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
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ سَرْمَدًا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَنْ إِلَـٰهٌ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُم بِضِيَآءٍ ۖ أَفَلَا تَسْمَعُونَ
Say, "Have you considered: if Allāh should make for you the night continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allāh could bring you light? Then will you not hear?"
فَلَمَّآ أَتَىٰهَا نُودِىَ مِن شَـٰطِئِ ٱلْوَادِ ٱلْأَيْمَنِ فِى ٱلْبُقْعَةِ ٱلْمُبَـٰرَكَةِ مِنَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ أَن يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
But when he came to it, he was called from the right side of the valley in a blessed spot - from the tree, "O Moses, indeed I am Allāh, Lord of the worlds."
أَفَمَن وَعَدْنَـٰهُ وَعْدًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ لَـٰقِيهِ كَمَن مَّتَّعْنَـٰهُ مَتَـٰعَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ هُوَ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْضَرِينَ
Then is he whom We have promised a good promise which he will meet [i.e., obtain] like he for whom We provided enjoyment of worldly life [but] then he is, on the Day of Resurrection, among those presented [for punishment in Hell]?
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبْعَثَ فِىٓ أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ۚ وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِى ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَـٰلِمُونَ
And never would your Lord have destroyed the cities until He had sent to their mother [i.e., principal city] a messenger reciting to them Our verses. And We would not destroy the cities except while their people were wrongdoers.