The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

7: 144
The Heights 103
came, they ascribed it to the evil omen of Moses and those with him,
but their ‘evil omen’ was really from God, though most of them did
not realize it. 132 They said, ‘We will not believe in you, no matter
what signs you produce to cast a spell on us,’ 133 and so We let loose
on them the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, blood – all clear signs. They
were arrogant, wicked people. 134 They would say, whenever a plague
struck them, ‘Moses, pray to your Lord for us by virtue of the
promise He has made to you: if you relieve us of the plague, we will
believe you and let the Children of Israel go with you,’ 135 but when
We relieved them of the plague and gave them a fixed period [in
which to fulfil their promise] – lo and behold! – they broke it. 136 And
so, because they rejected Our signs and paid them no heed, We
exacted retribution from them: We drowned them in the sea 137 and
We made those who had been oppressed succeed to both the east and
the west of the land that We had blessed. Your Lord’s good promise
to the Children of Israel was fulfilled, because of their patience, and
We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people were making and what
they were building.
138 We took the Children of Israel across the sea, but when they
came upon a people who worshipped idols, they said, ‘Moses, make a
god for us like theirs.’ He said, ‘You really are foolish people: 139 [the
cult] these people practise is doomed to destruction, and what they
have been doing is useless. 140 Why should I seek any god other than
God for you, when He has favoured you over all other people?’
141 Remember how We saved you from Pharaoh’s people, who were
subjecting you to the worst of sufferings, killing your male children,
sparing only your females – that was a mighty ordeal from your
Lord.
142 We appointed thirty nights for Moses, then added ten more: the
term set by his Lord was completed in forty nights. Moses said to his
brother Aaron, ‘Take my place among my people: act rightly and do
not follow the way of those who spread corruption.’ 143 When Moses
came for the appointment, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My
Lord, show Yourself to me: let me see You!’ He said, ‘You will never
see Me, but look at that mountain: if it remains standing firm, you
will see Me,’ and when his Lord revealed Himself to the mountain,
He made it crumble: Moses fell down unconscious. When he
recovered, he said, ‘Glory be to You! To You I turn in repentance! I
am the first to believe!’ 144 He said, ‘Moses, I have raised you above