وَقَالَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُ فِرْعَوْنَ قُرَّتُ عَيْنٍ لِّى وَلَكَ ۖ لَا تَقْتُلُوهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدًا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ 9
Translations
And the wife of Pharaoh said, "[He will be] a comfort of the eye [i.e., pleasure] for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son." And they perceived not.
Transliteration
Wa qalati imra'atu fir'awna qurrata 'ayni li wa lak la taqtuluhu 'asa an yanfa'ana aw nattakhidhahu walada wa hum la yash'urun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Pharaoh's wife, upon discovering the baby Moses in the basket, immediately appeals to Pharaoh not to kill him, proposing instead to keep him as a son while hoping he might benefit them. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this woman (identified in Islamic tradition as Asiyah) demonstrates mercy and maternal compassion, contrasting sharply with Pharaoh's cruelty, and her intervention becomes the means through which Allah preserves Moses. The phrase 'wa hum la yash'urun' (and they do not perceive) highlights the divine irony—neither Pharaoh nor his wife realized that this child would become the instrument of Pharaoh's downfall and the liberation of the Israelites.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Al-Qasas, which narrates the story of Moses' birth and early life. The surah was revealed in Mecca during the Meccan period and serves to console the Prophet Muhammad and the early Muslims during persecution. This particular verse demonstrates how Allah's providence works through unexpected means—using the compassion of Pharaoh's own wife to save the very person destined to destroy his kingdom.
Related Hadiths
There is no hadith directly quoting this verse, but Surah At-Tahrim (66:11) praises Asiyah (Pharaoh's wife): 'And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, My Lord, build for me a house with You in Paradise.' This shows her ultimate status despite living in Pharaoh's household.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Allah's protection and plans transcend human circumstances—even placing His chosen ones under the care of those who oppose His message. It also demonstrates that sincere compassion and mercy, even from unexpected quarters, are valued by Allah and can become instruments of His divine will, reminding us that goodness can emerge from any heart that remains receptive to truth.
Related Ayahs
فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِنْ عِندِنَا قَالُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُوتِىَ مِثْلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰٓ ۚ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفُرُوا۟ بِمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ قَالُوا۟ سِحْرَانِ تَظَـٰهَرَا وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا بِكُلٍّ كَـٰفِرُونَ
But when the truth came to them from Us, they said, "Why was he not given like that which was given to Moses?" Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Moses before? They said, "[They are but] two works of magic supporting each other, and indeed we are, in both, disbelievers."
فَلَمَّآ أَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَبْطِشَ بِٱلَّذِى هُوَ عَدُوٌّ لَّهُمَا قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقْتُلَنِى كَمَا قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًۢا بِٱلْأَمْسِ ۖ إِن تُرِيدُ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ جَبَّارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُرِيدُ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِينَ
And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he said, "O Moses, do you intend to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the amenders."
وَمِن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ لِتَسْكُنُوا۟ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And out of His mercy He made for you the night and the day that you may rest therein and [by day] seek from His bounty and [that] perhaps you will be grateful.
وَلَا يَصُدُّنَّكَ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أُنزِلَتْ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
And never let them avert you from the verses of Allāh after they have been revealed to you. And invite [people] to your Lord. And never be of those who associate others with Allāh.