۞ 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 29
Translations
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."
Transliteration
Falamma qadaa Moosa al-ajal wa sara bi-ahlihi anasa min janibi al-turi naran qala li-ahlihi imkuthoo inni anast naran laAAalla atiikum minha bikhabarin aw jathwatin min al-nari laAAallakum tastalamoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Musa's journey with his family from Madyan after completing his covenant with Shuayb. When he saw fire near Mount Tur, he instructed his family to wait while he went to investigate, hoping to bring back news or burning embers for warmth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this was the prelude to Musa's divine encounter at the Burning Bush, where Allah would speak to him and commission him as a prophet. The fire he perceived was not ordinary fire but the sign marking the beginning of his prophetic mission.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the detailed narrative of Musa's life in Surah Al-Qasas, which was revealed in Mecca. It directly precedes the famous account of the Burning Bush (28:30-35) where Allah reveals Himself to Musa. The surah presents stories of various messengers as consolation to Prophet Muhammad during his trials in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The encounter at the Burning Bush is referenced in Sahih Bukhari (hadith 3370) where the Prophet Muhammad mentions that Musa was the first to be given the Torah. Additionally, Surah Taha (20:9-14) provides further detail about this same incident, mentioned in multiple hadith collections discussing the names of Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that ordinary moments in life—even small acts of consideration for family or searching for basic needs—can be the threshold to extraordinary divine encounters. It reminds us to remain attentive to God's signs in our surroundings and to approach life's journey with trust that Allah guides us toward our purpose.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًا مِّن نَّبَاتٍ شَتَّىٰ
[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.
فَأَنشَأْنَا لَكُم بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتٍ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَـٰبٍ لَّكُمْ فِيهَا فَوَٰكِهُ كَثِيرَةٌ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
And We brought forth for you thereby gardens of palm trees and grapevines in which for you are abundant fruits and from which you eat.
لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
That Allāh may reward them [according to] the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty. And Allāh gives provision to whom He wills without account [i.e., limit].
يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا ٱلصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِى سَبْعِ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـٰتٍ لَّعَلِّىٓ أَرْجِعُ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
[He said], "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry - that I may return to the people [i.e., the king and his court]; perhaps they will know [about you]."