Surah Al-Qasas 28:1-13 - Quran Translation Commentary

4. Verily Firaun exalted himself⁵ in the land and divided its people into sects.⁶ He oppressed a group of its people, killing their sons and sparing their women.⁷ Verily he was of the corrupt.⁸

5. And We desired to do favour to those who were oppressed in the land, and to make them leaders and make them inheritors,⁹

6. And to give them power¹⁰ in the land, and to show Firaun and Haman,¹¹ and their army, at their hands the very thing they dreaded.¹²

7. And We revealed to Moosa’s mother: ‘Suckle him, then when you feel concerned about his safety put him down the river, and have no fear and do not grieve. Verily, We will bring him back to you and We will make him one of Our messengers.’¹³

8. So the family of Firaun picked him up that he might become (as decreed) for them an enemy and a Sorrow.¹⁴ Verily Firaun, Haman and their armies were all sinners.¹⁵

9. And Firaun’s wife said to him: “He is the coolness for the eye for me and for you. Do not slay him.¹⁶ possibly he may be of use to us, or we may adopt him as our son.” And they were unaware (of the end).¹⁷

10. The heart of Moosa’s mother became restless,¹⁸ and she would have disclosed the secret if We had not fortified¹⁹ her heart so that she might be of the believers.²⁰

11. And she said to the sister (of the child): “Follow him.” So she observed him from afar, and they were not aware.²¹

12. And We had before forbidden²² fostermothers for him, so she said: “Shall I show you a household who will rear him for you and take care of him?”²³

13. Thus We restored him to his mother, so that her eyes may feel the coolness (comforted) and she might not grieve,²⁴ and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them do not know.²⁵

Commentary

1. For the explanation of separate letters (abbreviations) please see Surah Baqarah, Note No.1 and Surah Yunus Note No.1. Here ‘Ta’ (T) refers to Tur (mountain), which occurs in Verse No.29 and No.46, at the foot of which Prophet Moosa received his Prophethood. ‘Seen’ refers to ‘Sultan’(authority), which Allah granted to Prophets Moosa and Haroon, and which is mentioned in the ayah No.35. And ‘Meem’ refers to Moosa, which occurs in ayah No.3 and other ayat, and whose chronicle is narrated in detail in this surah.

2. For explanation, please see Surah Yusuf, Note No.2.

3. That is: These events are quite true and are correct word by word. A reader realises their truth when he compares the narrative in the Qur’an with that in the Bible, which is very involved.

4. That is: Only those people will benefit from it who will accept faith.

5. Exalting himself means transgressing the limits or rebelling against God, to issue one’s own commands in place of His commands, and instead of establishing justice and peace indulging in tyranny and excesses.

6. Due to prejudice and unjust political pressures, he had divided the country’s population into various classes. The rights of the ruling class were safe and the rights of the other classes depended on the mercies of the ruling class, and they were given discriminatory treatment. In other words the government of Firaun was the worst kind of the communalist government. And we can easily understand what can be the attitude of a communalist government in our country, (Bharat).

7. That is: To Bani Israil. Prophet Yusuf had gained power in Egypt and Bani Israil enjoyed good position in that country, as a result of which their number had sufficiently increased. But in subsequent periods racial and national prejudice came to the fore, and Firaun feared that this minority might become majority, therefore, he ordered that the newly born male children of Bani Israil be killed, he subjected the people of Bani Israil to hard labour, and made them a victim of his excesses.

8. That is: He was corrupt and a wicked person from every angle, from the viewpoint of his belief and practice and also from the viewpoint of being a ruler. As it is his government was the government of tyranny and oppression, and he had corrupted the society.

9. Firaun had suppressed the Bani Israil by his cruel ways, but Allah decided to lift them up, and when Allah lifts a people then none can suppress it. To make inheritors means to make them inheritors of the gifts, favours and blessings. For further explanation, see Surah Shu’ara Note No.53.

10. To remove them from the slavery of Firaun and the Egyptians and making them the ruler of Syria.

11. From the statement of Qur’an it appears that Haman was a very highly placed officer in the government of Firaun. Possibly he might have been the Prime Minister. A few objectors of the present day have stated that there was none of the name of Haman in Firaun’s government, but such an objection is quite baseless, as the detailed history of that time does not exist, on the basis of which such a claim can be made.

12. Firaun’s people were afraid that Bani Israil, inspite of their number being less, might become their superior, and Allah’s decision was such that at the hands of Bani Israil, Firaun and his army be drowned in the sea and their power be ended. Ultimately the same thing happened which Allah had decided, the details of which will be coming further on. From this a lesson is learnt that if a group of the people of faith has been kept under oppression by the Pharaoh-minded government of the time, then Allah’s silent planning can make this oppressed minority overcome this tyrannical majority. These were very important aspects of the chronicle of Prophet Moosa and Firaun, which have been presented as a preamble for the narrative of this chronicle, so that they are kept in view. After this the events of Moosa’s birth and other events have been narrated.

13. For explanation, please see Surah Taha Note No.34.

14. For explanation please see Surah Taha, Note No.36.

15. That is: This whole group of Firaun was sinful and wicked, therefore, Allah made such an arrangement that later on they were deprived of all their comforts and pleasures.

16. For explanation, please see Surah Taha, Note No.40.

17. That is: This was the silent scheme of Allah, which was to act against Firaun and his people, but they were ignorant about it. It was this very Moosa whom they were bringing up and who was destined to bring their downfall.

(Then) he said: “My Lord! For the favours that You have shown me, I will never lend a helping hand to the guilty.” Then (next) morning he entered the city in fear and cautious, then the very man whom he had helped the day before, cried to him again for help. “Truly,” said Moosa, “You are clearly a senseless man.”(Al-Quran)

18. Although Moosa’s mother was informed beforehand, through revelation, that the child will be returned to her, yet a mother, being a mother, could not help being anxious about the fate of her child when it was picked up by a tyrant’s household. Such a condition of a mother’s heart was quite natural, and there was nothing to doubt her trust in Allah.

19.Being a mother, she could uncontrollably utter the words ‘My child’, but Allah had comforted her and the secret was not revealed.

This ayah provides a guidance that in order to avert persecution secret methods can be adopted. Besides a psychological reality is also learnt that keeping secrets depends on the strength of the heart.

20. Moosa’s mother was a believer and this event further strengthened her belief in Allah.

21.The people of Firaun did not even know that the girl who came and talked to them was Moosa’s sister and she was following the child, being carried in the river. For further explanation, see Surah Taha Note No.40.

22.Here the word ‘Haram’ has been used in its literal sense, which means to stop. It means that Allah had it so arranged that the child did not suckle anyone else but his mother.

23. For explanation, please see Surah Taha Note No.40.

24. For explanation, please see Surah Taha Note No.41.

25. That is: It should be clear to Moosa’s mother that the promise which Allah had made to return the child to her has been true, and thus every promise of Allah is fulfilled. But most people do not realise this and they remain unaware of it.