سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ

Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 2

The Night Journey · Meccan · Juz 15 · Page 282

وَءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَلَّا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن دُونِى وَكِيلًا ﴿2﴾
And We gave Mûsâ (Moses) the Scripture and made it a guidance for the Children of Israel (saying): "Take none other than Me as (your) Wakîl (Protector, Lord or Disposer of your affairs).
وَءَاتَيْنَا waātaynā And We gave
مُوسَى mūsā Musa
ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ l-kitāba the Book
وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ wajaʿalnāhu and made it
هُدًۭى hudan a guidance
لِّبَنِىٓ libanī for the Children
إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ is'rāīla (of) Israel
أَلَّا allā That not
تَتَّخِذُوا۟ tattakhidhū you take
مِن min other than Me
دُونِى dūnī other than Me
وَكِيلًۭا wakīlan (as) a Disposer of affairs

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 2) ➊ {وَ اٰتَيْنَا مُوْسَى الْكِتٰبَ:} That is, just as the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) was honored with the Night Journey (Isra), in the same way We bestowed {’’ الْكِتٰبَ ‘‘} (the Torah) upon Musa (peace be upon him). In the Noble Qur’an, usually along with the mention of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him), the mention of Musa (peace be upon him) and Bani Isra’il is made, so that the difficulties faced by the Messenger (peace be upon him) in his mission remain in view as an example, and so that his Ummah keeps in mind the consequences of obedience and disobedience to the Messenger.

{ وَ جَعَلْنٰهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِيْۤ اِسْرَآءِيْلَ :} And We made it a guidance for the Children of Israel, that is, the Torah or Musa (peace be upon him). This verse is similar to verse (23) of Surah As-Sajdah.

{اَلَّا تَتَّخِذُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِيْ وَكِيْلًا: ’’ اَلَّا تَتَّخِذُوْا ‘‘} In the original, it is {’’أَنْ لَا تَتَّخِذُوْا‘‘}. Here, by considering {’’أَنْ‘‘} as a verbal noun, a preceding “lam” is assumed, meaning {’’لِئَلَّا تَتَّخِذُوْا‘‘} (so that you…), or {’’أَنْ‘‘} meaning {’’أَيْ‘‘} (the explanation is this), that is, We gave Musa the Book, the summary and meaning of which is that… . {’’ وَكِيْلًا ‘‘ ’’وَكَلَ يَكِلُ‘‘} (to entrust) gives {’’فَعِيْلٌ‘‘} the meaning of the object, to whom the work is entrusted, that is, do not consider anyone other than Me as your disposer of affairs, nor entrust your affairs to anyone else.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

2. We gave Moses the Book and made it a guide [4] for the Children of Israel, commanding them: "Do not take anyone other than Me as a Disposer of affairs."

[4] At the time when the incident of Isra took place, Bayt al-Maqdis was under the trusteeship of the Children of Israel. The message of Islam had already spread throughout the towns of Arabia. Some individuals from the Aws and Khazraj of Madinah had embraced Islam. The Jews were fully aware of the call of Islam. The fact that you ﷺ were taken to Bayt al-Maqdis and led the prayer there was a clear indication that soon the Muslim Ummah would gain control over Bayt al-Maqdis. The beginning of this Surah Bani Isra'il, which starts with the incident of Isra, is merely introductory; otherwise, the main address is directed towards the Jews, and after reminding them of their previous history, they are being warned that their well-being lies in believing in the Prophet of Islam and abandoning their rebellious ways.