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
وَدَخَلَ ٱلْمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ وَهَـٰذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِۦ ۖ فَٱسْتَغَـٰثَهُ ٱلَّذِى مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ عَلَى ٱلَّذِى مِنْ عَدُوِّهِۦ فَوَكَزَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ عَدُوٌّ مُّضِلٌّ مُّبِينٌ
And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people and found therein two men fighting: one from his faction and one from among his enemy. And the one from his faction called for help to him against the one from his enemy, so Moses struck him and [unintentionally] killed him. [Moses] said, "This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy."
وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ
And [warn of] the Day He will call them and say, "Where are My 'partners' which you used to claim?"
قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكَ ۖ أَيَّمَا ٱلْأَجَلَيْنِ قَضَيْتُ فَلَا عُدْوَٰنَ عَلَىَّ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ
[Moses] said, "That is [established] between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I complete - there is no injustice to me, and Allāh, over what we say, is Witness."
وَأَصْبَحَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوْا۟ مَكَانَهُۥ بِٱلْأَمْسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيْكَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ ۖ لَوْلَآ أَن مَّنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا ۖ وَيْكَأَنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
And those who had wished for his position the previous day began to say, "Oh, how Allāh extends provision to whom He wills of His servants and restricts it! If not that Allāh had conferred favor on us, He would have caused it to swallow us. Oh, how the disbelievers do not succeed!"