is in the heavens, and what is in the earth, and what is between the two, and what is beneath the ground! And if thou art public in thy speech — yet, verily, he knows the secret, and more hidden still.
God, there is no god but He ! His are the excellent names.
Has the story of Moses come to thee ? When he saw the fire and said to his family, ‘ Tarry ye ; verily, I perceive a fire ! 10 Haply I may bring you therefrom a brand, or may find guidance by the fire[1].’ And when he came to it he was called to, ‘ O Moses ! verily, I am thy Lord, so take off thy sandals ; verily, thou art in the holy valley Tuvâ, and I have chosen thee. So listen to what is inspired thee; verily, I am God, there is no god but Me ! then serve Me, and be steadfast in prayer to remember Me.
15 ‘ Verily, the hour is coming, I almost make it appear[2], that every soul may be recompensed for its efforts.
‘ Let not then him who believes not therein and follows his lusts ever turn thee away therefrom, and thou be ruined.
‘ What is that in thy right hand, O Moses ?’
Said he, ‘ It is my staff on which I lean, and
- ↑ The Arabs used to light fires to guide travellers to shelter and entertainment. These fires, ‘ the fire of hospitality,’ ‘ the fire of war,’ &c. are constantly referred to in the ancient Arabic poetry. No less than thirteen fires are enumerated by them.
- ↑ This may be also rendered, ‘ I almost conceal it (from myself);’ iʿhfâʼun having, like many words in Arabic, two meanings directly opposite to each other. This probably arose from words being adopted into the Qurâis idiom from other dialects.
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