Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 40

(Ayah 41,40) ➊ For the explanation of {’’ اِذْ تَمْشِيْۤ اُخْتُكَ ‘‘}, see Surah Al-Qasas (11 to 13), and for the explanation from {’’ وَ قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا ‘‘} to the end of the verse, see Surah Al-Qasas (14 to 28).
➋ {وَ فَتَنّٰكَ فُتُوْنًا : ’’ فُتُوْنًا ‘‘ ’’فَتَنَ يَفْتِنُ‘‘} is a verbal noun, just like {’’قُعُوْدٌ‘‘} and {’’خُرُوْجٌ‘‘}, etc. Its tanween is for emphasis, so it has been translated as, "And We tested you, a thorough testing." This testing includes, after the comforts of royalty, the unintentional killing of a Copt by his hands, then the fear of being killed himself, then immediate migration in a state of destitution, traveling for several days and nights in hunger, thirst, and intense fear, exile, and ten years of labor—all of which were means of tremendous training. Hafiz Ibn Kathir, after mentioning in full a lengthy hadith, "Hadith Futoon," has stated that most of it is taken from Isra'iliyyat.
➌ { ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلٰى قَدَرٍ يّٰمُوْسٰى :} means your coming to the valley of Tuwa after losing your way, and being honored with conversation with Me and with prophethood and messengership, was not without a predetermined plan or suddenly, but exactly according to My appointed time and decision. Although every action is by Allah's decree, by this { ’’ قَدَرٍ ‘‘ } is meant specifically to determine, as mentioned in the next verse: « وَ اصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِيْ » The meaning of {’’صَنَعَ يَصْنَعُ‘‘ } is to make, {’’اِصْطَنَعَ‘‘} is from the form ifti‘al, the tā’ has been changed to ṭā’ due to the proximity to sad, and with the addition of letters, the meaning has been enhanced, that is, "I have especially prepared you for My task, that is, for messengership and prophethood." This is the summary of all the favors.

40. 1 This happened when the mother threw the chest into the river and said to her daughter, just keep watching, where does it reach the shore and what happens to it? When by Allah’s will, Musa (علیہ السلام) reached Pharaoh’s palace, he was an infant, so wet nurses and nannies were called, but Musa (علیہ السلام) would not drink milk from anyone. Musa’s (علیہ السلام) sister was silently watching the whole scene, finally she said, shall I tell you of a woman who will solve this problem for you? They said, fine, so she brought her mother, who was also Musa’s (علیہ السلام) mother. When the mother held her son to her breast, Musa (علیہ السلام), by Allah’s plan and will, began to drink milk eagerly.

40. 2 This is the mention of another favor, when Musa (علیہ السلام) unintentionally killed a man of Pharaoh’s people with just a punch, which will be mentioned in Surah Qasas.

40. 3 Futoon is a verbal noun like dukhool and khurooj, meaning abtalainaka ibtilaa, i.e., We tested you thoroughly. Or it is the plural of fitnah, like Hujrah’s plural is Hujoor and badrah’s plural is badoor, meaning We tested you many times or repeatedly, or delivered you from trials. For example, in the year when children were being killed, We created you; your mother entrusted you to the waves of the sea; We made the milk of all wet nurses forbidden for you; you grabbed Pharaoh’s beard, upon which he intended to kill you; you killed a Copt with your own hands, etc. In all these moments of trial, We alone helped and managed your affairs.

40. 4 That is, after the unintentional killing of the man of Pharaoh’s people, you left here and went to Madyan and stayed there for several years.

40. 5 That is, you came at such a time which I had written in My decision and decree for speaking to you and for prophethood, or by qadar is meant age, i.e., you came at that stage of age which is suitable for prophethood, i.e., at the age of forty years.

40. When your sister was walking along the shore (watching over you), and (when Pharaoh’s people picked up the chest) she said, 'Shall I tell you of someone who can nurse this child properly?' So We returned you to your mother so that her eyes might be comforted [24] and she would not grieve. And you killed a man, but We saved you from that distress [25] and tested you with various trials. Then you stayed for several years among the people of Madyan. Then, O Moses, you have come here at the appointed time [26] decreed by destiny.

[24]
The Upbringing of Musa at Pharaoh’s Court:

Then We arranged for your upbringing in such a way that when your mother entrusted you to the river in a chest, she instructed her daughter, that is, your sister, to walk along the riverbank and keep watch over what would happen to the chest. Eventually, she found out that you had reached Pharaoh’s house. Upon seeing such a lovely child, Pharaoh’s wife Asiya said to her husband that since they had no children, why not adopt him as their own son? In the end, she convinced her husband Pharaoh of this matter. Now the question arose as to which wet nurse would feed Sayyiduna Musaؑ. Whichever wet nurse was brought, Sayyiduna Musaؑ would refuse to drink her milk. This became a very difficult problem. When this matter became public, Sayyiduna Musa’s sister appeared there and said, “I can point out a wet nurse to you; I hope this child will surely drink her milk.” Thus, Musa’s sister gave the address of her mother. When she was brought, the child indeed began to drink her milk. Then Pharaoh and his wife entrusted the child to Sayyiduna Musa’s mother herself, and her salary was also fixed from the royal treasury. She was sent back to her home along with the child. In this way, O Musa! We arranged for your upbringing in a wondrous manner. You yourself reached your mother, you were brought up, and your mother’s eyes were comforted. Thus, We saved you from the jaws of death and arranged for your upbringing in your childhood at the hands of that very Pharaoh who was intent on taking your life.

[25]
The Death of a Copt at the Hands of Sayyiduna Musa:

The details of this incident will come in Surah Al-Qasas. In brief, a Copt (an Egyptian) was unintentionally killed at the hands of Sayyiduna Musa. He only struck him with a fist, which caused his death. So We showed you the way to Madyan, and as a result, saved you from the danger of death that you faced as punishment. Even after that, many trials came upon you, in which We continued to help you.

[26]
According to Destiny, Means Are Always Created:

When you reached Madyan, you were a complete stranger and traveler. Then We arranged such means for you that you began to live honorably with Shu‘aybؑ in Madyan. For years, you herded his sheep. This too was intended for your upbringing. Then, when you married Shu‘ayb’sؑ daughter, this need of yours was also fulfilled. After spending the appointed period in Madyan, you thought of returning to your homeland. On a long, dark winter night, you were traveling with your family and lost your way. Now, seeing a fire, you came here to find out the way and to take some embers of fire for your family. So all this did not happen by chance. Rather, you have arrived here exactly according to Our will and plan. We intended to bring you here at this time and in this condition, so We created such circumstances for you that you arrived here on your own.