28. Surah Al-Qasad

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

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:

(28:26) 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 ! "