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
وَسْـَٔلْهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ ٱلْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ ۙ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ
And ask them about the town that was by the sea - when they transgressed in [the matter of] the sabbath - when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We give them trial because they were defiantly disobedient.
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ أَتَذَرُ مُوسَىٰ وَقَوْمَهُۥ لِيُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَيَذَرَكَ وَءَالِهَتَكَ ۚ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ وَنَسْتَحْىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمْ وَإِنَّا فَوْقَهُمْ قَـٰهِرُونَ
And the eminent among the people of Pharaoh said, "Will you leave Moses and his people to cause corruption in the land and abandon you and your gods?" [Pharaoh] said, "We will kill their sons and keep their women alive; and indeed, we are subjugators over them."
كِتَـٰبٌ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ فَلَا يَكُن فِى صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌ مِّنْهُ لِتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
[This is] a Book revealed to you, [O Muḥammad] - so let there not be in your breast distress therefrom - that you may warn thereby and as a reminder to the believers.
۞ يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.