قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ ٱلْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُۥ ۚ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا 63
Translations
He said, "Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly."
Transliteration
Qala araaita idh awaina ila as-sakhrati fa-inni naitu al-hoota wa ma ansanihoo illa ash-shaytan an adhkurahu wa-ittakhada sabilahu fi al-bahri ajaba
Tafsir (Explanation)
The companion (referring to Musa's servant) reminds Musa of the miraculous disappearance of the fish at the rock, explaining that he had forgotten to mention it due to Shaytan's interference with his memory. Ibn Kathir notes this demonstrates how Shaytan whispers to humans to cause forgetfulness of important matters, and the fish's entry into the sea 'in a marvelous way' (ajaba) signifies the supernatural nature of the event—a sign marking where Musa should meet Al-Khidr. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes this as a reminder of Shaytan's constant effort to distract believers from their objectives.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Musa (Moses) seeking Al-Khidr, one of the Qur'an's most detailed stories about seeking knowledge. The story is set in the context of Musa's journey to find the meeting point with Al-Khidr, and this ayah comes when the servant suddenly remembers the sign (the fish) that indicated they had reached their destination. The broader surah emphasizes trials, patience, and hidden divine wisdom.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3401) narrates the full story of Musa and Al-Khidr, where the servant's remembrance of the fish serves as the appointed sign. Additionally, various hadiths warn against Shaytan's role in causing forgetfulness, as mentioned in general teachings about Shaytan's influence on human cognition.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that forgetfulness and distraction are often tools of Shaytan to divert us from our spiritual goals and important tasks; we should seek refuge in Allah and remain vigilant about our intentions. It also teaches that apparent coincidences or sudden remembrances may be divine signs guiding us toward wisdom and important meetings in our spiritual journey.