قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكَ ۖ أَيَّمَا ٱلْأَجَلَيْنِ قَضَيْتُ فَلَا عُدْوَٰنَ عَلَىَّ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ 28
Translations
[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."
Transliteration
Qala dhaalika bayni wa baynaka ayyuma al-ajalay in qadayta fa la udwana alayya wa-Allahu ala ma naqolu wakil
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records Shuaib's (peace be upon him) response to Musa's (peace be upon him) request for employment, wherein Shuaib proposes a conditional covenant: whichever of the two agreed-upon terms Musa fulfills, there shall be no transgression against him, and Allah witnesses their agreement. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this demonstrates the permissibility of conditional contracts in Islamic law and reflects Shuaib's justice and piety in establishing clear terms without ambiguity or deceit.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Musa's journey to Madyan after fleeing Egypt, where he encounters Shuaib and his daughters at the well. The context illustrates the ethical employment practices and fair dealings exemplified by Shuaib, a righteous prophet, setting a standard for honest commerce and labor agreements in Islamic tradition.
Related Hadiths
The principle of clear contractual terms is supported by the hadith: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), emphasizing just treatment. Additionally, the hadith on mutual consent in contracts: 'The best charity is when two parties transact with each other with sincerity and honesty' relates to the transparent agreement-making shown here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to establish clear, mutual agreements in business and employment dealings, and to invoke Allah as witness to their contracts, knowing that He observes all transactions. Modern readers should apply this principle of transparency and fair dealing in all commercial and labor relationships, ensuring that terms are understood and accepted by all parties without coercion or deception.
Related Ayahs
۞ 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."
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.
وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَمَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتُهَا ۚ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
And whatever thing you [people] have been given - it is [only for] the enjoyment of worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allāh is better and more lasting; so will you not use reason?
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