Surah 28 — Al-Qasas | AllahsQuran.com

1

طسٓمٓ

Ta, Seen, Meem.

طسٓمٓTa Seem Meem.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Which was revealed in Makkah

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Ma`diykarib said: "We came to `Abdullah and asked him to recite to us:

﴿ طسٓمٓ ﴾

(Ta Sin Mim.) the two hundred. He said, `I do not know it; you should go to someone who learned it from the Messenger of Allah Khabbab bin Al-Aratt.' So we went to Khabbab bin Al-Aratt and he recited it to us, may Allah be pleased with him.''

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴾

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

﴿ طسٓمٓ • تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ • نَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ • إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يُذَبِّحُ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ • وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثِينَ • وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنُرِىَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنۡهُم مَّا ڪَانُواْ يَحۡذَرُونَ ﴾

(1. Ta Sin Mim) (2. These are the Ayat of the manifest Book.) (3. We recite to you some of the news of Musa and Fir`awn in truth, for a people who believe.) (4. Verily, Fir`awn exalted himself in the land and made its people Shiya`a, weakening a group among them: killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the mischief-makers.) (5. And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors,) (6. And to establish them in the land, and We let Fir`awn and Haman and their armies receive from them that which they feared.)

2

تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ

These are the verses of the clear Book.

تِلۡكَThese

ءَايَـٰتُ(are the) Verses

ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ(of) the Book

ٱلۡمُبِينِthe clear.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Which was revealed in Makkah

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Ma`diykarib said: "We came to `Abdullah and asked him to recite to us:

﴿ طسٓمٓ ﴾

(Ta Sin Mim.) the two hundred. He said, `I do not know it; you should go to someone who learned it from the Messenger of Allah Khabbab bin Al-Aratt.' So we went to Khabbab bin Al-Aratt and he recited it to us, may Allah be pleased with him.''

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴾

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

﴿ طسٓمٓ • تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ • نَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ • إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يُذَبِّحُ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ • وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثِينَ • وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنُرِىَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنۡهُم مَّا ڪَانُواْ يَحۡذَرُونَ ﴾

(1. Ta Sin Mim) (2. These are the Ayat of the manifest Book.) (3. We recite to you some of the news of Musa and Fir`awn in truth, for a people who believe.) (4. Verily, Fir`awn exalted himself in the land and made its people Shiya`a, weakening a group among them: killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the mischief-makers.) (5. And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors,) (6. And to establish them in the land, and We let Fir`awn and Haman and their armies receive from them that which they feared.)

3

نَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ

We recite to you from the news of Moses and Pharaoh in truth for a people who believe.

نَتۡلُواْWe recite

عَلَيۡكَto you

مِنfrom

نَّبَإِ(the) news

مُوسَىٰ(of) Musa

وَفِرۡعَوۡنَand Firaun

بِٱلۡحَقِّin truth

لِقَوۡمٍ۬for a people

يُؤۡمِنُونَwho believe.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Which was revealed in Makkah

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Ma`diykarib said: "We came to `Abdullah and asked him to recite to us:

﴿ طسٓمٓ ﴾

(Ta Sin Mim.) the two hundred. He said, `I do not know it; you should go to someone who learned it from the Messenger of Allah Khabbab bin Al-Aratt.' So we went to Khabbab bin Al-Aratt and he recited it to us, may Allah be pleased with him.''

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴾

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

﴿ طسٓمٓ • تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ • نَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ • إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يُذَبِّحُ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ • وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثِينَ • وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنُرِىَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنۡهُم مَّا ڪَانُواْ يَحۡذَرُونَ ﴾

(1. Ta Sin Mim) (2. These are the Ayat of the manifest Book.) (3. We recite to you some of the news of Musa and Fir`awn in truth, for a people who believe.) (4. Verily, Fir`awn exalted himself in the land and made its people Shiya`a, weakening a group among them: killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the mischief-makers.) (5. And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors,) (6. And to establish them in the land, and We let Fir`awn and Haman and their armies receive from them that which they feared.)

4

إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يُذَبِّحُ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ

Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions, oppressing a sector among them, slaughtering their [newborn] sons and keeping their females alive. Indeed, he was of the corrupters.

إِنَّIndeed,

فِرۡعَوۡنَFiraun

عَلَاexalted himself

فِىin

ٱلۡأَرۡضِthe land

وَجَعَلَand made

أَهۡلَهَاits people

شِيَعً۬ا(into) sects,

يَسۡتَضۡعِفُoppressing

طَآٮِٕفَةً۬a group

مِّنۡہُمۡamong them,

يُذَبِّحُslaughtering

أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡtheir sons

وَيَسۡتَحۡىِۦand letting live

نِسَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚtheir women.

إِنَّهُ ۥIndeed, he

كَانَwas

مِنَof

ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَthe corrupters.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Which was revealed in Makkah

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Ma`diykarib said: "We came to `Abdullah and asked him to recite to us:

﴿ طسٓمٓ ﴾

(Ta Sin Mim.) the two hundred. He said, `I do not know it; you should go to someone who learned it from the Messenger of Allah Khabbab bin Al-Aratt.' So we went to Khabbab bin Al-Aratt and he recited it to us, may Allah be pleased with him.''

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴾

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

﴿ طسٓمٓ • تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ • نَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ • إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يُذَبِّحُ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ • وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثِينَ • وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنُرِىَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنۡهُم مَّا ڪَانُواْ يَحۡذَرُونَ ﴾

(1. Ta Sin Mim) (2. These are the Ayat of the manifest Book.) (3. We recite to you some of the news of Musa and Fir`awn in truth, for a people who believe.) (4. Verily, Fir`awn exalted himself in the land and made its people Shiya`a, weakening a group among them: killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the mischief-makers.) (5. And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors,) (6. And to establish them in the land, and We let Fir`awn and Haman and their armies receive from them that which they feared.)

5

وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثِينَ

And We wanted to confer favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them inheritors

وَنُرِيدُAnd We wanted

أَنto

نَّمُنَّbestow a favor

عَلَىupon

ٱلَّذِينَthose who

ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْwere oppressed

فِىin

ٱلۡأَرۡضِthe land

وَنَجۡعَلَهُمۡand make them

أَٮِٕمَّةً۬leaders

وَنَجۡعَلَهُمُand make them

ٱلۡوَٲرِثِينَthe inheritors,

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Which was revealed in Makkah

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Ma`diykarib said: "We came to `Abdullah and asked him to recite to us:

﴿ طسٓمٓ ﴾

(Ta Sin Mim.) the two hundred. He said, `I do not know it; you should go to someone who learned it from the Messenger of Allah Khabbab bin Al-Aratt.' So we went to Khabbab bin Al-Aratt and he recited it to us, may Allah be pleased with him.''

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴾

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

﴿ طسٓمٓ • تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ • نَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ • إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يُذَبِّحُ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ • وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثِينَ • وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنُرِىَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنۡهُم مَّا ڪَانُواْ يَحۡذَرُونَ ﴾

(1. Ta Sin Mim) (2. These are the Ayat of the manifest Book.) (3. We recite to you some of the news of Musa and Fir`awn in truth, for a people who believe.) (4. Verily, Fir`awn exalted himself in the land and made its people Shiya`a, weakening a group among them: killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the mischief-makers.) (5. And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors,) (6. And to establish them in the land, and We let Fir`awn and Haman and their armies receive from them that which they feared.)

6

وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنُرِىَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنۡهُم مَّا ڪَانُواْ يَحۡذَرُونَ

And establish them in the land and show Pharaoh and [his minister] Haman and their soldiers through them that which they had feared.

وَنُمَكِّنَAnd [We] establish

لَهُمۡthem

فِىin

ٱلۡأَرۡضِthe land

وَنُرِىَand show

فِرۡعَوۡنَFiraun

وَهَـٰمَـٰنَand Haman

وَجُنُودَهُمَاand their hosts

مِنۡهُمthrough them

مَّاwhat

ڪَانُواْthey were

يَحۡذَرُونَfearing.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Which was revealed in Makkah

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Ma`diykarib said: "We came to `Abdullah and asked him to recite to us:

﴿ طسٓمٓ ﴾

(Ta Sin Mim.) the two hundred. He said, `I do not know it; you should go to someone who learned it from the Messenger of Allah Khabbab bin Al-Aratt.' So we went to Khabbab bin Al-Aratt and he recited it to us, may Allah be pleased with him.''

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴾

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

﴿ طسٓمٓ • تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ • نَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ • إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يُذَبِّحُ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ • وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثِينَ • وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنُرِىَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنۡهُم مَّا ڪَانُواْ يَحۡذَرُونَ ﴾

(1. Ta Sin Mim) (2. These are the Ayat of the manifest Book.) (3. We recite to you some of the news of Musa and Fir`awn in truth, for a people who believe.) (4. Verily, Fir`awn exalted himself in the land and made its people Shiya`a, weakening a group among them: killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the mischief-makers.) (5. And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors,) (6. And to establish them in the land, and We let Fir`awn and Haman and their armies receive from them that which they feared.)

7

وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَرۡضِعِيهِ‌ۖ فَإِذَا خِفۡتِ عَلَيۡهِ فَأَلۡقِيهِ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحۡزَنِىٓ‌ۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيۡكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ

And We inspired to the mother of Moses, “Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers.”

وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآAnd We inspired

إِلَىٰٓ[to]

أُمِّ(the) mother

مُوسَىٰٓ(of) Musa

أَنۡthat,

أَرۡضِعِيهِ‌ۖ"Suckle him,

فَإِذَاbut when

خِفۡتِyou fear

عَلَيۡهِfor him,

فَأَلۡقِيهِthen cast him

فِىin(to)

ٱلۡيَمِّthe river

وَلَاand (do) not

تَخَافِىfear

وَلَاand (do) not

تَحۡزَنِىٓ‌ۖgrieve.

إِنَّاIndeed, We

رَآدُّوهُ(will) restore him

إِلَيۡكِto you

وَجَاعِلُوهُand (will) make him

مِنَof

ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَthe Messengers."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Story of Musa and Fir`awn, and what Allah intended for Their Peoples

We have already discussed the significance of the separate letters.

﴿ تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ ﴾

(These are the Ayat of the manifest Book.) means the Book which is clear and makes plain the true reality of things, and tells us about what happened and what will happen.

﴿ نَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ ﴾

(We recite to you some of the news of Musa and Fir`awn in truth,) This is like the Ayah,

﴿ نَحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ أَحۡسَنَ ٱلۡقَصَصِ ﴾

(We relate unto you the best of stories) (12:3). which means, `We tell you about things as they really were, as if you are there and are seeing them yourself.' Then Allah says:

﴿ إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ﴾

(Verily, Fir`awn exalted himself in the land) means, he was an arrogant oppressor and tyrant.

﴿ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا ﴾

(and made its people Shiya`) means, he made them into different classes, each of which he used to do whatever he wanted of the affairs of his state.

﴿ يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ ﴾

(weakening a group among them.) This refers to the Children of Israel, who at that time were the best of people, even though this tyrant king overpowered them, using them to do the most menial work and forcing them to hard labor night and day for him and his people. At the same time, he was killing their sons and letting their daughters live, to humiliate them and because he feared that there might appear among them the boy who would be the cause of his destruction and the downfall of his kingdom. So Fir`awn took precautions against that happening, by ordering that all boys born to the Children of Israel should be killed, but this precaution did not protect him against the divine decree, because when the term of Allah comes, it cannot be delayed, and for each and every matter there is a decree from Allah. Allah says:

﴿ وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ﴾

(And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak in the land,) until His saying;

﴿ يَحۡذَرُونَ ﴾

(which they feared.) And Allah did indeed do this to them, as He says:

﴿ وَأَوۡرَثۡنَا ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُواْ يُسۡتَضۡعَفُونَ ﴾

(And We made the people who were considered weak) until His saying;

﴿ يَعۡرِشُونَ ﴾

(they erected) (7:137). And Allah said:

﴿ كَذَٲلِكَ وَأَوۡرَثۡنَـٰهَا بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(Thus and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit them) (26: 59). Fir`awn hoped that by his strength and power he would be saved from Musa, but that did not help him in the slightest. Despite his great power as a king he could not oppose the decree of Allah, which can never be overcome. On the contrary, Allah's ruling was carried out, for it had been written and decreed from past eternity that Fir`awn would meet his doom at the hands of Musa.

﴿ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَرۡضِعِيهِ‌ۖ فَإِذَا خِفۡتِ عَلَيۡهِ فَأَلۡقِيهِ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحۡزَنِىٓ‌ۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيۡكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ • فَٱلۡتَقَطَهُ ۥۤ ءَالُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لِيَڪُونَ لَهُمۡ عَدُوًّ۬ا وَحَزَنًا‌ۗ إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا ڪَانُواْ خَـٰطِـِٔينَ • وَقَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ لَا تَقۡتُلُوهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوۡ نَتَّخِذَهُ ۥ وَلَدً۬ا وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ ﴾

(7. And We inspired the mother of Musa: "Suckle him (Musa), but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of the Messengers.'') (8. Then the household of Fir`awn picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief. Verily, Fir`awn, Haman and their armies were sinners.) (9. And the wife of Fir`awn said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be of benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son.'' And they perceived not.)

8

فَٱلۡتَقَطَهُ ۥۤ ءَالُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لِيَڪُونَ لَهُمۡ عَدُوًّ۬ا وَحَزَنًا‌ۗ إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا ڪَانُواْ خَـٰطِـِٔينَ

And the family of Pharaoh picked him up [out of the river] so that he would become to them an enemy and a [cause of] grief. Indeed, Pharaoh and Haman and their soldiers were deliberate sinners.

فَٱلۡتَقَطَهُ ۥۤThen picked him up

ءَالُ(the) family

فِرۡعَوۡنَ(of) Firaun

لِيَڪُونَso that he might become

لَهُمۡto them

عَدُوًّ۬اan enemy

وَحَزَنًا‌ۗand a grief.

إِنَّIndeed,

فِرۡعَوۡنَFiraun

وَهَـٰمَـٰنَand Haman

وَجُنُودَهُمَاand their hosts

ڪَانُواْwere

خَـٰطِـِٔينَsinners.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Story of Musa and Fir`awn, and what Allah intended for Their Peoples

We have already discussed the significance of the separate letters.

﴿ تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ ﴾

(These are the Ayat of the manifest Book.) means the Book which is clear and makes plain the true reality of things, and tells us about what happened and what will happen.

﴿ نَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ ﴾

(We recite to you some of the news of Musa and Fir`awn in truth,) This is like the Ayah,

﴿ نَحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ أَحۡسَنَ ٱلۡقَصَصِ ﴾

(We relate unto you the best of stories) (12:3). which means, `We tell you about things as they really were, as if you are there and are seeing them yourself.' Then Allah says:

﴿ إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ﴾

(Verily, Fir`awn exalted himself in the land) means, he was an arrogant oppressor and tyrant.

﴿ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا ﴾

(and made its people Shiya`) means, he made them into different classes, each of which he used to do whatever he wanted of the affairs of his state.

﴿ يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ ﴾

(weakening a group among them.) This refers to the Children of Israel, who at that time were the best of people, even though this tyrant king overpowered them, using them to do the most menial work and forcing them to hard labor night and day for him and his people. At the same time, he was killing their sons and letting their daughters live, to humiliate them and because he feared that there might appear among them the boy who would be the cause of his destruction and the downfall of his kingdom. So Fir`awn took precautions against that happening, by ordering that all boys born to the Children of Israel should be killed, but this precaution did not protect him against the divine decree, because when the term of Allah comes, it cannot be delayed, and for each and every matter there is a decree from Allah. Allah says:

﴿ وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ﴾

(And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak in the land,) until His saying;

﴿ يَحۡذَرُونَ ﴾

(which they feared.) And Allah did indeed do this to them, as He says:

﴿ وَأَوۡرَثۡنَا ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُواْ يُسۡتَضۡعَفُونَ ﴾

(And We made the people who were considered weak) until His saying;

﴿ يَعۡرِشُونَ ﴾

(they erected) (7:137). And Allah said:

﴿ كَذَٲلِكَ وَأَوۡرَثۡنَـٰهَا بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(Thus and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit them) (26: 59). Fir`awn hoped that by his strength and power he would be saved from Musa, but that did not help him in the slightest. Despite his great power as a king he could not oppose the decree of Allah, which can never be overcome. On the contrary, Allah's ruling was carried out, for it had been written and decreed from past eternity that Fir`awn would meet his doom at the hands of Musa.

﴿ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَرۡضِعِيهِ‌ۖ فَإِذَا خِفۡتِ عَلَيۡهِ فَأَلۡقِيهِ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحۡزَنِىٓ‌ۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيۡكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ • فَٱلۡتَقَطَهُ ۥۤ ءَالُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لِيَڪُونَ لَهُمۡ عَدُوًّ۬ا وَحَزَنًا‌ۗ إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا ڪَانُواْ خَـٰطِـِٔينَ • وَقَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ لَا تَقۡتُلُوهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوۡ نَتَّخِذَهُ ۥ وَلَدً۬ا وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ ﴾

(7. And We inspired the mother of Musa: "Suckle him (Musa), but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of the Messengers.'') (8. Then the household of Fir`awn picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief. Verily, Fir`awn, Haman and their armies were sinners.) (9. And the wife of Fir`awn said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be of benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son.'' And they perceived not.)

9

وَقَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ لَا تَقۡتُلُوهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوۡ نَتَّخِذَهُ ۥ وَلَدً۬ا وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

And the wife of Pharaoh said, “[He will be] a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.” And they perceived not.

وَقَالَتِAnd said

ٱمۡرَأَتُ(the) wife

فِرۡعَوۡنَ(of) Firaun,

قُرَّتُ"A comfort

عَيۡنٍ۬(of the) eye

لِّىfor me

وَلَكَ‌ۖand for you;

لَا(Do) not

تَقۡتُلُوهُkill him;

عَسَىٰٓperhaps

أَن(that)

يَنفَعَنَآhe may benefit us,

أَوۡor

نَتَّخِذَهُ ۥwe may take him

وَلَدً۬ا(as) a son."

وَهُمۡAnd they

لَا(did) not

يَشۡعُرُونَperceive.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The Story of Musa and Fir`awn, and what Allah intended for Their Peoples

We have already discussed the significance of the separate letters.

﴿ تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ ﴾

(These are the Ayat of the manifest Book.) means the Book which is clear and makes plain the true reality of things, and tells us about what happened and what will happen.

﴿ نَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ ﴾

(We recite to you some of the news of Musa and Fir`awn in truth,) This is like the Ayah,

﴿ نَحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ أَحۡسَنَ ٱلۡقَصَصِ ﴾

(We relate unto you the best of stories) (12:3). which means, `We tell you about things as they really were, as if you are there and are seeing them yourself.' Then Allah says:

﴿ إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ﴾

(Verily, Fir`awn exalted himself in the land) means, he was an arrogant oppressor and tyrant.

﴿ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا ﴾

(and made its people Shiya`) means, he made them into different classes, each of which he used to do whatever he wanted of the affairs of his state.

﴿ يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ ﴾

(weakening a group among them.) This refers to the Children of Israel, who at that time were the best of people, even though this tyrant king overpowered them, using them to do the most menial work and forcing them to hard labor night and day for him and his people. At the same time, he was killing their sons and letting their daughters live, to humiliate them and because he feared that there might appear among them the boy who would be the cause of his destruction and the downfall of his kingdom. So Fir`awn took precautions against that happening, by ordering that all boys born to the Children of Israel should be killed, but this precaution did not protect him against the divine decree, because when the term of Allah comes, it cannot be delayed, and for each and every matter there is a decree from Allah. Allah says:

﴿ وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ﴾

(And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak in the land,) until His saying;

﴿ يَحۡذَرُونَ ﴾

(which they feared.) And Allah did indeed do this to them, as He says:

﴿ وَأَوۡرَثۡنَا ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُواْ يُسۡتَضۡعَفُونَ ﴾

(And We made the people who were considered weak) until His saying;

﴿ يَعۡرِشُونَ ﴾

(they erected) (7:137). And Allah said:

﴿ كَذَٲلِكَ وَأَوۡرَثۡنَـٰهَا بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(Thus and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit them) (26: 59). Fir`awn hoped that by his strength and power he would be saved from Musa, but that did not help him in the slightest. Despite his great power as a king he could not oppose the decree of Allah, which can never be overcome. On the contrary, Allah's ruling was carried out, for it had been written and decreed from past eternity that Fir`awn would meet his doom at the hands of Musa.

﴿ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَرۡضِعِيهِ‌ۖ فَإِذَا خِفۡتِ عَلَيۡهِ فَأَلۡقِيهِ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحۡزَنِىٓ‌ۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيۡكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ • فَٱلۡتَقَطَهُ ۥۤ ءَالُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لِيَڪُونَ لَهُمۡ عَدُوًّ۬ا وَحَزَنًا‌ۗ إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا ڪَانُواْ خَـٰطِـِٔينَ • وَقَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ لَا تَقۡتُلُوهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوۡ نَتَّخِذَهُ ۥ وَلَدً۬ا وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ ﴾

(7. And We inspired the mother of Musa: "Suckle him (Musa), but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of the Messengers.'') (8. Then the household of Fir`awn picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief. Verily, Fir`awn, Haman and their armies were sinners.) (9. And the wife of Fir`awn said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be of benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son.'' And they perceived not.)

10

وَأَصۡبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَـٰرِغًا‌ۖ إِن ڪَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِى بِهِۦ لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ

And the heart of Moses’ mother became empty [of all else]. She was about to disclose [the matter concerning] him had We not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers.

وَأَصۡبَحَAnd became

فُؤَادُ(the) heart

أُمِّ(of the) mother

مُوسَىٰ(of) Musa

فَـٰرِغًا‌ۖempty.

إِنThat,

ڪَادَتۡshe was near

لَتُبۡدِى(to) disclosing

بِهِۦabout him,

لَوۡلَآif not

أَنthat

رَّبَطۡنَاWe strengthened

عَلَىٰ[over]

قَلۡبِهَاher heart,

لِتَكُونَso that she would be

مِنَof

ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَthe believers.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Musa (peace be upon him) in the House of Fir`awn

When Musa's mother became so worried and confused, it was inspired into her heart and mind what she should do, as Allah says:

﴿ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَرۡضِعِيهِ‌ۖ فَإِذَا خِفۡتِ عَلَيۡهِ فَأَلۡقِيهِ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحۡزَنِىٓ‌ۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيۡكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ﴾

(And We inspired the mother of Musa (telling): "Suckle him, but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers.'') Her house was on the banks of the Nile, so she took a box and made it into a cradle, and started to nurse her child. When someone came to her that she was afraid of, she would go and put him in that box and put it in the river, and she would tie it with a rope. One day someone that she was afraid of came to the house, so she went and put the child in that box and put it in the river, but she forgot to tie it. The water carried him away, past the house of Fir`awn, where some servant women picked the box up and took it to Fir`awn's wife. They did not know what was inside, and they were afraid that they would be in trouble if they opened it without her. When the box was opened, they saw it was a child with the most beautiful features. Allah filled her heart with love for him when she saw him; this was because she was blessed and because Allah wanted to honor her and cause her husband's doom. Allah says:

﴿ فَٱلۡتَقَطَهُ ۥۤ ءَالُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لِيَڪُونَ لَهُمۡ عَدُوًّ۬ا وَحَزَنًا‌ۗ ﴾

(Then the household of Fir`awn picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief.) Allah says:

﴿ إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا ڪَانُواْ خَـٰطِـِٔينَ ﴾

(Verily, Fir`awn, Haman and their armies were sinners.)

﴿ وَقَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ ﴾

(And the wife of Fir`awn said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you...'') means, when Fir`awn saw him, he wanted to kill him, fearing that he was one of the Children of Israel. But his wife Asiyah bint Muzahim came to the child's defense and tried to endear him to Fir`awn, saying,

﴿ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ ﴾

(A comfort of the eye for me and for you.) Fir`awn said: "For you he may be, but not for me. And this was indeed the case: Allah guided her because of him, and destroyed him at his hands.

﴿ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ ﴾

(perhaps he may be of benefit to us,) This is indeed what happened in her case, for Allah guided her through him and caused her to dwell in Paradise because of him.

﴿ أَوۡ نَتَّخِذَهُ ۥ وَلَدً۬ا ﴾

(or we may adopt him as a son.) She wanted to take him and adopt him as a son, because she had no children from Fir`awn.

﴿ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ ﴾

(And they perceived not.) means, they did not know what Allah planned for them when they picked him up, by His great wisdom and definitive proof.

﴿ وَأَصۡبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَـٰرِغًا‌ۖ إِن ڪَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِى بِهِۦ لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ • وَقَالَتۡ لِأُخۡتِهِۦ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِهِۦ عَن جُنُبٍ۬ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ • وَحَرَّمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبۡلُ فَقَالَتۡ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِ بَيۡتٍ۬ يَكۡفُلُونَهُ ۥ لَڪُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُ ۥ نَـٰصِحُونَ • فَرَدَدۡنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّهِۦ كَىۡ تَقَرَّ عَيۡنُهَا وَلَا تَحۡزَنَ وَلِتَعۡلَمَ أَنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾

(10. And the heart of the mother of Musa became empty. She was very near to disclose his (case), had We not strengthened her heart, so that she might remain as one of the believers.) (11. And she said to his sister: "Follow him.'' So she watched him from a far place (secretly), while they perceived not.) (12. And We had already forbidden foster suckling mothers for him, until she said: "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and look after him in a good manner'') (13. So We restored him to his mother, that her eye might be comforted, and that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them know not.)

11

وَقَالَتۡ لِأُخۡتِهِۦ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِهِۦ عَن جُنُبٍ۬ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

And she said to his sister, “Follow him”; so she watched him from a distance while they perceived not.

وَقَالَتۡAnd she said

لِأُخۡتِهِۦto his sister,

قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ"Follow him."

فَبَصُرَتۡSo she watched

بِهِۦhim

عَنfrom

جُنُبٍ۬a distance

وَهُمۡwhile they

لَا(did) not

يَشۡعُرُونَperceive.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Musa (peace be upon him) in the House of Fir`awn

When Musa's mother became so worried and confused, it was inspired into her heart and mind what she should do, as Allah says:

﴿ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَرۡضِعِيهِ‌ۖ فَإِذَا خِفۡتِ عَلَيۡهِ فَأَلۡقِيهِ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحۡزَنِىٓ‌ۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيۡكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ﴾

(And We inspired the mother of Musa (telling): "Suckle him, but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers.'') Her house was on the banks of the Nile, so she took a box and made it into a cradle, and started to nurse her child. When someone came to her that she was afraid of, she would go and put him in that box and put it in the river, and she would tie it with a rope. One day someone that she was afraid of came to the house, so she went and put the child in that box and put it in the river, but she forgot to tie it. The water carried him away, past the house of Fir`awn, where some servant women picked the box up and took it to Fir`awn's wife. They did not know what was inside, and they were afraid that they would be in trouble if they opened it without her. When the box was opened, they saw it was a child with the most beautiful features. Allah filled her heart with love for him when she saw him; this was because she was blessed and because Allah wanted to honor her and cause her husband's doom. Allah says:

﴿ فَٱلۡتَقَطَهُ ۥۤ ءَالُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لِيَڪُونَ لَهُمۡ عَدُوًّ۬ا وَحَزَنًا‌ۗ ﴾

(Then the household of Fir`awn picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief.) Allah says:

﴿ إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا ڪَانُواْ خَـٰطِـِٔينَ ﴾

(Verily, Fir`awn, Haman and their armies were sinners.)

﴿ وَقَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ ﴾

(And the wife of Fir`awn said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you...'') means, when Fir`awn saw him, he wanted to kill him, fearing that he was one of the Children of Israel. But his wife Asiyah bint Muzahim came to the child's defense and tried to endear him to Fir`awn, saying,

﴿ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ ﴾

(A comfort of the eye for me and for you.) Fir`awn said: "For you he may be, but not for me. And this was indeed the case: Allah guided her because of him, and destroyed him at his hands.

﴿ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ ﴾

(perhaps he may be of benefit to us,) This is indeed what happened in her case, for Allah guided her through him and caused her to dwell in Paradise because of him.

﴿ أَوۡ نَتَّخِذَهُ ۥ وَلَدً۬ا ﴾

(or we may adopt him as a son.) She wanted to take him and adopt him as a son, because she had no children from Fir`awn.

﴿ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ ﴾

(And they perceived not.) means, they did not know what Allah planned for them when they picked him up, by His great wisdom and definitive proof.

﴿ وَأَصۡبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَـٰرِغًا‌ۖ إِن ڪَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِى بِهِۦ لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ • وَقَالَتۡ لِأُخۡتِهِۦ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِهِۦ عَن جُنُبٍ۬ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ • وَحَرَّمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبۡلُ فَقَالَتۡ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِ بَيۡتٍ۬ يَكۡفُلُونَهُ ۥ لَڪُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُ ۥ نَـٰصِحُونَ • فَرَدَدۡنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّهِۦ كَىۡ تَقَرَّ عَيۡنُهَا وَلَا تَحۡزَنَ وَلِتَعۡلَمَ أَنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾

(10. And the heart of the mother of Musa became empty. She was very near to disclose his (case), had We not strengthened her heart, so that she might remain as one of the believers.) (11. And she said to his sister: "Follow him.'' So she watched him from a far place (secretly), while they perceived not.) (12. And We had already forbidden foster suckling mothers for him, until she said: "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and look after him in a good manner'') (13. So We restored him to his mother, that her eye might be comforted, and that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them know not.)

12

وَحَرَّمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبۡلُ فَقَالَتۡ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِ بَيۡتٍ۬ يَكۡفُلُونَهُ ۥ لَڪُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُ ۥ نَـٰصِحُونَ

And We had prevented from him [all] wet nurses before, so she said, “Shall I direct you to a household that will be responsible for him for you while they are to him [for his upbringing] sincere?”

۞ وَحَرَّمۡنَاAnd We had forbidden

عَلَيۡهِfor him

ٱلۡمَرَاضِعَthe wet nurses

مِن قَبۡلُbefore,

فَقَالَتۡso she said,

هَلۡ"Shall I

أَدُلُّكُمۡdirect you

عَلَىٰٓto

أَهۡلِ(the) people

بَيۡتٍ۬(of) a house

يَكۡفُلُونَهُ ۥwho will rear him

لَڪُمۡfor you

وَهُمۡwhile they

لَهُ ۥto him

نَـٰصِحُونَ(will be) sincere?"

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Musa (peace be upon him) in the House of Fir`awn

When Musa's mother became so worried and confused, it was inspired into her heart and mind what she should do, as Allah says:

﴿ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَرۡضِعِيهِ‌ۖ فَإِذَا خِفۡتِ عَلَيۡهِ فَأَلۡقِيهِ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحۡزَنِىٓ‌ۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيۡكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ﴾

(And We inspired the mother of Musa (telling): "Suckle him, but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers.'') Her house was on the banks of the Nile, so she took a box and made it into a cradle, and started to nurse her child. When someone came to her that she was afraid of, she would go and put him in that box and put it in the river, and she would tie it with a rope. One day someone that she was afraid of came to the house, so she went and put the child in that box and put it in the river, but she forgot to tie it. The water carried him away, past the house of Fir`awn, where some servant women picked the box up and took it to Fir`awn's wife. They did not know what was inside, and they were afraid that they would be in trouble if they opened it without her. When the box was opened, they saw it was a child with the most beautiful features. Allah filled her heart with love for him when she saw him; this was because she was blessed and because Allah wanted to honor her and cause her husband's doom. Allah says:

﴿ فَٱلۡتَقَطَهُ ۥۤ ءَالُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لِيَڪُونَ لَهُمۡ عَدُوًّ۬ا وَحَزَنًا‌ۗ ﴾

(Then the household of Fir`awn picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief.) Allah says:

﴿ إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا ڪَانُواْ خَـٰطِـِٔينَ ﴾

(Verily, Fir`awn, Haman and their armies were sinners.)

﴿ وَقَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ ﴾

(And the wife of Fir`awn said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you...'') means, when Fir`awn saw him, he wanted to kill him, fearing that he was one of the Children of Israel. But his wife Asiyah bint Muzahim came to the child's defense and tried to endear him to Fir`awn, saying,

﴿ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ ﴾

(A comfort of the eye for me and for you.) Fir`awn said: "For you he may be, but not for me. And this was indeed the case: Allah guided her because of him, and destroyed him at his hands.

﴿ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ ﴾

(perhaps he may be of benefit to us,) This is indeed what happened in her case, for Allah guided her through him and caused her to dwell in Paradise because of him.

﴿ أَوۡ نَتَّخِذَهُ ۥ وَلَدً۬ا ﴾

(or we may adopt him as a son.) She wanted to take him and adopt him as a son, because she had no children from Fir`awn.

﴿ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ ﴾

(And they perceived not.) means, they did not know what Allah planned for them when they picked him up, by His great wisdom and definitive proof.

﴿ وَأَصۡبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَـٰرِغًا‌ۖ إِن ڪَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِى بِهِۦ لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ • وَقَالَتۡ لِأُخۡتِهِۦ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِهِۦ عَن جُنُبٍ۬ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ • وَحَرَّمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبۡلُ فَقَالَتۡ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِ بَيۡتٍ۬ يَكۡفُلُونَهُ ۥ لَڪُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُ ۥ نَـٰصِحُونَ • فَرَدَدۡنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّهِۦ كَىۡ تَقَرَّ عَيۡنُهَا وَلَا تَحۡزَنَ وَلِتَعۡلَمَ أَنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾

(10. And the heart of the mother of Musa became empty. She was very near to disclose his (case), had We not strengthened her heart, so that she might remain as one of the believers.) (11. And she said to his sister: "Follow him.'' So she watched him from a far place (secretly), while they perceived not.) (12. And We had already forbidden foster suckling mothers for him, until she said: "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and look after him in a good manner'') (13. So We restored him to his mother, that her eye might be comforted, and that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them know not.)

13

فَرَدَدۡنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّهِۦ كَىۡ تَقَرَّ عَيۡنُهَا وَلَا تَحۡزَنَ وَلِتَعۡلَمَ أَنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

So We restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of the people do not know.

فَرَدَدۡنَـٰهُSo We restored him

إِلَىٰٓto

أُمِّهِۦhis mother

كَىۡthat

تَقَرَّmight be comforted

عَيۡنُهَاher eye,

وَلَاand not

تَحۡزَنَshe may grieve

وَلِتَعۡلَمَand that she would know,

أَنَّthat

وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِthe Promise of Allah

حَقٌّ۬(is) true.

وَلَـٰكِنَّBut

أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡmost of them

لَا(do) not

يَعۡلَمُونَknow.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Musa (peace be upon him) in the House of Fir`awn

When Musa's mother became so worried and confused, it was inspired into her heart and mind what she should do, as Allah says:

﴿ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَرۡضِعِيهِ‌ۖ فَإِذَا خِفۡتِ عَلَيۡهِ فَأَلۡقِيهِ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحۡزَنِىٓ‌ۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيۡكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ﴾

(And We inspired the mother of Musa (telling): "Suckle him, but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers.'') Her house was on the banks of the Nile, so she took a box and made it into a cradle, and started to nurse her child. When someone came to her that she was afraid of, she would go and put him in that box and put it in the river, and she would tie it with a rope. One day someone that she was afraid of came to the house, so she went and put the child in that box and put it in the river, but she forgot to tie it. The water carried him away, past the house of Fir`awn, where some servant women picked the box up and took it to Fir`awn's wife. They did not know what was inside, and they were afraid that they would be in trouble if they opened it without her. When the box was opened, they saw it was a child with the most beautiful features. Allah filled her heart with love for him when she saw him; this was because she was blessed and because Allah wanted to honor her and cause her husband's doom. Allah says:

﴿ فَٱلۡتَقَطَهُ ۥۤ ءَالُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لِيَڪُونَ لَهُمۡ عَدُوًّ۬ا وَحَزَنًا‌ۗ ﴾

(Then the household of Fir`awn picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief.) Allah says:

﴿ إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا ڪَانُواْ خَـٰطِـِٔينَ ﴾

(Verily, Fir`awn, Haman and their armies were sinners.)

﴿ وَقَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ ﴾

(And the wife of Fir`awn said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you...'') means, when Fir`awn saw him, he wanted to kill him, fearing that he was one of the Children of Israel. But his wife Asiyah bint Muzahim came to the child's defense and tried to endear him to Fir`awn, saying,

﴿ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ ﴾

(A comfort of the eye for me and for you.) Fir`awn said: "For you he may be, but not for me. And this was indeed the case: Allah guided her because of him, and destroyed him at his hands.

﴿ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ ﴾

(perhaps he may be of benefit to us,) This is indeed what happened in her case, for Allah guided her through him and caused her to dwell in Paradise because of him.

﴿ أَوۡ نَتَّخِذَهُ ۥ وَلَدً۬ا ﴾

(or we may adopt him as a son.) She wanted to take him and adopt him as a son, because she had no children from Fir`awn.

﴿ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ ﴾

(And they perceived not.) means, they did not know what Allah planned for them when they picked him up, by His great wisdom and definitive proof.

﴿ وَأَصۡبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَـٰرِغًا‌ۖ إِن ڪَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِى بِهِۦ لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ • وَقَالَتۡ لِأُخۡتِهِۦ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِهِۦ عَن جُنُبٍ۬ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ • وَحَرَّمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبۡلُ فَقَالَتۡ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِ بَيۡتٍ۬ يَكۡفُلُونَهُ ۥ لَڪُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُ ۥ نَـٰصِحُونَ • فَرَدَدۡنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّهِۦ كَىۡ تَقَرَّ عَيۡنُهَا وَلَا تَحۡزَنَ وَلِتَعۡلَمَ أَنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾

(10. And the heart of the mother of Musa became empty. She was very near to disclose his (case), had We not strengthened her heart, so that she might remain as one of the believers.) (11. And she said to his sister: "Follow him.'' So she watched him from a far place (secretly), while they perceived not.) (12. And We had already forbidden foster suckling mothers for him, until she said: "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and look after him in a good manner'') (13. So We restored him to his mother, that her eye might be comforted, and that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them know not.)

14

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۥ وَٱسۡتَوَىٰٓ ءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ حُكۡمً۬ا وَعِلۡمً۬ا‌ۚ وَكَذَٲلِكَ نَجۡزِى ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

And when he attained his full strength and was [mentally] mature, We bestowed upon him judgment and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.

وَلَمَّاAnd when

بَلَغَhe reached

أَشُدَّهُ ۥhis full strength

وَٱسۡتَوَىٰٓand became mature,

ءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُWe bestowed upon him

حُكۡمً۬اwisdom

وَعِلۡمً۬ا‌ۚand knowledge.

وَكَذَٲلِكَAnd thus

نَجۡزِىWe reward

ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَthe good-doers.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The intense Grief of Musa's Mother, and how He was returned to Her

Allah tells us how, when her child was lost in the river, the heart of Musa's mother became empty, i.e., she could not think of any matter in this world except Musa. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu `Ubaydah, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Qatadah and others.

﴿ إِن ڪَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِى بِهِۦ ﴾

(She was very near to disclose his (case),) means, because of the intensity of her grief, she almost told people that she had lost a son. She would have disclosed her situation, if Allah had not given her strength and patience. Allah says:

﴿ لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ • وَقَالَتۡ لِأُخۡتِهِۦ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ ﴾

(had We not strengthened her heart, so that she might remain as one of the believers. And she said to his sister: "Follow him.'') means, she told her daughter, who was older and was of an age to understand things,

﴿ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ ﴾

(Follow him.) means, follow his traces and look for information about him, try to find out about him around the city. So she went out to do that.

﴿ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِهِۦ عَن جُنُبٍ۬ ﴾

(So she watched him from a far place (secretly),) Ibn `Abbas said, "Off to the side.'' Mujahid said, "It means she looked from afar. Qatadah said: "She started to look at him as if she was not really interested.'' When Musa had settled into the house of Fir`awn, after the king's wife had begun to love him and asked Fir`awn not to kill him, they brought to him the wet nurses who were to be found in their household, and he did not accept any of them, refusing to take milk from them. So they took him out to the marketplace, hoping to find a woman who would be suitable to nurse him. When (his sister) saw him in their arms, she recognized him, but she did not give any indication nor did they suspect her. Allah says:

﴿ وَحَرَّمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبۡلُ ﴾

(And We had already forbidden foster suckling mothers for him,) Because of his honored status with Allah, it was forbidden by divine decree. It was decreed that no one should nurse him except his own mother, and Allah caused this to be the means reuniting him with his mother so that she could nurse him and feel safe after having felt such fear. When (his sister) saw that they were confused over who should nurse the child,

﴿ فَقَالَتۡ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِ بَيۡتٍ۬ يَكۡفُلُونَهُ ۥ لَڪُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُ ۥ نَـٰصِحُونَ ﴾

(she said: "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and look after him in a good manner'') Ibn `Abbas said: When she said that, they had some doubts about her, so they seized her and asked her, How do you know these people will be sincere and will care for him'' She said to them, "They will be sincere and will care for him because they want the king to be happy and because they hope for some reward.'' So they let her go. After what she said, being safe from their harm, they took her to their house and brought the baby to his mother. She gave him her breast and he accepted it, so they rejoiced and sent the glad tidings to the wife of Fir`awn. She called for Musa's mother, treating her kindly and rewarding her generously. She did not realize that she was his real mother, but she saw that the baby accepted her breast. Then Asiyah asked her to stay with her and nurse the baby, but she refused, saying, "I have a husband and children, and I cannot stay with you, but if you would like me to nurse him in my own home, I will do that.'' The wife of Fir`awn agreed to that, and paid her a regular salary and gave her extra gifts and clothing and treated her kindly. The mother of Musa came back with her child, happy that after a time of fear Allah granted her security, prestige, and ongoing provision. There was only a short time between the distress and the way out, a day and night, or thereabouts -- and Allah knows best. Glory be to the One in Whose hands are all things; what He wills happens and what He does not will does not happen. He is the One Who grants those who fear Him, a way out from every worry and distress, Allah said:

﴿ فَرَدَدۡنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّهِۦ كَىۡ تَقَرَّ عَيۡنُهَا ﴾

(So We restored him to his mother, that her eye might be comforted,) means, by him,

﴿ وَلَا تَحۡزَنَ ﴾

(and that she might not grieve,) means, for him.

﴿ وَلِتَعۡلَمَ أَنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ ﴾

(and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true.) meaning, `We had promised her to return him to her and to make him one of the Messengers.' When he was returned to her, she realized that he was one of the Messengers, so as she brought him up, she treated him both as a child (with kindness) and as a Messenger (with respect).

﴿ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾

(But most of them know not.) means, they do not know the wisdom of Allah in His actions and their good consequences, for which He is to be praised in this world and the Hereafter. For a thing may happen that people do not like, but its consequences are good, as Allah says:

﴿ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكۡرَهُواْ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَهُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ۬ لَّكُمۡ‌ۗ ﴾

(and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you) (2:216).

﴿ فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكۡرَهُواْ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَيَجۡعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيۡرً۬ا ڪَثِيرً۬ا ﴾

(it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good) (4:19).

﴿ وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۥ وَٱسۡتَوَىٰٓ ءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ حُكۡمً۬ا وَعِلۡمً۬ا‌ۚ وَكَذَٲلِكَ نَجۡزِى ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ • وَدَخَلَ ٱلۡمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفۡلَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيہَا رَجُلَيۡنِ يَقۡتَتِلَانِ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ وَهَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ‌ۖ فَٱسۡتَغَـٰثَهُ ٱلَّذِى مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ عَلَى ٱلَّذِى مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ فَوَكَزَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّضِلٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِى فَٱغۡفِرۡ لِى فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ • قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ فَلَنۡ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرً۬ا لِّلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ﴾

(14. And when he reached maturity, and was complete, We bestowed on him Hukm and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.) (15. And he entered the city when its people were unaware: and he found there two men fighting, -- one of his party, and the other of his foes. The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe, so Musa struck him with his fist and he died. He said: "This is of Shaytan's doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy.'') (16. He said: "My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.'' Then He forgave him. Verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.) (17. He said: "My Lord! For that with which You have favored me, I will nevermore be a helper of the criminals!'')

15

وَدَخَلَ ٱلۡمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفۡلَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيہَا رَجُلَيۡنِ يَقۡتَتِلَانِ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ وَهَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ‌ۖ فَٱسۡتَغَـٰثَهُ ٱلَّذِى مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ عَلَى ٱلَّذِى مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ فَوَكَزَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّضِلٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬

And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people and found therein two men fighting: one from his faction and one from among his enemy. And the one from his faction called for help to him against the one from his enemy, so Moses struck him and [unintentionally] killed him. [Moses] said, “This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy.”

وَدَخَلَAnd he entered

ٱلۡمَدِينَةَthe city

عَلَىٰat

حِينِa time

غَفۡلَةٍ۬(of) inattention

مِّنۡof

أَهۡلِهَاits people

فَوَجَدَand found

فِيہَاtherein

رَجُلَيۡنِtwo men

يَقۡتَتِلَانِfighting each other;

هَـٰذَاthis

مِنof

شِيعَتِهِۦhis party

وَهَـٰذَاand this

مِنۡof

عَدُوِّهِۦ‌ۖhis enemy.

فَٱسۡتَغَـٰثَهُAnd called him for help

ٱلَّذِىthe one who

مِن(was) from

شِيعَتِهِۦhis party

عَلَىagainst

ٱلَّذِىthe one who

مِنۡ(was) from

عَدُوِّهِۦhis enemy,

فَوَكَزَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰso Musa struck him with his fist

فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖand killed him.

قَالَHe said,

هَـٰذَا"This (is)

مِنۡof

عَمَلِ(the) deed

ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌ۖ(of) Shaitaan.

إِنَّهُ ۥIndeed, he

عَدُوٌّ۬(is) an enemy -

مُّضِلٌّ۬one who misleads

مُّبِينٌ۬clearly."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The intense Grief of Musa's Mother, and how He was returned to Her

Allah tells us how, when her child was lost in the river, the heart of Musa's mother became empty, i.e., she could not think of any matter in this world except Musa. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu `Ubaydah, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Qatadah and others.

﴿ إِن ڪَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِى بِهِۦ ﴾

(She was very near to disclose his (case),) means, because of the intensity of her grief, she almost told people that she had lost a son. She would have disclosed her situation, if Allah had not given her strength and patience. Allah says:

﴿ لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ • وَقَالَتۡ لِأُخۡتِهِۦ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ ﴾

(had We not strengthened her heart, so that she might remain as one of the believers. And she said to his sister: "Follow him.'') means, she told her daughter, who was older and was of an age to understand things,

﴿ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ ﴾

(Follow him.) means, follow his traces and look for information about him, try to find out about him around the city. So she went out to do that.

﴿ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِهِۦ عَن جُنُبٍ۬ ﴾

(So she watched him from a far place (secretly),) Ibn `Abbas said, "Off to the side.'' Mujahid said, "It means she looked from afar. Qatadah said: "She started to look at him as if she was not really interested.'' When Musa had settled into the house of Fir`awn, after the king's wife had begun to love him and asked Fir`awn not to kill him, they brought to him the wet nurses who were to be found in their household, and he did not accept any of them, refusing to take milk from them. So they took him out to the marketplace, hoping to find a woman who would be suitable to nurse him. When (his sister) saw him in their arms, she recognized him, but she did not give any indication nor did they suspect her. Allah says:

﴿ وَحَرَّمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبۡلُ ﴾

(And We had already forbidden foster suckling mothers for him,) Because of his honored status with Allah, it was forbidden by divine decree. It was decreed that no one should nurse him except his own mother, and Allah caused this to be the means reuniting him with his mother so that she could nurse him and feel safe after having felt such fear. When (his sister) saw that they were confused over who should nurse the child,

﴿ فَقَالَتۡ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِ بَيۡتٍ۬ يَكۡفُلُونَهُ ۥ لَڪُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُ ۥ نَـٰصِحُونَ ﴾

(she said: "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and look after him in a good manner'') Ibn `Abbas said: When she said that, they had some doubts about her, so they seized her and asked her, How do you know these people will be sincere and will care for him'' She said to them, "They will be sincere and will care for him because they want the king to be happy and because they hope for some reward.'' So they let her go. After what she said, being safe from their harm, they took her to their house and brought the baby to his mother. She gave him her breast and he accepted it, so they rejoiced and sent the glad tidings to the wife of Fir`awn. She called for Musa's mother, treating her kindly and rewarding her generously. She did not realize that she was his real mother, but she saw that the baby accepted her breast. Then Asiyah asked her to stay with her and nurse the baby, but she refused, saying, "I have a husband and children, and I cannot stay with you, but if you would like me to nurse him in my own home, I will do that.'' The wife of Fir`awn agreed to that, and paid her a regular salary and gave her extra gifts and clothing and treated her kindly. The mother of Musa came back with her child, happy that after a time of fear Allah granted her security, prestige, and ongoing provision. There was only a short time between the distress and the way out, a day and night, or thereabouts -- and Allah knows best. Glory be to the One in Whose hands are all things; what He wills happens and what He does not will does not happen. He is the One Who grants those who fear Him, a way out from every worry and distress, Allah said:

﴿ فَرَدَدۡنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّهِۦ كَىۡ تَقَرَّ عَيۡنُهَا ﴾

(So We restored him to his mother, that her eye might be comforted,) means, by him,

﴿ وَلَا تَحۡزَنَ ﴾

(and that she might not grieve,) means, for him.

﴿ وَلِتَعۡلَمَ أَنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ ﴾

(and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true.) meaning, `We had promised her to return him to her and to make him one of the Messengers.' When he was returned to her, she realized that he was one of the Messengers, so as she brought him up, she treated him both as a child (with kindness) and as a Messenger (with respect).

﴿ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾

(But most of them know not.) means, they do not know the wisdom of Allah in His actions and their good consequences, for which He is to be praised in this world and the Hereafter. For a thing may happen that people do not like, but its consequences are good, as Allah says:

﴿ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكۡرَهُواْ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَهُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ۬ لَّكُمۡ‌ۗ ﴾

(and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you) (2:216).

﴿ فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكۡرَهُواْ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَيَجۡعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيۡرً۬ا ڪَثِيرً۬ا ﴾

(it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good) (4:19).

﴿ وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۥ وَٱسۡتَوَىٰٓ ءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ حُكۡمً۬ا وَعِلۡمً۬ا‌ۚ وَكَذَٲلِكَ نَجۡزِى ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ • وَدَخَلَ ٱلۡمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفۡلَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيہَا رَجُلَيۡنِ يَقۡتَتِلَانِ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ وَهَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ‌ۖ فَٱسۡتَغَـٰثَهُ ٱلَّذِى مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ عَلَى ٱلَّذِى مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ فَوَكَزَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّضِلٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِى فَٱغۡفِرۡ لِى فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ • قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ فَلَنۡ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرً۬ا لِّلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ﴾

(14. And when he reached maturity, and was complete, We bestowed on him Hukm and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.) (15. And he entered the city when its people were unaware: and he found there two men fighting, -- one of his party, and the other of his foes. The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe, so Musa struck him with his fist and he died. He said: "This is of Shaytan's doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy.'') (16. He said: "My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.'' Then He forgave him. Verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.) (17. He said: "My Lord! For that with which You have favored me, I will nevermore be a helper of the criminals!'')

16

قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِى فَٱغۡفِرۡ لِى فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

He said, “My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me,” and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

قَالَHe said,

رَبِّ"My Lord!

إِنِّىIndeed, I

ظَلَمۡتُ[I] have wronged

نَفۡسِىmy soul,

فَٱغۡفِرۡso forgive

لِى[for] me."

فَغَفَرَThen He forgave

لَهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ[for] him.

إِنَّهُ ۥIndeed He,

هُوَHe (is)

ٱلۡغَفُورُthe Oft-Forgiving,

ٱلرَّحِيمُthe Most Merciful.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The intense Grief of Musa's Mother, and how He was returned to Her

Allah tells us how, when her child was lost in the river, the heart of Musa's mother became empty, i.e., she could not think of any matter in this world except Musa. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu `Ubaydah, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Qatadah and others.

﴿ إِن ڪَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِى بِهِۦ ﴾

(She was very near to disclose his (case),) means, because of the intensity of her grief, she almost told people that she had lost a son. She would have disclosed her situation, if Allah had not given her strength and patience. Allah says:

﴿ لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ • وَقَالَتۡ لِأُخۡتِهِۦ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ ﴾

(had We not strengthened her heart, so that she might remain as one of the believers. And she said to his sister: "Follow him.'') means, she told her daughter, who was older and was of an age to understand things,

﴿ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ ﴾

(Follow him.) means, follow his traces and look for information about him, try to find out about him around the city. So she went out to do that.

﴿ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِهِۦ عَن جُنُبٍ۬ ﴾

(So she watched him from a far place (secretly),) Ibn `Abbas said, "Off to the side.'' Mujahid said, "It means she looked from afar. Qatadah said: "She started to look at him as if she was not really interested.'' When Musa had settled into the house of Fir`awn, after the king's wife had begun to love him and asked Fir`awn not to kill him, they brought to him the wet nurses who were to be found in their household, and he did not accept any of them, refusing to take milk from them. So they took him out to the marketplace, hoping to find a woman who would be suitable to nurse him. When (his sister) saw him in their arms, she recognized him, but she did not give any indication nor did they suspect her. Allah says:

﴿ وَحَرَّمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبۡلُ ﴾

(And We had already forbidden foster suckling mothers for him,) Because of his honored status with Allah, it was forbidden by divine decree. It was decreed that no one should nurse him except his own mother, and Allah caused this to be the means reuniting him with his mother so that she could nurse him and feel safe after having felt such fear. When (his sister) saw that they were confused over who should nurse the child,

﴿ فَقَالَتۡ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِ بَيۡتٍ۬ يَكۡفُلُونَهُ ۥ لَڪُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُ ۥ نَـٰصِحُونَ ﴾

(she said: "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and look after him in a good manner'') Ibn `Abbas said: When she said that, they had some doubts about her, so they seized her and asked her, How do you know these people will be sincere and will care for him'' She said to them, "They will be sincere and will care for him because they want the king to be happy and because they hope for some reward.'' So they let her go. After what she said, being safe from their harm, they took her to their house and brought the baby to his mother. She gave him her breast and he accepted it, so they rejoiced and sent the glad tidings to the wife of Fir`awn. She called for Musa's mother, treating her kindly and rewarding her generously. She did not realize that she was his real mother, but she saw that the baby accepted her breast. Then Asiyah asked her to stay with her and nurse the baby, but she refused, saying, "I have a husband and children, and I cannot stay with you, but if you would like me to nurse him in my own home, I will do that.'' The wife of Fir`awn agreed to that, and paid her a regular salary and gave her extra gifts and clothing and treated her kindly. The mother of Musa came back with her child, happy that after a time of fear Allah granted her security, prestige, and ongoing provision. There was only a short time between the distress and the way out, a day and night, or thereabouts -- and Allah knows best. Glory be to the One in Whose hands are all things; what He wills happens and what He does not will does not happen. He is the One Who grants those who fear Him, a way out from every worry and distress, Allah said:

﴿ فَرَدَدۡنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّهِۦ كَىۡ تَقَرَّ عَيۡنُهَا ﴾

(So We restored him to his mother, that her eye might be comforted,) means, by him,

﴿ وَلَا تَحۡزَنَ ﴾

(and that she might not grieve,) means, for him.

﴿ وَلِتَعۡلَمَ أَنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ ﴾

(and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true.) meaning, `We had promised her to return him to her and to make him one of the Messengers.' When he was returned to her, she realized that he was one of the Messengers, so as she brought him up, she treated him both as a child (with kindness) and as a Messenger (with respect).

﴿ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾

(But most of them know not.) means, they do not know the wisdom of Allah in His actions and their good consequences, for which He is to be praised in this world and the Hereafter. For a thing may happen that people do not like, but its consequences are good, as Allah says:

﴿ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكۡرَهُواْ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَهُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ۬ لَّكُمۡ‌ۗ ﴾

(and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you) (2:216).

﴿ فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكۡرَهُواْ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَيَجۡعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيۡرً۬ا ڪَثِيرً۬ا ﴾

(it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good) (4:19).

﴿ وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۥ وَٱسۡتَوَىٰٓ ءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ حُكۡمً۬ا وَعِلۡمً۬ا‌ۚ وَكَذَٲلِكَ نَجۡزِى ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ • وَدَخَلَ ٱلۡمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفۡلَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيہَا رَجُلَيۡنِ يَقۡتَتِلَانِ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ وَهَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ‌ۖ فَٱسۡتَغَـٰثَهُ ٱلَّذِى مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ عَلَى ٱلَّذِى مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ فَوَكَزَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّضِلٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِى فَٱغۡفِرۡ لِى فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ • قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ فَلَنۡ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرً۬ا لِّلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ﴾

(14. And when he reached maturity, and was complete, We bestowed on him Hukm and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.) (15. And he entered the city when its people were unaware: and he found there two men fighting, -- one of his party, and the other of his foes. The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe, so Musa struck him with his fist and he died. He said: "This is of Shaytan's doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy.'') (16. He said: "My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.'' Then He forgave him. Verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.) (17. He said: "My Lord! For that with which You have favored me, I will nevermore be a helper of the criminals!'')

17

قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ فَلَنۡ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرً۬ا لِّلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ

He said, “My Lord, for the favor You bestowed upon me, I will never be an assistant to the criminals.”

قَالَHe said,

رَبِّ"My Lord!

بِمَآBecause

أَنۡعَمۡتَYou have favored

عَلَىَّ[on] me,

فَلَنۡso not

أَكُونَI will be

ظَهِيرً۬اa supporter

لِّلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ(of) the criminals."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

The intense Grief of Musa's Mother, and how He was returned to Her

Allah tells us how, when her child was lost in the river, the heart of Musa's mother became empty, i.e., she could not think of any matter in this world except Musa. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu `Ubaydah, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Qatadah and others.

﴿ إِن ڪَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِى بِهِۦ ﴾

(She was very near to disclose his (case),) means, because of the intensity of her grief, she almost told people that she had lost a son. She would have disclosed her situation, if Allah had not given her strength and patience. Allah says:

﴿ لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ • وَقَالَتۡ لِأُخۡتِهِۦ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ ﴾

(had We not strengthened her heart, so that she might remain as one of the believers. And she said to his sister: "Follow him.'') means, she told her daughter, who was older and was of an age to understand things,

﴿ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ ﴾

(Follow him.) means, follow his traces and look for information about him, try to find out about him around the city. So she went out to do that.

﴿ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِهِۦ عَن جُنُبٍ۬ ﴾

(So she watched him from a far place (secretly),) Ibn `Abbas said, "Off to the side.'' Mujahid said, "It means she looked from afar. Qatadah said: "She started to look at him as if she was not really interested.'' When Musa had settled into the house of Fir`awn, after the king's wife had begun to love him and asked Fir`awn not to kill him, they brought to him the wet nurses who were to be found in their household, and he did not accept any of them, refusing to take milk from them. So they took him out to the marketplace, hoping to find a woman who would be suitable to nurse him. When (his sister) saw him in their arms, she recognized him, but she did not give any indication nor did they suspect her. Allah says:

﴿ وَحَرَّمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبۡلُ ﴾

(And We had already forbidden foster suckling mothers for him,) Because of his honored status with Allah, it was forbidden by divine decree. It was decreed that no one should nurse him except his own mother, and Allah caused this to be the means reuniting him with his mother so that she could nurse him and feel safe after having felt such fear. When (his sister) saw that they were confused over who should nurse the child,

﴿ فَقَالَتۡ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِ بَيۡتٍ۬ يَكۡفُلُونَهُ ۥ لَڪُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُ ۥ نَـٰصِحُونَ ﴾

(she said: "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and look after him in a good manner'') Ibn `Abbas said: When she said that, they had some doubts about her, so they seized her and asked her, How do you know these people will be sincere and will care for him'' She said to them, "They will be sincere and will care for him because they want the king to be happy and because they hope for some reward.'' So they let her go. After what she said, being safe from their harm, they took her to their house and brought the baby to his mother. She gave him her breast and he accepted it, so they rejoiced and sent the glad tidings to the wife of Fir`awn. She called for Musa's mother, treating her kindly and rewarding her generously. She did not realize that she was his real mother, but she saw that the baby accepted her breast. Then Asiyah asked her to stay with her and nurse the baby, but she refused, saying, "I have a husband and children, and I cannot stay with you, but if you would like me to nurse him in my own home, I will do that.'' The wife of Fir`awn agreed to that, and paid her a regular salary and gave her extra gifts and clothing and treated her kindly. The mother of Musa came back with her child, happy that after a time of fear Allah granted her security, prestige, and ongoing provision. There was only a short time between the distress and the way out, a day and night, or thereabouts -- and Allah knows best. Glory be to the One in Whose hands are all things; what He wills happens and what He does not will does not happen. He is the One Who grants those who fear Him, a way out from every worry and distress, Allah said:

﴿ فَرَدَدۡنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّهِۦ كَىۡ تَقَرَّ عَيۡنُهَا ﴾

(So We restored him to his mother, that her eye might be comforted,) means, by him,

﴿ وَلَا تَحۡزَنَ ﴾

(and that she might not grieve,) means, for him.

﴿ وَلِتَعۡلَمَ أَنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ ﴾

(and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true.) meaning, `We had promised her to return him to her and to make him one of the Messengers.' When he was returned to her, she realized that he was one of the Messengers, so as she brought him up, she treated him both as a child (with kindness) and as a Messenger (with respect).

﴿ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾

(But most of them know not.) means, they do not know the wisdom of Allah in His actions and their good consequences, for which He is to be praised in this world and the Hereafter. For a thing may happen that people do not like, but its consequences are good, as Allah says:

﴿ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكۡرَهُواْ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَهُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ۬ لَّكُمۡ‌ۗ ﴾

(and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you) (2:216).

﴿ فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكۡرَهُواْ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَيَجۡعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيۡرً۬ا ڪَثِيرً۬ا ﴾

(it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good) (4:19).

﴿ وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۥ وَٱسۡتَوَىٰٓ ءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ حُكۡمً۬ا وَعِلۡمً۬ا‌ۚ وَكَذَٲلِكَ نَجۡزِى ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ • وَدَخَلَ ٱلۡمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفۡلَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيہَا رَجُلَيۡنِ يَقۡتَتِلَانِ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ وَهَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ‌ۖ فَٱسۡتَغَـٰثَهُ ٱلَّذِى مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ عَلَى ٱلَّذِى مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ فَوَكَزَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّضِلٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِى فَٱغۡفِرۡ لِى فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ • قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ فَلَنۡ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرً۬ا لِّلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ﴾

(14. And when he reached maturity, and was complete, We bestowed on him Hukm and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.) (15. And he entered the city when its people were unaware: and he found there two men fighting, -- one of his party, and the other of his foes. The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe, so Musa struck him with his fist and he died. He said: "This is of Shaytan's doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy.'') (16. He said: "My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.'' Then He forgave him. Verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.) (17. He said: "My Lord! For that with which You have favored me, I will nevermore be a helper of the criminals!'')

18

فَأَصۡبَحَ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى ٱسۡتَنصَرَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ يَسۡتَصۡرِخُهُ ۥ‌ۚ قَالَ لَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّكَ لَغَوِىٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬

And he became inside the city fearful and anticipating [exposure], when suddenly the one who sought his help the previous day cried out to him [once again]. Moses said to him, “Indeed, you are an evident, [persistent] deviator.”

فَأَصۡبَحَIn the morning he was

فِىin

ٱلۡمَدِينَةِthe city

خَآٮِٕفً۬اfearful

يَتَرَقَّبُ(and) was vigilant,

فَإِذَاwhen behold!

ٱلَّذِىThe one who

ٱسۡتَنصَرَهُ ۥsought his help

بِٱلۡأَمۡسِthe previous day

يَسۡتَصۡرِخُهُ ۥ‌ۚcried out to him for help.

قَالَSaid

لَهُ ۥto him

مُوسَىٰٓMusa,

إِنَّكَ"Indeed, you

لَغَوِىٌّ۬(are) surely a deviator

مُّبِينٌ۬clear."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

How Musa killed a Coptic Man

Having described Musa's beginnings, Allah then tells us that when he reached maturity, and was complete in stature, Allah gave him Hukm and religious knowledge. Mujahid said that this means prophethood.

﴿ وَكَذَٲلِكَ نَجۡزِى ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ﴾

(And thus do We reward the doers of good.) Then Allah describes how Musa reached the status that was decreed for him, that of Prophethood and speaking to Allah, as a direct consequence of killing the Coptic, which was the reason why he left Egypt and went to Madyan. Allah says:

﴿ وَدَخَلَ ٱلۡمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفۡلَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَا ﴾

(And he entered the city when its people were unaware.) Ibn Jurayj narrated from `Ata' Al-Khurasani, from Ibn `Abbas, "That was between Maghrib and `Isha'.'' Ibn Al-Munkadir narrated from `Ata' bin Yasar from Ibn `Abbas, "That was in the middle of the day.'' This was also the view of Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ikrimah, As-Suddi and Qatadah.

﴿ فَوَجَدَ فِيہَا رَجُلَيۡنِ يَقۡتَتِلَانِ ﴾

(and he found there two men fighting,) meaning, hitting one another and struggling with one another.

﴿ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ ﴾

(one of his party, ) meaning, an Israelite,

﴿ وَهَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ‌ۖ ﴾

(and the other of his foes.) meaning, a Coptic. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Muhammad bin Ishaq. The Israelite man asked Musa, (peace be upon him) for help, and Musa took advantage of the fact that people were not paying attention, so he went to the Coptic man and

﴿ فَوَكَزَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖ ﴾

(so Musa struck him with his fist and he died.) Mujahid said, "This means he punched him with his fist.'' And then he died.

﴿ قَالَ ﴾

(He said) refers to Musa.

﴿ وَدَخَلَ ٱلۡمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفۡلَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيہَا رَجُلَيۡنِ يَقۡتَتِلَانِ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ وَهَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ‌ۖ فَٱسۡتَغَـٰثَهُ ٱلَّذِى مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ عَلَى ٱلَّذِى مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ فَوَكَزَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّضِلٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِى فَٱغۡفِرۡ لِى فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ • قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ ﴾

("This is of Shaytan's doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy.'' He said: "My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.'' Then He forgave him. Verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. He said: "My Lord! For that with which You have favored me,) meaning, `what You have given me of prestige, power and blessings -- '

﴿ فَلَنۡ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرً۬ا ﴾

(I will nevermore be a helper of the criminals!) `those who disbelieve in You and go against Your commands.'

﴿ فَأَصۡبَحَ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى ٱسۡتَنصَرَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ يَسۡتَصۡرِخُهُ ۥ‌ۚ قَالَ لَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّكَ لَغَوِىٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ • فَلَمَّآ أَنۡ أَرَادَ أَن يَبۡطِشَ بِٱلَّذِى هُوَ عَدُوٌّ۬ لَّهُمَا قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقۡتُلَنِى كَمَا قَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسَۢا بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ‌ۖ إِن تُرِيدُ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ جَبَّارً۬ا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا تُرِيدُ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُصۡلِحِينَ ﴾

(18. So he became afraid, looking about in the city, when behold, the man who had sought his help the day before, called for his help (again). Musa said to him: "Verily, you are a plain misleader!'') (19. Then when he decided to seize the man who was an enemy to both of them, the man said: "O Musa! Is it your intention to kill me as you killed a man yesterday Your aim is nothing but to become a tyrant in the land, and not to be one of those who do right.'')

19

فَلَمَّآ أَنۡ أَرَادَ أَن يَبۡطِشَ بِٱلَّذِى هُوَ عَدُوٌّ۬ لَّهُمَا قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقۡتُلَنِى كَمَا قَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسَۢا بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ‌ۖ إِن تُرِيدُ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ جَبَّارً۬ا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا تُرِيدُ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُصۡلِحِينَ

And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he said, “O Moses, do you intend to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the amenders.”

فَلَمَّآThen when

أَنۡ[that]

أَرَادَhe wanted

أَنto

يَبۡطِشَstrike

بِٱلَّذِىthe one who

هُوَ[he] (was)

عَدُوٌّ۬an enemy

لَّهُمَاto both of them,

قَالَhe said,

يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ"O Musa!

أَتُرِيدُDo you intend

أَنto

تَقۡتُلَنِىkill me

كَمَاas

قَتَلۡتَyou killed

نَفۡسَۢاa person

بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ‌ۖyesterday?

إِنNot

تُرِيدُyou want

إِلَّآbut

أَنthat

تَكُونَyou become

جَبَّارً۬اa tyrant

فِىin

ٱلۡأَرۡضِthe earth,

وَمَاand not

تُرِيدُyou want

أَنthat

تَكُونَyou be

مِنَof

ٱلۡمُصۡلِحِينَthe reformers."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

How Musa killed a Coptic Man

Having described Musa's beginnings, Allah then tells us that when he reached maturity, and was complete in stature, Allah gave him Hukm and religious knowledge. Mujahid said that this means prophethood.

﴿ وَكَذَٲلِكَ نَجۡزِى ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ﴾

(And thus do We reward the doers of good.) Then Allah describes how Musa reached the status that was decreed for him, that of Prophethood and speaking to Allah, as a direct consequence of killing the Coptic, which was the reason why he left Egypt and went to Madyan. Allah says:

﴿ وَدَخَلَ ٱلۡمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفۡلَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَا ﴾

(And he entered the city when its people were unaware.) Ibn Jurayj narrated from `Ata' Al-Khurasani, from Ibn `Abbas, "That was between Maghrib and `Isha'.'' Ibn Al-Munkadir narrated from `Ata' bin Yasar from Ibn `Abbas, "That was in the middle of the day.'' This was also the view of Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ikrimah, As-Suddi and Qatadah.

﴿ فَوَجَدَ فِيہَا رَجُلَيۡنِ يَقۡتَتِلَانِ ﴾

(and he found there two men fighting,) meaning, hitting one another and struggling with one another.

﴿ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ ﴾

(one of his party, ) meaning, an Israelite,

﴿ وَهَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ‌ۖ ﴾

(and the other of his foes.) meaning, a Coptic. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Muhammad bin Ishaq. The Israelite man asked Musa, (peace be upon him) for help, and Musa took advantage of the fact that people were not paying attention, so he went to the Coptic man and

﴿ فَوَكَزَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖ ﴾

(so Musa struck him with his fist and he died.) Mujahid said, "This means he punched him with his fist.'' And then he died.

﴿ قَالَ ﴾

(He said) refers to Musa.

﴿ وَدَخَلَ ٱلۡمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفۡلَةٍ۬ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيہَا رَجُلَيۡنِ يَقۡتَتِلَانِ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ وَهَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ‌ۖ فَٱسۡتَغَـٰثَهُ ٱلَّذِى مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ عَلَى ٱلَّذِى مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ فَوَكَزَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّضِلٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِى فَٱغۡفِرۡ لِى فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ • قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ ﴾

("This is of Shaytan's doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy.'' He said: "My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.'' Then He forgave him. Verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. He said: "My Lord! For that with which You have favored me,) meaning, `what You have given me of prestige, power and blessings -- '

﴿ فَلَنۡ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرً۬ا ﴾

(I will nevermore be a helper of the criminals!) `those who disbelieve in You and go against Your commands.'

﴿ فَأَصۡبَحَ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى ٱسۡتَنصَرَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ يَسۡتَصۡرِخُهُ ۥ‌ۚ قَالَ لَهُ ۥ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّكَ لَغَوِىٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ • فَلَمَّآ أَنۡ أَرَادَ أَن يَبۡطِشَ بِٱلَّذِى هُوَ عَدُوٌّ۬ لَّهُمَا قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقۡتُلَنِى كَمَا قَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسَۢا بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ‌ۖ إِن تُرِيدُ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ جَبَّارً۬ا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا تُرِيدُ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُصۡلِحِينَ ﴾

(18. So he became afraid, looking about in the city, when behold, the man who had sought his help the day before, called for his help (again). Musa said to him: "Verily, you are a plain misleader!'') (19. Then when he decided to seize the man who was an enemy to both of them, the man said: "O Musa! Is it your intention to kill me as you killed a man yesterday Your aim is nothing but to become a tyrant in the land, and not to be one of those who do right.'')

20

وَجَآءَ رَجُلٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَقۡصَا ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ يَسۡعَىٰ قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱلۡمَلَأَ يَأۡتَمِرُونَ بِكَ لِيَقۡتُلُوكَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ إِنِّى لَكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ

And a man came from the farthest end of the city, running. He said, “O Moses, indeed the eminent ones are conferring over you [intending] to kill you, so leave [the city]; indeed, I am to you of the sincere advisors.”

وَجَآءَAnd came

رَجُلٌ۬a man

مِّنۡfrom

أَقۡصَا(the) farthest end

ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ(of) the city

يَسۡعَىٰrunning.

قَالَHe said,

يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ"O Musa!

إِنَّIndeed,

ٱلۡمَلَأَthe chiefs

يَأۡتَمِرُونَare taking counsel

بِكَabout you

لِيَقۡتُلُوكَto kill you,

فَٱخۡرُجۡso leave;

إِنِّىindeed, I am

لَكَto you

مِنَof

ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَthe sincere advisors."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

How the Secret of this Killing became known

Allah tells us that when Musa killed that Coptic,

﴿ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ خَآٮِٕفً۬ا ﴾

(he became afraid in the city) meaning, of the consequences of his action,

﴿ يَتَرَقَّبُ ﴾

(looking about) means, turning around and watching out, waiting for the consequences of his action to befall him. He went out and about, and saw the man who sought his help the day before, fighting with another Coptic. When Musa passed by him, he called for his help again, against this other Coptic. Musa said to him:

﴿ إِنَّكَ لَغَوِىٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ ﴾

(Verily, you are a plain misleader!) meaning, `you obviously lead people astray and are very evil.' Then Musa intended to attack that Coptic, but the Israelite -- because of his own cowardice and weakness -- thought that Musa wanted to hit him because of what he had said, so he said, in self-defence --

﴿ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقۡتُلَنِى كَمَا قَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسَۢا بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ‌ۖ ﴾

(O Musa! Is it your intention to kill me as you killed a man yesterday) Nobody except him and Musa, (peace be upon him) knew about it, but when the other Coptic heard this, he took the news to Fir`awn's gate and told him about it. So Fir`awn came to know of it, and he became very angry and resolved to kill Musa, so he sent people after him to bring him to him.

﴿ وَجَآءَ رَجُلٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَقۡصَا ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ يَسۡعَىٰ قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱلۡمَلَأَ يَأۡتَمِرُونَ بِكَ لِيَقۡتُلُوكَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ إِنِّى لَكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ ﴾

(20. And there came a man running, from the farthest end of the city. He said: "O Musa! Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you, to kill you, so escape. Truly, I am one of the good advisers to you.'')

﴿ وَجَآءَ رَجُلٌ۬ ﴾

(And there came a man) He is described as being a man because he had the courage to take a different route, a shorter route than those who were sent after Musa, so he reached Musa first and said to him: "O Musa,

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلۡمَلَأَ يَأۡتَمِرُونَ بِكَ ﴾

(Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you.),'' meaning, `they are consulting with one another about you.'

﴿ لِيَقۡتُلُوكَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ ﴾

(to kill you, so escape.) means, from this land.

﴿ إِنِّى لَكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ ﴾

(Truly, I am one of the good advisers to you.)

﴿ فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ‌ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ • وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيۡهِ أُمَّةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسۡقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمۡرَأَتَيۡنِ تَذُودَانِ‌ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُمَا‌ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصۡدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ‌ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيۡخٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬ • فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(21. So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear. He said: "My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrongdoers!'') (22. And when he went towards Madyan, he said: "It may be that my Lord guides me to the right way.'') (23. And when he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found there a group of men watering, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you'' They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take (their flocks). And our father is a very old man.'') (24. So he watered (their flocks) for them, then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'')

21

فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ‌ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

So he left it, fearful and anticipating [apprehension]. He said, “My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.”

فَخَرَجَSo he left

مِنۡہَاfrom it

خَآٮِٕفً۬اfearing,

يَتَرَقَّبُ‌ۖ(and) vigilant.

قَالَHe said,

رَبِّ"My Lord!

نَجِّنِىSave me

مِنَfrom

ٱلۡقَوۡمِthe people -

ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَthe wrongdoers."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

How the Secret of this Killing became known

Allah tells us that when Musa killed that Coptic,

﴿ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ خَآٮِٕفً۬ا ﴾

(he became afraid in the city) meaning, of the consequences of his action,

﴿ يَتَرَقَّبُ ﴾

(looking about) means, turning around and watching out, waiting for the consequences of his action to befall him. He went out and about, and saw the man who sought his help the day before, fighting with another Coptic. When Musa passed by him, he called for his help again, against this other Coptic. Musa said to him:

﴿ إِنَّكَ لَغَوِىٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ ﴾

(Verily, you are a plain misleader!) meaning, `you obviously lead people astray and are very evil.' Then Musa intended to attack that Coptic, but the Israelite -- because of his own cowardice and weakness -- thought that Musa wanted to hit him because of what he had said, so he said, in self-defence --

﴿ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقۡتُلَنِى كَمَا قَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسَۢا بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ‌ۖ ﴾

(O Musa! Is it your intention to kill me as you killed a man yesterday) Nobody except him and Musa, (peace be upon him) knew about it, but when the other Coptic heard this, he took the news to Fir`awn's gate and told him about it. So Fir`awn came to know of it, and he became very angry and resolved to kill Musa, so he sent people after him to bring him to him.

﴿ وَجَآءَ رَجُلٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَقۡصَا ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ يَسۡعَىٰ قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱلۡمَلَأَ يَأۡتَمِرُونَ بِكَ لِيَقۡتُلُوكَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ إِنِّى لَكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ ﴾

(20. And there came a man running, from the farthest end of the city. He said: "O Musa! Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you, to kill you, so escape. Truly, I am one of the good advisers to you.'')

﴿ وَجَآءَ رَجُلٌ۬ ﴾

(And there came a man) He is described as being a man because he had the courage to take a different route, a shorter route than those who were sent after Musa, so he reached Musa first and said to him: "O Musa,

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلۡمَلَأَ يَأۡتَمِرُونَ بِكَ ﴾

(Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you.),'' meaning, `they are consulting with one another about you.'

﴿ لِيَقۡتُلُوكَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ ﴾

(to kill you, so escape.) means, from this land.

﴿ إِنِّى لَكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ ﴾

(Truly, I am one of the good advisers to you.)

﴿ فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ‌ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ • وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيۡهِ أُمَّةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسۡقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمۡرَأَتَيۡنِ تَذُودَانِ‌ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُمَا‌ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصۡدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ‌ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيۡخٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬ • فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(21. So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear. He said: "My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrongdoers!'') (22. And when he went towards Madyan, he said: "It may be that my Lord guides me to the right way.'') (23. And when he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found there a group of men watering, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you'' They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take (their flocks). And our father is a very old man.'') (24. So he watered (their flocks) for them, then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'')

22

وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ

And when he directed himself toward Madyan, he said, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the sound way.”

وَلَمَّاAnd when

تَوَجَّهَhe turned his face

تِلۡقَآءَtowards

مَدۡيَنَMadyan,

قَالَhe said,

عَسَىٰ"Perhaps

رَبِّىٓmy Lord

أَن[that]

يَهۡدِيَنِىwill guide me

سَوَآءَ(to the) sound

ٱلسَّبِيلِway."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

How the Secret of this Killing became known

Allah tells us that when Musa killed that Coptic,

﴿ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ خَآٮِٕفً۬ا ﴾

(he became afraid in the city) meaning, of the consequences of his action,

﴿ يَتَرَقَّبُ ﴾

(looking about) means, turning around and watching out, waiting for the consequences of his action to befall him. He went out and about, and saw the man who sought his help the day before, fighting with another Coptic. When Musa passed by him, he called for his help again, against this other Coptic. Musa said to him:

﴿ إِنَّكَ لَغَوِىٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ ﴾

(Verily, you are a plain misleader!) meaning, `you obviously lead people astray and are very evil.' Then Musa intended to attack that Coptic, but the Israelite -- because of his own cowardice and weakness -- thought that Musa wanted to hit him because of what he had said, so he said, in self-defence --

﴿ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقۡتُلَنِى كَمَا قَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسَۢا بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ‌ۖ ﴾

(O Musa! Is it your intention to kill me as you killed a man yesterday) Nobody except him and Musa, (peace be upon him) knew about it, but when the other Coptic heard this, he took the news to Fir`awn's gate and told him about it. So Fir`awn came to know of it, and he became very angry and resolved to kill Musa, so he sent people after him to bring him to him.

﴿ وَجَآءَ رَجُلٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَقۡصَا ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ يَسۡعَىٰ قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱلۡمَلَأَ يَأۡتَمِرُونَ بِكَ لِيَقۡتُلُوكَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ إِنِّى لَكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ ﴾

(20. And there came a man running, from the farthest end of the city. He said: "O Musa! Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you, to kill you, so escape. Truly, I am one of the good advisers to you.'')

﴿ وَجَآءَ رَجُلٌ۬ ﴾

(And there came a man) He is described as being a man because he had the courage to take a different route, a shorter route than those who were sent after Musa, so he reached Musa first and said to him: "O Musa,

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلۡمَلَأَ يَأۡتَمِرُونَ بِكَ ﴾

(Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you.),'' meaning, `they are consulting with one another about you.'

﴿ لِيَقۡتُلُوكَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ ﴾

(to kill you, so escape.) means, from this land.

﴿ إِنِّى لَكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ ﴾

(Truly, I am one of the good advisers to you.)

﴿ فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ‌ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ • وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيۡهِ أُمَّةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسۡقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمۡرَأَتَيۡنِ تَذُودَانِ‌ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُمَا‌ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصۡدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ‌ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيۡخٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬ • فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(21. So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear. He said: "My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrongdoers!'') (22. And when he went towards Madyan, he said: "It may be that my Lord guides me to the right way.'') (23. And when he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found there a group of men watering, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you'' They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take (their flocks). And our father is a very old man.'') (24. So he watered (their flocks) for them, then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'')

23

وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيۡهِ أُمَّةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسۡقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمۡرَأَتَيۡنِ تَذُودَانِ‌ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُمَا‌ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصۡدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ‌ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيۡخٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬

And when he came to the well of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and he found aside from them two women driving back [their flocks]. He said, “What is your circumstance?” They said, “We do not water until the shepherds dispatch [their flocks]; and our father is an old man.”

وَلَمَّاAnd when

وَرَدَhe came

مَآءَ(to the) water

مَدۡيَنَ(of) Madyan,

وَجَدَhe found

عَلَيۡهِon it

أُمَّةً۬a group

مِّنَof

ٱلنَّاسِmen

يَسۡقُونَwatering,

وَوَجَدَand he found

مِن دُونِهِمُbesides them

ٱمۡرَأَتَيۡنِtwo women

تَذُودَانِ‌ۖkeeping back.

قَالَHe said,

مَا"What

خَطۡبُكُمَا‌ۖ(is the) matter with both of you?"

قَالَتَاThey said,

لَا نَسۡقِى"We cannot water

حَتَّىٰuntil

يُصۡدِرَtake away

ٱلرِّعَآءُ‌ۖthe shepherds;

وَأَبُونَاand our father

شَيۡخٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬(is) a very old man."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

How the Secret of this Killing became known

Allah tells us that when Musa killed that Coptic,

﴿ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ خَآٮِٕفً۬ا ﴾

(he became afraid in the city) meaning, of the consequences of his action,

﴿ يَتَرَقَّبُ ﴾

(looking about) means, turning around and watching out, waiting for the consequences of his action to befall him. He went out and about, and saw the man who sought his help the day before, fighting with another Coptic. When Musa passed by him, he called for his help again, against this other Coptic. Musa said to him:

﴿ إِنَّكَ لَغَوِىٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ ﴾

(Verily, you are a plain misleader!) meaning, `you obviously lead people astray and are very evil.' Then Musa intended to attack that Coptic, but the Israelite -- because of his own cowardice and weakness -- thought that Musa wanted to hit him because of what he had said, so he said, in self-defence --

﴿ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقۡتُلَنِى كَمَا قَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسَۢا بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ‌ۖ ﴾

(O Musa! Is it your intention to kill me as you killed a man yesterday) Nobody except him and Musa, (peace be upon him) knew about it, but when the other Coptic heard this, he took the news to Fir`awn's gate and told him about it. So Fir`awn came to know of it, and he became very angry and resolved to kill Musa, so he sent people after him to bring him to him.

﴿ وَجَآءَ رَجُلٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَقۡصَا ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ يَسۡعَىٰ قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱلۡمَلَأَ يَأۡتَمِرُونَ بِكَ لِيَقۡتُلُوكَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ إِنِّى لَكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ ﴾

(20. And there came a man running, from the farthest end of the city. He said: "O Musa! Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you, to kill you, so escape. Truly, I am one of the good advisers to you.'')

﴿ وَجَآءَ رَجُلٌ۬ ﴾

(And there came a man) He is described as being a man because he had the courage to take a different route, a shorter route than those who were sent after Musa, so he reached Musa first and said to him: "O Musa,

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلۡمَلَأَ يَأۡتَمِرُونَ بِكَ ﴾

(Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you.),'' meaning, `they are consulting with one another about you.'

﴿ لِيَقۡتُلُوكَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ ﴾

(to kill you, so escape.) means, from this land.

﴿ إِنِّى لَكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ ﴾

(Truly, I am one of the good advisers to you.)

﴿ فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ‌ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ • وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيۡهِ أُمَّةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسۡقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمۡرَأَتَيۡنِ تَذُودَانِ‌ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُمَا‌ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصۡدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ‌ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيۡخٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬ • فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(21. So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear. He said: "My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrongdoers!'') (22. And when he went towards Madyan, he said: "It may be that my Lord guides me to the right way.'') (23. And when he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found there a group of men watering, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you'' They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take (their flocks). And our father is a very old man.'') (24. So he watered (their flocks) for them, then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'')

24

فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬

So he watered [their flocks] for them; then he went back to the shade and said, “My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.”

فَسَقَىٰSo he watered

لَهُمَاfor them.

ثُمَّThen

تَوَلَّىٰٓhe turned back

إِلَىto

ٱلظِّلِّthe shade

فَقَالَand said,

رَبِّ"My Lord!

إِنِّىIndeed, I am

لِمَآof whatever

أَنزَلۡتَYou send

إِلَىَّto me

مِنۡof

خَيۡرٍ۬good

فَقِيرٌ۬(in) need."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

How the Secret of this Killing became known

Allah tells us that when Musa killed that Coptic,

﴿ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ خَآٮِٕفً۬ا ﴾

(he became afraid in the city) meaning, of the consequences of his action,

﴿ يَتَرَقَّبُ ﴾

(looking about) means, turning around and watching out, waiting for the consequences of his action to befall him. He went out and about, and saw the man who sought his help the day before, fighting with another Coptic. When Musa passed by him, he called for his help again, against this other Coptic. Musa said to him:

﴿ إِنَّكَ لَغَوِىٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ ﴾

(Verily, you are a plain misleader!) meaning, `you obviously lead people astray and are very evil.' Then Musa intended to attack that Coptic, but the Israelite -- because of his own cowardice and weakness -- thought that Musa wanted to hit him because of what he had said, so he said, in self-defence --

﴿ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقۡتُلَنِى كَمَا قَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسَۢا بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ‌ۖ ﴾

(O Musa! Is it your intention to kill me as you killed a man yesterday) Nobody except him and Musa, (peace be upon him) knew about it, but when the other Coptic heard this, he took the news to Fir`awn's gate and told him about it. So Fir`awn came to know of it, and he became very angry and resolved to kill Musa, so he sent people after him to bring him to him.

﴿ وَجَآءَ رَجُلٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَقۡصَا ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ يَسۡعَىٰ قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱلۡمَلَأَ يَأۡتَمِرُونَ بِكَ لِيَقۡتُلُوكَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ إِنِّى لَكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ ﴾

(20. And there came a man running, from the farthest end of the city. He said: "O Musa! Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you, to kill you, so escape. Truly, I am one of the good advisers to you.'')

﴿ وَجَآءَ رَجُلٌ۬ ﴾

(And there came a man) He is described as being a man because he had the courage to take a different route, a shorter route than those who were sent after Musa, so he reached Musa first and said to him: "O Musa,

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلۡمَلَأَ يَأۡتَمِرُونَ بِكَ ﴾

(Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you.),'' meaning, `they are consulting with one another about you.'

﴿ لِيَقۡتُلُوكَ فَٱخۡرُجۡ ﴾

(to kill you, so escape.) means, from this land.

﴿ إِنِّى لَكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ ﴾

(Truly, I am one of the good advisers to you.)

﴿ فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ‌ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ • وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيۡهِ أُمَّةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسۡقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمۡرَأَتَيۡنِ تَذُودَانِ‌ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُمَا‌ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصۡدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ‌ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيۡخٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬ • فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(21. So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear. He said: "My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrongdoers!'') (22. And when he went towards Madyan, he said: "It may be that my Lord guides me to the right way.'') (23. And when he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found there a group of men watering, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you'' They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take (their flocks). And our father is a very old man.'') (24. So he watered (their flocks) for them, then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'')

25

فَجَآءَتۡهُ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا تَمۡشِى عَلَى ٱسۡتِحۡيَآءٍ۬ قَالَتۡ إِنَّ أَبِى يَدۡعُوكَ لِيَجۡزِيَكَ أَجۡرَ مَا سَقَيۡتَ لَنَا‌ۚ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ۥ وَقَصَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفۡ‌ۖ نَجَوۡتَ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

Then one of the two women came to him walking with shyness. She said, “Indeed, my father invites you that he may reward you for having watered for us.” So when he came to him and related to him the story, he said, “Fear not. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people.”

فَجَآءَتۡهُThen came to him

إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَاone of the two women

تَمۡشِىwalking

عَلَىwith

ٱسۡتِحۡيَآءٍ۬shyness.

قَالَتۡShe said,

إِنَّ"Indeed,

أَبِىmy father

يَدۡعُوكَcalls you,

لِيَجۡزِيَكَthat he may reward you

أَجۡرَ(the) reward

مَا(for) what

سَقَيۡتَyou watered

لَنَا‌ۚfor us."

فَلَمَّاSo when

جَآءَهُ ۥhe came to him

وَقَصَّand narrated

عَلَيۡهِto him

ٱلۡقَصَصَthe story,

قَالَhe said,

لَا"(Do) not

تَخَفۡ‌ۖfear.

نَجَوۡتَYou have escaped

مِنَfrom

ٱلۡقَوۡمِthe people -

ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَthe wrongdoers."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Musa (peace be upon him) in Madyan, and how He watered the Flocks of the Two Women

When the man told Musa about how Fir`awn and his chiefs were conspiring against him, he left Egypt on his own. He was not used to being alone, because before that he had been living a life of luxury and ease, in a position of leadership.

﴿ فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ‌ۖ ﴾

(So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear.) meaning, turning around and watching.

﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴾

(My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrongdoers!) means, from Fir`awn and his chiefs. It was mentioned that Allah sent to him an angel riding a horse, who showed him the way. And Allah knows best.

﴿ وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ ﴾

(And when he went towards (the land of) Madyan,) means, he took a smooth and easy route -- and he rejoiced because of that.

﴿ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ﴾

(he said: "It may be that my Lord guides me to the right way.'') meaning, the most straight route. And Allah did indeed do that, for He guided him to the straight path in this world and the Hereafter, and caused him to be guided and to guide others.

﴿ وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ ﴾

(And when he arrived at the water (a well) of Madyan,) means, when he reached Madyan and went to drink from its water, for it had a well where shepherds used to water their flocks,

﴿ وَجَدَ عَلَيۡهِ أُمَّةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسۡقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمۡرَأَتَيۡنِ تَذُودَانِ‌ۖ ﴾

(he found there a group of men watering, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back.) means, they were stopping their sheep from drinking with the sheep of those shepherds, lest some harm come to them. When Musa, (peace be upon him) saw them, he felt sorry for them and took pity on them.

﴿ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُمَا‌ۖ ﴾

(He said: "What is the matter with you'') meaning, `why do you not water your flocks with these people'

﴿ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصۡدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ‌ۖ ﴾

(They said: "We cannot water until the shepherds take...'') meaning, `we cannot water our flocks until they finish.'

﴿ وَأَبُونَا شَيۡخٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(And our father is a very old man.) means, `this is what has driven us to what you see.'

﴿ فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ﴾

(So he watered (their flocks) for them, )

﴿ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'')

﴿ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ ﴾

(to shade,) Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and As-Suddi said: "He sat beneath a tree.'' `Ata' bin As-Sa'ib said: "When Musa said:

﴿ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

("My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'') the women heard him.''

﴿ فَجَآءَتۡهُ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا تَمۡشِى عَلَى ٱسۡتِحۡيَآءٍ۬ قَالَتۡ إِنَّ أَبِى يَدۡعُوكَ لِيَجۡزِيَكَ أَجۡرَ مَا سَقَيۡتَ لَنَا‌ۚ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ۥ وَقَصَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفۡ‌ۖ نَجَوۡتَ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • قَالَتۡ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجِرۡهُ‌ۖ إِنَّ خَيۡرَ مَنِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجَرۡتَ ٱلۡقَوِىُّ ٱلۡأَمِينُ • قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أُنكِحَكَ إِحۡدَى ٱبۡنَتَىَّ هَـٰتَيۡنِ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَأۡجُرَنِى ثَمَـٰنِىَ حِجَجٍ۬‌ۖ فَإِنۡ أَتۡمَمۡتَ عَشۡرً۬ا فَمِنۡ عِندِكَ‌ۖ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أَشُقَّ عَلَيۡكَ‌ۚ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ • قَالَ ذَٲلِكَ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَكَ‌ۖ أَيَّمَا ٱلۡأَجَلَيۡنِ قَضَيۡتُ فَلَا عُدۡوَٲنَ عَلَىَّ‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَڪِيلٌ۬ ﴾

(25. Then there came to him one of them, walking shyly. She said: "Verily, my father calls you that he may reward you for having watered (our flocks) for us.'' So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said: "Fear you not. You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers.'') (26. And said one of them (the two women): "O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.'') (27. He said: "I intend to wed one of these two daughters of mine to you, on condition that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten years, it will be (a favor) from you. But I intend not to place you under a difficulty. If Allah wills, you will find me one of the righteous.'') (28. He (Musa) said: "That (is settled) between me and you: whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there will be no injustice to me, and Allah is Surety over what we say.'')

26

قَالَتۡ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجِرۡهُ‌ۖ إِنَّ خَيۡرَ مَنِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجَرۡتَ ٱلۡقَوِىُّ ٱلۡأَمِينُ

One of the women said, “O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy.”

قَالَتۡSaid

إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَاone of them,

يَـٰٓأَبَتِ"O my father!

ٱسۡتَـٔۡجِرۡهُ‌ۖHire him.

إِنَّIndeed,

خَيۡرَ(the) best

مَنِwhom

ٱسۡتَـٔۡجَرۡتَyou (can) hire

ٱلۡقَوِىُّ(is) the strong,

ٱلۡأَمِينُthe trustworthy."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Musa (peace be upon him) in Madyan, and how He watered the Flocks of the Two Women

When the man told Musa about how Fir`awn and his chiefs were conspiring against him, he left Egypt on his own. He was not used to being alone, because before that he had been living a life of luxury and ease, in a position of leadership.

﴿ فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ‌ۖ ﴾

(So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear.) meaning, turning around and watching.

﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴾

(My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrongdoers!) means, from Fir`awn and his chiefs. It was mentioned that Allah sent to him an angel riding a horse, who showed him the way. And Allah knows best.

﴿ وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ ﴾

(And when he went towards (the land of) Madyan,) means, he took a smooth and easy route -- and he rejoiced because of that.

﴿ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ﴾

(he said: "It may be that my Lord guides me to the right way.'') meaning, the most straight route. And Allah did indeed do that, for He guided him to the straight path in this world and the Hereafter, and caused him to be guided and to guide others.

﴿ وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ ﴾

(And when he arrived at the water (a well) of Madyan,) means, when he reached Madyan and went to drink from its water, for it had a well where shepherds used to water their flocks,

﴿ وَجَدَ عَلَيۡهِ أُمَّةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسۡقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمۡرَأَتَيۡنِ تَذُودَانِ‌ۖ ﴾

(he found there a group of men watering, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back.) means, they were stopping their sheep from drinking with the sheep of those shepherds, lest some harm come to them. When Musa, (peace be upon him) saw them, he felt sorry for them and took pity on them.

﴿ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُمَا‌ۖ ﴾

(He said: "What is the matter with you'') meaning, `why do you not water your flocks with these people'

﴿ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصۡدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ‌ۖ ﴾

(They said: "We cannot water until the shepherds take...'') meaning, `we cannot water our flocks until they finish.'

﴿ وَأَبُونَا شَيۡخٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(And our father is a very old man.) means, `this is what has driven us to what you see.'

﴿ فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ﴾

(So he watered (their flocks) for them, )

﴿ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'')

﴿ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ ﴾

(to shade,) Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and As-Suddi said: "He sat beneath a tree.'' `Ata' bin As-Sa'ib said: "When Musa said:

﴿ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

("My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'') the women heard him.''

﴿ فَجَآءَتۡهُ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا تَمۡشِى عَلَى ٱسۡتِحۡيَآءٍ۬ قَالَتۡ إِنَّ أَبِى يَدۡعُوكَ لِيَجۡزِيَكَ أَجۡرَ مَا سَقَيۡتَ لَنَا‌ۚ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ۥ وَقَصَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفۡ‌ۖ نَجَوۡتَ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • قَالَتۡ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجِرۡهُ‌ۖ إِنَّ خَيۡرَ مَنِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجَرۡتَ ٱلۡقَوِىُّ ٱلۡأَمِينُ • قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أُنكِحَكَ إِحۡدَى ٱبۡنَتَىَّ هَـٰتَيۡنِ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَأۡجُرَنِى ثَمَـٰنِىَ حِجَجٍ۬‌ۖ فَإِنۡ أَتۡمَمۡتَ عَشۡرً۬ا فَمِنۡ عِندِكَ‌ۖ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أَشُقَّ عَلَيۡكَ‌ۚ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ • قَالَ ذَٲلِكَ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَكَ‌ۖ أَيَّمَا ٱلۡأَجَلَيۡنِ قَضَيۡتُ فَلَا عُدۡوَٲنَ عَلَىَّ‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَڪِيلٌ۬ ﴾

(25. Then there came to him one of them, walking shyly. She said: "Verily, my father calls you that he may reward you for having watered (our flocks) for us.'' So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said: "Fear you not. You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers.'') (26. And said one of them (the two women): "O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.'') (27. He said: "I intend to wed one of these two daughters of mine to you, on condition that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten years, it will be (a favor) from you. But I intend not to place you under a difficulty. If Allah wills, you will find me one of the righteous.'') (28. He (Musa) said: "That (is settled) between me and you: whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there will be no injustice to me, and Allah is Surety over what we say.'')

27

قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أُنكِحَكَ إِحۡدَى ٱبۡنَتَىَّ هَـٰتَيۡنِ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَأۡجُرَنِى ثَمَـٰنِىَ حِجَجٍ۬‌ۖ فَإِنۡ أَتۡمَمۡتَ عَشۡرً۬ا فَمِنۡ عِندِكَ‌ۖ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أَشُقَّ عَلَيۡكَ‌ۚ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

He said, “Indeed, I wish to wed you one of these, my two daughters, on [the condition] that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten, it will be [as a favor] from you. And I do not wish to put you in difficulty. You will find me, if Allah wills, from among the righteous.”

قَالَHe said,

إِنِّىٓ"Indeed, I

أُرِيدُ[I] wish

أَنۡto

أُنكِحَكَmarry you to

إِحۡدَىone

ٱبۡنَتَىَّ(of) my daughters

هَـٰتَيۡنِ(of) these two

عَلَىٰٓon

أَنthat

تَأۡجُرَنِىyou serve me,

ثَمَـٰنِىَ(for) eight

حِجَجٍ۬‌ۖyears;

فَإِنۡbut if

أَتۡمَمۡتَyou complete

عَشۡرً۬اten,

فَمِنۡthen from

عِندِكَ‌ۖyou.

وَمَآAnd not

أُرِيدُI wish

أَنۡto

أَشُقَّmake it difficult

عَلَيۡكَ‌ۚfor you.

سَتَجِدُنِىٓYou will find me,

إِنif

شَآءَ ٱللَّهُAllah wills,

مِنَof

ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَthe righteous."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Musa (peace be upon him) in Madyan, and how He watered the Flocks of the Two Women

When the man told Musa about how Fir`awn and his chiefs were conspiring against him, he left Egypt on his own. He was not used to being alone, because before that he had been living a life of luxury and ease, in a position of leadership.

﴿ فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ‌ۖ ﴾

(So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear.) meaning, turning around and watching.

﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴾

(My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrongdoers!) means, from Fir`awn and his chiefs. It was mentioned that Allah sent to him an angel riding a horse, who showed him the way. And Allah knows best.

﴿ وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ ﴾

(And when he went towards (the land of) Madyan,) means, he took a smooth and easy route -- and he rejoiced because of that.

﴿ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ﴾

(he said: "It may be that my Lord guides me to the right way.'') meaning, the most straight route. And Allah did indeed do that, for He guided him to the straight path in this world and the Hereafter, and caused him to be guided and to guide others.

﴿ وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ ﴾

(And when he arrived at the water (a well) of Madyan,) means, when he reached Madyan and went to drink from its water, for it had a well where shepherds used to water their flocks,

﴿ وَجَدَ عَلَيۡهِ أُمَّةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسۡقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمۡرَأَتَيۡنِ تَذُودَانِ‌ۖ ﴾

(he found there a group of men watering, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back.) means, they were stopping their sheep from drinking with the sheep of those shepherds, lest some harm come to them. When Musa, (peace be upon him) saw them, he felt sorry for them and took pity on them.

﴿ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُمَا‌ۖ ﴾

(He said: "What is the matter with you'') meaning, `why do you not water your flocks with these people'

﴿ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصۡدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ‌ۖ ﴾

(They said: "We cannot water until the shepherds take...'') meaning, `we cannot water our flocks until they finish.'

﴿ وَأَبُونَا شَيۡخٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(And our father is a very old man.) means, `this is what has driven us to what you see.'

﴿ فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ﴾

(So he watered (their flocks) for them, )

﴿ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'')

﴿ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ ﴾

(to shade,) Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and As-Suddi said: "He sat beneath a tree.'' `Ata' bin As-Sa'ib said: "When Musa said:

﴿ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

("My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'') the women heard him.''

﴿ فَجَآءَتۡهُ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا تَمۡشِى عَلَى ٱسۡتِحۡيَآءٍ۬ قَالَتۡ إِنَّ أَبِى يَدۡعُوكَ لِيَجۡزِيَكَ أَجۡرَ مَا سَقَيۡتَ لَنَا‌ۚ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ۥ وَقَصَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفۡ‌ۖ نَجَوۡتَ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • قَالَتۡ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجِرۡهُ‌ۖ إِنَّ خَيۡرَ مَنِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجَرۡتَ ٱلۡقَوِىُّ ٱلۡأَمِينُ • قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أُنكِحَكَ إِحۡدَى ٱبۡنَتَىَّ هَـٰتَيۡنِ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَأۡجُرَنِى ثَمَـٰنِىَ حِجَجٍ۬‌ۖ فَإِنۡ أَتۡمَمۡتَ عَشۡرً۬ا فَمِنۡ عِندِكَ‌ۖ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أَشُقَّ عَلَيۡكَ‌ۚ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ • قَالَ ذَٲلِكَ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَكَ‌ۖ أَيَّمَا ٱلۡأَجَلَيۡنِ قَضَيۡتُ فَلَا عُدۡوَٲنَ عَلَىَّ‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَڪِيلٌ۬ ﴾

(25. Then there came to him one of them, walking shyly. She said: "Verily, my father calls you that he may reward you for having watered (our flocks) for us.'' So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said: "Fear you not. You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers.'') (26. And said one of them (the two women): "O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.'') (27. He said: "I intend to wed one of these two daughters of mine to you, on condition that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten years, it will be (a favor) from you. But I intend not to place you under a difficulty. If Allah wills, you will find me one of the righteous.'') (28. He (Musa) said: "That (is settled) between me and you: whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there will be no injustice to me, and Allah is Surety over what we say.'')

28

قَالَ ذَٲلِكَ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَكَ‌ۖ أَيَّمَا ٱلۡأَجَلَيۡنِ قَضَيۡتُ فَلَا عُدۡوَٲنَ عَلَىَّ‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَڪِيلٌ۬

[Moses] said, “That is [established] between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I complete – there is no injustice to me, and Allah, over what we say, is Witness.”

قَالَHe said,

ذَٲلِكَ"That

بَيۡنِى(is) between me

وَبَيۡنَكَ‌ۖand between you.

أَيَّمَاWhichever

ٱلۡأَجَلَيۡنِ(of) the two terms

قَضَيۡتُI complete

فَلَاthen no

عُدۡوَٲنَinjustice

عَلَىَّ‌ۖto me,

وَٱللَّهُand Allah,

عَلَىٰover

مَاwhat

نَقُولُwe say

وَڪِيلٌ۬(is) a Witness."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Musa (peace be upon him) in Madyan, and how He watered the Flocks of the Two Women

When the man told Musa about how Fir`awn and his chiefs were conspiring against him, he left Egypt on his own. He was not used to being alone, because before that he had been living a life of luxury and ease, in a position of leadership.

﴿ فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآٮِٕفً۬ا يَتَرَقَّبُ‌ۖ ﴾

(So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear.) meaning, turning around and watching.

﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴾

(My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrongdoers!) means, from Fir`awn and his chiefs. It was mentioned that Allah sent to him an angel riding a horse, who showed him the way. And Allah knows best.

﴿ وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ ﴾

(And when he went towards (the land of) Madyan,) means, he took a smooth and easy route -- and he rejoiced because of that.

﴿ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ﴾

(he said: "It may be that my Lord guides me to the right way.'') meaning, the most straight route. And Allah did indeed do that, for He guided him to the straight path in this world and the Hereafter, and caused him to be guided and to guide others.

﴿ وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ ﴾

(And when he arrived at the water (a well) of Madyan,) means, when he reached Madyan and went to drink from its water, for it had a well where shepherds used to water their flocks,

﴿ وَجَدَ عَلَيۡهِ أُمَّةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسۡقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمۡرَأَتَيۡنِ تَذُودَانِ‌ۖ ﴾

(he found there a group of men watering, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back.) means, they were stopping their sheep from drinking with the sheep of those shepherds, lest some harm come to them. When Musa, (peace be upon him) saw them, he felt sorry for them and took pity on them.

﴿ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُمَا‌ۖ ﴾

(He said: "What is the matter with you'') meaning, `why do you not water your flocks with these people'

﴿ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصۡدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ‌ۖ ﴾

(They said: "We cannot water until the shepherds take...'') meaning, `we cannot water our flocks until they finish.'

﴿ وَأَبُونَا شَيۡخٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(And our father is a very old man.) means, `this is what has driven us to what you see.'

﴿ فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ﴾

(So he watered (their flocks) for them, )

﴿ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

(then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'')

﴿ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ ﴾

(to shade,) Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and As-Suddi said: "He sat beneath a tree.'' `Ata' bin As-Sa'ib said: "When Musa said:

﴿ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ ﴾

("My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'') the women heard him.''

﴿ فَجَآءَتۡهُ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا تَمۡشِى عَلَى ٱسۡتِحۡيَآءٍ۬ قَالَتۡ إِنَّ أَبِى يَدۡعُوكَ لِيَجۡزِيَكَ أَجۡرَ مَا سَقَيۡتَ لَنَا‌ۚ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ۥ وَقَصَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفۡ‌ۖ نَجَوۡتَ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • قَالَتۡ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجِرۡهُ‌ۖ إِنَّ خَيۡرَ مَنِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجَرۡتَ ٱلۡقَوِىُّ ٱلۡأَمِينُ • قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أُنكِحَكَ إِحۡدَى ٱبۡنَتَىَّ هَـٰتَيۡنِ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَأۡجُرَنِى ثَمَـٰنِىَ حِجَجٍ۬‌ۖ فَإِنۡ أَتۡمَمۡتَ عَشۡرً۬ا فَمِنۡ عِندِكَ‌ۖ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أَشُقَّ عَلَيۡكَ‌ۚ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ • قَالَ ذَٲلِكَ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَكَ‌ۖ أَيَّمَا ٱلۡأَجَلَيۡنِ قَضَيۡتُ فَلَا عُدۡوَٲنَ عَلَىَّ‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَڪِيلٌ۬ ﴾

(25. Then there came to him one of them, walking shyly. She said: "Verily, my father calls you that he may reward you for having watered (our flocks) for us.'' So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said: "Fear you not. You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers.'') (26. And said one of them (the two women): "O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.'') (27. He said: "I intend to wed one of these two daughters of mine to you, on condition that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten years, it will be (a favor) from you. But I intend not to place you under a difficulty. If Allah wills, you will find me one of the righteous.'') (28. He (Musa) said: "That (is settled) between me and you: whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there will be no injustice to me, and Allah is Surety over what we say.'')

29

فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ مُوسَى ٱلۡأَجَلَ وَسَارَ بِأَهۡلِهِۦۤ ءَانَسَ مِن جَانِبِ ٱلطُّورِ نَارً۬ا قَالَ لِأَهۡلِهِ ٱمۡكُثُوٓاْ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسۡتُ نَارً۬ا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنۡهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوۡ جَذۡوَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَصۡطَلُونَ

And when Moses had completed the term and was traveling with his family, he perceived from the direction of the mount a fire. He said to his family, “Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there [some] information or burning wood from the fire that you may warm yourselves.”

۞ فَلَمَّاThen when

قَضَىٰ مُوسَىMusa fulfilled

ٱلۡأَجَلَthe term

وَسَارَand was traveling

بِأَهۡلِهِۦۤwith his family,

ءَانَسَhe saw

مِنin

جَانِبِ(the) direction

ٱلطُّورِ(of) Mount Tur

نَارً۬اa fire.

قَالَHe said

لِأَهۡلِهِto his family,

ٱمۡكُثُوٓاْ"Stay here;

إِنِّىٓindeed, I

ءَانَسۡتُ[I] perceive

نَارً۬اa fire.

لَّعَلِّىٓPerhaps

ءَاتِيكُمI will bring you

مِّنۡهَاfrom there

بِخَبَرٍsome information

أَوۡor

جَذۡوَةٍ۬a burning wood

مِّنَfrom

ٱلنَّارِthe fire

لَعَلَّكُمۡso that you may

تَصۡطَلُونَwarm yourselves."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Musa, the Father of the Two Women, and His Marriage to One of Them

When the two women came back quickly with the sheep, their father was surprised that they returned so soon. He asked them what had happened, and they told him what Musa, (peace be upon him) had done. So he sent one of them to call him to meet her father. Allah says:

﴿ فَجَآءَتۡهُ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا تَمۡشِى عَلَى ٱسۡتِحۡيَآءٍ۬ ﴾

(Then there came to him one of them, walking shyly.) meaning, she was walking like a free woman, as it was narrated from the Commander of the faithful, `Umar, may Allah be pleased with him: "She was covering herself from them with the folds of her garment.'' Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Amr bin Maymun said, `Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "She came walking shyly, putting her garment over her face. She was not one of those audacious women who come and go as they please.'' This chain of narrators is Sahih.

﴿ قَالَتۡ إِنَّ أَبِى يَدۡعُوكَ لِيَجۡزِيَكَ أَجۡرَ مَا سَقَيۡتَ لَنَا‌ۚ ﴾

(She said: "Verily, my father calls you that he may reward you for having watered (our flocks) for us.'') This is an example of good manners: she did not invite him directly lest he have some suspicious thoughts about her. Rather she said: "My father is inviting you so that he may reward you for watering our sheep,'' i.e., give you some payment for that.

﴿ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ۥ وَقَصَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡقَصَصَ ﴾

(So when he came to him and narrated the story,) means, he told him about his story and why he had to leave his country.

﴿ قَالَ لَا تَخَفۡ‌ۖ نَجَوۡتَ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴾

(he said: "Fear you not. You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers.'') He was saying: `calm down and relax, for you have left their kingdom and they have no authority in our land.' So he said:

﴿ نَجَوۡتَ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴾

(You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers.)

﴿ قَالَتۡ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجِرۡهُ‌ۖ إِنَّ خَيۡرَ مَنِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجَرۡتَ ٱلۡقَوِىُّ ٱلۡأَمِينُ ﴾

(And said one of them: "O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.'') One of the two daughters of the man said this, and it was said that she was the one who had walked behind Musa, peace be upon him. She said to her father:

﴿ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجِرۡهُ‌ۖ ﴾

(O my father! Hire him!) as a shepherd to look after the sheep. `Umar, Ibn `Abbas, Shurayh Al-Qadi, Abu Malik, Qatadah, Muhammad bin Ishaq and others said: "When she said:

﴿ إِنَّ خَيۡرَ مَنِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجَرۡتَ ٱلۡقَوِىُّ ٱلۡأَمِينُ ﴾

(Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.) her father said to her, `What do you know about that' She said to him, `He lifted a rock which could only be lifted by ten men, and when I came back with him, I walked ahead of him, but he said to me, walk behind me, and if I get confused about the route, throw a pebble so that I will know which way to go.''' `Abdullah (Ibn Mas`ud) said, "The people who had the most discernment were three: Abu Bakr's intuition about `Umar; the companion of Yusuf when he said, `Make his stay comfortable'; and the companion of Musa, when she said:

﴿ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجِرۡهُ‌ۖ إِنَّ خَيۡرَ مَنِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجَرۡتَ ٱلۡقَوِىُّ ٱلۡأَمِينُ ﴾

(O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.).''

﴿ إِنِّىٓ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أُنكِحَكَ إِحۡدَى ٱبۡنَتَىَّ هَـٰتَيۡنِ ﴾

(I intend to wed one of these two daughters of mine to you,) means, this old man asked him to take care of his flocks, then he would marry one of his two daughters to him.

﴿ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَأۡجُرَنِى ثَمَـٰنِىَ حِجَجٍ۬‌ۖ فَإِنۡ أَتۡمَمۡتَ عَشۡرً۬ا فَمِنۡ عِندِكَ‌ۖ ﴾

(on condition that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten years, it will be (a favor) from you.) meaning, `on the condition that you tend my flocks for eight years, and if you want to give me two extra years, that is up to you, but if you do not want to, then eight years is enough.'

﴿ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أَشُقَّ عَلَيۡكَ‌ۚ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ﴾

(But I intend not to place you under a difficulty. If Allah wills, you will find me one of the righteous.) means, `I do not want to put pressure on you or cause you any inconvenience or argue with you.' Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ali bin Rabah Al-Lakhmi said, "I heard `Utbah bin An-Nadar As-Sulami, the Companion of the Messenger of Allah narrating that the Messenger of Allah said:

« إِنَّ مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ آجَرَ نَفْسَهُ بِعِفَّةِ فَرْجِهِ وَطُعْمَةِ بَطْنِه »

(Musa, (peace be upon him) hired himself out for the purpose of keeping chaste and to feed himself.) And Allah tells us about Musa, peace be upon him:

﴿ قَالَ ذَٲلِكَ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَكَ‌ۖ أَيَّمَا ٱلۡأَجَلَيۡنِ قَضَيۡتُ فَلَا عُدۡوَٲنَ عَلَىَّ‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَڪِيلٌ۬ ﴾

(He said: "That (is settled) between me and you: whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there will be no injustice to me, and Allah is Surety over what we say.'') Musa said to his father-in-law, "The matter is as you say. You have hired me for eight years, and if I complete ten years, that is my choice, but if I do the lesser amount, I will still have fulfilled the covenant and met the conditions.'' So he said:

﴿ أَيَّمَا ٱلۡأَجَلَيۡنِ قَضَيۡتُ فَلَا عُدۡوَٲنَ عَلَىَّ‌ۖ ﴾

(whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there will be no injustice to me,) meaning, `there will be no blame on me. The complete term is permissible but it is still regarded as something extra.' This is like the Ayah,

﴿ فَمَن تَعَجَّلَ فِى يَوۡمَيۡنِ فَلَآ إِثۡمَ عَلَيۡهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَلَآ إِثۡمَ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۚ ﴾

(But whosoever hastens to leave in two days, there is no sin on him and whosoever stays on, there is no sin on him) (2:203). And the Messenger of Allah said to Hamzah bin `Amr Al-Aslami, may Allah be pleased with him, who used to fast a great deal and who asked him about fasting while traveling:

« إِنْ شِئْتَ فَصُمْ، وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَفْطِر »

(If you wish, then fast, and if you wish, do not fast.) even though it is better to fast, according to the evidence of other reports. And there is evidence which indicates that Musa, (peace be upon him) fulfilled the longer of the two terms. Al-Bukhari recorded that Sa`id bin Jubayr said: "A Jew from the people of Hirah asked me; `Which of the two terms did Musa fulfill' I said, `I do not know until I go to the scholar of the Arabs and ask him.' So I went to Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and asked him. He said: `He fulfilled the longer and better of them, for when a Messenger of Allah said he would do a thing, he did it.''' This is how it was recorded by Al-Bukhari.

﴿ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ مُوسَى ٱلۡأَجَلَ وَسَارَ بِأَهۡلِهِۦۤ ءَانَسَ مِن جَانِبِ ٱلطُّورِ نَارً۬ا قَالَ لِأَهۡلِهِ ٱمۡكُثُوٓاْ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسۡتُ نَارً۬ا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنۡهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوۡ جَذۡوَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَصۡطَلُونَ • فَلَمَّآ أَتَٮٰهَا نُودِىَ مِن شَـٰطِىِٕ ٱلۡوَادِ ٱلۡأَيۡمَنِ فِى ٱلۡبُقۡعَةِ ٱلۡمُبَـٰرَڪَةِ مِنَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ أَن يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ • وَأَنۡ أَلۡقِ عَصَاكَ‌ۖ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهَا تَہۡتَزُّ كَأَنَّہَا جَآنٌّ۬ وَلَّىٰ مُدۡبِرً۬ا وَلَمۡ يُعَقِّبۡ‌ۚ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَقۡبِلۡ وَلَا تَخَفۡ‌ۖ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَمِنِينَ • ٱسۡلُكۡ يَدَكَ فِى جَيۡبِكَ تَخۡرُجۡ بَيۡضَآءَ مِنۡ غَيۡرِ سُوٓءٍ۬ وَٱضۡمُمۡ إِلَيۡكَ جَنَاحَكَ مِنَ ٱلرَّهۡبِ‌ۖ فَذَٲنِكَ بُرۡهَـٰنَانِ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِۦۤ‌ۚ إِنَّهُمۡ ڪَانُواْ قَوۡمً۬ا فَـٰسِقِينَ ﴾

(29. Then, when Musa had fulfilled the term, and was traveling with his family, he saw a fire in the direction of At-Tur. He said to his family: "Wait, I have seen a fire; perhaps I may bring to you from there some information, or a burning firebrand that you may warm yourselves.'') (30. So when he reached it, he was called from the right side of the valley, in the blessed place, from the tree: "O Musa! Verily, I am Allah, the Lord of all that exists!'') (31. "And throw your stick!'' But when he saw it moving as if it were a snake, he turned in flight, and looked not back. (It was said:) "O Musa! Draw near, and fear not. Verily, you are of those who are secure.'') (32. "Put your hand into the opening of your garment, it will come forth white without a disease; and draw your hand close to your side to be free from the fear. These are two proofs from your Lord to Fir`awn and his chiefs. Verily, they are the people who are rebellious.'')

30

فَلَمَّآ أَتَٮٰهَا نُودِىَ مِن شَـٰطِىِٕ ٱلۡوَادِ ٱلۡأَيۡمَنِ فِى ٱلۡبُقۡعَةِ ٱلۡمُبَـٰرَڪَةِ مِنَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ أَن يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ

But when he came to it, he was called from the right side of the valley in a blessed spot – from the tree, “O Moses, indeed I am Allah, Lord of the worlds.”

فَلَمَّآBut when

أَتَٮٰهَاhe came (to) it,

نُودِىَhe was called

مِنfrom

شَـٰطِىِٕ(the) side

ٱلۡوَادِ(of) the valley -

ٱلۡأَيۡمَنِthe right

فِىin

ٱلۡبُقۡعَةِthe place even,

ٱلۡمُبَـٰرَڪَةِblessed,

مِنَfrom

ٱلشَّجَرَةِthe tree

أَنthat,

يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ"O Musa!

إِنِّىٓIndeed,

أَنَاI Am

ٱللَّهُAllah,

رَبُّ(the) Lord

ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ(of) the worlds.