أعوذ باللّٰه من الشيطان الرجيم
بِسْمِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
(Book#1013/5)
[Allah Kudrat, Musa was nursed by his enemy:-
The lies will be surely destroyed:-]
www.motaher21.net
Sura:28
Para:20
Sura: Al-Qasas
Ayat: 1-43
28:1
طٰسٓمّٓ ﴿۱﴾
Ta, Seen, Meem.
The Story of Musa and Fir`awn, and what Allah intended for Their Peoples
Allah says:
طسم
Ta Sin Mim.
We have already discussed the significance of the separate letters.
تِلْكَ ايَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ
28:2
تِلۡکَ اٰیٰتُ الۡکِتٰبِ الۡمُبِیۡنِ ﴿۲﴾
These are the verses of the clear Book.
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
28:3
نَتۡلُوۡا عَلَیۡکَ مِنۡ نَّبَاِ مُوۡسٰی وَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ بِالۡحَقِّ لِقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
We recite to you from the news of Moses and Pharaoh in truth for a people who believe.
نَتْلُوا عَلَيْكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَى وَفِرْعَوْنَ بِالْحَقِّ
We recite to you some of the news of Musa and Fir`awn in truth,
This is like the Ayah,
نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ
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.’
لِقَوْمٍ يُوْمِنُونَ
for a people who believe.
Then Allah says
28:4
اِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ جَعَلَ اَہۡلَہَا شِیَعًا یَّسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآئِفَۃً مِّنۡہُمۡ یُذَبِّحُ اَبۡنَآءَہُمۡ وَ یَسۡتَحۡیٖ نِسَآءَہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ مِنَ الۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿۴﴾
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.
إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَ فِي الاَْرْضِ
Verily, Fir`awn exalted himself in the land,
means, he was an arrogant oppressor and tyrant.
وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا
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.
يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَايِفَةً مِّنْهُمْ
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.
يُذَبِّحُ أَبْنَاءهُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيِي نِسَاءهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
weakening a group among them:killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the mischief-makers.
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 الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الاَْرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَيِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ الْوَارِثِينَ
28:5
وَ نُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ نَّمُنَّ عَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتُضۡعِفُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ نَجۡعَلَہُمۡ اَئِمَّۃً وَّ نَجۡعَلَہُمُ الۡوٰرِثِیۡنَ ۙ﴿۵﴾
And We wanted to confer favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them inheritors
وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِي الاَْرْضِ وَنُرِي فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَحْذَرُونَ
28:6
وَ نُمَکِّنَ لَہُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ نُرِیَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ ہَامٰنَ وَ جُنُوۡدَہُمَا مِنۡہُمۡ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَحۡذَرُوۡنَ ﴿۶﴾
And establish them in the land and show Pharaoh and [his minister] Haman and their soldiers through them that which they had feared.
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, And to establish them in the land, and We let Fir`awn and Haman and their armies receive from them that which they feared.
And Allah did indeed do this to them, as He says:
وَأَوْرَثْنَا الْقَوْمَ الَّذِينَ كَانُواْ يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَارِقَ الَارْضِ وَمَغَارِبَهَا الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ الْحُسْنَى عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَايِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُ وَمَا كَانُواْ يَعْرِشُونَ
And We made the people who were considered weak to inherit the eastern parts of the land and the western parts thereof which We have blessed. And the fair Word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because of their endurance. And We destroyed what Fir`awn and his people produced, and what they erected. (7:137)
And Allah said:
كَذَلِكَ وَأَوْرَثْنَـهَا بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ
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
28:7
وَ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلٰۤی اُمِّ مُوۡسٰۤی اَنۡ اَرۡضِعِیۡہِ ۚ فَاِذَا خِفۡتِ عَلَیۡہِ فَاَلۡقِیۡہِ فِی الۡیَمِّ وَ لَا تَخَافِیۡ وَ لَا تَحۡزَنِیۡ ۚ اِنَّا رَآدُّوۡہُ اِلَیۡکِ وَ جَاعِلُوۡہُ مِنَ الۡمُرۡسَلِیۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
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.”
How Musa’s Mother was inspired and shown what to do
It was mentioned that when Fir`awn killed so many of the males of the Children of Israel, the Copts were scared that the Children of Israel would die out, and they themselves would have to do the heavy labor that the Children of Israel used to do. So they said to Fir`awn, “If this continues, and their old men die and the young men are killed, their women will not be able to do the work that the men are doing, and we will end up having to do it.” So Fir`awn issued orders that the boys should be killed one year, and left alone the following year.
Harun, peace be upon him, was born in a year when the boys were not killed, and Musa was born in a year when the boys were being killed.
Fir`awn had people who were entrusted with this task. There were midwives who would go around and check on the women, and if they noticed that any woman was pregnant, they would write her name down. When the time came for her to give birth, no one was allowed to attend her except for Coptic women. If the woman gave birth to a girl, they would leave her alone and go away, but if she gave birth to a boy, the killers would come in with their sharp knives and kill the child, then they would go away; may Allah curse them.
When the mother of Musa became pregnant with him, she did not show any signs of pregnancy as other women did, and none of the midwives noticed. But when she gave birth to a boy, she became very distressed and did not know what to do with him. She was extremely scared for him, because she loved him very much.
No one ever saw Musa, peace be upon him, but they loved him, and the blessed ones were those who loved him both as a natural feeling and because he was a Prophet.
Allah says:
وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةً مِّنِّى
And I endued you with love from Me. (20:39)
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:
وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى أُمِّ مُوسَى أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَاأ تَخَافِي وَلَاأ تَحْزَنِي إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
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
28:8
فَالۡتَقَطَہٗۤ اٰلُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لِیَکُوۡنَ لَہُمۡ عَدُوًّا وَّ حَزَنًا ؕ اِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ ہَامٰنَ وَ جُنُوۡدَہُمَا کَانُوۡا خٰطِئِیۡنَ ﴿۸﴾
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.
فَالْتَقَطَهُ الُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِيَكُونَ لَهُمْ عَدُوًّا وَحَزَنًا
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 فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا كَانُوا خَاطِيِينَ
Verily, Fir`awn, Haman and their armies were sinners.
28:9
وَ قَالَتِ امۡرَاَتُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قُرَّتُ عَیۡنٍ لِّیۡ وَ لَکَ ؕ لَا تَقۡتُلُوۡہُ ٭ۖ عَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّنۡفَعَنَاۤ اَوۡ نَتَّخِذَہٗ وَلَدًا وَّ ہُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۹﴾
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.
وَقَالَتِ امْرَأَتُ فِرْعَوْنَ قُرَّتُ عَيْنٍ لِّي وَلَكَ
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 defence and tried to endear him to Fir`awn, saying,
قُرَّتُ عَيْنٍ لِّي وَلَكَ
(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.
لَاا تَقْتُلُوهُ
Kill him not,
عَسَى أَن يَنفَعَنَا
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.
أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا
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.
وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
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
28:10
وَ اَصۡبَحَ فُؤَادُ اُمِّ مُوۡسٰی فٰرِغًا ؕ اِنۡ کَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِیۡ بِہٖ لَوۡ لَاۤ اَنۡ رَّبَطۡنَا عَلٰی قَلۡبِہَا لِتَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰﴾
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.
The intense Grief of Musa’s Mother, and how He was returned to Her
Allah tells:
وَأَصْبَحَ فُوَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَى فَارِغًا
And the heart of the mother of Musa became empty.
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 كَادَتْ لَتُبْدِي بِهِ
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:
لَوْلَا أَن رَّبَطْنَا عَلَى قَلْبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ
28:11
وَ قَالَتۡ لِاُخۡتِہٖ قُصِّیۡہِ ۫ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِہٖ عَنۡ جُنُبٍ وَّ ہُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۱﴾
And she said to his sister, “Follow him”; so she watched him from a distance while they perceived not.
وَقَالَتْ لاُِخْتِهِ قُصِّيهِ
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,
قُصِّيهِ
(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.
فَبَصُرَتْ بِهِ عَن جُنُبٍ
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.”
وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
while they perceived not.
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
28:12
وَ حَرَّمۡنَا عَلَیۡہِ الۡمَرَاضِعَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ فَقَالَتۡ ہَلۡ اَدُلُّکُمۡ عَلٰۤی اَہۡلِ بَیۡتٍ یَّکۡفُلُوۡنَہٗ لَکُمۡ وَ ہُمۡ لَہٗ نٰصِحُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲﴾
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?”
وَحَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبْلُ
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,
فَقَالَتْ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَكْفُلُونَهُ لَكُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُ نَاصِحُونَ
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
28:13
فَرَدَدۡنٰہُ اِلٰۤی اُمِّہٖ کَیۡ تَقَرَّ عَیۡنُہَا وَ لَا تَحۡزَنَ وَ لِتَعۡلَمَ اَنَّ وَعۡدَ اللّٰہِ حَقٌّ وَّ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَہُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۱۳﴾
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.
فَرَدَدْنَاهُ إِلَى أُمِّهِ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا
So We restored him to his mother, that her eye might be comforted,
means, by him,
وَلَا تَحْزَنَ
and that she might not grieve, (means, for him).
وَلِتَعْلَمَ أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ
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).
وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
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:
وَعَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ شَيْيًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيْيًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ
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)
فَعَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ شَيْياً وَيَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْراً كَثِيراً
it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good. (4:19)
28:14
وَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ اَشُدَّہٗ وَ اسۡتَوٰۤی اٰتَیۡنٰہُ حُکۡمًا وَّ عِلۡمًا ؕ وَ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
And when he attained his full strength and was [mentally] mature, We bestowed upon him judgement and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.
How Musa killed a Coptic Man
Allah tells:
وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَاسْتَوَى اتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا
And when he reached maturity, and was complete, We bestowed on him Hukm and knowledge.
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.
وَكَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ
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
28:15
وَ دَخَلَ الۡمَدِیۡنَۃَ عَلٰی حِیۡنِ غَفۡلَۃٍ مِّنۡ اَہۡلِہَا فَوَجَدَ فِیۡہَا رَجُلَیۡنِ یَقۡتَتِلٰنِ ٭۫ ہٰذَا مِنۡ شِیۡعَتِہٖ وَ ہٰذَا مِنۡ عَدُوِّہٖ ۚ فَاسۡتَغَاثَہُ الَّذِیۡ مِنۡ شِیۡعَتِہٖ عَلَی الَّذِیۡ مِنۡ عَدُوِّہٖ ۙ فَوَکَزَہٗ مُوۡسٰی فَقَضٰی عَلَیۡہِ ٭۫ قَالَ ہٰذَا مِنۡ عَمَلِ الشَّیۡطٰنِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ عَدُوٌّ مُّضِلٌّ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۱۵﴾
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.”
وَدَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ عَلَى حِينِ غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا
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 فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَنِ
and he found there two men fighting,
meaning, hitting one another and struggling with one another.
هَذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِ
one of his party,
meaning, an Israelite,
وَهَذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ
and the other of his foes.
meaning, a Coptic.
This was the view of Ibn Abbas, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Muhammad bin Ishaq.
فَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الَّذِي مِن شِيعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ
The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe,
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 مُوسَى فَقَضَى عَلَيْهِ
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).
هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ مُّضِلٌّ مُّبِينٌ
“This is of Shaytan’s doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy.
28:16
قَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِیۡ فَاغۡفِرۡ لِیۡ فَغَفَرَ لَہٗ ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ الۡغَفُوۡرُ الرَّحِیۡمُ ﴿۱۶﴾
He said, “My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me,” and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
قَالَ
He said, (refers to Musa).
رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي
“My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.”
فَغَفَرَ لَهُ
Then He forgave him.
إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful
28:17
قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَاۤ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَیَّ فَلَنۡ اَکُوۡنَ ظَہِیۡرًا لِّلۡمُجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
He said, “My Lord, for the favor You bestowed upon me, I will never be an assistant to the criminals.”
قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَا أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ
He said:”My Lord! For that with which You have favored me,
meaning, `what You have given me of prestige, power and blessings — ‘
فَلَنْ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرًا لِّلْمُجْرِمِينَ
I will nevermore be a helper of the criminals!
`those who disbelieve in You and go against Your commands.
28:18
فَاَصۡبَحَ فِی الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ خَآئِفًا یَّتَرَقَّبُ فَاِذَا الَّذِی اسۡتَنۡصَرَہٗ بِالۡاَمۡسِ یَسۡتَصۡرِخُہٗ ؕ قَالَ لَہٗ مُوۡسٰۤی اِنَّکَ لَغَوِیٌّ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۱۸﴾
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.”
How the Secret of this Killing became known
Allah tells us that when Musa killed that Coptic,
فَأَصْبَحَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ خَايِفًا
So 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.
فَإِذَا الَّذِي اسْتَنصَرَهُ بِالاْإَمْسِ يَسْتَصْرِخُهُ
when behold, the man who had sought his help the day before, called for his help (again).
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.
قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى
Musa said to him:
إِنَّكَ لَغَوِيٌّ مُّبِينٌ
Verily, you are a plain misleader!
meaning, `you obviously lead people astray and are very evil.
28:19
فَلَمَّاۤ اَنۡ اَرَادَ اَنۡ یَّبۡطِشَ بِالَّذِیۡ ہُوَ عَدُوٌّ لَّہُمَا ۙ قَالَ یٰمُوۡسٰۤی اَتُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ تَقۡتُلَنِیۡ کَمَا قَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسًۢا بِالۡاَمۡسِ ٭ۖ اِنۡ تُرِیۡدُ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ تَکُوۡنَ جَبَّارًا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا تُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ تَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُصۡلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹﴾
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.”
فَلَمَّا أَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَبْطِشَ بِالَّذِي هُوَ عَدُوٌّ لَّهُمَا
Then when he decided to seize the man who was an enemy to both of them,
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 —
قَالَ
يَا مُوسَى أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقْتُلَنِي كَمَا قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا بِالاْاَمْسِ
the man said:O Musa! Is it your intention to kill me as you killed a man yesterday?
إِن تُرِيدُ إِلاَّ أَن تَكُونَ جَبَّارًا فِي الاَْرْضِ وَمَا تُرِيدُ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ
Your aim is nothing but to become a tyrant in the land, and not to be one of those who do right.”
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
28:20
وَ جَآءَ رَجُلٌ مِّنۡ اَقۡصَا الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ یَسۡعٰی ۫ قَالَ یٰمُوۡسٰۤی اِنَّ الۡمَلَاَ یَاۡتَمِرُوۡنَ بِکَ لِیَقۡتُلُوۡکَ فَاخۡرُجۡ اِنِّیۡ لَکَ مِنَ النّٰصِحِیۡنَ ﴿۲۰﴾
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.”
Allah tells:
وَجَاء رَجُلٌ مِّنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْعَى قَالَ يَا مُوسَى
And there came a man running, from the farthest end of the city. He said:”O Musa!
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 الْمَلََ يَأْتَمِرُونَ بِكَ
Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you.,”
meaning, `they are consulting with one another about you.’
لِيَقْتُلُوكَ فَاخْرُجْ
to kill you, so escape.
means, from this land.
إِنِّي لَكَ مِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ
Truly, I am one of the good advisers to you
28:21
فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآئِفًا یَّتَرَقَّبُ ۫ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِیۡ مِنَ الۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۲۱﴾
So he left it, fearful and anticipating [apprehension]. He said, “My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.”
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.
Allah tells:
فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَايِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ
So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear.
meaning, turning around and watching.
قَالَ
He said:
رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
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
28:22
وَ لَمَّا تَوَجَّہَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡیَنَ قَالَ عَسٰی رَبِّیۡۤ اَنۡ یَّہۡدِیَنِیۡ سَوَآءَ السَّبِیۡلِ ﴿۲۲﴾
And when he directed himself toward Madyan, he said, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the sound way.”
وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَاء مَدْيَنَ
And when he went towards (the land of) Madyan,
means, he took a smooth and easy route — and he rejoiced because of that.
قَالَ
he said:
عَسَى رَبِّي أَن يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ
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
28:23
وَ لَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡیَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَیۡہِ اُمَّۃً مِّنَ النَّاسِ یَسۡقُوۡنَ ۬۫ وَ وَجَدَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِہِمُ امۡرَاَتَیۡنِ تَذُوۡدٰنِ ۚ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُکُمَا ؕ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِیۡ حَتّٰی یُصۡدِرَ الرِّعَآءُ ٜ وَ اَبُوۡنَا شَیۡخٌ کَبِیۡرٌ ﴿۲۳﴾
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.”
وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاء مَدْيَنَ
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 عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ امْرَأتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ
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 خَطْبُكُمَا
He said:”What is the matter with you?”
meaning, `why do you not water your flocks with these people?’
قَالَتَا لَاا نَسْقِي حَتَّى يُصْدِرَ الرِّعَاء
They said:”We cannot water until the shepherds take…”
meaning, `we cannot water our flocks until they finish.’
وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ
And our father is a very old man.
means, `this is what has driven us to what you see.
28:24
فَسَقٰی لَہُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلّٰۤی اِلَی الظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ لِمَاۤ اَنۡزَلۡتَ اِلَیَّ مِنۡ خَیۡرٍ فَقِیۡرٌ ﴿۲۴﴾
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.”
فَسَقَى لَهُمَا
.
So he watered (their flocks) for them,
..
ثُمَّ تَوَلَّى إِلَى الظِّلِّ فَقَالَ
then he turned back to shade, and said:
رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!
إِلَى الظِّلِّ
(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 إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
(My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!’) the women heard him.
28:25
فَجَآءَتۡہُ اِحۡدٰىہُمَا تَمۡشِیۡ عَلَی اسۡتِحۡیَآءٍ ۫ قَالَتۡ اِنَّ اَبِیۡ یَدۡعُوۡکَ لِیَجۡزِیَکَ اَجۡرَ مَا سَقَیۡتَ لَنَا ؕ فَلَمَّا جَآءَہٗ وَ قَصَّ عَلَیۡہِ الۡقَصَصَ ۙ قَالَ لَا تَخَفۡ ٝ۟ نَجَوۡتَ مِنَ الۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۲۵﴾
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.”
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:
فَجَاءتْهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَمْشِي عَلَى اسْتِحْيَاء
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.
قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِي يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا
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 جَاءهُ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقَصَصَ
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 لَاا تَخَفْ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
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:
نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
(You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers).
قَالَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الاْاَمِينُ
28:26
قَالَتۡ اِحۡدٰىہُمَا یٰۤاَبَتِ اسۡتَاۡجِرۡہُ ۫ اِنَّ خَیۡرَ مَنِ اسۡتَاۡجَرۡتَ الۡقَوِیُّ الۡاَمِیۡنُ ﴿۲۶﴾
One of the women said, “O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy.”
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:
يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ
(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 خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الاَْمِينُ
(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:
يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الاْاَمِينُ
(O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy).”
28:27
قَالَ اِنِّیۡۤ اُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ اُنۡکِحَکَ اِحۡدَی ابۡنَتَیَّ ہٰتَیۡنِ عَلٰۤی اَنۡ تَاۡجُرَنِیۡ ثَمٰنِیَ حِجَجٍ ۚ فَاِنۡ اَتۡمَمۡتَ عَشۡرًا فَمِنۡ عِنۡدِکَ ۚ وَ مَاۤ اُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ اَشُقَّ عَلَیۡکَ ؕ سَتَجِدُنِیۡۤ اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
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.”
قَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُنكِحَكَ إِحْدَى ابْنَتَيَّ هَاتَيْنِ
He said:”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.
عَلَى أَن تَأْجُرَنِي ثَمَانِيَ حِجَجٍ فَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ عَشْرًا فَمِنْ عِندِكَ
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.’
وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَيْكَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاء اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
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 السَّلَمُ اجَرَ 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 ذَلِكَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ أَيَّمَا الاْاَجَلَيْنِ قَضَيْتُ فَلَا عُدْوَانَ عَلَيَّ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ
28:28
قَالَ ذٰلِکَ بَیۡنِیۡ وَ بَیۡنَکَ ؕ اَیَّمَا الۡاَجَلَیۡنِ قَضَیۡتُ فَلَا عُدۡوَانَ عَلَیَّ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی مَا نَقُوۡلُ وَکِیۡلٌ ﴿٪۲۸﴾
[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.”
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 الاَْجَلَيْنِ قَضَيْتُ فَلَ عُدْوَانَ عَلَيَّ
(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 يَوْمَيْنِ فَلَ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَل إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ
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 شِيْتَ فَصُمْ وَإِنْ شِيْتَ 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
28:29
فَلَمَّا قَضٰی مُوۡسَی الۡاَجَلَ وَ سَارَ بِاَہۡلِہٖۤ اٰنَسَ مِنۡ جَانِبِ الطُّوۡرِ نَارًا ۚ قَالَ لِاَہۡلِہِ امۡکُثُوۡۤا اِنِّیۡۤ اٰنَسۡتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّیۡۤ اٰتِیۡکُمۡ مِّنۡہَا بِخَبَرٍ اَوۡ جَذۡوَۃٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَصۡطَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
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.”
Musa’s Return to Egypt and how he was honored with the Mission and Miracles on the Way
In the explanation of the previous Ayah, we have already seen that Musa completed the longer and better of the two terms, which may also be understood from the Ayah where Allah says:
فَلَمَّا قَضَى مُوسَىالاَْجَلَ
Then, when Musa had fulfilled the term,
meaning, the longer of the two; and Allah knows best.
وَسَارَ بِأَهْلِهِ
and was traveling with his family,
They said:
“Musa missed his country and his relatives, so he resolved to visit them in secret, without Fir`awn and his people knowing. So he gathered up his family and the flocks which his father-in-law had given to him, and set out on a cold, dark, rainy night. They stopped to camp, and whenever he tried to start a fire, he did not succeed. He was surprised by this, and while he was in this state,
انَسَ مِن جَانِبِ الطُّورِ نَارًا
he saw a fire in the direction of At-Tur,
he saw a fire burning from a far.
قَالَ لاِاَهْلِهِ امْكُثُوا إِنِّي انَسْتُ نَارًا
He said to his family:”Wait, I have seen a fire…”
meaning, `wait while I go there,’
لَّعَلِّي اتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ
perhaps I may bring to you from there some information,
This was because they lost their way.
أَوْ جَذْوَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ
or a burning firebrand that you may warm yourselves.
so that they could get warm and find relief from the cold
28:30
فَلَمَّاۤ اَتٰىہَا نُوۡدِیَ مِنۡ شَاطِیَٴ الۡوَادِ الۡاَیۡمَنِ فِی الۡبُقۡعَۃِ الۡمُبٰرَکَۃِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَۃِ اَنۡ یّٰمُوۡسٰۤی اِنِّیۡۤ اَنَا اللّٰہُ رَبُّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۰﴾
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.”
فَلَمَّا أَتَاهَا نُودِي مِن شَاطِيِ الْوَادِي الاَْيْمَنِ
So when he reached it (the fire), he was called from the right side of the valley,
From the side of the valley that adjoined the mountain on his right, to the west.
This is like the Ayah,
وَمَا كُنتَ بِجَانِبِ الْغَرْبِىِّ إِذْ قَضَيْنَأ إِلَى مُوسَى الاٌّمْرَ
And you were not on the western side, when We made clear to Musa the commandment. (28:44)
This indicates that when Musa headed for the fire, he headed in the direction of the Qiblah with the western mountain on his right. He found the fire burning in a green bush on the side of the mountain adjoining the valley, and he stood there amazed at what he was seeing.
Then his Lord called him:
مِن شَاطِيِ الْوَادِي الاَْيْمَنِ
فِي الْبُقْعَةِ الْمُبَارَكَةِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ
from the right side of the valley, in the blessed place, from the tree.
أَن يَا مُوسَى إِنِّي أَنَا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
O Musa! Verily, I am Allah, the Lord of all that exits!
meaning, `the One Who is addressing you and speaking to you is the Lord of all that exits, the One Who does what He wills, the One apart from Whom there is no other god or lord, may He be exalted and sanctified, the One Who by His very nature, attributes, words and deeds is far above any resemblance to His creation, may He be glorified.
28:21
فَخَرَجَ مِنۡہَا خَآئِفًا یَّتَرَقَّبُ ۫ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِیۡ مِنَ الۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۲۱﴾
So he left it, fearful and anticipating [apprehension]. He said, “My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.”
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.
Allah tells:
فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَايِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ
So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear.
meaning, turning around and watching.
قَالَ
He said:
رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
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
28:22
وَ لَمَّا تَوَجَّہَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡیَنَ قَالَ عَسٰی رَبِّیۡۤ اَنۡ یَّہۡدِیَنِیۡ سَوَآءَ السَّبِیۡلِ ﴿۲۲﴾
And when he directed himself toward Madyan, he said, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the sound way.”
وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَاء مَدْيَنَ
And when he went towards (the land of) Madyan,
means, he took a smooth and easy route — and he rejoiced because of that.
قَالَ
he said:
عَسَى رَبِّي أَن يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ
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
28:23
وَ لَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡیَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَیۡہِ اُمَّۃً مِّنَ النَّاسِ یَسۡقُوۡنَ ۬۫ وَ وَجَدَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِہِمُ امۡرَاَتَیۡنِ تَذُوۡدٰنِ ۚ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُکُمَا ؕ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِیۡ حَتّٰی یُصۡدِرَ الرِّعَآءُ ٜ وَ اَبُوۡنَا شَیۡخٌ کَبِیۡرٌ ﴿۲۳﴾
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.”
وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاء مَدْيَنَ
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 عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ امْرَأتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ
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 خَطْبُكُمَا
He said:”What is the matter with you?”
meaning, `why do you not water your flocks with these people?’
قَالَتَا لَاا نَسْقِي حَتَّى يُصْدِرَ الرِّعَاء
They said:”We cannot water until the shepherds take…”
meaning, `we cannot water our flocks until they finish.’
وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ
And our father is a very old man.
means, `this is what has driven us to what you see.
28:24
فَسَقٰی لَہُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلّٰۤی اِلَی الظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ لِمَاۤ اَنۡزَلۡتَ اِلَیَّ مِنۡ خَیۡرٍ فَقِیۡرٌ ﴿۲۴﴾
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.”
فَسَقَى لَهُمَا
.
So he watered (their flocks) for them,
..
ثُمَّ تَوَلَّى إِلَى الظِّلِّ فَقَالَ
then he turned back to shade, and said:
رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!
إِلَى الظِّلِّ
(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 إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
(My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!’) the women heard him.
28:25
فَجَآءَتۡہُ اِحۡدٰىہُمَا تَمۡشِیۡ عَلَی اسۡتِحۡیَآءٍ ۫ قَالَتۡ اِنَّ اَبِیۡ یَدۡعُوۡکَ لِیَجۡزِیَکَ اَجۡرَ مَا سَقَیۡتَ لَنَا ؕ فَلَمَّا جَآءَہٗ وَ قَصَّ عَلَیۡہِ الۡقَصَصَ ۙ قَالَ لَا تَخَفۡ ٝ۟ نَجَوۡتَ مِنَ الۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۲۵﴾
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.”
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:
فَجَاءتْهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَمْشِي عَلَى اسْتِحْيَاء
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.
قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِي يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا
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 جَاءهُ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقَصَصَ
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 لَاا تَخَفْ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
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:
نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
(You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers).
قَالَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الاْاَمِينُ
28:26
قَالَتۡ اِحۡدٰىہُمَا یٰۤاَبَتِ اسۡتَاۡجِرۡہُ ۫ اِنَّ خَیۡرَ مَنِ اسۡتَاۡجَرۡتَ الۡقَوِیُّ الۡاَمِیۡنُ ﴿۲۶﴾
One of the women said, “O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy.”
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:
يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ
(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 خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الاَْمِينُ
(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:
يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الاْاَمِينُ
(O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy).”
28:27
قَالَ اِنِّیۡۤ اُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ اُنۡکِحَکَ اِحۡدَی ابۡنَتَیَّ ہٰتَیۡنِ عَلٰۤی اَنۡ تَاۡجُرَنِیۡ ثَمٰنِیَ حِجَجٍ ۚ فَاِنۡ اَتۡمَمۡتَ عَشۡرًا فَمِنۡ عِنۡدِکَ ۚ وَ مَاۤ اُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ اَشُقَّ عَلَیۡکَ ؕ سَتَجِدُنِیۡۤ اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
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.”
قَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُنكِحَكَ إِحْدَى ابْنَتَيَّ هَاتَيْنِ
He said:”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.
عَلَى أَن تَأْجُرَنِي ثَمَانِيَ حِجَجٍ فَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ عَشْرًا فَمِنْ عِندِكَ
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.’
وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَيْكَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاء اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
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 السَّلَمُ اجَرَ 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 ذَلِكَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ أَيَّمَا الاْاَجَلَيْنِ قَضَيْتُ فَلَا عُدْوَانَ عَلَيَّ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ
28:28
قَالَ ذٰلِکَ بَیۡنِیۡ وَ بَیۡنَکَ ؕ اَیَّمَا الۡاَجَلَیۡنِ قَضَیۡتُ فَلَا عُدۡوَانَ عَلَیَّ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی مَا نَقُوۡلُ وَکِیۡلٌ ﴿٪۲۸﴾
[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.”
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 الاَْجَلَيْنِ قَضَيْتُ فَلَ عُدْوَانَ عَلَيَّ
(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 يَوْمَيْنِ فَلَ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَل إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ
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 شِيْتَ فَصُمْ وَإِنْ شِيْتَ 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
28:29
فَلَمَّا قَضٰی مُوۡسَی الۡاَجَلَ وَ سَارَ بِاَہۡلِہٖۤ اٰنَسَ مِنۡ جَانِبِ الطُّوۡرِ نَارًا ۚ قَالَ لِاَہۡلِہِ امۡکُثُوۡۤا اِنِّیۡۤ اٰنَسۡتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّیۡۤ اٰتِیۡکُمۡ مِّنۡہَا بِخَبَرٍ اَوۡ جَذۡوَۃٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَصۡطَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾
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.”
Musa’s Return to Egypt and how he was honored with the Mission and Miracles on the Way
In the explanation of the previous Ayah, we have already seen that Musa completed the longer and better of the two terms, which may also be understood from the Ayah where Allah says:
فَلَمَّا قَضَى مُوسَىالاَْجَلَ
Then, when Musa had fulfilled the term,
meaning, the longer of the two; and Allah knows best.
وَسَارَ بِأَهْلِهِ
and was traveling with his family,
They said:
“Musa missed his country and his relatives, so he resolved to visit them in secret, without Fir`awn and his people knowing. So he gathered up his family and the flocks which his father-in-law had given to him, and set out on a cold, dark, rainy night. They stopped to camp, and whenever he tried to start a fire, he did not succeed. He was surprised by this, and while he was in this state,
انَسَ مِن جَانِبِ الطُّورِ نَارًا
he saw a fire in the direction of At-Tur,
he saw a fire burning from a far.
قَالَ لاِاَهْلِهِ امْكُثُوا إِنِّي انَسْتُ نَارًا
He said to his family:”Wait, I have seen a fire…”
meaning, `wait while I go there,’
لَّعَلِّي اتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ
perhaps I may bring to you from there some information,
This was because they lost their way.
أَوْ جَذْوَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ
or a burning firebrand that you may warm yourselves.
so that they could get warm and find relief from the cold
28:30
فَلَمَّاۤ اَتٰىہَا نُوۡدِیَ مِنۡ شَاطِیَٴ الۡوَادِ الۡاَیۡمَنِ فِی الۡبُقۡعَۃِ الۡمُبٰرَکَۃِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَۃِ اَنۡ یّٰمُوۡسٰۤی اِنِّیۡۤ اَنَا اللّٰہُ رَبُّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۰﴾
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.”
فَلَمَّا أَتَاهَا نُودِي مِن شَاطِيِ الْوَادِي الاَْيْمَنِ
So when he reached it (the fire), he was called from the right side of the valley,
From the side of the valley that adjoined the mountain on his right, to the west.
This is like the Ayah,
وَمَا كُنتَ بِجَانِبِ الْغَرْبِىِّ إِذْ قَضَيْنَأ إِلَى مُوسَى الاٌّمْرَ
And you were not on the western side, when We made clear to Musa the commandment. (28:44)
This indicates that when Musa headed for the fire, he headed in the direction of the Qiblah with the western mountain on his right. He found the fire burning in a green bush on the side of the mountain adjoining the valley, and he stood there amazed at what he was seeing.
Then his Lord called him:
مِن شَاطِيِ الْوَادِي الاَْيْمَنِ
فِي الْبُقْعَةِ الْمُبَارَكَةِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ
from the right side of the valley, in the blessed place, from the tree.
أَن يَا مُوسَى إِنِّي أَنَا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
O Musa! Verily, I am Allah, the Lord of all that exits!
meaning, `the One Who is addressing you and speaking to you is the Lord of all that exits, the One Who does what He wills, the One apart from Whom there is no other god or lord, may He be exalted and sanctified, the One Who by His very nature, attributes, words and deeds is far above any resemblance to His creation, may He be glorified.
28:31
وَ اَنۡ اَلۡقِ عَصَاکَ ؕ فَلَمَّا رَاٰہَا تَہۡتَزُّ کَاَنَّہَا جَآنٌّ وَّلّٰی مُدۡبِرًا وَّ لَمۡ یُعَقِّبۡ ؕ یٰمُوۡسٰۤی اَقۡبِلۡ وَ لَا تَخَفۡ ۟ اِنَّکَ مِنَ الۡاٰمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۳۱﴾
And [he was told], “Throw down your staff.” But when he saw it writhing as if it was a snake, he turned in flight and did not return. [ Allah said], “O Moses, approach and fear not. Indeed, you are of the secure.
وَأَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ
And throw your stick!
`the stick that is in your hand’ — as was stated in the Ayah,
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يمُوسَى
قَالَ هِىَ عَصَاىَ أَتَوَكَّوُا عَلَيْهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَى غَنَمِى وَلِىَ فِيهَا مَأَرِبُ أُخْرَى
“And what is that in your right hand, O Musa!”
He said:”This is my stick, whereon I lean, and wherewith I beat down branches for my sheep, and wherein I find other uses.” (20:17-18)
The meaning is:`this stick, which you know so well;’
قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يمُوسَى
فَأَلْقَـهَا فَإِذَا هِىَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَى
“Cast it down, O Musa!”
He cast it down, and behold! It was a snake, moving quickly. (20:19-20)
Musa knew that the One Who was speaking to him was the One Who merely says to a thing, “Be!” and it is, as we have already stated in (the explanation of) Surah Ta Ha.
And here Allah says:
فَلَمَّا رَاهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ وَلَّى مُدْبِرًا
وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ يَا مُوسَى أَقْبِلْ وَلَا تَخَفْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الاْمِنِينَ
But when he saw it moving as if it were a snake, he turned in flight,
It moved so quickly, even though it was so big, and its mouth was so huge, with its jaws snapping. It swallowed every rock it passed, and every rock that fell into its mouth fell with a sound like a rock falling into a valley.
When he saw that:
وَلَّى مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ
he turned in flight, and looked not back.
he did not turn around, because it is human nature to flee from such a thing. But when Allah said to him:
يَا مُوسَى أَقْبِلْ وَلَاا تَخَفْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الاْامِنِينَ
O Musa! Draw near, and fear not. Verily, you are of those who are secure.
he came back to his original position.
Then Allah said
28:32
اُسۡلُکۡ یَدَکَ فِیۡ جَیۡبِکَ تَخۡرُجۡ بَیۡضَآءَ مِنۡ غَیۡرِ سُوۡٓءٍ ۫ وَّ اضۡمُمۡ اِلَیۡکَ جَنَاحَکَ مِنَ الرَّہۡبِ فَذٰنِکَ بُرۡہَانٰنِ مِنۡ رَّبِّکَ اِلٰی فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ مَلَا۠ئِہٖ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا قَوۡمًا فٰسِقِیۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
Insert your hand into the opening of your garment; it will come out white, without disease. And draw in your arm close to you [as prevention] from fear, for those are two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his establishment. Indeed, they have been a people defiantly disobedient.”
اسْلُكْ يَدَكَ فِي جَيْبِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَاء مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ
Put your hand into the opening of your garment, it will come forth white without a disease;
meaning, `when you put your hand in your garment and then draw it out, it will be shining white as if it were a piece of the moon or a flash of lightning.’
Allah said:
مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ
(without a disease), i.e., with no trace of leukoderma.
وَاضْمُمْ إِلَيْكَ جَنَاحَكَ مِنَ الرَّهْبِ
and draw your hand close to your side to be free from the fear.
Mujahid said, “To be free from terror.”
Qatadah said, “To be free from fear.”
Musa was commanded, when he felt afraid of anything, to draw his hand close to his side to be free from the fear. If he did that, whatever fear he felt would be gone.
Perhaps if a person does this, following the example of Musa, and puts his hand over his heart, his fear will disappear or be lessened, if Allah wills; in Allah we place our trust.
فَذَانِكَ بُرْهَانَانِ مِن رَّبِّكَ
These are two proofs from your Lord
This refers to the throwing down of his stick, whereupon it turned into a moving snake, and his putting his hand into his garment and bringing it forth white without a disease.
These were two clear and definitive proofs of the power of the One Who does as He chooses, and of the truth of the Prophethood of the one at whose hands these miracles occurred.
Allah said:
إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَيِهِ
to Fir`awn and his chiefs.
meaning his leaders and prominent followers.
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ
Verily, they are the people who are rebellious.
means, who are disobedient towards Allah and who go against His commands and His religion.
28:33
قَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ قَتَلۡتُ مِنۡہُمۡ نَفۡسًا فَاَخَافُ اَنۡ یَّقۡتُلُوۡنِ ﴿۳۳﴾
He said, “My Lord, indeed, I killed from among them someone, and I fear they will kill me.
How Musa asked for the Support of His Brother and was granted that by Allah
When Allah commanded him to go to Fir`awn, the one who he had run away from and whose vengeance he feared,
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي قَتَلْتُ مِنْهُمْ نَفْسًا
Musa said:My Lord! I have killed a man among them,
meaning, that Coptic,
فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقْتُلُونِ
and I fear that they will kill me.
i.e., `when they see me.
28:33
قَالَ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ قَتَلۡتُ مِنۡہُمۡ نَفۡسًا فَاَخَافُ اَنۡ یَّقۡتُلُوۡنِ ﴿۳۳﴾
He said, “My Lord, indeed, I killed from among them someone, and I fear they will kill me.
How Musa asked for the Support of His Brother and was granted that by Allah
When Allah commanded him to go to Fir`awn, the one who he had run away from and whose vengeance he feared,
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي قَتَلْتُ مِنْهُمْ نَفْسًا
Musa said:My Lord! I have killed a man among them,
meaning, that Coptic,
فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقْتُلُونِ
and I fear that they will kill me.
i.e., `when they see me.
28:34
وَ اَخِیۡ ہٰرُوۡنُ ہُوَ اَفۡصَحُ مِنِّیۡ لِسَانًا فَاَرۡسِلۡہُ مَعِیَ رِدۡاً یُّصَدِّقُنِیۡۤ ۫ اِنِّیۡۤ اَخَافُ اَنۡ یُّکَذِّبُوۡنِ ﴿۳۴﴾
And my brother Aaron is more fluent than me in tongue, so send him with me as support, verifying me. Indeed, I fear that they will deny me.”
وَأَخِي هَارُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّي لِسَانًا
And my brother Harun — he is more eloquent in speech than me,
Musa, peace be upon him, had a speech defect, because when he had been given the choice between a date and a pearl, he mistakenly picked up a coal and placed it on his tongue, so he found it difficult to speak clearly.
Musa said:
وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِى
يَفْقَهُواْ قَوْلِي
وَاجْعَل لِّى وَزِيراً مِّنْ أَهْلِى
هَـرُونَ أَخِى
اشْدُدْ بِهِ أَزْرِى
وَأَشْرِكْهُ فِى أَمْرِى
“And loose the knot (the defect) from my tongue. That they understand my speech. And appoint for me a helper from my family, Harun, my brother. Increase my strength with him, And let him share my task.” (20:27-32)
meaning, `give me someone to keep me company in this immense task of Prophethood and conveying the Message to this arrogant, tyrannical and stubborn king.’ Hence Musa said:
وَأَخِي هَارُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّي لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِيَ رِدْءًا
(And my brother Harun — he is more eloquent in speech than me:so send him with me as a helper),
meaning, as a support to give strength to my cause and confirm what I say and convey from Allah, because the word of two carries more weight in people’s minds than the word of one.
فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِيَ رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِي
send him with me as a helper to confirm me.
So he said:
إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ
Verily, I fear that they will deny me.
Muhammad bin Ishaq said:
رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِي
(as a helper to confirm me),
means, `to explain to them what I say, for he can understand me where they may not.’
When Musa asked for this, Allah said to him
28:35
قَالَ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَکَ بِاَخِیۡکَ وَ نَجۡعَلُ لَکُمَا سُلۡطٰنًا فَلَا یَصِلُوۡنَ اِلَیۡکُمَا ۚۛ بِاٰیٰتِنَاۤ ۚۛ اَنۡتُمَا وَ مَنِ اتَّبَعَکُمَا الۡغٰلِبُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
[ Allah ] said, “We will strengthen your arm through your brother and grant you both supremacy so they will not reach you. [It will be] through Our signs; you and those who follow you will be the predominant.”
قَالَ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ
Allah said:We will strengthen your arm through your brother,
meaning, `We will add strength to your cause and give you help through your brother, who you have asked to be made a Prophet alongside you.’
This is like the Ayat;
قَدْ أُوتِيتَ سُوْلَكَ يمُوسَى
You are granted your request, O Musa! (20:36)
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ مِن رَّحْمَتِنَأ أَخَاهُ هَـرُونَ نَبِيّاً
And We granted him his brother Harun, (also) a Prophet, out of Our mercy. (19:53)
One of the Salaf said,
“There is no one who has ever done a greater favor to his brother than Musa did for Harun, may peace be upon them both, for he interceded for him until Allah made him a Prophet and Messenger with him to Fir`awn and his chiefs.”
Allah said concerning Musa:
وَكَانَ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَجِيهاً
he was honorable before Allah. (33:69)
وَنَجْعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلْطَانًا
and (We will) give you both power,
means, overwhelming evidence.
فَلَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَيْكُمَا بِأيَاتِنَا
so they shall not be able to harm you, with Our Ayat;
means, `they will have no way or means of harming you because you are conveying the signs of Allah.’
This is like the Ayat:
يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَاللّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ
O Messenger! Convey what has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. Allah will protect you from mankind. (5:67)
الَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَالَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَخْشَوْنَهُ وَلَا يَخْشَوْنَ أَحَدًا إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ حَسِيبًا
Those who convey the Message of Allah and fear Him, and fear none save Allah. And sufficient is Allah as a Reckoner. (33:39)
And sufficient is Allah as a Helper and Supporter. And Allah told them the consequences in this world and the next, for them and for those who followed them,
أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكُمَا الْغَالِبُونَ
you two as well as those who follow you will be the victors.
This is like the Ayat:
كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لاّغْلِبَنَّ أَنَاْ وَرُسُلِى إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ
Allah has decreed:”Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious.”
Verily, Allah is All-Powerful, All-Mighty. (58:21)
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ امَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الاَْشْهَادُ
Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth, — (40:51
28:36
فَلَمَّا جَآءَہُمۡ مُّوۡسٰی بِاٰیٰتِنَا بَیِّنٰتٍ قَالُوۡا مَا ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا سِحۡرٌ مُّفۡتَرًی وَّ مَا سَمِعۡنَا بِہٰذَا فِیۡۤ اٰبَآئِنَا الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾
But when Moses came to them with Our signs as clear evidences, they said, “This is not except invented magic, and we have not heard of this [religion] among our forefathers.”
Musa before Fir`awn and His People
Allah tells:
فَلَمَّا جَاءهُم مُّوسَى بِأيَاتِنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالُوا
Then when Musa came to them with Our Clear Ayat, they said:
Allah tells us how Musa and his brother Harun came before Fir`awn and his chiefs, and showed them the clear miracles and overwhelming proof that Allah had given them to confirm the truth of what they were saying about Allah being One and that His commandments were to be followed.
Fir`awn and his chiefs saw that with their own eyes and realized that it was certainly from Allah, but because of their disbelief and sin they resorted to stubbornness and false arguments. This was because they were too evil and arrogant to follow the truth. They said:
مَا هَذَا إِلاَّ سِحْرٌ مُّفْتَرًى
This is nothing but invented magic.
meaning, fabricated and made up. They wanted to oppose him by means of their own tricks and their position and power, but this did not work.
وَمَا سَمِعْنَا بِهَذَا فِي ابَايِنَا الاَْوَّلِينَ
Never did we hear of this among our fathers of old.
They were referring worshipping Allah Alone, with no partner or associate. They said:”We have never seen anyone among our forefathers following this religion; we have only ever seen people associating other gods in worship with Allah
28:37
وَ قَالَ مُوۡسٰی رَبِّیۡۤ اَعۡلَمُ بِمَنۡ جَآءَ بِالۡہُدٰی مِنۡ عِنۡدِہٖ وَ مَنۡ تَکُوۡنُ لَہٗ عَاقِبَۃُ الدَّارِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ لَا یُفۡلِحُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾
And Moses said, “My Lord is more knowing [than we or you] of who has come with guidance from Him and to whom will be succession in the home. Indeed, wrongdoers do not succeed.”
وَقَالَ مُوسَى
Musa said:
Musa said in response to them:
رَبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِمَن جَاء بِالْهُدَى مِنْ عِندِهِ
My Lord knows best him who came with guidance from Him,
meaning, `of me and you, and He will decide between me and you.’
So he said:
وَمَن تَكُونُ لَهُ عَاقِبَةُ الدَّارِ
and whose will be the happy end in the Hereafter.
meaning, who will be supported and will prevail.
إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ
Verily, the wrongdoers will not be successful.
refers to the idolators who associate others in worship with Allah
28:38
وَ قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ یٰۤاَیُّہَا الۡمَلَاُ مَا عَلِمۡتُ لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرِیۡ ۚ فَاَوۡقِدۡ لِیۡ یٰہَامٰنُ عَلَی الطِّیۡنِ فَاجۡعَلۡ لِّیۡ صَرۡحًا لَّعَلِّیۡۤ اَطَّلِعُ اِلٰۤی اِلٰہِ مُوۡسٰی ۙ وَ اِنِّیۡ لَاَظُنُّہٗ مِنَ الۡکٰذِبِیۡنَ ﴿۳۸﴾
And Pharaoh said, “O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a god other than me. Then ignite for me, O Haman, [a fire] upon the clay and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I do think he is among the liars.”
The Arrogance of Fir`awn and His ultimate Destiny
Allah tells:
وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ
Fir`awn said:
Allah tells us of Fir`awn’s disbelief and wrongdoing, and how he falsely claimed divinity for his evil self, may Allah curse him.
فَاسْتَخَفَّ قَوْمَهُ فَأَطَاعُوهُ
Thus he fooled his people, and they obeyed him. (43:54)
He called on his people to recognize his divinity, and they responded, because of their weak and foolish minds.
So, he said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَاُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرِي
O chiefs! I know not that you have a god other than me.
Allah tells us about Fir`awn:
فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَى
فَقَالَ أَنَاْ رَبُّكُمُ الاٌّعْلَى
فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الاٌّخِرَةِ وَالاٍّوْلَى
إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّمَن يَخْشَى
Then he gathered (his people) and cried aloud, saying:”I am your lord, most high.”
So Allah, seized him with punishment for his last and first transgression. Verily, in this is an instructive admonition for whosoever fears Allah. (79:23-26)
meaning:he brought his people together and called to them in a loud voice, shouting that, and they responded to him obediently. So Allah took revenge on him, and made him a lesson to others in this world and the Hereafter. He even confronted Musa with that, and said:
لَيِنِ اتَّخَذْتَ إِلَـهَاً غَيْرِى لَاجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ الْمَسْجُونِينَ
If you choose a god other than me, I will certainly put you among the prisoners. (26:29)
فَأَوْقِدْ لِي يَا هَامَانُ عَلَى الطِّينِ فَاجْعَل لِّي صَرْحًا لَّعَلِّي أَطَّلِعُ إِلَى إِلَهِ مُوسَى
So kindle for me (a fire), O Haman, to bake (bricks out of) clay, and set up for me a Sarh in order that I may look at the God of Musa;
He commanded his minister and adviser Haman to bake bricks for him, i.e., to make bricks in order to build a Sarh, a exalted towering palace.
This is like the Ayah,
وَقَالَ فَرْعَوْنُ يهَـمَـنُ ابْنِ لِى صَرْحاً لَّعَـلِّى أَبْلُغُ الاٌّسْبَـبَ
أَسْبَـبَ السَّمَـوَتِ فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلَى إِلَـهِ مُوسَى وَإِنِّى لاّظُنُّهُ كَـذِباً وَكَـذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ وَصُدَّ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا كَـيْدُ فِرْعَوْنَ إِلاَّ فِى تَبَابٍ
And Fir`awn said:”O Haman! Build me a Sarh that I may arrive at the ways — the ways of the heavens, and I may look upon the God of Musa, but verily, I think him to be a liar.”
Thus it was made fair seeming, in Fir`awn’s eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the path; and the plot of Fir`awn led to nothing but loss and destruction. (40:36-37)
Fir`awn built this tower, which was the highest structure ever seen on earth, because he wanted to show his people that Musa was lying when he claimed that there was a God other than Fir`awn.
Fir`awn said:
وَإِنِّي لَاإَظُنُّهُ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ
and verily, I think that he (Musa) is one of the liars.
meaning, `when he says that there is a lord other than me.’
The issue was not whether Allah had sent Musa, because he did not acknowledge the existence of the Creator in the first place. On the contrary, he said:
وَمَا رَبُّ الْعَـلَمِينَ
(And what is the Lord of Al-`Alamin) (26:23) and:
لَيِنِ اتَّخَذْتَ إِلَـهَاً غَيْرِى لَاجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ الْمَسْجُونِينَ
(If you choose a god other than me, I will certainly put you among the prisoners). (26:29) and he said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَاُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرِي
(O chiefs! I know not that you have a god other than me).
This was the view of Ibn Jarir.
And Allah tells:
وَاسْتَكْبَرَ هُوَ وَجُنُودُهُ فِي الاْاَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَاا يُرْجَعُونَ
28:39
وَ اسۡتَکۡبَرَ ہُوَ وَ جُنُوۡدُہٗ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ بِغَیۡرِ الۡحَقِّ وَ ظَنُّوۡۤا اَنَّہُمۡ اِلَیۡنَا لَا یُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۳۹﴾
And he was arrogant, he and his soldiers, in the land, without right, and they thought that they would not be returned to Us.
And he and his armies were arrogant in the land, without right, and they thought that they would never return to Us.
means, they were arrogant oppressors who spread much mischief in the land, and they believed that there would be no Resurrection.
فَصَبَّ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّكَ سَوْطَ عَذَابٍ
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِالْمِرْصَادِ
So, your Lord poured on them different kinds of severe torment. Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful (over them). (89:13-14)
Allah says here
28:40
فَاَخَذۡنٰہُ وَ جُنُوۡدَہٗ فَنَبَذۡنٰہُمۡ فِی الۡیَمِّ ۚ فَانۡظُرۡ کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۴۰﴾
So We took him and his soldiers and threw them into the sea. So see how was the end of the wrongdoers.
فَأَخَذْنَاهُ وَجُنُودَهُ فَنَبَذْنَاهُمْ فِي الْيَمِّ
So, We seized him and his armies, and We threw them all into the sea.
meaning, `We drowned them in the sea in a single morning, and not one of them was left.’
فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الظَّالِمِينَ
28:41
وَ جَعَلۡنٰہُمۡ اَئِمَّۃً یَّدۡعُوۡنَ اِلَی النَّارِ ۚ وَ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ لَا یُنۡصَرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۱﴾
And We made them leaders inviting to the Fire, and on the Day of Resurrection they will not be helped.
وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَيِمَّةً يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ
So, behold what was the end of the wrongdoers. And We made them leaders inviting to the Fire.
for those who followed them and took the same path as they did, rejecting the Messengers and denying the Creator.
وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا يُنصَرُونَ
and on the Day of Resurrection, they will not be helped.
their humiliation in this world is combined with and connected to their humiliation in the Hereafter, as Allah says:
أَهْلَكْنَـهُمْ فَلَ نَـصِرَ لَهُمْ
We have destroyed them. And there was none to help them. (47:13)
28:42
وَ اَتۡبَعۡنٰہُمۡ فِیۡ ہٰذِہِ الدُّنۡیَا لَعۡنَۃً ۚ وَ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ ہُمۡ مِّنَ الۡمَقۡبُوۡحِیۡنَ ﴿٪۴۲﴾
And We caused to overtake them in this world a curse, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be of the despised.
وَأَتْبَعْنَاهُمْ فِي هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا لَعْنَةً
And We made a curse to follow them in this world,
Allah decreed that they and their king Fir`awn should be cursed by the believers among His servants who follow His Messengers, just as in this world they were cursed by the Prophets and their followers.
وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ هُم مِّنَ الْمَقْبُوحِينَ
and on the Day of Resurrection, they will be among disgraced.
Qatadah said,
“This Ayah is like the Ayah,
وَأُتْبِعُواْ فِى هَـذِهِ لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ بِيْسَ الرِّفْدُ الْمَرْفُودُ
They were pursued by a curse in this (life) and on the Day of Resurrection. Evil indeed is the gift given. (11:99)
28:43
وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنَا مُوۡسَی الۡکِتٰبَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَاۤ اَہۡلَکۡنَا الۡقُرُوۡنَ الۡاُوۡلٰی بَصَآئِرَ لِلنَّاسِ وَ ہُدًی وَّ رَحۡمَۃً لَّعَلَّہُمۡ یَتَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾
And We gave Moses the Scripture, after We had destroyed the former generations, as enlightenment for the people and guidance and mercy that they might be reminded.
The Blessings which Allah bestowed upon Musa
Allah tells:
وَلَقَدْ اتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ
And indeed We gave Musa — after We had destroyed the generations of old — the Scripture as an enlightenment for mankind, and a guidance and a mercy, that they might remember.
Allah tells us about the blessings which He gave His servant and Messenger Musa, the speaker, may the best of peace and blessings from his Lord be upon him, He revealed the Tawrah to him after He destroyed Fir`awn and his chiefs.
مِن بَعْدِ مَا أَهْلَكْنَا الْقُرُونَ الاُْولَى
after We had destroyed the generations of old,
After the revelation of the Tawrah, no nation would again be punished with an overwhelming calamity; instead the believers were now commanded to fight the enemies of Allah among the idolators, as Allah says:
وَجَأءَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَن قَبْلَهُ وَالْمُوْتَفِكَـتُ بِالْخَاطِيَةِ
فَعَصَوْاْ رَسُولَ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَهُمْ أَخْذَةً رَّابِيَةً
And Fir`awn, and those before him, and the cities overthrown committed sin. And they disobeyed their Lord’s Messenger, so He seized them with a strong punishment. (69:9-10)
بَصَايِرَ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً
as an enlightenment for mankind, and a guidance and a mercy,
guidance from blindness and error.
A guidance to the truth and a mercy means, to show the way towards doing righteous deeds.
لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
that they might remember.
means, that the people might be reminded and guided by it
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