وَأَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَآنٌّ وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ ۚ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَا تَخَفْ إِنِّى لَا يَخَافُ لَدَىَّ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ 10
Translations
And [he was told], "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it writhing as if it were a snake, he turned in flight and did not return. [Allāh said], "O Moses, fear not. Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear.
Transliteration
Wa alqi 'asaaka, falamma ra'aha tahtazzu ka'annaha jannun walla mudbirran walam yu'aqqib. Ya Musa la takhaf inni la yakhaafu ladayya al-mursalun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands Prophet Musa (Moses) to cast down his staff, which miraculously transforms into a serpent that moves with life-like motion, causing Musa to flee in fear. Allah then reassures him not to fear, establishing that the Messengers of Allah have a special status and protection from Him—this staff-to-serpent miracle was one of the nine signs given to Musa to convince Pharaoh. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah demonstrates both the power of Allah's miracles and the psychological strength required of His messengers to overcome natural fear through divine confidence.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Naml (The Ant), a Meccan surah that recounts various stories of prophets and their encounters with divine signs. The context here is the account of Musa's mission to Pharaoh, establishing the timeline of how Allah equipped Musa with miraculous signs before his confrontation with the Egyptian ruler.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari records that 'Abdullah ibn Abbas reported the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioning the nine signs given to Musa, which included the transformation of the staff. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, there is mention of how the righteous from among the Messengers were tested with signs to strengthen their faith and conviction.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that natural human fear is understandable, but trust in Allah's promises and protection should ultimately overcome it; furthermore, those who are chosen for divine missions are granted special assistance and should not despair when facing overwhelming circumstances.
Related Ayahs
وَإِنِّى مُرْسِلَةٌ إِلَيْهِم بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَنَاظِرَةٌۢ بِمَ يَرْجِعُ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ
But indeed, I will send to them a gift and see with what [reply] the messengers will return."
قَالُوا۟ تَقَاسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُۥ وَأَهْلَهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِۦ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَصَـٰدِقُونَ
They said, "Take a mutual oath by Allāh that we will kill him by night, he and his family. Then we will say to his executor, 'We did not witness the destruction of his family, and indeed, we are truthful.'"
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّا جَعَلْنَا ٱلَّيْلَ لِيَسْكُنُوا۟ فِيهِ وَٱلنَّهَارَ مُبْصِرًا ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Do they not see that We made the night that they may rest therein and the day giving sight? Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.
قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْغَيْبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allāh, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected."