فَٱلْتَقَطَهُۥٓ ءَالُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِيَكُونَ لَهُمْ عَدُوًّا وَحَزَنًا ۗ إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا كَانُوا۟ خَـٰطِـِٔينَ 8
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Wal-taqatahu ālu fir'awna liyakūna lahum 'aduwwan wa hazanan. Inna fir'awna wa Hāmāna wa junūdahumā kānū khāti'īn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the family of Pharaoh picked up the baby Musa from the river, intending to raise him as their own, yet Allah decreed that he would become their enemy and source of grief. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note the profound irony: Pharaoh's own household became the means of nurturing the one who would destroy his kingdom. The verse emphasizes that Pharaoh, Haman, and their soldiers were transgressors whose sinful plotting was ultimately futile against Allah's divine plan.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Musa's birth and early life in Surah Al-Qasas (a Meccan surah). It contextualizes the miraculous preservation of Musa and illustrates the theme of Allah's protection of His messengers despite the plans of their enemies. The surah presents these stories as a consolation to the Prophet Muhammad during Meccan persecution.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly comments on this verse, the story is referenced in various hadith collections discussing the biography of Musa. See related discussions in Tafsir Ibn Kathir regarding the narrative of Musa's mother and the preservation of the prophets.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Allah's plans transcend human understanding and schemes; what appears as a victory for the arrogant (Pharaoh gaining a child) becomes their ultimate downfall, reminding believers to trust in Allah's wisdom even when circumstances seem adverse.
Related Ayahs
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.
وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ
And [warn of] the Day He will call them and say, "Where are My 'partners' which you used to claim?"
أَفَمَن وَعَدْنَـٰهُ وَعْدًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ لَـٰقِيهِ كَمَن مَّتَّعْنَـٰهُ مَتَـٰعَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ هُوَ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْضَرِينَ
Then is he whom We have promised a good promise which he will meet [i.e., obtain] like he for whom We provided enjoyment of worldly life [but] then he is, on the Day of Resurrection, among those presented [for punishment in Hell]?
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?