سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ

Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 10

The Ant · Meccan · Juz 19 · Page 377

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وَأَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَآنٌّ وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ ۚ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَا تَخَفْ إِنِّى لَا يَخَافُ لَدَىَّ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ ﴿10﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

"And throw down your stick!" But when he saw it moving as if it were a snake, he turned in flight, and did not look back. (It was said:) "O Mûsâ (Moses)! Fear not: verily the Messengers fear not in front of Me.

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَأَلْقِ wa-alqi And, "Throw
عَصَاكَ ۚ ʿaṣāka your staff
فَلَمَّا falammā But when
رَءَاهَا raāhā he saw it
تَهْتَزُّ tahtazzu moving
كَأَنَّهَا ka-annahā as if it
جَآنٌّۭ jānnun (were) a snake
وَلَّىٰ wallā he turned back
مُدْبِرًۭا mud'biran (in) flight
وَلَمْ walam and (did) not
يُعَقِّبْ ۚ yuʿaqqib look back
يَـٰمُوسَىٰ yāmūsā O Musa
لَا lā (Do) not
تَخَفْ takhaf fear
إِنِّى innī Indeed, [I]
لَا lā (do) not
يَخَافُ yakhāfu fear
لَدَىَّ ladayya (in) My presence
ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ l-mur'salūna the Messengers

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 10) ➊ {وَ اَلْقِ عَصَاكَ فَلَمَّا رَاٰهَا تَهْتَزُّ … : ’’ جَآنٌّ ‘‘} actually refers to a small white snake. In Surah Al-A'raf (107) and Ash-Shu'ara (32), the word {’’ ثُعْبَانٌ ‘‘} is used for it, which means a big snake (python). The reason for this is either that it was initially {’’ جَآنٌّ ‘‘}, then became {’’ ثُعْبَانٌ ‘‘}. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "At first it became like a stick, thin; when it was thrown before Pharaoh, it became a cobra, growing larger." (Mawdhih) Or the reason is that the snake was in size like a python, but in swiftness like a small snake.

➋ { يٰمُوْسٰى لَا تَخَفْ …:} The fact that Musa (peace be upon him) turned his back and fled in fear shows that he did not know before this that he had been made a prophet, nor that these miracles had been granted to him. Our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was also greatly frightened at the first revelation. Allah Almighty comforted Musa (peace be upon him) by saying: "O Musa! Do not fear, messengers do not fear in My presence." Some people insist on proving that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was aware of the unseen even before his birth.

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.

10-1. From this it is understood that prophets are not 'Alim al-Ghaib (knowers of the unseen), otherwise Musa ؑ would not have been afraid of his own staff. Secondly, natural fear can also befall a prophet because, after all, they are also human beings.

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.

10. Throw down your staff." So when Musa threw it and saw it moving as if it were a serpent, he turned away fleeing and did not look back. (We said,) "O Musa! Do not be afraid. Surely, the messengers [10] do not fear in My presence.

[10]
A Prophet Does Not Know of His Prophethood Before Being Appointed:

This verse sheds light on several matters. For example, the miracle of the staff of Musa (Moses) ؑ turning into a serpent was granted to him for the first time and at this very place. As soon as the staff touched the ground, it became a large serpent in the form of a python, possessing the agility of a slender snake. Secondly, since this was the first occasion, Musa ؑ himself became frightened by the snake. Thirdly, it was at this moment that he came to know that the office of messengership was being entrusted to him; before this, he had no definite knowledge that he would be granted prophethood. Even at the time of being granted prophethood or messengership, one’s nature becomes heavy and an unknown kind of fear is felt. Just as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also experienced such fear in the Cave of Hira. That is why Allah Almighty, giving reassurance, said that “My messengers do not fear in My presence.”
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