Moses as a Young Man

One day, he entered the city unnoticed and found two men fighting, one from his people, the other from his enemies. The man from his people called for help, so Moses struck the enemy and killed him. He said, “This is from Satan’s work, he is a clear deceiver.”

28:15And he entered the city at a time of carelessness of its folk, and he found therein two men fighting, one of his own caste, and the other of his enemies; and he who was of his caste asked him for help against him who was of his enemies. So Moses struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: This is of the devil's doing. Lo! he is an enemy, a mere misleader.

He said, “My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.” And He forgave him. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

28:16He said: My Lord! Lo! I have wronged my soul, so forgive me. Then He forgave him. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

He said, “My Lord, because of Your favour upon me, I will never support the wrongdoers.”

28:17He said: My Lord! Forasmuch as Thou hast favoured me, I will nevermore be a supporter of the guilty.

The next morning, he walked in the city, fearful and watchful. Then the same man who sought his help the day before cried out again. Moses said, “You are clearly a troublemaker.”

28:18And morning found him in the city, fearing, vigilant, when behold! he who had appealed to him the day before cried out to him for help. Moses said unto him: Lo! thou art indeed a mere hothead.

But when he was about to strike the enemy, the man said, “O Moses, do you intend to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land; you do not seek to make peace.”

28:19And when he would have fallen upon the man who was an enemy unto them both, he said: O Moses! Wouldst thou kill me as thou didst kill a person yesterday. Thou wouldst be nothing but a tyrant in the land, thou wouldst not be of the reformers.

Then a man came running from the farthest part of the city, saying, “O Moses, the authorities are plotting to kill you, so leave. I am giving you sincere advice.”

28:20And a man came from the uttermost part of the city, running. He said: O Moses! Lo! the chiefs take counsel against thee to slay thee; therefor escape. Lo! I am of those who give thee good advice.

So, he left, fearful and vigilant, saying, “My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.”

28:21So he escaped from thence, fearing, vigilant. He said: My Lord! Deliver me from the wrongdoing folk.

When he headed toward Midian, he said, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the right path.”

28:22And when he turned his face toward Midian, he said: Peradventure my Lord will guide me in the right road.

When he arrived at the wells of Midian, he found a crowd watering their flocks, and two women standing aside, holding theirs back. He said, “What is your situation?” They said, “We cannot water until the shepherds leave, and our father is an elderly man.”

28:23And when he came unto the water of Midian he found there a whole tribe of men, watering. And he found apart from them two women keeping back (their flocks). He said: What aileth you? The two said: We cannot give (our flocks) to drink till the shepherds return from the water; and our father is a very old man.

So he watered their flock for them, then withdrew to the shade and said, “My Lord, I am in dire need of whatever good You send my way.”

28:24So he watered (their flock) for them. Then he turned aside into the shade, and said: My Lord! I am needy of whatever good Thou sendest down for me.

Then one of the women approached him, walking modestly, and said, “My father invites you to reward you for watering our flock.” When he came to him and told his story, the old man said, “Do not fear, you have escaped the wrongdoing people.”

28:25Then there came unto him one of the two women, walking shyly. She said: Lo! my father biddeth thee, that he may reward thee with a payment for that thou didst water (the flock) for us. Then, when he came unto him and told him the (whole) story, he said: Fear not! Thou hast escaped from the wrongdoing folk.

One of the daughters said, “Father, hire him. The best person you can hire is strong and trustworthy.”

28:26One of the two women said: O my father! Hire him! For the best (man) that thou canst hire in the strong, the trustworthy.

He said, “I wish to marry you to one of my daughters, on the condition that you work for me for eight years. If you complete ten, that is from your generosity. I do not wish to burden you; you will find me fair.”

28:27He said: Lo! I fain would marry thee to one of these two daughters of mine on condition that thou hirest thyself to me for (the term of) eight pilgrimages. Then if thou completest ten it will be of thine own accord, for I would not make it hard for thee. Allah willing, thou wilt find me of the righteous.

Moses said, “That is settled between us. Whichever term I complete, let there be no injustice against me. And Allah is witness over what we say.”

28:28He said: That (is settled) between thee and me. Whichever of the two terms I fulfil, there will be no injustice to me, and Allah is Surety over what we say.