فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ 24
Translations
So he watered [their flocks] for them; then he went back to the shade and said, "My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need."
Transliteration
Fasaqaa lahuma thumma tawallaa ilaz-zill faqaala rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqir
Tafsir (Explanation)
After Musa (Moses) watered the flocks for the two women, he withdrew to the shade and made a heartfelt supplication to Allah, expressing his desperate need and poverty before his Lord despite any good that had come to him. This demonstrates Musa's humility and complete reliance on Allah (tawakkul), recognizing that all provision and goodness ultimately comes from the Divine. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this prayer reflects the character of a righteous servant who, despite performing a good deed, remains conscious of his utter dependence on Allah's mercy and sustenance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Musa's journey after fleeing Egypt, when he arrived in Madyan (Midian) as a fugitive with no wealth or provisions. The context shows Musa's encounter with two women at a well, his assistance to them, and his subsequent supplication—establishing the foundational character traits that would define his prophethood: compassion, humility, and unwavering trust in Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895)—relating to Musa's kindness. Additionally, 'Whoever is merciful, even to the creatures on earth, Allah will be merciful to him on the Day of Judgment' (Sunan Abu Dawud 4723)—reflecting the compassion shown in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True strength lies not in self-sufficiency but in humble recognition of our complete dependence on Allah's mercy and provision. Even when performing good deeds, a believer should maintain consciousness of their own need and poverty before Allah, approaching Him with sincere supplication rather than pride in their actions.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلنَّهَارَ سَرْمَدًا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَنْ إِلَـٰهٌ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُم بِلَيْلٍ تَسْكُنُونَ فِيهِ ۖ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ
Say, "Have you considered: if Allāh should make for you the day continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allāh could bring you a night in which you may rest? Then will you not see?"
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.
وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ
And We wanted to confer favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them inheritors
۞ 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."