سُوْرَةُ الْقَصَصِ

Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 5

The Stories · Meccan · Juz 20 · Page 385

وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ ﴿5﴾
And We wished to do a favour to those who were weak (and oppressed) in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors,
وَنُرِيدُ wanurīdu And We wanted
أَن an to
نَّمُنَّ namunna bestow a favor
عَلَى ʿalā upon
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna those who
ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ us'tuḍ'ʿifū were oppressed
فِى in
ٱلْأَرْضِ l-arḍi the land
وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ wanajʿalahum and make them
أَئِمَّةًۭ a-immatan leaders
وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ wanajʿalahumu and make them
ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ l-wārithīna the inheritors

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 5) ➊ { وَ نُرِيْدُ اَنْ نَّمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِيْنَ اسْتُضْعِفُوْا فِي الْاَرْضِ …:} How could Allah’s mercy tolerate Pharaoh’s oppression, especially when the oppressed nation was also Muslim? Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Muadh (may Allah be pleased with him) to Yemen and said: [ اِتَّقِ دَعْوَةَ الْمَظْلُوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَيْنَهَا وَ بَيْنَ اللّٰهِ حِجَابٌ ] [ بخاري، الزکاۃ، باب أخذ الصدقۃ من الأغنیاء … : ۱۴۹۶ ] “Beware of the curse of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah.” That is, Pharaoh was determined to completely annihilate this oppressed nation, but Our intention was to show favor to those who had been greatly weakened. Favor is a gift given without any compensation, meaning the blessing of deliverance from Pharaoh and other blessings upon the Children of Israel were purely Our favor and grace.

{ وَ نَجْعَلَهُمْ اَىِٕمَّةً:} When Allah’s zeal for helping the oppressed is aroused, He not only removes oppression from them, but also bestows further rewards upon them. Thus, it is said, We intended to show favor to them and make them leaders in religion as well as leaders in government and authority, so that no one would dare to oppress them.

{ وَ نَجْعَلَهُمُ الْوٰرِثِيْنَ:} And to make them heirs to the dominance and authority of Pharaoh and the people of Pharaoh, and to all those things which they left behind when they were drowned—and so it happened. See Surah Al-A’raf (137), Ash-Shu’ara (57–59), and Ad-Dukhan (25–27).

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.

5-1. Thus it happened, and Allah made this weak and enslaved people the inheritors (owners and rulers) of the East and the West, and also made them the leaders and Imams of the religion.

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.

And We intended to favor those who had been oppressed in the land [7], to make them leaders and to make them inheritors (of the land).

[7]
Allah’s Favor Upon the Oppressed Children of Israel:

That is, Pharaoh wanted to completely annihilate this oppressed group. But Allah had willed something else. Allah wanted that such a cruel and tyrannical nation should be annihilated, and those poor souls upon whom these injustices were being inflicted should not only be delivered from them, but also be made heirs to the property and land of these oppressors. The leadership of religion should also be entrusted to them, and the crown of worldly leadership should be placed upon their heads. And this is Allah’s established practice: He clears the earth of the oppressors and the arrogant, and settles in their place those oppressed ones upon whom injustices were committed.