سُوْرَةُ الْقَصَصِ
Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 23
وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصْدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ ﴿23﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And when he arrived at the water (a well) of Madyan (Midian) he found there a group of men watering (their flocks), and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you?" They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take (their flocks). And our father is a very old man."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَمَّا
walammā
And when
وَرَدَ
warada
he came
مَآءَ
māa
(to the) water
مَدْيَنَ
madyana
(of) Madyan
وَجَدَ
wajada
he found
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
on it
أُمَّةًۭ
ummatan
a group
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
men
يَسْقُونَ
yasqūna
watering
وَوَجَدَ
wawajada
and he found
مِن
min
besides them
دُونِهِمُ
dūnihimu
besides them
ٱمْرَأَتَيْنِ
im'ra-atayni
two women
تَذُودَانِ ۖ
tadhūdāni
keeping back
قَالَ
qāla
He said
مَا
mā
What
خَطْبُكُمَا ۖ
khaṭbukumā
(is the) matter with both of you
قَالَتَا
qālatā
They said
لَا
lā
We cannot water
نَسْقِى
nasqī
We cannot water
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يُصْدِرَ
yuṣ'dira
take away
ٱلرِّعَآءُ ۖ
l-riʿāu
the shepherds
وَأَبُونَا
wa-abūnā
and our father
شَيْخٌۭ
shaykhun
(is) a very old man
كَبِيرٌۭ
kabīrun
(is) a very old man
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.
23-1. That is, when he reached Madyan, he saw at its well a crowd of people who were watering their animals. Madyan was the name of this tribe and was from the descendants of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), while Musa (peace be upon him) was from the lineage of Yaqub (peace be upon him), who was the grandson of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) (the son of Ishaq, peace be upon him). Thus, there was also a genealogical connection between the people of Madyan and Musa (Aysar al-Tafasir). and this was also the place of residence and mission of Shu'ayb (peace be upon him).
23-2. Seeing two women standing with their animals held back, Musa (peace be upon him) felt compassion in his heart and asked them, "What is the matter, why are you not watering your animals?" "Raa'" is the plural of "ra'i" (shepherd).
23-3. So that we do not mix with the men.
23-4. Our father is old, so he cannot come to the watering place to give water.
23-2. Seeing two women standing with their animals held back, Musa (peace be upon him) felt compassion in his heart and asked them, "What is the matter, why are you not watering your animals?" "Raa'" is the plural of "ra'i" (shepherd).
23-3. So that we do not mix with the men.
23-4. Our father is old, so he cannot come to the watering place to give water.
