فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَآئِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 21
Translations
So he left it, fearful and anticipating [apprehension]. He said, "My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people."
Transliteration
Fakharaja minhā khā'ifan yataraqqab, qāla rabbi najjinī minal-qawmiz-zālimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This verse describes Prophet Musa's departure from Egypt in fear after killing the Coptic man, while remaining vigilant and watchful of his surroundings. He immediately turned to Allah in supplication, seeking deliverance from the oppressive people of Pharaoh. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that despite his fear, Musa's first instinct was to seek refuge in Allah, demonstrating the believer's response to danger—combining practical caution with complete reliance upon the Divine.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Musa in Surah Al-Qasas, which opens with 'The Stories' (tales of the Prophets). The context concerns Musa's early life in Egypt: after witnessing an Egyptian taskmaster beating an Israelite, Musa struck and unintentionally killed him, leading to his flight from Egypt. This event catalyzed his escape to Madyan and ultimately his prophetic mission.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this verse, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain numerous ahadith about Prophet Musa's life and the virtue of seeking Allah's protection (istia'dhah) in times of fear and distress, reflecting the Quranic principle exemplified here.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even when facing immediate danger, the believer should couple practical vigilance with heartfelt supplication to Allah, recognizing that true safety lies only in His hands. This verse teaches that fear itself is not blameworthy when it drives us closer to Allah through sincere dua and dependence upon Him.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ هَمَّ قَوْمٌ أَن يَبْسُطُوٓا۟ إِلَيْكُمْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فَكَفَّ أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَنكُمْ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
O you who have believed, remember the favor of Allāh upon you when a people determined to extend their hands [in aggression] against you, but He withheld their hands from you; and fear Allāh. And upon Allāh let the believers rely.
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ لَهَمَّت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُضِلُّوكَ وَمَا يُضِلُّونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۖ وَمَا يَضُرُّونَكَ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ وَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُن تَعْلَمُ ۚ وَكَانَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا
And if it was not for the favor of Allāh upon you, [O Muḥammad], and His mercy, a group of them would have determined to mislead you. But they do not mislead except themselves, and they will not harm you at all. And Allāh has revealed to you the Book and wisdom and has taught you that which you did not know. And ever has the favor of Allāh upon you been great.
وَيُنَجِّى ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ بِمَفَازَتِهِمْ لَا يَمَسُّهُمُ ٱلسُّوٓءُ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
And Allāh will save those who feared Him by their attainment; no evil will touch them, nor will they grieve.
فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَأَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلسَّفِينَةِ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
But We saved him and the companions of the ship, and We made it a sign for the worlds.