28. Surah Al-Qasas, (The Story)

Mecca Period 49

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَاء مَدْيَنَ قَالَ...

28: 22. Then when he turned his face towards (the land of) Madyan, he said:

C3349. East of Lower Egypt, for about 300 miles, runs the Sinai Peninsula, bounded on the south by the Gulf of Suez, and on the north by what was the Isthmus of Suez, now cut by the Suez Canal. Over the Isthmus ran the highroad to Palestine and Syria, but a fugitive could not well take that road, as the Egyptians were after him.

If he could, after crossing the Isthmus, plunge into the Sinai desert, east or south-east, he would be in the Midianite territory, where the people would be Arabs and not Egyptians. He turned thither, and again prayed to Allah for guidance.

...عَسَى رَبِّي أَن يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ ﴿٢٢﴾

"I do hope that my Lord will show me the smooth and straight Path."

وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاء مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ...

28: 23. And when he arrived at the watering (place) in Madyan, he found there a group of men watering (their flocks),

C3350. The first thing that a wanderer in a desert would make for would be an oasis where he could get water from a spring or well, the shade of trees against the scorching sun, and some human company.

The Midianite watering place was probably a deep well, as surface springs are rare in sandy deserts, where the water level is low, unless there was a hill from which issued a spring.

...يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ امْرَأتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ ...

and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks).

...قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا...

He said: "What is the matter with you?"

...قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِي حَتَّى يُصْدِرَ الرِّعَاء...

They said:

"We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take back (their flocks):

...وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ ﴿٢٣﴾

and our father is a very old man."

C3351. Here is a pretty little idyll, told in the fewest and most beautiful words possible.

Moses arrives at an oasis in the desert, weary and travel worn, with his mind full of anxiety and uncertainty owing to his recent experiences in Egypt. He was thirsty and would naturally seek water. At the well or spring he found shepherds (or perhaps goat-herds) watering their flocks.

As a stranger it was not for him to thrust himself among them. He waited under the shade of a tree until they should finish. He noticed two damsels, also waiting with their flocks, which they had come to water. His chivalry was roused. He went at once among the goat-herds, made a place for the flocks of the damsels, gave them water, and then resumed his place in the shade.

They were modest maidens, and had given him in three Arabic words the key of the whole situation.

'Abuna shaykhun Kabirun our father is a very old man, and therefore cannot come to water the flocks; we therefore do the work; we could not very well thrust ourselves among these men.'

فَسَقَى لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّى إِلَى الظِّلِّ فَقَالَ...

28: 24. So he watered (their flocks) for them;

then he turned back to the shade, and said:

...رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ ﴿٢٤﴾

"O my Lord! truly am I in (desperate) need of any good that thou dost send me!"...

C3352. The maidens are gone, with smiles on their lips and gratitude in their hearts. What were the reflections of Moses as he returned to the shade of the tree?

He returned thanks to Allah for the bright little vision which he had just seen. Had he done a good deed? Precious was the opportunity he had had. He had slaked his thirst. But he was a homeless wanderer and had a longing in his soul, which he dared not put into words.

Those shepherds were no company for him. He was truly like a beggar in desperate need. For any little good that came his way, he was grateful.

But what was this? -this vision of a comfortable household, presided over by an old man rich in flocks and herds, and richer still in two daughters, as modest as they were beautiful?

Perhaps he would never see them again! But Allah was preparing another surprise for him.

فَجَاءتْهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَمْشِي عَلَى اسْتِحْيَاء...

28: 25. Afterwards one of the (damsels) came (back) to him, walking bashfully.

...قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِي يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا...

She said: "My father invites thee that he may reward thee for having watered (our flocks) for us."

C3353. Scarcely had he rested, when one of the damsels came back, walking with bashful grace! Modestly she gave her message.

'My father is grateful for what you did for us. He invites you, that he may thank you personally, and at least give some return for your kindness.'

...فَلَمَّا جَاءهُ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفْ... ...

So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said:

"Fear thou not:

...نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٢٥﴾

(well) hast thou escaped from unjust people."

C3354. Nothing could have been more welcome than such a message, and through such a messenger.

Moses went of course, and saw the old man. He found such a well-ordered patriarchal household. The old man was happy in his daughters and they in him. There was mutual confidence. They had evidently described the stranger to him in terms which made his welcome a foregone conclusion.

On the other hand Moses had allowed his imagination to paint the father in something of the glorious colours in which his daughters had appeared to him like an angelic vision.

The two men got to be friends at once. Moses told the old man his story,-who he was, how he was brought up, and what misfortunes had made him quit Egypt. Perhaps the whole household, including the daughters, listened breathlessly to his tale. Perhaps their wonder and admiration were mingled with a certain amount of pity-perhaps with some more tender feeling in the case of the girl who had been to fetch him.

In any case the stranger had won his place in their hearts. The old man, the head of the household, assured him of hospitality and safety under his roof. As one with a long experience of life he congratulated him on his escape. 'Who would live among unjust people? It is as well you are free of them!'

قَالَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ...

28: 26. Said one of the (damsels):

"O my (dear) father! engage him on wages:

C3355. A little time passes. A guest after all cannot stay for ever. They all feel that it would be good to have him with them permanently.

The girl who had given her heart to him had spoken their unspoken thoughts. Why not employ him to tend the flocks?

The father was old, and a young man was wanted to look after the flocks. And-there may be other possibilities.

...إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الْأَمِينُ ﴿٢٦﴾

truly the best of men for thee to employ is the (man) who is strong and trusty"...

C3356. Strong and trusty: Moses had proved himself to be both, and these were the very qualities which a woman most admires in the man she loves.

قَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُنكِحَكَ إِحْدَى ابْنَتَيَّ هَاتَيْنِ عَلَى أَن تَأْجُرَنِي ثَمَانِيَ حِجَجٍ ...

28: 27. He said:

"I intended to wed one of these my daughters to thee, on condition that thou serve me for eight years;

C3357. A little time passed, and at length the father broached the subject of marriage. It was not for the fugitive to suggest a permanent tie, especially when, in the wealth of this world, the girl's family was superior, and they had an established position, while he was a mere wanderer.

The father asked if he would marry one of the daughters and stay with them for at least eight years, or if he liked, ten years, but the longer term was at his option. If he brought no dower, his service for that period was more than sufficient in lieu of dower.

The particular girl intended was no doubt tacitly settled long before, by the mutual attraction of the young hearts themselves. Moses was glad of the proposal, and accepted it.

They ratified it in the most solemn manner, by appealing to Allah. The old man, knowing the worth of his son-in-law, solemnly assured him that in any event he would not take advantage of his position to be a hard task-master or to insist on anything inconsistent with Moses' interests, should a new future open out to him. And a new and glorious future was awaiting him after his apprenticeship.

...فَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ عَشْرًا فَمِنْ عِندِكَ...

but if thou complete ten years, it will be (grace) from thee.

...وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَيْكَ...

But I intend not to place thee under a difficulty:

...سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاء اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿٢٧﴾

thou wilt find me, indeed, if Allah wills, one of the righteous."

قَالَ ذَلِكَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ...

28: 28. He said:

"Be that (the agreement) between me and thee:

...أَيَّمَا الْأَجَلَيْنِ قَضَيْتُ فَلَا عُدْوَانَ عَلَيَّ...

whichever of the two terms I fulfil, let there be no ill-will to me.

...وَاللَّهُ عَلَى مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ ﴿٢٨﴾

Be Allah a witness to what we say."

C3358. In patriarchal society it was not uncommon to have a marriage bargain of this kind conditional on a certain term of service.

In this case the episode conveys two lessons.

- A man destined to be a messenger of Allah is yet a man, and must pass through the ups and downs of life like any other man:

only he will do it with more grace and distinction than other men.

- The beautiful relations in love and marriage may themselves be a preparation for the highest spiritual destiny that may await a Messenger of Allah.

A woman need not necessarily be a snare and a temptation: she may be the understanding help-mate that the Lady Khadija was to the holy Prophet.

Asad’s Version:

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

28:23 NOW WHEN he arrived at the wells 21 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.

28:24 So he watered [their flock] for them; and then 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!"

(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!"

[[ Asad’s notes - 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 be counted upon to help Moses in his plight. For the geographical location of the region of Madyan, see surah 7, note 67.

21 Lit., "water" or "waters". ]]

Yuksel’s version

28:22 As he traveled towards Midyan, he said, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the right path."

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."

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."

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."

Asad’s version

(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]!"

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

28:28 Answered [Moses]: "Thus shall it be between me and thee! Whichever of the two terms I fulfil, let there be no ill-will against me. And God be witness to all that we say ! "