فَلَمَّآ أَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَبْطِشَ بِٱلَّذِى هُوَ عَدُوٌّ لَّهُمَا قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقْتُلَنِى كَمَا قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًۢا بِٱلْأَمْسِ ۖ إِن تُرِيدُ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ جَبَّارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُرِيدُ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِينَ 19
Translations
And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he said, "O Moses, do you intend to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the amenders."
Transliteration
Falamma an arada an yabṭisha billadhī huwa ʿaduwwun lahuma qāla yā Mūsā aturīdu an taqtulannī kamā qatalta nafsann bil-amsi in turīdu illā an takūna jabbāran fīl-arḍi wa mā turīdu an takūna minal-muṣlihīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Israelite man from Pharaoh's faction (mentioned in 28:15) warning Mūsā after witnessing him strike the Egyptian the previous day, accusing him of attempting murder and tyranny. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the man recognized Mūsā and sought to protect himself while exposing Mūsā's previous transgression, attempting to provoke him into further violence. The passage illustrates how a single act of violence, even when committed for seemingly just reasons, can create suspicion and accusations that undermine credibility and righteous intent.
Revelation Context
This verse follows the historical narrative of Mūsā's life before his prophethood, specifically after he killed the Egyptian in defense of the Israelite slave (28:15). The broader context of Surah Al-Qasas is Meccan, revealed to comfort the Prophet Muhammad during persecution by reminding him of Mūsā's trials and eventual triumph. This incident demonstrates the consequences of Mūsā's hasty action and sets the stage for his exile to Madyan.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific incident, Sunan Ibn Majah records a hadith encouraging reconciliation and forbearance in disputes. Additionally, Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Bukhārī contains hadiths about the gravity of taking life unjustly, emphasizing that even unintentional harm carries serious consequences.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even righteous actions performed hastily without proper deliberation can damage one's credibility and cause unforeseen consequences; true reform requires not only good intentions but also prudence, restraint, and actions consistent with justice rather than emotional impulse.
Related Ayahs
فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِنْ عِندِنَا قَالُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُوتِىَ مِثْلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰٓ ۚ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفُرُوا۟ بِمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ قَالُوا۟ سِحْرَانِ تَظَـٰهَرَا وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا بِكُلٍّ كَـٰفِرُونَ
But when the truth came to them from Us, they said, "Why was he not given like that which was given to Moses?" Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Moses before? They said, "[They are but] two works of magic supporting each other, and indeed we are, in both, disbelievers."
فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُۥ فَنَبَذْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ ۖ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
So We took him and his soldiers and threw them into the sea. So see how was the end of the wrongdoers.
۞ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ مُوسَى ٱلْأَجَلَ وَسَارَ بِأَهْلِهِۦٓ ءَانَسَ مِن جَانِبِ ٱلطُّورِ نَارًا قَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ جَذْوَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ
And when Moses had completed the term and was traveling with his family, he perceived from the direction of the mount a fire. He said to his family, "Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there [some] information or burning wood from the fire that you may warm yourselves."
قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُنكِحَكَ إِحْدَى ٱبْنَتَىَّ هَـٰتَيْنِ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَأْجُرَنِى ثَمَـٰنِىَ حِجَجٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ عَشْرًا فَمِنْ عِندِكَ ۖ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَيْكَ ۚ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
He said, "Indeed, I wish to wed you one of these, my two daughters, on [the condition] that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten, it will be [as a favor] from you. And I do not wish to put you in difficulty. You will find me, if Allāh wills, from among the righteous."