“…so that you may warm yourselves.” He truly did return to them with news—news of the greatest moment—and at that spot he found guidance—guidance of the highest kind—and from it he took light—the brightest of lights.

Allah, Exalted is He, says:
“When he reached 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.’” (al-Qasas 28:30)

In al-Naml He says:
“When he came to it, he was called: ‘Blessed is whoever is within the fire and whoever is around it. Exalted is Allah, Lord of the worlds! O Moses, it is I—Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.’” (al-Naml 27:8–9)

And in Sūrat Ṭā Hā He says:
“When he reached it, he was called: ‘O Moses, indeed I am your Lord; so remove your sandals, for you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed: Indeed I—yes, I—am Allah; there is no deity but Me. So worship Me and establish the prayer for My remembrance. The Hour is coming—I almost keep it hidden—so that every soul may be recompensed for what it strives for. Let not anyone who does not believe in it and follows his own desire turn you away from it, lest you perish.’” (Ṭā Hā 20:11-16)

A number of exegetes, early and later, have said: When Moses approached the fire he had seen and finally reached it, he found it blazing within a green bush of al-awsaj. The more the fire flared, the more the greenness of the bush increased. He stood there in amazement. That bush was nestled against the side of a mountain on his right, toward the west, as the Most High says: “You were not on the western side when We decreed the command to Moses” (al-Qasas 28:44).

Moses was in a valley called Tuwa. Facing the qiblah, he saw the bush on his right, to the west. In that sacred valley of Tuwa, his Lord called to him, first commanding him to remove his sandals, out of reverence, honor, and veneration for that blessed ground—especially on that blessed night.

According to the People of the Book, he covered his face with his hand because of the intensity of the light, out of awe and fear for his eyesight. Then Allah addressed him as He willed, saying, “Indeed, I—yes, I—am Allah, Lord of the worlds,” and, “Indeed, I—yes, I—am Allah; there is no deity but Me, so worship Me and establish the prayer for My remembrance.” That is: I am the Lord of all creation, and worship and prayer are due to none but Me.

He then informed him that this worldly life is not an abode of permanence; the lasting abode is the Day of Resurrection, which must inevitably come, “so that every soul may be recompensed for what it strives for,” whether good or evil. He urged him to work for that Day and to avoid those who disbelieve in it—those who disobey their Lord and follow their own whims.