Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then they both proceeded, till, when they came to the people of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused to entertain them. Then they found therein a wall about to collapse and he (Khidr) set it up straight. [Mûsâ (Moses)] said: If you had wished, surely, you could have taken wages for it!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَٱنطَلَقَاfa-inṭalaqāSo they set out
حَتَّىٰٓḥattāuntil
إِذَآidhāwhen
أَتَيَآatayāthey came
أَهْلَahla(to the) people
قَرْيَةٍqaryatin(of) a town
ٱسْتَطْعَمَآis'taṭʿamāthey asked for food
أَهْلَهَاahlahā(from) its people
فَأَبَوْا۟fa-abawbut they refused
أَنanto
يُضَيِّفُوهُمَاyuḍayyifūhumāoffer them hospitality
فَوَجَدَاfawajadāThen they found
فِيهَاfīhāin it
جِدَارًۭاjidārana wall
يُرِيدُyurīdu(that) want(ed)
أَنanto
يَنقَضَّyanqaḍḍacollapse
فَأَقَامَهُۥ ۖfa-aqāmahuso he set it straight
قَالَqālaHe said
لَوْlawIf
شِئْتَshi'tayou wished
لَتَّخَذْتَlattakhadhtasurely you (could) have taken
عَلَيْهِʿalayhifor it
أَجْرًۭاajrana payment
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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 77){ اسْتَطْعَمَاۤاَهْلَهَا :} Some Sufis have deduced from this verse that begging is recommended, and have included it among the etiquettes of the seeker, which is why generally Sufi people, instead of earning a livelihood, consider begging and living off others’ leftovers as the perfection of sainthood and reliance (on Allah), and they are skilled in this work. However, this is their ignorance. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: [ مَازَالَالرَّجُلُيَسْأَلُالنَّاسَحَتّٰیيَأْتِيَيَوْمَالْقِيَامَةِلَيْسَفِيْوَجْهِهِمُزْعَةُلَحْمٍ ][ بخاري، الزکوٰۃ، باب من سأل تکثرًا : ۱۴۷۴۔ مسلم : 1040/104 ] “A man keeps asking from people until he comes on the Day of Resurrection in such a state that there will not be a piece of flesh on his face.” These two prophets asked for their right, which, as hospitality, was obligatory upon the people of the town. ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that we said to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: [ إِنَّكَتَبْعَثُنَافَنَنْزِلُبِقَوْمٍلَايَقْرُوْنَنَا،فَمَاتَرَیفِيْهِ؟فَقَالَلَنَاإِنْنَزَلْتُمْبِقَوْمٍفَأُمِرَلَكُمْبِمَايَنْبَغِيْلِلضَّيْفِفَاقْبَلُوْا،فَإِنْلَّمْيَفْعَلُوْافَخُذُوْامِنْهُمْحَقَّالضَّيْفِ ][ بخاري، المظالم، باب قصاص المظلوم إذا وجد مال ظالمہ : ۲۴۶۱۔ مسلم : ۱۷۲۷ ] “You send us and we go to a people, and they do not host us, so what do you say about this?” He, peace and blessings be upon him, said to us: “If you go to a people and they order for you what a guest deserves, then accept it. If they do not do so, then take the right of the guest from them.”
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
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.
77. 1. That is, this was a town of misers who refused to show hospitality to guests, even though feeding travelers and showing hospitality to guests has always been an important part of the moral teachings of every Shariah. The Prophet ﷺ also declared hospitality to be a requirement of faith and said, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest."
77. 2. Khidr touched this wall, and by Allah's command, it miraculously became straight. As is clear from the narration in Sahih Bukhari.
77. 3. Musa عليه السلام, who was already disheartened by the behavior of the people of the town, could not remain silent at Khidr's act of kindness without compensation and spoke up, saying that when the people of this town did not care for our journey, our need, or our honor and virtue, then how are such people deserving of kindness?
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
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.
77. So they both went on, until they came to the people of a town. They asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. Then they found a wall there that was about to collapse, so (Khidr) repaired it. Musa said, "If you wished, you could have taken a wage for this." [65]
[65] The Rudeness of the Townspeople and Why a Favor Was Done to Them
That is, the rudeness of the townspeople was such that when we, as travelers, asked them for food, they did not even feed us. And as for your favor upon such people, it was to the extent that you repaired and straightened a wall for them, a wall under which they were afraid to pass lest it fall upon them. Even though it was your right to take wages for this work, especially from such rude people, you should not have forgone this payment, and with that payment, we could have satisfied our hunger.
