فَأَسْرِ بِعِبَادِى لَيْلًا إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ 23
Translations
[Allāh said], "Then set out with My servants by night. Indeed, you are to be pursued.
Transliteration
Fa-asri bi-'ibadi laylan innakum muttaba'un
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands Musa (Moses) to depart with the Children of Israel during the night, as Pharaoh and his army will pursue them. This ayah marks the divine instruction for the Exodus from Egypt, emphasizing both the urgency of departure and the foreknowledge that pursuit would follow. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this command represents Allah's perfect planning—the nighttime departure was chosen to provide concealment, yet Allah assured Musa that despite this precaution, they would indeed be followed, testing the faith of the believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ad-Dukhan's narrative recounting of Musa's confrontation with Pharaoh and the subsequent deliverance of the Israelites. The surah was revealed in Mecca and presents the story as a sign (ayah) for the Meccan disbelievers. The context follows Pharaoh's rejection of Musa's message and Allah's sending of plagues, culminating in this command for the Exodus.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain hadiths about the Night Journey (Isra') and other instances of Allah's protection during night travel, emphasizing the spiritual significance of nighttime journeys undertaken under divine command.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that obeying Allah's commands requires courage and trust, even when circumstances appear perilous or when we know challenges await. It reminds us that Allah's foreknowledge of our trials does not diminish His care for us, but rather reflects His wisdom in guiding us through difficulties we are capable of bearing.