Page 495 - An Index to the Qur'an

My people! The life of this world is only fleeting the contract He has made with you and we shall
enjoyment. It is the hereafter which is the abode certainly follow the guidance.’ But when We re-
of permanence. Whoever does an evil act will moved the punishment from them, they immedi-
only be repaid with its equivalent. But whoever ately broke their word. Pharaoh called to his
acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, people, saying, ‘My people, does the kingdom of
such a person will enter the Garden, provided for Egypt not belong to me? Do not all these rivers
in it without any reckoning. My people! How is it flow under my control? Do you not then see? Am
that I call you to salvation while you call me to I not better than this man who is contemptible
the Fire? You call me to reject Allah and to asso- and can scarcely make anything clear? Why
ciate something with Him about which I have no have gold bracelets not been put upon his arms
knowledge, while I call you to the Almighty, the and why is there not a train of angels accompa-
Endlessly Forgiving. There is no question that nying him?’ In that way he swayed his people
what you call me to has no foundation either in and they succumbed to him. They were a people
this world or the hereafter, that our return is to of deviators. Then when they had provoked Our
Allah, and that the profligate will be Companions wrath, We took revenge on them and drowned
of the Fire. You will remember what I say to you. every one of them. We made them a thing of the
I consign my affair completely to Allah. Truly past, an example for later peoples. (43:46-56)
Allah sees His servants.’ (40:38-44) But before it there was the Book of Musa as a
So Allah safeguarded him from the evil things model and a mercy. And this is a corroborating
they plotted and a most evil torment engulfed Book in the Arabic tongue so that you may warn
Pharaoh’s people–the Fire, morning and night, to those who do wrong, and as good news for the
which they are exposed; and on the Day the good-doers. (46:12)
Hour takes place: ‘Admit Pharaoh’s people to the They said, ‘Our people, we have heard a Book
harshest punishment!’ (40:45-46) which was sent down after Musa, confirming
We gave Musa the guidance and bequeathed the what came before it, guiding to the truth and to a
Book to the tribe of Israel. (40:53) straight path.’ (46:30)
We gave Musa the Book but there was disagree- And also in Musa when We sent him to Pharaoh
ment about it. And had it not been for a prior with clear authority. But he turned away with his
Word from your Lord, the judgement between forces, saying, ‘A magician or a madman!’ So We
them would already have been made. They are seized him and his armies and hurled them into
indeed in grave doubt about it. (41:45) the sea, and he was to blame. (51:38-40)
He has laid down the same religion for you as He Or has he not been informed what is in the texts
enjoined on Nuh: that which We have revealed of Musa? (53:36)
to you and which We enjoined on Ibrahim, Musa Remember when Musa said to his people, ‘My
and ‘Isa: ‘Establish the religion and do not make people, why do you mistreat me when you know
divisions in it.’ What you call the idolaters to fol- that I am the Messenger of Allah to you?’ So
low is very hard for them. Allah chooses for when they deviated, Allah made their hearts de-
Himself anyone He wills and guides to Himself viate. Allah does not guide people who are devi-
those who turn to Him. (42:13) ators. (61:5)
We sent Musa with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his Has the story of Musa reached you: when his
nobles. He said, ‘I am the Messenger of the Lord Lord called out to him in the holy valley of Tuwa?
of the worlds.’ But when he came to them with ‘Go to Pharaoh–he has overstepped the
Our Signs, they merely laughed at them. We limits–and say: "Do you resolve to purify your-
showed them no Sign which was not greater than self. I will guide you to your Lord so that you may
the one before it. We seized them with punish- fear Him?"’ Then he showed him the Great Sign.
ment so that hopefully they would turn back. But he denied it and disobeyed, and then he
They said, ‘Magician, invoke your Lord for us by hastily backed away. But then he rallied and
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