وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ وَهَـٰرُونَ ٱلْفُرْقَانَ وَضِيَآءً وَذِكْرًا لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ 48
Translations
And We had already given Moses and Aaron the criterion and a light and a reminder for the righteous
Transliteration
Wa-laqad atayna Musa wa-Harun al-furqan wa-diya'an wa-dhikran lil-muttaqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah granted Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) al-Furqan (the Criterion to distinguish between truth and falsehood, referring to the Torah), light (guidance and clarity), and a reminder for those who fear Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, al-Furqan specifically refers to the Torah's divine guidance that enabled them to distinguish lawful from unlawful, while the light represents the illumination of truth and the reminder serves as an admonition for the God-conscious. This ayah emphasizes that divine revelation is a comprehensive gift containing knowledge, guidance, and moral instruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Anbiya, a Meccan surah that recounts the stories of various prophets to reassure the Prophet Muhammad and establish the continuity of divine revelation. The mention of Musa and Harun contextualizes their prophetic mission as predecessors, demonstrating that Allah has consistently provided clear guidance to those sent with His message.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet Muhammad said, 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it,' parallels the concept of revelation being guidance and reminder. Additionally, Surah Al-Furqan (25:1) directly references al-Furqan as a distinguisher, reinforcing this theme throughout the Quran.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that authentic divine guidance serves three purposes: to distinguish truth from falsehood, to illuminate the path forward, and to remind believers of their accountability. For modern readers, it emphasizes that true religious knowledge should clarify moral distinctions and strengthen God-consciousness rather than create confusion.