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
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ
But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allāh is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient."
ٱسْلُكْ يَدَكَ فِى جَيْبِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَآءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوٓءٍ وَٱضْمُمْ إِلَيْكَ جَنَاحَكَ مِنَ ٱلرَّهْبِ ۖ فَذَٰنِكَ بُرْهَـٰنَانِ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا فَـٰسِقِينَ
Insert your hand into the opening of your garment; it will come out white, without disease. And draw in your arm close to you [as prevention] from fear, for those are two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his establishment. Indeed, they have been a people defiantly disobedient."
قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلُ رَبَّنَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَغْوَيْنَآ أَغْوَيْنَـٰهُمْ كَمَا غَوَيْنَا ۖ تَبَرَّأْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ۖ مَا كَانُوٓا۟ إِيَّانَا يَعْبُدُونَ
Those upon whom the word will have come into effect will say, "Our Lord, these are the ones we led to error. We led them to error just as we were in error. We declare our disassociation [from them] to You. They did not used to worship [i.e., obey] us."
وَلَا يَصُدُّنَّكَ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أُنزِلَتْ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
And never let them avert you from the verses of Allāh after they have been revealed to you. And invite [people] to your Lord. And never be of those who associate others with Allāh.