SURAH 28 — Al-Qaṣaṣ — القصص — “The Stories”

• Revelation Order: 49
• Event Anchor: Mid-to-late Meccan parallels between Moses and Muhammad (c. 616–620 CE)

Explanation:
Al-Qaṣaṣ recounts the story of Moses in detail—his upbringing, exile, return, and confrontation with Pharaoh. These narratives strongly parallel Muhammad’s own challenges in Mecca: persecution, forced departure, eventual return in triumph, and confrontation with oppressive leadership. The surah directly reassures the Prophet that divine deliverance follows hardship. Its emphasis on exile and return fits the period when Muhammad’s situation was worsening and the prospect of migration was becoming likely. The surah’s message anticipates the Hijra through historical analogy.

Verse	Verse #	Meccan v Medinan	General Index
Ta, Seen, Meem.	1	Meccan	3253
These are the verses of the clear Book.	2	Meccan	3254
We recite to you from the news of Moses and Pharaoh in truth for a people who believe.	3	Meccan	3255
Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions, oppressing a sector among them, slaughtering their [newborn] sons and keeping their females alive. Indeed, he was of the corrupters.	4	Meccan	3256
And We wanted to confer favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them inheritors	5	Meccan	3257
And establish them in the land and show Pharaoh and [his minister] Haman and their soldiers through them that which they had feared.	6	Meccan	3258
And We inspired to the mother of Moses, “Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers.”	7	Meccan	3259
And the family of Pharaoh picked him up [out of the river] so that he would become to them an enemy and a [cause of] grief. Indeed, Pharaoh and Haman and their soldiers were deliberate sinners.	8	Meccan	3260
And the wife of Pharaoh said, “[He will be] a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.” And they perceived not.	9	Meccan	3261
And the heart of Moses’ mother became empty [of all else]. She was about to disclose [the matter concerning] him had We not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers.	10	Meccan	3262
And she said to his sister, “Follow him”; so she watched him from a distance while they perceived not.	11	Meccan	3263
And We had prevented from him [all] wet nurses before, so she said, “Shall I direct you to a household that will be responsible for him for you while they are to him [for his upbringing] sincere?”	12	Meccan	3264
So We restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of the people do not know.	13	Meccan	3265
And when he attained his full strength and was [mentally] mature, We bestowed upon him judgement and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.	14	Meccan	3266
And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people and found therein two men fighting: one from his faction and one from among his enemy. And the one from his faction called for help to him against the one from his enemy, so Moses struck him and [unintentionally] killed him. [Moses] said, “This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy.”	15	Meccan	3267
He said, “My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me,” and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.	16	Meccan	3268
He said, “My Lord, for the favor You bestowed upon me, I will never be an assistant to the criminals.”	17	Meccan	3269
And he became inside the city fearful and anticipating [exposure], when suddenly the one who sought his help the previous day cried out to him [once again]. Moses said to him, “Indeed, you are an evident, [persistent] deviator.”	18	Meccan	3270
And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he said, “O Moses, do you intend to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the amenders.”	19	Meccan	3271
And a man came from the farthest end of the city, running. He said, “O Moses, indeed the eminent ones are conferring over you [intending] to kill you, so leave [the city]; indeed, I am to you of the sincere advisors.”	20	Meccan	3272
So he left it, fearful and anticipating [apprehension]. He said, “My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.”	21	Meccan	3273
And when he directed himself toward Madyan, he said, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the sound way.”	22	Meccan	3274
And when he came to the well of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and he found aside from them two women driving back [their flocks]. He said, “What is your circumstance?” They said, “We do not water until the shepherds dispatch [their flocks]; and our father is an old man.”	23	Meccan	3275
So he watered [their flocks] for them; then he went back to the shade and said, “My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.”	24	Meccan	3276
Then one of the two women came to him walking with shyness. She said, “Indeed, my father invites you that he may reward you for having watered for us.” So when he came to him and related to him the story, he said, “Fear not. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people.”	25	Meccan	3277
One of the women said, “O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy.”	26	Meccan	3278
He said, “Indeed, I wish to wed you one of these, my two daughters, on [the condition] that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten, it will be [as a favor] from you. And I do not wish to put you in difficulty. You will find me, if Allah wills, from among the righteous.”	27	Meccan	3279
[Moses] said, “That is [established] between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I complete – there is no injustice to me, and Allah, over what we say, is Witness.”	28	Meccan	3280
And when Moses had completed the term and was traveling with his family, he perceived from the direction of the mount a fire. He said to his family, “Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there [some] information or burning wood from the fire that you may warm yourselves.”	29	Meccan	3281
But when he came to it, he was called from the right side of the valley in a blessed spot – from the tree, “O Moses, indeed I am Allah, Lord of the worlds.”	30	Meccan	3282
And [he was told], “Throw down your staff.” But when he saw it writhing as if it was a snake, he turned in flight and did not return. [Allah said], “O Moses, approach and fear not. Indeed, you are of the secure.	31	Meccan	3283
Insert your hand into the opening of your garment; it will come out white, without disease. And draw in your arm close to you [as prevention] from fear, for those are two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his establishment. Indeed, they have been a people defiantly disobedient.”	32	Meccan	3284
He said, “My Lord, indeed, I killed from among them someone, and I fear they will kill me.	33	Meccan	3285
And my brother Aaron is more fluent than me in tongue, so send him with me as support, verifying me. Indeed, I fear that they will deny me.”	34	Meccan	3286
[Allah] said, “We will strengthen your arm through your brother and grant you both supremacy so they will not reach you. [It will be] through Our signs; you and those who follow you will be the predominant.”	35	Meccan	3287
But when Moses came to them with Our signs as clear evidences, they said, “This is not except invented magic, and we have not heard of this [religion] among our forefathers.”	36	Meccan	3288
And Moses said, “My Lord is more knowing [than we or you] of who has come with guidance from Him and to whom will be succession in the home. Indeed, wrongdoers do not succeed.”	37	Meccan	3289
And Pharaoh said, “O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a god other than me. Then ignite for me, O Haman, [a fire] upon the clay and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I do think he is among the liars.”	38	Meccan	3290
And he was arrogant, he and his soldiers, in the land, without right, and they thought that they would not be returned to Us.	39	Meccan	3291
So We took him and his soldiers and threw them into the sea. So see how was the end of the wrongdoers.	40	Meccan	3292
And We made them leaders inviting to the Fire, and on the Day of Resurrection they will not be helped.	41	Meccan	3293
And We caused to overtake them in this world a curse, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be of the despised.	42	Meccan	3294
And We gave Moses the Scripture, after We had destroyed the former generations, as enlightenment for the people and guidance and mercy that they might be reminded.	43	Meccan	3295
And you, [O Muhammad], were not on the western side [of the mount] when We revealed to Moses the command, and you were not among the witnesses [to that].	44	Meccan	3296
But We produced [many] generations [after Moses], and prolonged was their duration. And you were not a resident among the people of Madyan, reciting to them Our verses, but We were senders [of this message].	45	Meccan	3297
And you were not at the side of the mount when We called [Moses] but [were sent] as a mercy from your Lord to warn a people to whom no warner had come before you that they might be reminded.	46	Meccan	3298
And if not that a disaster should strike them for what their hands put forth [of sins] and they would say, “Our Lord, why did You not send us a messenger so we could have followed Your verses and been among the believers?”…	47	Meccan	3299
But when the truth came to them from Us, they said, “Why was he not given like that which was given to Moses?” Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Moses before? They said, “[They are but] two works of magic supporting each other, and indeed we are, in both, disbelievers.”	48	Meccan	3300
Say, “Then bring a scripture from Allah which is more guiding than either of them that I may follow it, if you should be truthful.”	49	Meccan	3301
But if they do not respond to you – then know that they only follow their [own] desires. And who is more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from Allah? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.	50	Meccan	3302
And We have [repeatedly] conveyed to them the Qur’an that they might be reminded.	51	Meccan	3303
Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it – they are believers in it.	52	Meccan	3304
And when it is recited to them, they say, “We have believed in it; indeed, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed we were, [even] before it, Muslims [submitting to Allah].”	53	Meccan	3305
Those will be given their reward twice for what they patiently endured and [because] they avert evil through good, and from what We have provided them they spend.	54	Meccan	3306
And when they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say, “For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace will be upon you; we seek not the ignorant.”	55	Meccan	3307
Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.	56	Meccan	3308
And they say, “If we were to follow the guidance with you, we would be swept from our land.” Have we not established for them a safe sanctuary to which are brought the fruits of all things as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.	57	Meccan	3309
And how many a city have We destroyed that was insolent in its [way of] living, and those are their dwellings which have not been inhabited after them except briefly. And it is We who were the inheritors.	58	Meccan	3310
And never would your Lord have destroyed the cities until He had sent to their mother a messenger reciting to them Our verses. And We would not destroy the cities except while their people were wrongdoers.	59	Meccan	3311
And whatever thing you [people] have been given – it is [only for] the enjoyment of worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allah is better and more lasting; so will you not use reason?	60	Meccan	3312
Then is he whom We have promised a good promise which he will obtain like he for whom We provided enjoyment of worldly life [but] then he is, on the Day of Resurrection, among those presented [for punishment in Hell]?	61	Meccan	3313
And [warn of] the Day He will call them and say, “Where are My ‘partners’ which you used to claim?”	62	Meccan	3314
Those upon whom the word will have come into effect will say, “Our Lord, these are the ones we led to error. We led them to error just as we were in error. We declare our disassociation [from them] to You. They did not used to worship us.”	63	Meccan	3315
And it will be said, “Invoke your ‘partners’ ” and they will invoke them; but they will not respond to them, and they will see the punishment. If only they had followed guidance!	64	Meccan	3316
And [mention] the Day He will call them and say, “What did you answer the messengers?”	65	Meccan	3317
But the information will be unapparent to them that Day, so they will not [be able to] ask one another.	66	Meccan	3318
But as for one who had repented, believed, and done righteousness, it is promised by Allah that he will be among the successful.	67	Meccan	3319
And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses; not for them was the choice. Exalted is Allah and high above what they associate with Him.	68	Meccan	3320
And your Lord knows what their breasts conceal and what they declare.	69	Meccan	3321
And He is Allah; there is no deity except Him. To Him is [due all] praise in the first [life] and the Hereafter. And His is the [final] decision, and to Him you will be returned.	70	Meccan	3322
Say, “Have you considered: if Allah should make for you the night continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you light? Then will you not hear?”	71	Meccan	3323
Say, “Have you considered: if Allah should make for you the day continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you a night in which you may rest? Then will you not see?”	72	Meccan	3324
And out of His mercy He made for you the night and the day that you may rest therein and [by day] seek from His bounty and [that] perhaps you will be grateful.	73	Meccan	3325
And [warn of] the Day He will call them and say, “Where are my ‘partners’ which you used to claim?”	74	Meccan	3326
And We will extract from every nation a witness and say, “Produce your proof,” and they will know that the truth belongs to Allah, and lost from them is that which they used to invent.	75	Meccan	3327
Indeed, Qarun was from the people of Moses, but he tyrannized them. And We gave him of treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men; thereupon his people said to him, “Do not exult. Indeed, Allah does not like the exultant.	76	Meccan	3328
But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters.”	77	Meccan	3329
He said, “I was only given it because of knowledge I have.” Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him of generations those who were greater than him in power and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? But the criminals, about their sins, will not be asked.	78	Meccan	3330
So he came out before his people in his adornment. Those who desired the worldly life said, “Oh, would that we had like what was given to Qarun. Indeed, he is one of great fortune.”	79	Meccan	3331
But those who had been given knowledge said, “Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient.”	80	Meccan	3332
And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves.	81	Meccan	3333
And those who had wished for his position the previous day began to say, “Oh, how Allah extends provision to whom He wills of His servants and restricts it! If not that Allah had conferred favor on us, He would have caused it to swallow us. Oh, how the disbelievers do not succeed!”	82	Meccan	3334
That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth or corruption. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous.	83	Meccan	3335
Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have better than it; and whoever comes with an evil deed – then those who did evil deeds will not be recompensed except [as much as] what they used to do.	84	Meccan	3336
Indeed, [O Muhammad], He who imposed upon you the Qur’an will take you back to a place of return. Say, “My Lord is most knowing of who brings guidance and who is in clear error.”	85	Meccan	3337
And you were not expecting that the Book would be conveyed to you, but [it is] a mercy from your Lord. So do not be an assistant to the disbelievers.	86	Meccan	3338
And never let them avert you from the verses of Allah after they have been revealed to you. And invite [people] to your Lord. And never be of those who associate others with Allah.	87	Meccan	3339
And do not invoke with Allah another deity. There is no deity except Him. Everything will be destroyed except His Face. His is the judgement, and to Him you will be returned.	88	Meccan	3340