Quran — Page 313

and I have chosen thee [to be My apostle]: listen, then, to what is being revealed [unto thee].

"Verily, I - I alone - am God; there is no deity save Me. Hence, worship Me alone, and be constant in prayer, so as to remember Me!

"Behold, [although] I have willed to keep it hidden, the Last Hour is bound to come, so that every human being may be recompensed in accordance with what he strove for [in life].

Hence, let not anyone who does not believe in its coming and follows [but] his own desires divert thee from [belief in] it, lest thou perish!

"Now, what is this in thy right hand, O Moses?"

He answered: "It is my staff; I lean on it; and with it I beat down leaves for my sheep; and [many] other uses have I for it."

Said He: "Throw it down, O Moses!"

So he threw it - and lo! it was a snake, moving rapidly.

Said He: "Take hold of it, and fear not: We shall restore it to its former state.

"Now place thy hand within thy armpit: it will come forth [shining] white, without blemish, as another sign [of Our grace],

so that We might make thee aware of some of Our greatest wonders.

"[And now] go thou unto Pharaoh: for, verily, he has transgressed all bounds of equity.

Said [Moses]: "O my Sustainer! Open up my heart [to Thy light],

and make my task easy for me,

and loosen the knot from my tongue

so that they might fully understand my speech,

and appoint for me, out of my kinsfolk, one who will help me to bear my burden:

Aaron, my brother.

Add Thou through him to my strength,

and let him share my task,

so that [together] we might abundantly extol Thy limitless glory

and remember Thee without cease!

Verily, Thou seest all that is within us!"

Said He: "Thou art granted all that thou hast asked for, O Moses!

"And, indeed, We bestowed Our favour upon thee at a time long since past,