyed townships unless He sent a Messenger in their midst who conveyed Our commands to them. And never did We destroy the townships unless the people thereof violated human rights.

28:60 وما اوتيتم من شىء فمتع الحيوة الدنيا وزينتها وما عند الله خير وابقى افلا تعقلون

Transcription (English)
28:60 Wama ooteetum min shay-in famataAAualhayati alddunya wazeenatuhawama AAinda Allahi khayrun waabqa afalataAAqiloona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:60 Anything that is given to you is only the materials of this world, and its glitter. What is with God is far better, and everlasting. Do you not reason?
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:60 And anything that is given to you is only the materialism of this world, and its glitter. And what is with God is far better, and more lasting. Do you not comprehend?
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:60 And [remember:] whatever you are given [now] is but for the [passing] enjoyment of life in this world, and for its embellishment - whereas that which is with God is [so much] better and more enduring. Will you not, then, use your reason?
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:60 Everything that is given to you is only the material of this life, and its vanity. What is with GOD is far better, and everlasting. Do you not understand?,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:60 And whatever you have been given is a comfort and decor for the life of the world. And what God has is better and more lasting. Will you not, then, use sense?

28:61 افمن وعدنه وعدا حسنا فهو لقيه كمن متعنه متع الحيوة الدنيا ثم هو يوم القيمة من المحضرين

Transcription (English)
28:61 Afaman waAAadnahu waAAdan hasananfahuwa laqeehi kaman mattaAAnahu mataAAa alhayatialddunya thumma huwa yawma alqiyamati minaalmuhdareena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:61 Is one whom We promised a good promise, and it will come to pass, equal to one whom We provided with the goods of this life, then on the day of Resurrection he is of those who will suffer?
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:61 Is one whom We promised a good promise, and it will come to pass, equal to one whom We provided with the goods of this life, then on the Day of Resurrection he is of those who will be summoned?
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:61 Is, then, he to whom We have given that goodly promise which he shall see fulfilled [on his resurrection]62 comparable to one on whom We have bestowed [all] the enjoyments of this worldly life but who, on Resurrection Day, will find himself among those that shall be arraigned [before Us]?63

Note 62
See second half of note 58.

Note 63
Sc., "for having misused Our gifts and attributed them to powers other than Us".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:61 Is one whom we promised a good promise that will surely come to pass, equal to one whom we provide with the temporary materials of this life, then suffers eternal doom on the Day of Resurrection?,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:61 Is he, then, to whom We have given a goodly promise which he shall see fulfilled comparable to the one whom We have given the good things of this life, but who on the Resurrection Day, is to be among those brought up for punishment? [24:55]

28:62 ويوم يناديهم فيقول اين شركاءى الذين كنتم تزعمون

Transcription (English)
28:62 Wayawma yunadeehim fayaqoolu aynashuraka-iya allatheena kuntum tazAAumoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:62 On the day when He calls upon them, saying: "Where are My partners whom you used to claim?"
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:62 And on the Day when He calls upon them, saying: "Where are My partners whom you used to claim?"
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:62 For, on that Day He will call unto them, and will ask: “Where, now, are those [beings or powers] whom you imagined to have a share in My divinity?"64

Note 64
Lit., "those partners of Mine whom you supposed [to exist]": see notes 15 and 16 on 6:22.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
The Idols Disown Their Idolizers28:62 The day will come when He calls upon them, saying, "Where are those idols you had set up beside Me?",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:62 On that Day He will call to them, and will ask, "Where are My ‘partners’ whom you imagined?"

28:63 قال الذين حق عليهم القول ربنا هؤلاء الذين اغوينا اغوينهم كما غوينا تبرانا اليك ما كانوا ايانا يعبدون

Transcription (English)
28:63 Qala allatheena haqqaAAalayhimu alqawlu rabbana haola-i allatheenaaghwayna aghwaynahum kama ghawaynatabarra/na ilayka ma kanoo iyyanayaAAbudoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:63 Those who have deserved the retribution will say, "Our Lord, these are the ones we misled; we misled them only because we ourselves were misled. We seek to absolve ourselves to You, it was not us that they served."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:63 Those who have deserved the retribution will say: "Our Lord, these are the ones we misled; we misled them only because we ourselves were misled. We seek to absolve ourselves to You, it was not us that they worshipped."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:63 [whereupon] they against whom the word [of truth] shall thus stand revealed65 will exclaim: O our Sustainer! Those whom we caused to err so grievously, we but caused to err as we our­selves had been erring.66 We [now] disavow them before Thee: it was not us that they worshipped!"67

Note 65
I.e., in the very fact of God's calling them to account (cf. 27:82 and the corresponding note 73). As the sequence shows, the persons thus addressed are the "leaders of thought" supposed to have set the community's faulty standards of social behaviour and moral valuation; and since they are primarily responsible for the wrong direction, which their followers have taken, they will be the first to suffer in the life to come.

Note 66
I.e., "we did not lead them astray out of malice, but simply because we ourselves had been led astray by our predecessors". This "answer" is, of course, evasive, but it is quoted here to show that man's attachment to false - but nevertheless, almost deified - values and concepts based on stark materialism is, more often than not, a matter of "social continuity": in other words, the validity of those materialistic pseudo-values is taken for granted simply because they are time-honoured, with every generation blindly subscribing to the views held by their forebears. In its deepest sense, this passage - as so many similar ones throughout the Qur'an - points to the moral inadmissibility of accepting an ethical or intellectual proposition as true on no other grounds than that it was held to be true by earlier generations.

Note 67
In other words, they were but wont to worship their own passions and desires projected onto extraneous beings. See in this connection 10:28, especially note 46 and 34:41 and the corresponding notes 52 .
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:63 Those who incurred the judgment will say, "Our Lord, these are the ones we misled; we misled them only because we ourselves had gone astray. We now devote ourselves totally to You. They were not really worshipping us.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:63 Those against whom the charge will be proved, will say, "Our Lord! These are the ones we misled. We misled them only because we were astray ourselves. We now disown them before you. It was not us they worshiped.”

28:64 وقيل ادعوا شركاءكم فدعوهم فلم يستجيبوا لهم وراوا العذاب لو انهم كانوا يهتدون

Transcription (English)
28:64 Waqeela odAAoo shurakaakumfadaAAawhum falam yastajeeboo lahum waraawoo alAAathabalaw annahum kanoo yahtadoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:64 It will be said, "Call upon your partners," but they will not respond to them. They will see the retribution. If only they were guided!
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:64 And it will be said: "Call upon your partners," but they will not respond to them. And they will see the retribution. If only they were guided!
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:64 And [they] will be told: “Call [now] unto those [beings or powers] to whom you were wont to ascribe a share in God's divinity!"68 and they will call unto them [for help], but those [fake objects of worship] will not respond to them: whereupon they will see the suffering [that awaits them - the suffering which could have been avoided] if only they had allowed them­selves to be guided!69

Note 68
Lit., "those [God-] partners of yours". See note 64 above.

Note 69
For this rendering of the phrase law kanu yahtadun, see second note 56 on verse 56 above.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:64 It will be said, "Call upon your idols (to help you)." They will call upon them, but they will not respond. They will suffer the retribution, and wish that they were guided!,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:64 And it will be said, "Call upon all your ‘partners’” - but the 'partners' will not answer them - Whereupon they will see the suffering – Ah, if they had allowed themselves to be guided!

28:65 ويوم يناديهم فيقول ماذا اجبتم المرسلين

Transcription (English)
28:65 Wayawma yunadeehim fayaqoolu mathaajabtumu almursaleena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:65 On that day, He will ask them and say, "What was the answer you gave to the messengers?"
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:65 On that Day, He will ask them and say: "What was the answer you gave to the messengers?"
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:65 And on that Day He will call unto them, and will ask: “How did you respond to My message­ bearers?"70

Note 70
This connects with the first sentence of verse 59, which has been explained in the corresponding note 60. The present verse clearly implies that those sinners had not responded to the guidance offered them by God's apostles. As in many other instances in the Qur'an, God's "question" is but meant to stress a moral failure, which by now has become obvious to man's self-accusing conscience.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Our Response to the Messengers28:65 On that day, He will ask everyone, "How did you respond to the messengers?",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:65 And on the Day when He will call them and say, “What answer did you give to the Messengers?”

28:66 فعميت عليهم الانباء يومئذ فهم لا يتساءلون

Transcription (English)
28:66 FaAAamiyat AAalayhimu al-anbaoyawma-ithin fahum la yatasaaloona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:66 They will be shocked by the news on that day, they will be speechless.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:66 They will be shocked by the news on that Day, they will be speechless.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:66 but all arguments and excuses will by then have been erased from their minds,71 and they will not [be able to] obtain any [helpful] answer from one another.72

Note 71
Lit., "will on that Day have become obscured to them". The operative noun anba, which literally denotes "tidings", has here the compound meaning of "arguments and excuses" (Tabari).

Note 72
I.e., they will all be equally confused. For the above rendering of la yatasa alun (lit., "they will not [be able to] ask one another"), see the explanations of this phrase advanced by Baghawi, Zamakhshari and Baydawi.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:66 They will be so stunned by the facts on that day, they will be speechless.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:66 On that Day all arguments (they used to contrive) will be dimmed for them, nor will they ask one another.

28:67 فاما من تاب وءامن وعمل صلحا فعسى ان يكون من المفلحين

Transcription (English)
28:67 Faamma man taba waamanawaAAamila salihan faAAasa an yakoona minaalmufliheena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:67 As for the one who repents, acknowledges, and does good works; perhaps he will be with the winners.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:67 As for the one who repents, believes, and does good works; perhaps he will be with the winners.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:67 But as against this - anyone who repents73 and attains to faith and does righteous deeds may well [hope to] find himself among those who achieve a happy state [in the life to come].

Note 73
I.e., during his life in this world. For an explanation of this stress on repentance - which flows from one's realization of moral failure — see surah 24 note 41.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:67 As for those who repent, believe, and lead a righteous life, they will end up with the winners.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:67 But anyone who (in the worldly life) turns to the right path, truly believes and helps others with righteous deeds, will find himself among the successful.

28:68 وربك يخلق ما يشاء ويختار ما كان لهم الخيرة سبحن الله وتعلى عما يشركون

Transcription (English)
28:68 Warabbuka yakhluqu ma yashaowayakhtaru ma kana lahumu alkhiyaratu subhanaAllahi wataAAala AAamma yushrikoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:68 Your Lord creates what He wills, and He selects; it is not for them to select. Glory be to God, He is far above the partners they set up.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:68 And your Lord creates what He wills, and He selects; it is not for them to select. Glory be to God, He is far above the partners they set up.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:68 AND [thus it is:] thy Sustainer creates whatever He wills; and He chooses [for mankind] whatever is best for them.74 Limitless is God in His glory, and sub­limely exalted above anything to which they may ascribe a share in His divinity!

Note 74
Some of the classical commentators incline to interpret the ma in the phrase ma kana lahum al-khirah as a particle of negation and the noun khirah as "choice" or "freedom of choice", thus giving to this phrase the meaning of "He chooses, [but] they [i.e., human beings) have no freedom of choice". To my mind, however, this interpretation conflicts not only with the immediately preceding passages but with the tenor of the Qur'an as a whole, which insists throughout on man's responsibility for (and, hence, on relative freedom in) choosing between right and wrong - and this side by side with its stress on God's unlimited power to determine the factual course of events. Hence, I prefer to base my rendering on the interpretation advanced and convincingly argued by Tabari, who regards the crucial particle ma not as a negation but as a relative pronoun synonymous with alladhi ("that which" or "whatever"), and understands the noun khirah in its primary significance of "that which is chosen" or "preferred", i.e., because it is considered to be the best: in another word, as a synonym of khayr. Zamakhshari refers to this interpretation with evident approval (without, however, mentioning Tabari specifically), and enlarges upon it thus: "God chooses for mankind whatever is best (ma huwa khayr) and most beneficial (aslah) for them, for He knows better than they themselves do what is good for them."
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:68 Your Lord is the One who creates whatever He wills, and chooses; no one else does any choosing. Glory be to GOD, the Most Exalted. He is far above needing partners.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:68 Your Lord does create and choose as He wills. No choice do they have in this matter. Glorified is God and High above all that they associate with Him.15

Note 15
In the ongoing universal evolution, species and nations are subject to the Law of Natural Selection

28:69 وربك يعلم ما تكن صدورهم وما يعلنون

Transcription (English)
28:69 Warabbuka yaAAlamu ma tukinnu sudooruhumwama yuAAlinoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:69 Your Lord knows what is concealed in their chests and what they declare.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:69 And your Lord knows what is concealed in their chests and what they declare.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:69 And thy Sustainer knows all that their hearts conceal as well as all that they bring into the open:
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:69 Your Lord knows the innermost thoughts hidden in their chests, as well as everything they declare.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:69 And your Lord knows what their hearts conceal and what they reveal.16

Note 16
He is fully Aware of the subtle and manifest stages toward the fulfillment of His Plan

28:70 وهو الله لا اله الا هو له الحمد فى الاولى والءاخرة وله الحكم واليه ترجعون

Transcription (English)
28:70 Wahuwa Allahu la ilahailla huwa lahu alhamdu fee al-oola waal-akhiratiwalahu alhukmu wa-ilayhi turjaAAoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:70 He is God, there is no god but He. To Him belongs all praise in the first and in the last, and judgment belongs with Him, and to Him you will be returned.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:70 And He is God, there is no god except He. To Him belongs all praise in the first and in the last, and judgment belongs with Him, and to Him you will be returned.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:70 for He is God, save whom there is no deity. Unto Him all praise is due, at the beginning and at the end [of time];75 and with Him rests all judgment; and unto Him shall you all be brought back.

Note 75
Or: "in this first [i.e., present life] as well as in the life to come".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:70 He is the one GOD; there is no other god beside Him. To Him belongs all praise in this first life, and in the Hereafter. All judgment belongs with Him, and to Him you will be returned.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:70 For He is God, other than Whom there is no god. Unto Him is due all praise, at the first and at the last. For Him is the command, and to Him you shall be brought back.

28:71 قل ارءيتم ان جعل الله عليكم اليل سرمدا الى يوم القيمة من اله غير الله ياتيكم بضياء افلا تسمعون

Transcription (English)
28:71 Qul araaytum in jaAAala AllahuAAalaykumu allayla sarmadan ila yawmi alqiyamatiman ilahun ghayru Allahi ya/teekum bidiya-inafala tasmaAAoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:71 Say, "Have you noted: what if God made the night eternal, until the day of Resurrection? Which god, other than God, can bring you with light? Do you not listen?"
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:71 Say: "Have you noted: what if God made the night eternal, until the Day of Resurrection? Which god, other than God, can bring you with light? Do you not listen?"
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:71 Say: “Have you ever considered [this]: If God had willed that there should always be night about you, without break, until the Day of Resurrection - is there any deity other than God that could bring you light?76 Will you not, then, listen [to the truth]?"

Note 76
Lit., "who [i.e., "where"] is a deity…", etc., obviously implying that no such "deity" exists.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
God's Blessings28:71 Say, "What if GOD made the night perpetual, until the Day of Resurrection? Which god, other than GOD, can provide you with light? Do you not hear?",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:71 Say, "Will you consider this: If God were to make the Night last over you until the Resurrection Day, what god is there, other than God, who can give you light? Will you not, then, listen to the truth?"

28:72 قل ارءيتم ان جعل الله عليكم النهار سرمدا الى يوم القيمة من اله غير الله ياتيكم بليل تسكنون فيه افلا تبصرون

Transcription (English)
28:72 Qul araaytum in jaAAala AllahuAAalaykumu alnnahara sarmadan ila yawmialqiyamati man ilahun ghayru Allahiya/teekum bilaylin taskunoona feehi afala tubsiroona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:72 Say, "Have you noted: what if God made the daylight eternal, until the day of Resurrection? Which god, other than God, can provide you with a night for your rest? Do you not see?"
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:72 Say: "Have you noted: what if God made the daylight eternal, until the Day of Resurrection? Which god, other than God, can provide you with night for you to reside in? Do you not see?"
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:72 Say: “Have you ever considered [this]: If God had willed that there should always be daylight about you, without break, until the Day of Resurrection - is there any deity other than God that could bring you [the darkness of] night, wherein you might rest? Will you not, then, see [the truth]?"77

Note 77
I.e., "Will you not recognize the miracle of planned and purposeful creation?"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:72 Say, "What if GOD made the daylight perpetual, until the Day of Resurrection? Which god, other than GOD, can provide you with a night for your rest? Do you not see?",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:72 Say, "Will you consider this: If God were to make the day last over you until the Day of Resurrection, what god is there other than God, who can give you a night in which you can rest? Will you not, then, use your insight?”

28:73 ومن رحمته جعل لكم اليل والنهار لتسكنوا فيه ولتبتغوا من فضله ولعلكم تشكرون

Transcription (English)
28:73 Wamin rahmatihi jaAAala lakumuallayla waalnnahara litaskunoo feehi walitabtaghoomin fadlihi walaAAallakum tashkuroona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:73 From His mercy is that He created for you the night and the day, in order to rest in it, and that you may seek of His provisions. Perhaps you may be appreciative.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:73 And from His mercy is that He created for you the night and the day; that you may reside in it, and that you may seek of His provisions; and perhaps you may be thankful.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:73 For it is out of His grace that He has made for you the night and the day, so that you might rest therein as well as seek to obtain [what you need] of His bounty: and [He gave you all this] so that you might have cause to be grateful.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:73 It is mercy from Him that He created for you the night and the day in order to rest (during the night), then seek His provisions (during the day), that you may be appreciative.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:73 It is from His grace that He has made for you night and day, in order to rest, and seek His bounty, that you may be grateful.

28:74 ويوم يناديهم فيقول اين شركاءى الذين كنتم تزعمون

Transcription (English)
28:74 Wayawma yunadeehim fayaqoolu aynashuraka-iya allatheena kuntum tazAAumoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:74 The day He will call them and say, "Where are My partners whom you had claimed?"5

Note 5

The followers of man-made stories and teachings that are peddled in the name of God's messengers will be rejected by those very messengers who will serve as witnesses against them. Muhammed will reject Sunni and Shiite mushriks for turning the monotheistic system into various sects concocted by a unanimous "holy" corporation consisting of Muhammed and troops of scholars and religious leaders.

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:74 And the Day He will call them and say: "Where are My partners whom you had claimed?"
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:74 AND ON THAT DAY78 He will call unto those [that shall have been arraigned before His judgment seat], and will ask: “Where, now, are those [beings or powers] whom you imagined to have a share in My divinity?"79

Note 78
I.e., the Day of Resurrection - thus reverting to the theme enunciated in verses 62-66 above.

Note 79
This repetition of God's "question", already mentioned in verse 62 above, is meant to stress the utter inability of the sinners concerned to justify their erstwhile attitude rationally; hence my interpolation at the beginning of the next verse.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Idols Possess No Power28:74 The day will come when He asks them, "Where are the idols you had fabricated to rank with Me?",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:74 And (think again) the Day He will call them, He will ask, "Where are My ‘partners’ whom you imagined?" [28:62]

28:75 ونزعنا من كل امة شهيدا فقلنا هاتوا برهنكم فعلموا ان الحق لله وضل عنهم ما كانوا يفترون

Transcription (English)
28:75 WanazaAAna min kulli ommatinshaheedan faqulna hatoo burhanakumfaAAalimoo anna alhaqqa lillahi wadallaAAanhum ma kanoo yaftaroona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:75 We will extract from every nation a witness, then We will say, "Bring forth your proof." They will then realize that all truth belongs with God, and what they had invented will abandon them.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:75 And We will extract from every nation a witness, then We will say: "Bring forth your proof." They will then realize that all truth belongs with God, and what they had invented will abandon them.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:75 And [they will remain silent: for by then] We will have called forth witnesses from within every community,80 and will have said [unto the sinners]: “Produce an evidence for what you have been claim­ing!"81 And so they will come to understand that all truth is God's [alone];82 and all their false imagery will have forsaken them.83

Note 80
I.e., the prophets who had appeared at various stages of man's history, and who will now bear witness that they had duly conveyed God's message to the people for whom it was meant.

Note 81
Lit., "Produce your evidence" - i.e., for the possibility of anyone or anything having a share in God's divinity.

Note 82
I.e., that He is the Ultimate Reality, and that whatever is or could be is an outcome of His will alone.

Note 83
For the meaning of the phrase ma kanu yaftarun (lit., "all that they were wont to invent" - rendered by me here as well as in 6:24, 7:53, 10:30, 11:21 and 16:87 as "all their false imagery"); see surah 11 note 42 also note 15 on 6:22. A specific instance of such "false imagery" the futility of man's relying on his own wealth and worldly power - is illustrated in the immediately following legend of Qarun (see next note).
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:75 We will select from every community a witness, then say, "Present your proof." They will realize then that all truth belongs with GOD, while the idols they had fabricated will abandon them.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:75 And from every community We shall draw a witness (their Prophet) and We shall say to the unbelievers, "Bring your proof for what you used to claim." Then, they will know that the truth is certainly with God alone, and all they used to fabricate will forsake them.

28:76 ان قرون كان من قوم موسى فبغى عليهم وءاتينه من الكنوز ما ان مفاتحه لتنوا بالعصبة اولى القوة اذ قال له قومه لا تفرح ان الله لا يحب الفرحين

Transcription (English)
28:76 Inna qaroona kana min qawmimoosa fabagha AAalayhim waataynahumina alkunoozi ma inna mafatihahu latanoo-obialAAusbati olee alquwwati ith qalalahu qawmuhu la tafrah inna Allaha layuhibbu alfariheena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
Qarun: A Hedonist and Arrogant Capitalist28:76 Qarun was from among Moses' people, but he betrayed them. We gave him such treasures that the keys thereof were almost too heavy for the strongest person. His people said to him: "Do not enjoy, for God does not like hedonists."6

Note 6

In our times, the world has hundreds of obscenely rich people. Many of them accumulated their wealth through corporate laws designed by the wealthy or their proxies to maintain and accumulate more wealth for the rich. While a select few get richer, the majority of the world population is living in poverty. The alarming widening of the gap between haves and have-nots is created by corrupt business conduct, government subsidies, dubious contract deals, monopolistic practices, corporate termites lobbying the so-called elected officials, war profiteering, currency speculations, credit card usury, banking regulations, hostile take over the governments, and ignorance and apathy of the masses.

The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:76 Qaroon was from among the people of Moses, but he betrayed them. And We gave him such treasures that the keys thereof were almost too heavy for the strongest person.His people said to him: "Do not glee, for God does not love the gleeful."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:76 [NOW,] BEHOLD, Qarun was one of the people of Moses;84 but he arrogantly exalted himself above them - simply because We had granted him such riches that his treasure-chests alone would surely have been too heavy a burden for a troop of ten men or even more.85 When [they perceived his arrogance,] his people said unto him: “Exult not [in thy wealth], for, verily, God does not love those who exult [in things vain]!

Note 84
The structure of the above sentence is meant to show that even a person who had been a follower of one of the greatest of Gods apostles was not above the possibility of sinning under the influence of false pride and self-exaltation - a particular example of the "false imagery" referred to in the preceding passage. The conventional "identification" of Qarun with the Korah of the Old Testament (Numbers xvi) is neither relevant nor warranted by the Quranic text, the more so as the purport of this legend is a moral lesson and not a historical narrative. This, by the way, explains also the juxtaposition, elsewhere in the Qur'an (29:39 and 40:24), of Qarun with Pharaoh, the arch-sinner.

Note 85
The term usbah denotes a company of ten or more (up to forty) persons; since it is used here metonymically, pointing to the great weight involved, it is best rendered as above. The noun mafatih is a plural of both miftah or ("key") and maftah ("that which is under lock and key", i.e., a "hoard of wealth" or "treasure chest"), which latter meaning is obviously the one intended in the present context.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
Qaroon28:76 Qaaroon (the slave driver) was one of Moses' people who betrayed them and oppressed them. We gave him so many treasures that the keys thereof were almost too heavy for the strongest hand. His people said to him, "Do not be so arrogant; GOD does not love those who are arrogant.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:76 Qaroon (Korah) was, doubtless, of the people of Moses but he oppressed them. We had granted him such riches that his treasure-chests alone would have been too heavy a burden for more than ten strong men. His people said to him, “Do not arrogantly exult, for, God does not love those who exult in arrogance.”17

Note 17
Miftaah = Key. Maftaah = Chest under lock and key. ‘Usbah = A group of ten to forty men. Korah, a cousin of Moses, was the chief slave driver for Pharaoh, and for his wealth and position as the chief adviser, he was next in power only to Pharaoh, and equal to Haman. Historically, this legendary “Trio” of despotism + priesthood + capitalism, has always joined hands in the exploitation of the masses

28:77 وابتغ فيما ءاتىك الله الدار الءاخرة ولا تنس نصيبك من الدنيا واحسن كما احسن الله اليك ولا تبغ الفساد فى الارض ان الله لا يحب المفسدين

Transcription (English)
28:77 Waibtaghi feema atakaAllahu alddara al-akhirata walatansa naseebaka mina alddunya waahsinkama ahsana Allahu ilayka wala tabghialfasada fee al-ardi inna Allaha layuhibbu almufsideena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:77 "Seek with the provisions bestowed upon you by God the abode of the Hereafter, and do not forget your share in this world, and do good as God has done good to you. Do not seek corruption in the land. God does not like the corruptors."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:77 "And seek with the provisions bestowed upon you by God the abode of the Hereafter, and do not forget your share in this world, and do good as God has done good to you. And do not seek corruption in the land. God does not love the corrupters."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:77 Seek instead, by means of what God has granted thee, [the good of] the life to come,86 without forget­ting, withal, thine own [rightful] share in this world;87 and do good [unto others] as God has done good unto thee; and seek not to spread corruption on earth: for, verily, God does not love the spreaders of corruption!"

Note 86
I.e., by spending in charity and on good causes.

Note 87
Lit., "and do not forget...", etc.: a call to generosity and, at the same time, to moderation (cf. 2:143 - "We have willed you to be a community of the middle way").
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:77 "Use the provisions bestowed upon you by GOD to seek the abode of the Hereafter, without neglecting your share in this world. Be charitable, as GOD has been charitable towards you. Do not keep on corrupting the earth. GOD does not love the corruptors.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:77 “Seek, by means of what God has granted you, the Home of the Hereafter, but do not forget your portion in this world. Do good to others as God has done good to you. Do not spread corruption in the land, for God does not love the corrupters.”18

Note 18
This single verse is enough to dismiss the false notion of Islam being ‘fatalistic’, so frequently propagated by ignorant friends and critics

28:78 قال انما اوتيته على علم عندى اولم يعلم ان الله قد اهلك من قبله من القرون من هو اشد منه قوة واكثر جمعا ولا يسل عن ذنوبهم المجرمون

Transcription (English)
28:78 Qala innama ooteetuhu AAalaAAilmin AAindee awa lam yaAAlam anna Allaha qad ahlaka minqablihi mina alqurooni man huwa ashaddu minhu quwwatan waaktharujamAAan wala yus-alu AAan thunoobihimu almujrimoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:78 He said, "I have attained all this only because of my own knowledge." Did he not realize that God had annihilated before him generations that were much stronger than he, and greater in riches? The transgressors were not asked about their crimes.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:78 He said: "I have attained all this only because of my own knowledge." Did he not realize that God had annihilated before him generations that were much stronger than he, and greater in riches? The transgressors were not asked about their crimes.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:78 Answered he: “This [wealth] has been given to me only by virtue of the knowledge that is in me!"88 Did he not know that God had destroyed [the arrogant of] many a generation that preceded him - people who were greater than he in power, and richer in what they had amassed? But such as are lost in sin may not be asked about, their sins.89

Note 88
I.e., "as a result of my own experience, shrewdness and ability" (cf. 39:49 and the corresponding note 55).

Note 89
Obviously implying that "such as are lost in sin" (al-mujrimun) are, as a rule, blind to their own failings and, therefore, not responsive to admonition.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:78 He said, "I attained all this because of my own cleverness." Did he not realize that GOD had annihilated before him generations that were much stronger than he, and greater in number? The (annihilated) transgressors were not asked about their crimes.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:78 He replied, "This wealth has been given to me because of the knowledge that is with me." Did he not know that God’s Law of Requital had annihilated, before him, whole generations which were superior to him in strength and richer in what they had amassed? But such guilty need no questioning since their guilt is obvious and yet, they are not exempt from the Law of Respite.

28:79 فخرج على قومه فى زينته قال الذين يريدون الحيوة الدنيا يليت لنا مثل ما اوتى قرون انه لذو حظ عظيم

Transcription (English)
28:79 Fakharaja AAala qawmihi fee zeenatihiqala allatheena yureedoona alhayata alddunyaya layta lana mithla ma ootiya qaroonuinnahu lathoo haththin AAatheemin
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:79 Then he came out among his people draped in his ornaments. Those who preferred this worldly life said, "Oh, if only we were given similar to what Qarun has been given. Indeed, he is very fortunate."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:79 Then he came out among his people draped in his ornaments. Those who preferred this worldly life said: "Oh, if only we were given similar to what Qaroon has been given. Indeed, he is very fortunate."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:79 And so he went forth before his people in all his pomp; [and] those who cared only for the life of this world would say, “Oh, if we but had the like of what Qarun has been given! Verily, with tremendous good fortune is he endowed!"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:79 One day, he came out to his people in full splendor. Those who preferred this worldly life said, "Oh, we wish that we possessed what Qaaroon has attained. Indeed, he is very fortunate.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:79 And so once he came out to his people in all his pomp. And those who cared only for the life of this world said, "Ah, we wish we had the like of what Qaroon has been given. He is extremely fortunate."

28:80 وقال الذين اوتوا العلم ويلكم ثواب الله خير لمن ءامن وعمل صلحا ولا يلقىها الا الصبرون

Transcription (English)
28:80 Waqala allatheena ootooalAAilma waylakum thawabu Allahi khayrun liman amanawaAAamila salihan wala yulaqqahailla alssabiroona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:80 Those who were blessed with knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward from God is far better for those who acknowledge and promote reforms. None attains it except the steadfast."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:80 And those who were blessed with knowledge said: "Woe to you! The reward from God is far better for those who believe and do good work. And none attains it except the steadfast."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:80 But those who had been granted true knowl­edge said: “Woe unto you! Merit in the sight of God90 is by far the best for any who attains to faith and does what is right: but none save the patient in adversity can ever achieve this [blessing]."

Note 90
Lit., "God's reward" sc., "of spiritual merit".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
The Real Wealth28:80 As for those who were blessed with knowledge, they said, "Woe to you, GOD's recompense is far better for those who believe and lead a righteous life." None attains this except the steadfast.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:80 But those who knew better said, "Woe to you! Merit in the Sight of God is far better for anyone who believes and works for equity among people. This reward is reserved for those who do not fall for instant gains, and work hard steadfastly.”19

Note 19
The real wealthy is one who believes in Divine laws, helps the needy, and benefits the society

28:81 فخسفنا به وبداره الارض فما كان له من فئة ينصرونه من دون الله وما كان من المنتصرين

Transcription (English)
28:81 Fakhasafna bihi wabidarihial-arda fama kana lahu min fi-atin yansuroonahumin dooni Allahi wama kana mina almuntasireena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:81 We then caused the earth to swallow him and his mansion. He had no group that could protect him against God; nor would he be victorious.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:81 We then caused the earth to swallow him and his mansion. He had no group that could protect him against God; nor would he be victorious.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:81 And thereupon We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling; and he had none and nothing to succour him against God, nor was he of those who could succour themselves.91

Note 91
Lit., "he had no host whatever to succour him…", etc. Qarun's being "swallowed by the earth" may possibly be metaphor of a catastrophic, unforeseen loss - from whatever cause - of all his worldly goods and, thus, of his erstwhile grandeur.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
The Tyrants' Inevitable Fate28:81 We then caused the earth to swallow him and his mansion. No army could have helped him against GOD; he was not destined to be a winner.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:81 And thereupon We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling. And he had none and nothing to help him against God’s laws, nor could he help himself.

28:82 واصبح الذين تمنوا مكانه بالامس يقولون ويكان الله يبسط الرزق لمن يشاء من عباده ويقدر لولا ان من الله علينا لخسف بنا ويكانه لا يفلح الكفرون

Transcription (English)
28:82 Waasbaha allatheenatamannaw makanahu bial-amsi yaqooloona waykaannaAllaha yabsutu alrrizqa liman yashaomin AAibadihi wayaqdiru lawla an manna AllahuAAalayna lakhasafa bina waykaannahu la yuflihualkafiroona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:82 Those who wished they were in his place the day before said, "Indeed it is God Who provides or restricts for whomever He chooses from among His servants. Had it not been for God's grace towards us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us as well. We now realize that the ingrates never succeed."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:82 And those who wished they were in his place the day before said: "Indeed it is God Who provides or restricts for whoever He chooses from among His servants. Had it not been for the grace of God towards us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us as well. We now realize that the rejecters never succeed."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:82 And on the morrow, those who but yesterday had longed to be in his place exclaimed: “Alas [for our not having been aware] that it is indeed God [alone] who grants abundant sustenance, or gives it in scant measure, unto whichever He wills of His crea­tures! Had not God been gracious to us, He might have caused [the earth] to swallow us, too! Alas [for our having forgotten] that those who deny the truth can never attain to a happy state!"
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:82 Those who were envious of him the day before said, "Now we realize that GOD is the One who provides for whomever He chooses from among His servants, and withholds. If it were not for GOD's grace towards us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us too. We now realize that the disbelievers never succeed.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:82 And those who had envied his position only the day before were saying the next morning, "Ah, God is the One Who makes the provision plenty or scarce for His servants according to His laws. Had God not been kind to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us! Ah, the ungrateful can never attain lasting contentment.”

28:83 تلك الدار الءاخرة نجعلها للذين لا يريدون علوا فى الارض ولا فسادا والعقبة للمتقين

Transcription (English)
28:83 Tilka alddaru al-akhiratunajAAaluha lillatheena la yureedoonaAAuluwwan fee al-ardi wala fasadan waalAAaqibatulilmuttaqeena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:83 Such will be the abode of the Hereafter; We reserve it for those who do not seek prestige on earth, nor corruption. The end belongs to the righteous.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:83 Such will be the abode of the Hereafter; We reserve it for those who do not seek prestige on the earth, nor corruption; and the ending will be for the righteous.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:83 As for that [happy] life in the hereafter, We grant it [only] to those who do not seek to exalt themselves on earth, nor yet to spread corruption: for the future belongs to the God-conscious.92

Note 92
This last clause makes it clear that, in order to have spiritual value, man's "not seeking" worldly grandeur or self-indulgence in things depraved must be an outcome, not of indifference or of a lack of opportunity, but solely of a conscious moral choice.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
The Ultimate Winners28:83 We reserve the abode of the Hereafter for those who do not seek exaltation on earth, nor corruption. The ultimate victory belongs to the righteous.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:83 That Home of the Hereafter We shall give to those who do not seek to exalt themselves on earth, nor do they seek corruption and disorder. And the Future belongs to those who seek to live upright.

28:84 من جاء بالحسنة فله خير منها ومن جاء بالسيئة فلا يجزى الذين عملوا السيات الا ما كانوا يعملون

Transcription (English)
28:84 Man jaa bialhasanatifalahu khayrun minha waman jaa bialssayyi-atifala yujza allatheena AAamiloo alssayyi-atiilla ma kanoo yaAAmaloona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:84 Whoever brings forth a good deed, he will receive a better reward. Whoever brings forth a sin then the retribution for their sins will be to the extent of their deeds.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:84 Whoever brings forth a good deed, he will receive a better reward than it. And whoever brings forth a sin then the retribution for their sins will be to the extent of their deeds.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:84 Whosoever shall come [before God] with a good deed will gain [further] good there from;93 but as for any who shall come with an evil deed - [know that] they who do evil deeds will not be requited with more than [the like of] what they have done.94

Note 93
See note 79 on the identical phrase in 27:89.

Note 94
Cf. 6:60 and the corresponding note 162.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:84 Whoever works righteousness receives a far better reward. As for those who commit sins, the retribution for their sins is precisely equivalent to their works.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:84 Anyone who brings actions that benefit others, the reward to him will be better than what he has done. And anyone who is unfair in his dealings with others, such will be punished, but not more than the like of what they have done.

28:85 ان الذى فرض عليك القرءان لرادك الى معاد قل ربى اعلم من جاء بالهدى ومن هو فى ضلل مبين

Transcription (English)
28:85 Inna allathee farada AAalaykaalqur-ana laradduka ila maAAadin qulrabbee aAAlamu man jaa bialhuda waman huwafee dalalin mubeenin
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:85 Surely, the One who decreed the Quran to you will summon you to a predetermined appointment. Say, "My Lord is fully aware of who it is that brings the guidance, and who has gone astray."
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:85 Surely, the One who decreed the Qur'an to you will summon you to a predetermined appointment. Say: "My Lord is fully aware of who it is that brings the guidance, and who has gone astray."
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:85 VERILY, [O believer,] He who has laid down this Qur'an in plain terms, making it binding on thee,95 will assuredly bring thee back [from death] to a life renewed.96 Say [unto those who reject the truth]: My Sus­tainer knows best, as to who is right-guided97 and who is obviously lost in error!"

Note 95
According to Mujahid (as quoted by Tabari), the phrase farada alayka is almost synony­mous with a'taka, "He gave [it] to thee". This, however, elucidates only one part of the above complex expression, which, I believe, has here a meaning similar to that of faradnaha ("We laid it down in plain terms") occurring in the first verse of surah 24 An-Nur) and explained in the corresponding note 1. In the present context, the particle alayka ("upon thee"}, with its pronominal suffix, gives to the above clause the additional meaning of a moral obligation on the part of the recipient of the Quranic message to conform his or her way of life to its teachings; hence my compound rendering of the phrase.

Note 96
The term ma'ad denotes, literally, "a place [or "a state"] to which one returns", and, tropically, one's "ultimate destination" or "ultimate condition"; in the present context, it is obviously synonymous with "life in the hereafter". This is how most of the classical authorities interpret the above phrase. But on the vague assumption that this passage is addressed exclusively to the Prophet, some commentators incline to the view that the noun has here a specific, purely physical connotation - "a place of return" - allegedly referring to God's promise to His Apostle (given during or after the latter's exodus from Mecca to Medina) that one day he would return victoriously to the city of his birth. To my mind, however, the passage has a much deeper meaning, unconnected with any place or specific point in history: it is addressed to every believer, and promises not only a continuation of life after bodily death but also a spiritual rebirth, in this world, to anyone who opens his heart to the message of the Qur'an and comes to regard it as binding on himself.

Note 97
Lit., "as to who comes with guidance".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:85 Surely, the One who decreed the Quran for you will summon you to a predetermined appointment. Say, "My Lord is fully aware of those who uphold the guidance, and those who have gone astray.",
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:85 Certainly, He Who has made this Qur’an a binding duty upon you (and you have practically established it in the State of Madinah), will assuredly return you to a great destination. Say, "My Lord knows best as to who is rightly guided and who is obviously lost in error."20

Note 20
See 21:10. Faradha = Made it incumbent = Made it a binding duty. Ma’aad = Place to return = A great destination = Home = Makkah

28:86 وما كنت ترجوا ان يلقى اليك الكتب الا رحمة من ربك فلا تكونن ظهيرا للكفرين

Transcription (English)
28:86 Wama kunta tarjoo an yulqailayka alkitabu illa rahmatan min rabbikafala takoonanna thaheeran lilkafireena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:86 Nor did you expect this book to come your way; but this is a mercy from your Lord. Therefore, you shall not side with the ingrates.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:86 Nor did you expect this Book to come your way; but this is a mercy from your Lord. Therefore, you shall not side with the rejecters.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:86 Now [as for thyself, O believer,] thou couldst never foresee98 that this divine writ would [one day] be offered to thee: but [it did come to thee] by thy Sustainer's grace. Hence, never uphold those who deny the truth [of divine guidance],

Note 98
Lit., "hope" or "expect".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:86 You never expected this scripture to come your way; but this is a mercy from your Lord. Therefore, you shall not side with the disbelievers.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:86 (O Prophet) you never expected that this Book will be bestowed upon you. But it is a mercy from your Lord (to all humanity). So, you shall never side with the deniers of the truth.

28:87 ولا يصدنك عن ءايت الله بعد اذ انزلت اليك وادع الى ربك ولا تكونن من المشركين

Transcription (English)
28:87 Wala yasuddunnaka AAan ayatiAllahi baAAda ith onzilat ilayka waodAAu ilarabbika wala takoonanna mina almushrikeena
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:87 Nor shall you be diverted from God's signs, after they have come to you. Invite to your Lord, and do not be of those who set up partners.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:87 Nor shall you be diverted from the revelations of God after they have come to you. And invite to your Lord. And do not be of the polytheists.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:87 and never let them turn thee away from God's messages after they have been bestowed upon thee from on high: instead99 summon [all men] to thy Sustainer. And never be of those who ascribe divinity to aught but Him,

Note 99
Lit., "and".
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:87 Nor shall you be diverted from GOD's revelations, after they have come to you, and invite the others to your Lord. And do not ever fall into idol worship.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:87 And let not anyone divert you from God's messages after they have been sent down to you. But, invite people to your Lord and be not of those who associate others with Him.21

Note 21
Do not uphold systems other than the Divinely ordained System of Life

28:88 ولا تدع مع الله الها ءاخر لا اله الا هو كل شىء هالك الا وجهه له الحكم واليه ترجعون

Transcription (English)
28:88 Wala tadAAu maAAa Allahi ilahanakhara la ilaha illa huwa kullushay-in halikun illa wajhahu lahu alhukmuwa-ilayhi turjaAAoona
Edip-Layth (Quran: A Reformist Translation)
28:88 Do not call besides God any god, there is no god but He. Everything will fade away except His presence. To Him is the judgment, and to Him you will be returned.
The Monotheist Group (The Quran: A Monotheist Translation)
28:88 And do not call besides God any god, there is no god except He. Everything will fade away except His face. To Him is the judgment, and to Him you will be returned.
Muhammad Asad (The Message Of Quran)
28:88 and never call upon any other deity side by side with God. There is no deity save Him. Everything is bound to perish, save His [eternal] self.100 With Him rests all judgment; and unto Him shall you all be brought back.

Note 100
See 55:26 and the corresponding note 11.
Rashad Khalifa (The Final Testament)
28:88 You shall not worship beside GOD any other god. There is no other god beside Him. Everything perishes except His presence. To Him belongs all sovereignty, and to Him you will be returned.,
Shabbir Ahmed (Quran As It Explains Itself)
28:88 Do not call on another god besides God. There is no god but He. Everything will perish except His Eternal Self. To Him belongs all Governance, Command and Judgment, and to Him you will be returned.22

Note 22
Do not heed human ‘authorities’ and manmade systems contrary to the Divine Commandments