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 19
Translations
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."
Transliteration
Falamma an arada an yabṭisha billadhī huwa ʿaduwwun lahuma qāla yā Mūsā aturīdu an taqtulannī kamā qatalta nafsann bil-amsi in turīdu illā an takūna jabbāran fīl-arḍi wa mā turīdu an takūna minal-muṣlihīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Israelite man from Pharaoh's faction (mentioned in 28:15) warning Mūsā after witnessing him strike the Egyptian the previous day, accusing him of attempting murder and tyranny. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the man recognized Mūsā and sought to protect himself while exposing Mūsā's previous transgression, attempting to provoke him into further violence. The passage illustrates how a single act of violence, even when committed for seemingly just reasons, can create suspicion and accusations that undermine credibility and righteous intent.
Revelation Context
This verse follows the historical narrative of Mūsā's life before his prophethood, specifically after he killed the Egyptian in defense of the Israelite slave (28:15). The broader context of Surah Al-Qasas is Meccan, revealed to comfort the Prophet Muhammad during persecution by reminding him of Mūsā's trials and eventual triumph. This incident demonstrates the consequences of Mūsā's hasty action and sets the stage for his exile to Madyan.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific incident, Sunan Ibn Majah records a hadith encouraging reconciliation and forbearance in disputes. Additionally, Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Bukhārī contains hadiths about the gravity of taking life unjustly, emphasizing that even unintentional harm carries serious consequences.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even righteous actions performed hastily without proper deliberation can damage one's credibility and cause unforeseen consequences; true reform requires not only good intentions but also prudence, restraint, and actions consistent with justice rather than emotional impulse.
Related Ayahs
وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا يُنصَرُونَ
And We made them leaders inviting to the Fire, and on the Day of Resurrection they will not be helped.
ٱسْلُكْ يَدَكَ فِى جَيْبِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَآءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوٓءٍ وَٱضْمُمْ إِلَيْكَ جَنَاحَكَ مِنَ ٱلرَّهْبِ ۖ فَذَٰنِكَ بُرْهَـٰنَانِ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا فَـٰسِقِينَ
Insert your hand into the opening of your garment; it will come out white, without disease. And draw in your arm close to you [as prevention] from fear, for those are two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his establishment. Indeed, they have been a people defiantly disobedient."
فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم مُّوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ قَالُوا۟ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّفْتَرًى وَمَا سَمِعْنَا بِهَـٰذَا فِىٓ ءَابَآئِنَا ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
But when Moses came to them with Our signs as clear evidences, they said, "This is not except invented magic, and we have not heard of this [religion] among our forefathers."
وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَأُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرِى فَأَوْقِدْ لِى يَـٰهَـٰمَـٰنُ عَلَى ٱلطِّينِ فَٱجْعَل لِّى صَرْحًا لَّعَلِّىٓ أَطَّلِعُ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
And Pharaoh said, "O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a god other than me. Then ignite for me, O Hāmān, [a fire] upon the clay and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I do think he is among the liars."