Al-Qasas: 31

Ayah

Word by Word

وَأَنۡ

And [that]

أَلۡقِ

throw

عَصَاكَۚ

your staff

فَلَمَّا

But when

رَءَاهَا

he saw it

تَهۡتَزُّ

moving

كَأَنَّهَا

as if it

جَآنّٞ

(were) a snake

وَلَّىٰ

he turned

مُدۡبِرٗا

(in) flight

وَلَمۡ

and (did) not

يُعَقِّبۡۚ

return

يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ

O Musa!

أَقۡبِلۡ

Draw near

وَلَا

and (do) not

تَخَفۡۖ

fear

إِنَّكَ

Indeed you

مِنَ

(are) of

ٱلۡأٓمِنِينَ

the secure

Translation

"Now do thou throw thy rod!" but when he saw it moving (of its own accord) as if it had been a snake, he turned back in retreat, and retraced not his steps: O Moses!" (It was said), "Draw near, and fear not: for thou art of those who are secure.

Tafsir

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 مُوسَىالاَۡجَلَ

Then, when Musa had fulfilled the term,

meaning, the longer of the two; and Allah knows best.

وَسَارَ بِأَهۡلِهِ

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 ﷺ a fire in the direction of At-Tur,

he ﷺ a fire burning from a far.

قَالَ لاِاَهۡلِهِ امۡكُثُوا إِنِّي انَسۡتُ نَارًا

He said to his family:Wait, I have seen a fire...

meaning, `wait while I go there,'

لَّعَلِّي اتِيكُم مِّنۡهَا بِخَبَرٍ

perhaps I may bring to you from there some information,

This was because they lost their way.

أَوۡ جَذۡوَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَصۡطَلُونَ

or a burning firebrand that you may warm yourselves.

so that they could get warm and find relief from the cold

فَلَمَّا أَتَاهَا نُودِي مِن شَاطِيِ الۡوَادِي الاَۡيۡمَنِ

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 الۡغَرۡبِىِّ إِذۡ قَضَيۡنَأ إِلَى مُوسَى الاٌّمۡرَ

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 الۡوَادِي الاَۡيۡمَنِ

فِي الۡبُقۡعَةِ الۡمُبَارَكَةِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ

from the right side of the valley, in the blessed place, from the tree.

أَن يَا مُوسَى إِنِّي أَنَا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الۡعَالَمِينَ

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

وَأَنۡ أَلۡقِ عَصَاكَ

And throw your stick!

`the stick that is in your hand' -- as was stated in the Ayah,

وَمَا تِلۡكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يمُوسَى

قَالَ هِىَ عَصَاىَ أَتَوَكَّوُا عَلَيۡهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَى غَنَمِى وَلِىَ فِيهَا مَأَرِبُ أُخۡرَى

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 أَلۡقِهَا يمُوسَى

فَأَلۡقَـهَا فَإِذَا هِىَ حَيَّةٌ تَسۡعَى

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 تَهۡتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ وَلَّى مُدۡبِرًا

وَلَمۡ يُعَقِّبۡ يَا مُوسَى أَقۡبِلۡ وَلَا تَخَفۡ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الاۡمِنِينَ

But when he ﷺ 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 ﷺ that:

وَلَّى مُدۡبِرًا وَلَمۡ يُعَقِّبۡ

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 أَقۡبِلۡ وَلَاا تَخَفۡ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الاۡامِنِينَ

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

اسۡلُكۡ يَدَكَ فِي جَيۡبِكَ تَخۡرُجۡ بَيۡضَاء مِنۡ غَيۡرِ 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:

مِنۡ غَيۡرِ سُوءٍ

(without a disease), i.e., with no trace of leukoderma.

وَاضۡمُمۡ إِلَيۡكَ جَنَاحَكَ مِنَ الرَّهۡبِ

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 بُرۡهَانَانِ 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 فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَيِهِ

to Fir`awn and his chiefs.

meaning his leaders and prominent followers.

إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُوا قَوۡمًا فَاسِقِينَ

Verily, they are the people who are rebellious.

means, who are disobedient towards Allah and who go against His commands and His religion

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 قَتَلۡتُ مِنۡهُمۡ نَفۡسًا

Musa said:My Lord! I have killed a man among them,

meaning, that Coptic,

فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ

and I fear that they will kill me.

i.e., `when they see me.

وَأَخِي هَارُونُ هُوَ أَفۡصَحُ 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:

وَاحۡلُلۡ عُقۡدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِى

يَفۡقَهُواۡ قَوۡلِي

وَاجۡعَل لِّى وَزِيراً مِّنۡ أَهۡلِى

هَـرُونَ أَخِى

اشۡدُدۡ بِهِ أَزۡرِى

وَأَشۡرِكۡهُ فِى أَمۡرِى

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 أَفۡصَحُ مِنِّي لِسَانًا فَأَرۡسِلۡهُ مَعِيَ رِدۡءًا

(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.

فَأَرۡسِلۡهُ مَعِيَ رِدۡءًا 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:

رِدۡءًا 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

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;

قَدۡ أُوتِيتَ سُوۡلَكَ يمُوسَى

You are granted your request, O Musa! (20:36)

وَوَهَبۡنَا لَهُ مِن رَّحۡمَتِنَأ 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)

وَنَجۡعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلۡطَانًا

and (We will) give you both power,

means, overwhelming evidence.

فَلَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَيۡكُمَا 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 بَلِّغۡ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَإِن لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلۡ فَمَا بَلَّغۡتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَاللّهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ 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 وَيَخۡشَوۡنَهُ وَلَا يَخۡشَوۡنَ 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 الۡغَالِبُونَ

you two as well as those who follow you will be the victors.

This is like the Ayat:

كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لاّغۡلِبَنَّ أَنَاۡ 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 الۡحَيَاةِ الدُّنۡيَا وَيَوۡمَ يَقُومُ الاَۡشۡهَادُ

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

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 ﷺ 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 سِحۡرٌ مُّفۡتَرًى

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 سَمِعۡنَا بِهَذَا فِي ابَايِنَا الاَۡوَّلِينَ

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

وَقَالَ مُوسَى

Musa said:

Musa said in response to them:

رَبِّي أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن جَاء بِالۡهُدَى مِنۡ 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 يُفۡلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ

Verily, the wrongdoers will not be successful.

refers to the idolators who associate others in worship with Allah

The Arrogance of Fir`awn and His ultimate Destiny

Allah tells:

وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ

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.

فَاسۡتَخَفَّ قَوۡمَهُ 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 الۡمَلَاُ مَا عَلِمۡتُ لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَهٍ غَيۡرِي

O chiefs! I know not that you have a god other than me.

Allah tells us about Fir`awn:

فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَى

فَقَالَ أَنَاۡ رَبُّكُمُ الاٌّعۡلَى

فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الاٌّخِرَةِ وَالاٍّوۡلَى

إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لَعِبۡرَةً لِّمَن يَخۡشَى

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 اتَّخَذۡتَ إِلَـهَاً غَيۡرِى لَاجۡعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ الۡمَسۡجُونِينَ

If you choose a god other than me, I will certainly put you among the prisoners. (26:29)

فَأَوۡقِدۡ لِي يَا هَامَانُ عَلَى الطِّينِ فَاجۡعَل لِّي صَرۡحًا 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 فَرۡعَوۡنُ يهَـمَـنُ ابۡنِ لِى صَرۡحاً لَّعَـلِّى أَبۡلُغُ الاٌّسۡبَـبَ

أَسۡبَـبَ السَّمَـوَتِ فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلَى إِلَـهِ مُوسَى وَإِنِّى لاّظُنُّهُ كَـذِباً وَكَـذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرۡعَوۡنَ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ وَصُدَّ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا كَـيۡدُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ 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 الۡكَاذِبِينَ

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 الۡعَـلَمِينَ

(And what is the Lord of Al-`Alamin) (26:23) and:

لَيِنِ اتَّخَذۡتَ إِلَـهَاً غَيۡرِى لَاجۡعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ الۡمَسۡجُونِينَ

(If you choose a god other than me, I will certainly put you among the prisoners). (26:29) and he said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الۡمَلَاُ مَا عَلِمۡتُ لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَهٍ غَيۡرِي

(O chiefs! I know not that you have a god other than me).

This was the view of Ibn Jarir.

And Allah tells:

وَاسۡتَكۡبَرَ هُوَ وَجُنُودُهُ فِي الاۡاَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ الۡحَقِّ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمۡ إِلَيۡنَا لَاا يُرۡجَعُونَ

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 عَلَيۡهِمۡ رَبُّكَ سَوۡطَ عَذَابٍ

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِالۡمِرۡصَادِ

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

فَأَخَذۡنَاهُ وَجُنُودَهُ فَنَبَذۡنَاهُمۡ فِي الۡيَمِّ

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.'

فَانظُرۡ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الظَّالِمِينَ

وَجَعَلۡنَاهُمۡ أَيِمَّةً يَدۡعُونَ 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.

وَيَوۡمَ الۡقِيَامَةِ 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:

أَهۡلَكۡنَـهُمۡ فَلَ نَـصِرَ لَهُمۡ

We have destroyed them. And there was none to help them. (47:13)

وَأَتۡبَعۡنَاهُمۡ فِي هَذِهِ الدُّنۡيَا لَعۡنَةً

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.

وَيَوۡمَ الۡقِيَامَةِ هُم مِّنَ الۡمَقۡبُوحِينَ

and on the Day of Resurrection, they will be among disgraced.

Qatadah said,

This Ayah is like the Ayah,

وَأُتۡبِعُواۡ فِى هَـذِهِ لَعۡنَةً وَيَوۡمَ الۡقِيَـمَةِ بِيۡسَ الرِّفۡدُ الۡمَرۡفُودُ

They were pursued by a curse in this (life) and on the Day of Resurrection. Evil indeed is the gift given. (11:99)

The Blessings which Allah bestowed upon Musa

Allah tells:

وَلَقَدۡ اتَيۡنَا مُوسَى الۡكِتَابَ

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 بَعۡدِ مَا أَهۡلَكۡنَا الۡقُرُونَ الاُۡولَى

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 فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَمَن قَبۡلَهُ وَالۡمُوۡتَفِكَـتُ بِالۡخَاطِيَةِ

فَعَصَوۡاۡ رَسُولَ رَبِّهِمۡ فَأَخَذَهُمۡ أَخۡذَةً 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 وَرَحۡمَةً

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.

لَّعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

that they might remember.

means, that the people might be reminded and guided by it.