20:85 He said, “We have tested your people while you were gone, and Samiri [The identity
of Samiri is not known] has led them astray.”
20:86 Moses returned to his people angry and sad. He said, “My People, did your Lord not
promise you a good promise? Was I gone from you too long, or did you break your promise
with me because you wanted to anger your Lord?”
20:87 “We did not want to break our promise with you, but we had to carry the people’s
ornaments, so Samiri suggested we throw them in the fire.” Then he brought out of the fire
the image of a lowing calf. They cried, “This is your god and the god of Moses, but he has
forgotten.”
20:89 What! Did they not see that it could not reply to them and could not help or hurt
them?
20:90 Aaron had already told them, “People, You are being tested. Surely your Lord is the
god of Mercy: Follow and obey me.”
20:91 They said, “We will not stop worshiping it until Moses returns.”
20:92 Moses said, “Aaron, when you saw that they had gone astray, why did you not come
and get me? Did you disobey my order?”
20:94 He said, “Son of my mother! Do not grab me by the beard or the head. I was afraid
that you would say that I caused a division among the Children of Israel, and did not wait for
your word.”
20:95 Moses said, “Samiri, what was your motive?” He replied, “I saw what they did not.
My soul prompted me, so I took a handful of dust from the footprint of Allah’s messenger
and flung it into the calf.”
20:97 Moses said, “Go away. Surely your punishment in this life will be to say, ‘Do not
touch me.’ And there is a sentence against you that you cannot avoid. Now look at the god
that you are so devoted to. We will certainly burn it to ashes and scatter them on the sea.
Your god is Allah. There is no god, but Allah. He knows all things.”
Go
to the Wicked People
26:10 Remember when your Lord said to Moses, “Go to the wicked people, the people of
Pharaoh. Will they not fear me?” He said, “My Lord, truthfully, I am afraid they will reject
me, and I will be embarrassed, and I may not speak clearly. Send for Aaron to help me.
They have charged me with a crime [Moses had killed an Egyptian], and I’m afraid that they
will kill me.” Allah said, “Certainly not. Both of you go with Our signs. We will be with
you, listening. Go to Pharaoh and say, ‘Truly, we are the messengers of the Lord of the
worlds. Let the Children of Israel go with us.”
26:18 Pharaoh said, “Did we not raise you among us when you were a child? Did you not
spend many years of your life among us? And still you have done what you have done! You
are one of the ungrateful.”
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26:20 Moses said, “I did it then when I was in error. I fled from you, because I was afraid,
but My Lord has given me wisdom and has made me one of His apostles. And what is this
favor you remind me of—that you have enslaved the Children of Israel?”
26:23
Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord of the worlds?”
26:24 Moses replied, “The Lord of the heavens and of the earth and everything in between if
you only believed.”
26:25 Pharaoh said to those near him, “Do you hear this?”
26:26 “Your Lord,” said Moses, “and the Lord of your ancestors.”
26:27 “Truly,
the apostle that has been sent,”
said Pharaoh, “is insane.”
26:28 Moses said, “He is the Lord of the east, and the west, and everything between, if only
you understood.”
26:29 Pharaoh said, “If you worship any god beside me, I will certainly imprison you.”
26:30
Moses replied, “Even if I give you proof of my mission?”
26:31 Pharaoh said, “Show your proof if you are telling the truth.” He then threw down his
staff, and it clearly became a snake. He drew his hand out from under his cloak and it was
white [with leprosy] for all to see. Pharaoh said to his nobles surrounding him, “This is truly
a skillful sorcerer. His plan is to drive you from your land with his magic. What do you
suggest?” They said, “Put him and his brother off for awhile, and send messengers to all the
cities, to bring you every skilled magician.”
26:38 So the magicians were all gathered together at a set time on an appointed day. And it
was said to the people: “Is everyone here?” “Yes, and we will follow the magicians if they
win.”
26:41 “When the magicians arrived, they said to Pharaoh, “Will we be rewarded if we win?”
He said, “Yes, certainly. If you do, you will be among those who are near my person.”
26:43 Moses said to them, “Throw what you have to throw.” So they threw down their ropes
and staffs and said, “By the might of Pharaoh, we will certainly win.” Then Moses threw
down his staff, and it swallowed up the false illusions. The magicians threw themselves
down in awe. They said, “We believe in the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of Moses and
Aaron.”
26:49 Pharaoh said, “So, you believe in him before I give you permission? Certainly, then,
he is your master and the one who taught you your magic. But you will soon know my
power. I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides and then crucify all of you.” They
said, “It cannot harm us, we will return to our Lord. We hope that our Lord will forgive our
sins since we are the first of the believers.”
26:52 We then revealed to Moses, “Take away My servants, and leave at night because you
will be pursued.” And Pharaoh sent messengers throughout the cities: “These Israelites are
only a small band. They may rage against us, but we are a vigilant, great army.”
26:57 So we expelled them from gardens, and fountains, and treasures, and fine buildings.
So it happened, and we gave their things to the children of Israel as an inheritance. At
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