قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لَآ أَمْلِكُ إِلَّا نَفْسِى وَأَخِى ۖ فَٱفْرُقْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ 25
Translations
[Moses] said, "My Lord, indeed I do not possess [i.e., control] except myself and my brother, so part us from the defiantly disobedient people."
Transliteration
Qala Rabbi inni la amliku illa nafsi wa akhi, fafruq baynana wa bayna al-qawmi al-fasiqin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the prayer of Musa (Moses) to Allah when facing the rebellion of the Israelites who refused to enter the promised land. Musa acknowledges his limited authority, stating he can only command himself and his brother Harun (Aaron), and thus appeals to Allah to separate the believers from the transgressors. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this reflects Musa's humility and reliance on divine judgment rather than his own power, demonstrating that true authority belongs to Allah alone.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative in Surah Al-Ma'idah discussing the story of the Israelites' rejection of Allah's command to enter the promised land (mentioned in Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:20-26). The broader context addresses themes of ingratitude, disobedience, and divine punishment, with this specific verse occurring when Musa realizes he cannot force his people to obey and turns to Allah in supplication.
Related Hadiths
The theme of trusting in Allah's judgment is supported by hadith: 'No soul can know what has been hidden for them of comfort for the eyes (in Paradise) as a reward for what they used to do' (Sahih Bukhari 4476). Additionally, Musa's example of relying on Allah is referenced in various hadith collections regarding the importance of du'a (supplication) in times of difficulty.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true leaders acknowledge the limits of their power and turn to Allah in prayer rather than relying solely on force or authority. For modern believers, it emphasizes that while we should fulfill our responsibilities with integrity, ultimate judgment and resolution belong to Allah, encouraging us to remain humble and steadfast in faith even when others reject guidance.