سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ

Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 7

The Ant · Meccan · Juz 19 · Page 377

إِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَهْلِهِۦٓ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا سَـَٔاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ ءَاتِيكُم بِشِهَابٍ قَبَسٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ ﴿7﴾
(Remember) when Mûsâ (Moses) said to his household: "Verily I have seen a fire; I will bring you from there some information, or I will bring you a burning brand, that you may warm yourselves."
إِذْ idh When
قَالَ qāla said
مُوسَىٰ mūsā Musa
لِأَهْلِهِۦٓ li-ahlihi to his family
إِنِّىٓ innī Indeed, I
ءَانَسْتُ ānastu perceive
نَارًۭا nāran a fire
سَـَٔاتِيكُم saātīkum I will bring you
مِّنْهَا min'hā from it
بِخَبَرٍ bikhabarin some information
أَوْ aw or
ءَاتِيكُم ātīkum I will bring you
بِشِهَابٍۢ bishihābin a torch
قَبَسٍۢ qabasin burning
لَّعَلَّكُمْ laʿallakum so that you may
تَصْطَلُونَ taṣṭalūna warm yourselves

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 7) {اِذْ قَالَ مُوْسٰى لِاَهْلِهٖۤ اِنِّيْۤ اٰنَسْتُ نَارًا: ’’ تَصْطَلُوْنَ ‘‘ ’’صَلِيَ يَصْلٰي‘‘} is from the form ifti‘āl. Originally it was {’’ تَصْتَلِيُوْنَ‘‘}, the tā’ was changed to ṭā’ and the yā’ was omitted. {’’شِهَابٌ‘‘} means flame or ember. {’’ قَبَسٍ ‘‘} means kindled (from some fire). The explanation of these verses has already been mentioned in Sūrah al-A‘rāf and at the beginning of Sūrah Ṭā Hā; here, only a few points related to this context will be mentioned. Before {’’ اِذْ ‘‘}, {’’اُذْكُرْ‘‘} is omitted, meaning: remember the time when Mūsā said to his family. In the same way, revelation has been granted to you without any prior knowledge or expectation. (See al-Qaṣaṣ: 86) And in the stories of the prophets and their peoples mentioned after this, there is much knowledge and wisdom for you and your people.

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.

7-1 This is the incident when Musa (peace be upon him) was returning from Madyan with his wife, he did not know the way in the darkness of the night and needed fire for protection from the cold.

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.

7. When Moses said to his family, “Indeed, I have seen a fire. I will bring you some news from there, or bring you a burning ember [7] so that you may warm yourselves.”

[7]
The Background of the Beginning of the Prophethood of Sayyiduna Musa (Moses) ؑ:

This incident is from the period of Musa’s ؑ life when, after bidding farewell to Hazrat Shu‘ayb ؑ, he was returning to his homeland Egypt. His wife was with him, and she was pregnant; a child and a servant were also accompanying them. When they reached near Mount Sinai, they lost their way. It was winter, the night was deeply dark, and there was biting cold. In this state, having lost their way, they became very worried. From afar, they saw a fire and thought that there must be some people there. He decided to go to them and ask for directions. He said to his family: “You stay here. I will go there and ask for the way, and even if no one tells me the way, at least I will bring back some embers from the fire so that you all can warm yourselves.”