فَجَآءَتْهُ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا تَمْشِى عَلَى ٱسْتِحْيَآءٍ قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِى يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا ۚ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُۥ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 25
Translations
Then one of the two women came to him walking with shyness. She said, "Indeed, my father invites you that he may reward you for having watered for us." So when he came to him and related to him the story, he said, "Fear not. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people."
Transliteration
Fajaa'at-hu ihda-huma tamshi 'alaa istihya'in qalat inna abi yad'uka liyajziyaka ajra ma saqayta lana falamma ja'ahu wa qassa 'alayhi al-qassas qala la takhaf najawta min al-qawm al-zalimin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how one of the two daughters of Shu'ayb approached Musa with modesty, inviting him to meet her father who wished to reward him for watering their flocks. When Musa came and recounted his story, Shu'ayb reassured him that he had escaped from Pharaoh and the oppressive people of Egypt. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this demonstrates Shu'ayb's wisdom in recognizing Musa's noble character and offering him both hospitality and employment, while simultaneously assuring him of safety from pursuers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the detailed narrative of Musa's flight from Egypt to Madyan after killing the Egyptian, a pivotal moment in Quranic history. The surah Al-Qasas focuses on stories of divine providence and protection, illustrating how Allah guided Musa through difficult circumstances and eventually became a messenger.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly narrates this event, Surah Al-Qasas 28:15-28 is frequently referenced in Quranic exegesis. The theme of seeking refuge and Allah's protection is reflected in various hadiths about reliance on Allah (tawakkul) during times of difficulty and persecution.
Themes
Key Lesson
This passage teaches us that Allah provides refuge for the righteous who flee oppression, and that genuine virtue and good character are recognized and rewarded by righteous people. The modesty displayed by the young woman and the compassion shown by Shu'ayb exemplify Islamic values of honor and mercy that transcend cultural boundaries.
Related Ayahs
وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَآءَ مَدْيَنَ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهْدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ
And when he directed himself toward Madyan, he said, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the sound way."
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Indeed, [O Muḥammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِن نَّتَّبِعِ ٱلْهُدَىٰ مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَآ ۚ أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمْ حَرَمًا ءَامِنًا يُجْبَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَٰتُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ رِّزْقًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And they [i.e., the Quraysh] say, "If we were to follow the guidance with you, we would be swept from our land." Have We not established for them a safe sanctuary to which are brought the fruits of all things as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.
وَلَوْلَآ أَن تُصِيبَهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لَوْلَآ أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولًا فَنَتَّبِعَ ءَايَـٰتِكَ وَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And if not that a disaster should strike them for what their hands put forth [of sins] and they would say, "Our Lord, why did You not send us a messenger so we could have followed Your verses and been among the believers?"...