Quran — Page 368

Replied [Moses]: “I committed it while I was still going astray;

and I fled from you because I feared you. But [since] then my Sustainer has endowed me with the ability to judge [between right and wrong], and has made me one of [His] message-­bearers.

And [as for] that favour of which thou so tauntingly remindest me - [was it not] due to thy having enslaved the children of Israel?”

Said Pharaoh: “And what [and who] is that ‘Sustainer of all the worlds’?”

[Moses] answered: “[He is] the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them: if you would but [allow yourselves to] be convinced!”

Said [Pharaoh] unto those around him: “Did you hear [what he said]?”

[And Moses] continued: “[He is] your Sus­tainer, [too,] as well as the Sustainer of your fore­fathers of old!”

[Pharaoh] exclaimed: “Behold, [this] your ‘apostle’ who [claims that he] has been sent unto you is mad indeed!

[But Moses] went on: “[He of whom I speak is] the Sustainer of the east and the west and of all that is between the two”- as you would know] if you would but use your reason!”

Said [Pharaoh]: “Indeed, if thou choose to worship any deity other than me, I shall most cer­tainly throw thee into prison!

Said he: “Even if I should bring about before thee something that clearly shows the truth?”

[Pharaoh] answered: “Produce it, then, if thou art a man of truth!”

Thereupon [Moses] threw down his staff - and lo! it was a serpent, plainly visible;

and he drew forth his hand - and lo! it appeared [shining] white to the beholders.

Said [pharaoh] unto the great ones around him: “Verily, this is indeed a sorcerer of great knowledge

who wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery. What, then, do you advise?”

They answered: “Let him and his brother wait a while, and send unto all cities heralds

who shall assemble before thee all sorcerers of great knowl­edge”

And so the sorcerers were assembled at a set time on a certain day,

and the people were asked: Are you all present,