قَالَتْ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسْتَـْٔجِرْهُ ۖ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ ٱسْتَـْٔجَرْتَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْأَمِينُ 26
Translations
One of the women said, "O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy."
Transliteration
Qalat ihdhahuma ya abati istajir-hu, inna khayra mani istajarta al-qawwu al-ameen
Tafsir (Explanation)
One of the two daughters of Shu'ayb addresses her father, recommending that he hire Musa (Moses) as a worker, emphasizing that the best person to employ is someone who possesses both strength and trustworthiness. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reflects the daughter's keen observation of Musa's character—demonstrated when he drew water for them at the well and showed protective strength—combined with her recognition of his moral integrity. This ayah illustrates how true merit in employment and leadership is determined by competence paired with ethical virtue.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Musa's flight from Egypt after killing the Coptic man, when he arrived at the well of Midian and assisted Shu'ayb's daughters. The context shows the practical wisdom of Shu'ayb's household in recognizing trustworthy character, and serves as a prelude to Musa's employment and marriage within this righteous family, demonstrating divine providence in his affairs.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'When you entrust someone with a task, choose the best among you.' (Sunan Abu Dawud) This aligns with the principle of selecting employees based on competence and trustworthiness. Additionally, the Hadith on the importance of trustworthiness: 'Whoever betrays the trust has no faith, and whoever lies has no religion' (Musnad Ahmad).
Themes
Key Lesson
True qualifications for any position of responsibility combine both practical ability (strength/competence) and moral integrity (trustworthiness); recognizing and appointing such individuals reflects divine wisdom and leads to beneficial outcomes in both worldly and spiritual affairs.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ ۘ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُۥ ۚ لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
And do not invoke with Allāh another deity. There is no deity except Him. Everything will be destroyed except His Face. His is the judgement, and to Him you will be returned.
وَأَصْبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَـٰرِغًا ۖ إِن كَادَتْ لَتُبْدِى بِهِۦ لَوْلَآ أَن رَّبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قَلْبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And the heart of Moses' mother became empty [of all else]. She was about to disclose [the matter concerning] him had We not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers.
وَأَتْبَعْنَـٰهُمْ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعْنَةً ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ هُم مِّنَ ٱلْمَقْبُوحِينَ
And We caused to overtake them in this world a curse, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be of the despised.
فَٱلْتَقَطَهُۥٓ ءَالُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِيَكُونَ لَهُمْ عَدُوًّا وَحَزَنًا ۗ إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا كَانُوا۟ خَـٰطِـِٔينَ
And the family of Pharaoh picked him up [out of the river] so that he would become to them an enemy and a [cause of] grief. Indeed, Pharaoh and Hāmān and their soldiers were deliberate sinners.