1Ṭā, Seen, Meem.¹⁰²¹

2These are verses of the clear Book.

3We recite to you from the news of Moses and Pharaoh in truth for a people who believe.

4Indeed, 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.

5And We wanted to confer favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them inheritors

6And establish them in the land and show Pharaoh and [his minister] Hāmān and their soldiers through them¹⁰²² that which they had feared.

7And 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."

8And 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 Hāmān and their soldiers were deliberate sinners.

9And the wife of Pharaoh said, "[He will be] a comfort of the eye [i.e., pleasure] 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.¹⁰²³

10And 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.

11And she said to his sister, "Follow him"; so she watched him from a distance while they perceived not.

12And We had prevented from him [all] wet nurses before,¹⁰²⁴ 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?"

13So We restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allāh is true. But most of them [i.e., the people] do not know.

14And 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.

15And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people¹⁰²⁵ 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."

16He said, "My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me," and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

17He said, "My Lord, for the favor You bestowed upon me, I will never be an assistant to the criminals."

18And 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."

19And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he¹⁰²⁶ 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."

20And 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."

21So he left it, fearful and anticipating [apprehension]. He said, "My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people."

22And when he directed himself toward Madyan, he said, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the sound way."

23And when he came to the water [i.e., 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."

24So 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."

25Then 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 him¹⁰²⁷ and related to him the story, he said, "Fear not. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people."

26One of the women said, "O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy."

27He 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 Allāh wills, from among the righteous."

28[Moses] said, "That is [established] between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I complete – there is no injustice to me, and Allāh, over what we say, is Witness."

29And 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."