وَٱخْتَارَ مُوسَىٰ قَوْمَهُۥ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا لِّمِيقَـٰتِنَا ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلرَّجْفَةُ قَالَ رَبِّ لَوْ شِئْتَ أَهْلَكْتَهُم مِّن قَبْلُ وَإِيَّـٰىَ ۖ أَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّا فِتْنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَهْدِى مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَا ۖ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْغَـٰفِرِينَ 155
Translations
And Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment. And when the earthquake seized them, he said, "My Lord, if You had willed, You could have destroyed them before and me [as well]. Would You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is not but Your trial by which You send astray whom You will and guide whom You will. You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers.
Transliteration
Wa-khtar Musa qawmahu sab'ina rajulan limiqa'tin fa-lamma akhdhathum al-rajfah qal Rabbi law shi'ta ahlaktahum min qablu wa-iyya atu-hlikuna bima fa'al al-sufaha'u minna in hiya illa fitnatuk tudillu biha man tasha wa-tahdi man tasha ant waliyuna fa-ghfir lana wa-rhamna wa-ant khayru al-ghafirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Prophet Musa (Moses) selected seventy men from his people to meet Allah at Mount Sinai, but when they were seized by an earthquake (rajfah) upon witnessing Allah's manifestation, they died in disbelief. Musa appeals to Allah, questioning why the foolish among his people should cause punishment for all, and beseeches Allah's forgiveness and mercy, acknowledging that trials and guidance are solely in Allah's hands. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this incident tests the believers' faith and demonstrates Musa's compassion and intercession for his people, while affirming Allah's absolute sovereignty over guidance and misguidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader narrative in Surah Al-A'raf recounting key events from the life of Musa, specifically the incident at Mount Sinai (Tur Sina'). The context follows the story of the Golden Calf and precedes Musa's receipt of the Tablets. The Meccan context emphasizes lessons for the Prophet Muhammad and his community about steadfastness, divine trials, and the consequences of disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The incident is referenced in Sahih Muslim and other collections regarding the seventy men who were killed by the earthquake. Hadith narrations in Sunan Ibn Majah and Tafsir al-Tabari provide additional details about this event and its significance as a test for the believing community.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that trials and difficulties are tests from Allah designed to distinguish the righteous from the wicked, and that we should respond with humility, seeking Allah's forgiveness rather than despairing or blaming others. It also reminds believers that leaders like Musa intercede for their communities with compassion, encouraging us to advocate for one another with mercy and to recognize that all guidance ultimately comes from Allah alone.
Related Ayahs
تِلْكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآئِهَا ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَمَا كَانُوا۟ لِيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِمَا كَذَّبُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَطْبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Those cities - We relate to you, [O Muḥammad], some of their news. And certainly did their messengers come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe in that which they had denied before. Thus does Allāh seal over the hearts of the disbelievers.
فَلَنَقُصَّنَّ عَلَيْهِم بِعِلْمٍ ۖ وَمَا كُنَّا غَآئِبِينَ
Then We will surely relate [their deeds] to them with knowledge, and We were not [at all] absent.
ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ لَهْوًا وَلَعِبًا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ فَٱلْيَوْمَ نَنسَىٰهُمْ كَمَا نَسُوا۟ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِهِمْ هَـٰذَا وَمَا كَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ
Who took their religion as distraction and amusement and whom the worldly life deluded." So today We will forget them just as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs and for having rejected Our verses.
وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُۥ فَإِذَا هِىَ بَيْضَآءُ لِلنَّـٰظِرِينَ
And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers.