When the term agreed upon between them drew to a close, his employer said to him, “Every ewe that gives birth to a lamb of a color different from its own—the lamb shall be yours.” Moses therefore set up a likeness over the water; when the sheep saw the figure they were frightened, scattered about, and all of them gave birth to piebald lambs save a single ewe. That year he left with the whole of their offspring. This chain of transmission is sound; its narrators are trustworthy, and Allah knows best.

It was mentioned earlier, drawing on the reports of the People of the Book, that when Jacob—peace be upon him—parted from his uncle Laban, he was likewise allowed to keep whatever of the flock was born piebald; he did something similar to what is here related of Moses—peace be upon him. Allah knows best.

“Then, when Moses had completed the term and set out with his family, he perceived a fire on the side of (Mount) Ṭūr. He said to his family, ‘Stay here; indeed I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I can bring you from it some information, or a burning brand from the fire so that you may warm yourselves.’ (29) But when he came to it, he was called from the right bank of the valley, in the blessed spot, from the tree: ‘O Moses! Indeed, I—yes, I—am Allah, Lord of the worlds. (30) Cast down your staff.’ But when he saw it moving as if it were a serpent, he turned in flight without looking back. ‘O Moses, come forward and do not fear; you are of those who are secure. (31) Put your hand into your bosom; it will come out white, without blemish. Draw your arm close to you to still the fear. These are two signs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his chiefs; they are indeed a defiantly disobedient people.’” (Qur’an, 28:29-32)

We noted earlier that Moses fulfilled the longer and more complete of the two terms, and this may be inferred from Allah’s saying, “When Moses had completed the term.” Mujāhid said that he served ten years, followed by another ten.

The words, “and set out with his family,” mean—according to many exegetes—that he departed from his father-in-law’s dwelling because he yearned for his own family and wished to visit them in Egypt, travelling incognito. He journeyed with his wife, their two sons, and the sheep he had acquired during his stay.

They say this occurred on a dark, bitterly cold night. They lost their way and could not find the customary route. Moses kept striking his fire-sticks(1) but produced no spark, and the darkness and cold intensified. While in that state he sighted from afar a blaze on the flank(2) of the Mount—on its western side, to his right.

He told his family, “Stay here; indeed I have perceived a fire,” and it appears—Allah knows best—that he saw it whereas they did not, for this “fire” was in fact light and not visible to everyone. “Perhaps I can bring you from it some information,” that is, ask someone there about the way, “or a burning brand from the fire so that you may warm yourselves.” This shows that they had strayed from the path on a cold, dark night.

The same is indicated by His other words: “Has the story of Moses reached you? When he saw a fire he said to his family, ‘Stay here; indeed I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I can bring you from it a burning coal or find at the fire someone to guide us,’” (Qur’an, 20:9-10), which points clearly to the darkness and to their having lost the road.

All of this is combined in His statement in al-Naml: “When Moses said to his family, ‘Indeed I have perceived a fire; I will bring you from it some information or bring you a flaming torch…’”}