قَالَ فَعَلْتُهَآ إِذًا وَأَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ 20
Translations
[Moses] said, "I did it, then, while I was of those astray [i.e., ignorant].
Transliteration
Qala fa'altuhā idhā wa-anā min ad-dāllīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Moses (Musa) acknowledges that he did indeed kill the Coptic man, and he was at that time among those who were astray or ignorant of the proper way. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as Moses confessing his act while claiming he was not yet guided by divine revelation, emphasizing his repentance and the mercy of Allah in subsequently appointing him as a messenger. This statement reflects a moment of vulnerability and human weakness before his prophetic mission, demonstrating that even great prophets have a past and are capable of mistakes before their selection as divine messengers.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which chronologically addresses the story of Prophet Moses before Pharaoh. The context is Moses' flight from Egypt after killing an Egyptian man in self-defense (mentioned in Surah Al-Qasas 28:15), and his subsequent encounter with the people of Midian. This surah was revealed in Mecca during the Meccan period and emphasizes the trials and missions of various prophets, using Moses' narrative to console the Prophet Muhammad during his own persecution.
Related Hadiths
The incident of Moses killing the Egyptian is referenced in Surah Al-Qasas 28:14-15, which provides more detail about the circumstances. Tirmidhi and other hadith collections contain traditions about the trials of the prophets and how Allah chose them despite their human nature and past actions.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that everyone has a past and can be misguided before finding the right path; the key is sincere repentance and turning toward Allah, which can transform even the most flawed person into a great servant of God and leader of others.