So he sent one of the two girls to call Moses. She went to him and invited him back. When Moses spoke with the old man, he said, “Do not be afraid; you have escaped from the wrongdoing people” (Q 28:25)—Pharaoh and his people have no authority over us here, for we are outside his kingdom.

One of the daughters then said, “My father, hire him! Truly the best person you can hire is the strong and trustworthy” (Q 28:26). Protective concern moved the father to ask her, “How do you know his strength and his trustworthiness?”

She replied, “As for his strength, I saw it when he drew water for us; I have never seen a man stronger at that task. As for his trustworthiness, when I approached him and he realized I was a woman, he lowered his head and did not raise it again until I had delivered your message. Then he said to me, ‘Walk behind me and point out the way,’—a thing he would do only if he were trustworthy.”

The father’s anxiety was dispelled; he believed her and thought well of Moses. He said to Moses, “I wish to marry you to one of these two daughters of mine on condition that you work for me eight years; but if you complete ten, that will be of your own accord. I do not intend to burden you. You will find me, God willing, among the righteous” (Q 28:27).

Moses agreed. Eight years were obligatory upon the Prophet of Allah, while the additional two were a voluntary pledge; Allah enabled him to fulfill that pledge, and he completed ten years in all.

Saʿīd—namely Ibn Jubayr—said: “A Christian scholar once met me and asked, ‘Do you know which of the two terms Moses fulfilled?’ I replied, ‘No,’ for at the time I did not know. Later I met Ibn ʿAbbās and mentioned it to him. He said, ‘Do you not know that the eight years were binding upon the Prophet of Allah, and that a prophet would never fall short of what is binding? And you know that Allah would see that Moses completed the term he had promised—so he served ten years.’ I met the Christian again and informed him of this. He said, ‘The one who answered you is more knowledgeable than you about the matter.’ I replied, ‘Indeed, and rightly so.’

When Moses set out with his family, the incident of the fire, the staff, and his hand occurred just as Allah has narrated in the Qur’an. He complained to Allah, exalted is He, of what he feared from Pharaoh’s people on account of the man who had been killed, and of the impediment of his tongue—for a knot in his speech prevented him from speaking at length. He asked his Lord to strengthen him with his brother Aaron as a helper who would speak on his behalf about many things his tongue could not articulate clearly. Allah granted his request, loosened a knot from his tongue, and revealed to Aaron, commanding him to meet Moses.

Moses, staff in hand, set off until he met Aaron; together they went to Pharaoh and waited at his gate for some time before gaining admission after stringent screening. When they entered they said, “We are messengers of your Lord.” Pharaoh asked, “And who is your Lord?” They informed him as Allah relates in the Qur’an. He asked, “What do you two want?” and reminded Moses of the slain man; Moses offered the excuse you have already heard. He said, “I want you to believe in Allah and to let the Children of Israel leave with me.” Pharaoh refused and said, “Then produce a sign if you are truthful.”

Moses cast down his staff, and it became a great serpent, its jaws gaping wide, speeding toward Pharaoh. Seeing it coming straight for him, Pharaoh was frightened, leapt from his throne, and begged Moses to restrain it, which he did. Moses then drew his hand from his cloak, and it appeared radiant white, unharmed—that is, free from leprosy—then he returned it, and it reverted to its original color.