وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ ۖ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحْزَنِىٓ ۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ 7
Translations
And We inspired to the mother of Moses, "Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers."
Transliteration
Wa awhayna ila ummi Musa an ardia'ihi fa-iza khifti alayhi fa-alqihi fi al-yammi wa la takhafi wa la tahzani inna na radduhu ilayki wa jaaluhu min al-mursalin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah revealed to Musa's mother to breastfeed her son and, when she feared for his safety from Pharaoh's persecution, to cast him into the river with complete trust in Allah's protection and promise. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this divine instruction contained a dual command: maternal care followed by an act of submission to Allah's will, accompanied by Allah's assurance that He would restore Musa to her and make him one of His messengers. This ayah illustrates the profound theme of divine providence working through seemingly perilous circumstances.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Qasas, which recounts the story of Prophet Musa's early life and his mission. The surah was revealed in Mecca during the Meccan period and addresses the themes of Allah's power over events, His protection of the righteous, and the struggle against tyranny. This particular verse sets the stage for Musa's miraculous preservation and his role as a future messenger, providing comfort to the early Muslim community facing Meccan persecution.
Related Hadiths
The story of Musa's mother is referenced in various hadith collections regarding trust in Allah (tawakkul) and divine protection. Sahih Bukhari and Muslim contain accounts of the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioning Musa's life as an example of Allah's care for His servants, though no single hadith directly quotes this verse's command.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true faith involves both practical action (the mother nursing her child) and complete trust in Allah's plan, even when circumstances appear desperate; modern readers are reminded that following Allah's guidance, even when it seems illogical, ultimately leads to divine mercy and the fulfillment of His promises.