An Oasis in the Desert

This is a true story inspired by real events found in the noble Quran and Sunnah. Anything in the story other than the references recorded below, is a mere elaboration without any historical records or reports. The elaborated part of the story must not be interpreted as adding anything to the original source. It is merely an attempt to give the reader an opportunity to better understand the context of the events, whilst remaining within the spirit of the original source. The actual story is recorded in the following verses of the noble Quran at Surah Al Qasas (28), Verses 22–28:

وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَآءَ مَدْيَنَ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهْدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ

22. And so, when he (Prophet Musa (AS)) directed himself towards Madyan, he said (to himself): “Perhaps (through this experience) my Sustainer shall guide me towards the balanced (favourable) pathway.”

وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصْدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ

23. And when he arrived at the wells of Madyan, he found thereupon a group of people watering (their flock); and he also found apart from them two women, restraining (their flock); he (Prophet Musa (AS)) said (to the two women): “What is the matter with both of you?” They replied: “We cannot water (our flock) until they (the shepherds) take away (their flock from the well), and (we cannot precede these men in the queue) as our father is an old man.”

فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ

24. So, he (Prophet Musa (AS)) watered (their flock) for them; then he retreated into the shade and prayed: “O my Sustainer, I am totally dependent on whatever goodness You (may deem fit to) send to me.”

فَجَآءَتْهُ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا تَمْشِى عَلَى ٱسْتِحْيَآءٍ قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِى يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُۥ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفْ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

25. Then one of the two women came near him, approaching him with modesty and saying: “Indeed, my father is inviting you, so that he may repay you and reward you for watering (our flock); so, when he (Prophet Musa (AS)) approached him (their father), and narrated to him his story, he (the father) said: “Do not worry, you have escaped from a nation that is imbued in darkness (of their ignorance and immorality).”

قَالَتْ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا يَٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسْتَـْٔجِرْهُ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ ٱسْتَـْٔجَرْتَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْأَمِينُ

26. One (of the ladies) said: “O my father, employ him; indeed, he would become the best (person) you can employ, who is strong and trustworthy.”

قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُنكِحَكَ إِحْدَى ٱبْنَتَىَّ هَٰتَيْنِ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَأْجُرَنِى ثَمَٰنِىَ حِجَجٍ فَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ عَشْرًا فَمِنْ عِندِكَ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَيْكَ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

27. (After some time of employment) He (the father) said to him (Prophet Musa (AS)): “Indeed, I desire to marry you to one of my these two daughters; (with the proviso) that you remain with us for eight years; but if you complete ten years, then this shall be (deemed as a favour) from you, but I do not desire to put you in any difficulty; you will find me, with the Will of Allah (Almighty), from the virtuous (people).”

قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكَ أَيَّمَا ٱلْأَجَلَيْنِ قَضَيْتُ فَلَا عُدْوَٰنَ عَلَىَّ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ

28. He (Prophet Musa (AS)) replied: “This is (agreed) between me and yourself, whichever of these two terms I complete, it shall not be against my interest; and Allah (Almighty) is the Ultimate Trustee of all that we say.”