وَفِى مُوسَىٰٓ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ بِسُلْطَـٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ 38
Translations
And in Moses [was a sign], when We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority.
Transliteration
Wa fi Musa idh arsalnahu ila Fir'awna bisultanin mubin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah mentions Prophet Musa (Moses) as an example of Allah's signs and power, highlighting how Allah sent him to Pharaoh with clear proof and manifest authority. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the 'clear authority' (sultan mubin) refers to the miracles granted to Musa—particularly the staff that turned into a serpent and his hand that shone white—which were unmistakable evidence of his prophethood. The ayah emphasizes that despite these overwhelming signs, Pharaoh rejected the message, demonstrating human free will in accepting or rejecting truth.
Revelation Context
Surah Adh-Dhariyat is a Meccan surah that uses natural phenomena (the winds) as introductory signs pointing to Allah's existence and power. This ayah appears within a section (51:38-45) that recounts stories of previous nations and messengers as proof of Allah's ability to resurrect and judge. The mention of Musa serves to comfort the Prophet Muhammad and reassure believers that rejection of truth is not new—previous messengers faced similar opposition.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad said, 'The greatest sign (ayah) is the Qur'an itself' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), and Musa's miracles are frequently cited in hadith as examples of divine signs (ayat). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, there are accounts of the Prophet describing Musa's encounter with Pharaoh as a lesson in perseverance despite rejection.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that truth is accompanied by clear evidence and that a messenger's duty is to convey the message with clarity, not to force acceptance—the response remains a choice of the recipient's heart. For believers today, it serves as a reminder that opposition to the message of Islam is not unprecedented and that Allah's guidance is available to all, but acceptance requires sincere hearts willing to receive it.