Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 25

(Ayah 25) ➊ The meaning of {فَجَآءَتْهُ اِحْدٰىهُمَا تَمْشِيْ عَلَى اسْتِحْيَآءٍ: ’’عَلٰي حَيَاءٍ‘‘} is "with modesty." In {’’ عَلَى اسْتِحْيَآءٍ ‘‘}, the addition of more letters increases the meaning, that is, with great modesty.
➋ Shah Abdul Qadir writes: "The women recognized that he was taking shelter in the shade, he is a traveler, has come from afar, is tired and hungry, so she went and told her father." Ibn Kathir writes: "When both of them quickly returned to their father, he was surprised and asked them about it. They mentioned the favor of Musa (peace be upon him), so he sent one of them to call him."
➌ "So one of the two came to Musa walking with great modesty." Subhan Allah! How modest that woman must have been, whose great modesty was testified by the Lord of the worlds. Instead of {’’ تَمْشِيْ بِاسْتِحْيَاءٍ‘‘}, it is said {’’ تَمْشِيْ عَلَى اسْتِحْيَآءٍ ‘‘}, as if she was riding on the mount of modesty, every form of modesty was within her reach. Ibn Abi Hatim has narrated from Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: [ «{ فَجَآءَتْهُ اِحْدٰىهُمَا تَمْشِيْ عَلَى اسْتِحْيَآءٍ }» قَائِلَةٌ بِثَوْبِهَا عَلٰی وَجْهِهَا لَيْسَتْ بِسَلْفَعِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَلَّاجَةً، خَرَّاجَةً ] [ طبري : ۲۷۵۸۵۔ ابن أبي حاتم : ۱۶۸۳۲] "She came with extreme modesty, covering her face with her garment, not like bold women who walk without hesitation and fear, intruding everywhere and going out in all directions." Ibn Kathir said: {’’ هٰذَا إِسْنَادٌ صَحِيْحٌ ‘‘} and the researcher of Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Hikmat bin Basheer, said: {’’وَ سَنَدُهُ صَحِيْحٌ۔‘‘} Apparently, this is an Israelite narration, but from this, it is known what modesty meant to the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). Those who do not believe in covering the face should reflect that the Commander of the Faithful considered covering the face as modesty.
➍ { قَالَتْ اِنَّ اَبِيْ يَدْعُوْكَ:} The manner in which the woman called also shows her perfect wisdom and modesty. She did not say from herself to walk along, but conveyed the message from her father, because it does not befit a modest woman to ask a strange man to walk along with her.
➎ { لِيَجْزِيَكَ اَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا:} She also said this out of modesty, because there should be a reasonable cause to take a non-mahram man along; otherwise, doubts could arise, which she preemptively prevented.
➏ Here, the commentators have raised a question that prophets do not take compensation for favors, so why did Musa (peace be upon him) set out to receive a reward for watering? One answer is that this is not compensation in the usual sense, but a return for a favor. If someone does a favor in return for a favor, there is no harm in accepting it, as it is said: «{ هَلْ جَزَآءُ الْاِحْسَانِ اِلَّا الْاِحْسَانُ }» [الرحمٰن : ۶۰ ] "Is there any reward for good other than good?" And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to accept gifts and also give something in return. The words of the hadith are: [ كَانَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقْبَلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَ يُثِيْبُ عَلَيْهَا ] [بخاري، الھبۃ، باب المکافأۃ في الھبۃ : ۲۵۸۵ ] Then Musa (peace be upon him) was in a state of extreme need at that time; he considered this invitation as the result of his supplication being accepted and did not waste this opportunity created by Allah due to unnecessary self-restraint. The second answer is that if someone insists that this was compensation, then taking wages for labor was not considered forbidden by Musa (peace be upon him), nor is it forbidden, especially when someone gives wages without being asked, as in the incident of Khidr (peace be upon him), when he straightened the collapsing wall, Musa (peace be upon him) said to him: «{ لَوْ شِئْتَ لَتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ اَجْرًا }» [ الکہف : ۷۷ ] "If you wished, you could have taken a wage for it."
➐ { فَلَمَّا جَآءَهٗ وَ قَصَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقَصَصَ:} When Musa (peace be upon him) came to the elder, obviously the first thing was introduction. Thus, Musa (peace be upon him) mentioned his name and lineage, the oppression of Pharaoh on his people, the story of his birth and upbringing, and how Pharaoh was after his life due to an unintentional killing.
➑ { قَالَ لَا تَخَفْ …:} The elder removed Musa’s (peace be upon him) fear before offering food, because a person afflicted with fear, even if he eats out of hunger, does not find pleasure in it. Therefore, first he said, "Do not fear, Pharaoh has no authority here, you have been saved from those wrongdoers." After that, he hosted him with great honor and respect.

25-1 Allah accepted the prayer of Musa (علیہ السلام) and one of the two girls came to call him. The Quran has especially mentioned the modesty and shyness of the girl, stating that this is the real adornment of a woman, and that being heedless and bold like men, without modesty and hijab, is religiously disliked for women.

25-2 Who was the father of the girls? The Noble Quran has not explicitly mentioned any name. The majority of commentators have taken this to refer to Shu'ayb (علیہ السلام), who was sent to the people of Madyan. Imam Shawkani has also preferred this opinion. However, Imam Ibn Kathir states that the time of prophethood of Shu'ayb (علیہ السلام) was much before Musa (علیہ السلام). Therefore, here it refers to the nephew of Shu'ayb (علیہ السلام) or some other person from the people of Shu'ayb (علیہ السلام), and Allah knows best. In any case, Musa (علیہ السلام) showed sympathy and kindness to the girls, and the girls went and informed their elderly father, which caused sympathy to arise in the father's heart as well, so that kindness should be repaid with kindness, or at least the wages for his labor should be given.

25-3 That is, he narrated the story of his time in Egypt and the details of Pharaoh's oppression and tyranny, upon which he said that this area is outside the domain of Pharaoh's rule, so there is no need to fear. Allah has granted deliverance from the oppressors.

Then one of the two women came to him, walking shyly, and said, "My father is inviting you so that he may reward you for watering our flock." [34] When Moses came to him (Shu‘ayb) and told him the whole story [35], he said, "Do not fear. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people."

[34]
Sayyiduna Shu‘aybؑ Invites Musa to His Home:

These women were inwardly grateful to him, that a stranger had done such a kindness to them. As they turned to leave and looked back, they saw Musaؑ sitting under the shade of a tree. From this, they deduced that he was a traveler who had no place to stay here. Musaؑ had only been sitting in the shade and praying to Allah for a short while when one of the two girls, modest and shy, covering her face and lowering her veil, came to him and said, “My father is calling you. He wants to reward you for the favor you did us by watering our flock.” Thus, Allah granted Musaؑ’s prayer a very high honor of acceptance, and the good he was seeking, Allah unexpectedly arranged for it immediately. Musaؑ at once accompanied the girl. From this, it can be inferred how restless he was from hunger. He also wanted a place to stay and needed a companion and sympathizer. Otherwise, if a noble man had helped a woman in distress, how could a person of Musaؑ’s high character immediately get up when asked to accept a reward for it? He also said to the girl, “I will walk ahead, you follow behind me, but guide me along the way.” He said this so that he would not have to look at a strange woman intentionally. Thus, she followed behind, guiding him, and brought him to her home.

[35]
Arrangements for Sayyiduna Musaؑ’s Stay in Madyan:

Upon reaching home, Musaؑ briefly narrated to the girls’ father the story of his life, the incident of the killing, and his escape from there in full detail. Although there is a difference of opinion regarding the girls’ father—whether he was Shu‘aybؑ or some other elder—most commentators have preferred the view that he was Shu‘aybؑ. In any case, whoever the elder was, he was pious and devout, a follower of the religion of Ibrahim. There was complete harmony between his beliefs, thoughts, and character and those of Musaؑ. Thus, after hearing Musaؑ’s circumstances, he reassured him that there was no need to worry now. “You have come out of the territory of that oppressive nation’s rule, and now you may stay with me.” In this way, Allah temporarily resolved Musa’s issue of lodging and food.