سُوْرَةُ الشُّعَرَآءِ
Surah Ash-Shu'araa (26) — Ayah 52
۞ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِىٓ إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ ﴿52﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We revealed to Mûsâ (Moses), saying: "Depart by night with My slaves, verily you will be pursued."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ
wa-awḥaynā
And We inspired
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
مُوسَىٰٓ
mūsā
Musa
أَنْ
an
[that]
أَسْرِ
asri
Travel by night
بِعِبَادِىٓ
biʿibādī
with My slaves
إِنَّكُم
innakum
indeed, you
مُّتَّبَعُونَ
muttabaʿūna
(will be) followed
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 52) ➊ { وَ اَوْحَيْنَاۤ اِلٰى مُوْسٰۤى اَنْ اَسْرِ بِعِبَادِيْۤ …:} After the above events, the mention of the migration of the Children of Israel begins. This does not mean that immediately after this, Moses (peace be upon him) was ordered to leave Egypt with the Children of Israel. Rather, here, several years of history have been omitted, which has been mentioned in Surah Al-A'raf (127 to 135) and Surah Yunus (83 to 89), and a part of which is coming ahead in Surah Al-Mu’min (23 to 46) and Surah Az-Zukhruf (46 to 56). Here, due to the context of the discourse, it is only intended to state what ultimately happened to that Pharaoh who, despite seeing clear signs, showed such stubbornness.
➋ In these verses, there is a great lesson that, after the truth became clear, on one side are the magicians, who did not delay even a moment in accepting faith, and even the threats of cutting off hands and feet and crucifixion could not turn them away from the truth. On the other side is Pharaoh and his people, who, for years, kept seeing miracles and further signs, and repeatedly promised to believe and to free the Children of Israel, yet remained deprived of faith until they drowned. Moses (peace be upon him) spoke the truth: «{ اِنْ هِيَ اِلَّا فِتْنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَنْ تَشَآءُ وَ تَهْدِيْ مَنْ تَشَآءُ}» [ الأعراف : ۱۵۵ ] “This is nothing but Your trial, with which You misguide whom You will and guide whom You will.” At the beginning of the Surah, while consoling the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) over the disbelievers not believing, attention has been drawn to this very reality. See verses (3 to 9) of this Surah.
➌ When Pharaoh’s oppression and tyranny exceeded all bounds, Moses (peace be upon him) prayed to Allah Almighty against Pharaoh and his people. (See Yunus: 88) Allah Almighty accepted his prayer and commanded that My (Muslim) servants (whether they are Israelites or others) should be taken and depart by night, and remember! You will be pursued, so cover enough distance that the pursuers cannot quickly reach you. Accordingly, at such a time, in the usual manner, a time and place was fixed for all the Israelites of Egypt, upon which they set out at night with Moses (peace be upon him) to leave Pharaoh’s kingdom (Egypt) as quickly as possible. In some exegeses, it is mentioned that each of them borrowed jewelry from the Copts, which they took with them when they departed, but this is not correct. See the commentary of Surah Ta-Ha (87).
➋ In these verses, there is a great lesson that, after the truth became clear, on one side are the magicians, who did not delay even a moment in accepting faith, and even the threats of cutting off hands and feet and crucifixion could not turn them away from the truth. On the other side is Pharaoh and his people, who, for years, kept seeing miracles and further signs, and repeatedly promised to believe and to free the Children of Israel, yet remained deprived of faith until they drowned. Moses (peace be upon him) spoke the truth: «{ اِنْ هِيَ اِلَّا فِتْنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَنْ تَشَآءُ وَ تَهْدِيْ مَنْ تَشَآءُ}» [ الأعراف : ۱۵۵ ] “This is nothing but Your trial, with which You misguide whom You will and guide whom You will.” At the beginning of the Surah, while consoling the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) over the disbelievers not believing, attention has been drawn to this very reality. See verses (3 to 9) of this Surah.
➌ When Pharaoh’s oppression and tyranny exceeded all bounds, Moses (peace be upon him) prayed to Allah Almighty against Pharaoh and his people. (See Yunus: 88) Allah Almighty accepted his prayer and commanded that My (Muslim) servants (whether they are Israelites or others) should be taken and depart by night, and remember! You will be pursued, so cover enough distance that the pursuers cannot quickly reach you. Accordingly, at such a time, in the usual manner, a time and place was fixed for all the Israelites of Egypt, upon which they set out at night with Moses (peace be upon him) to leave Pharaoh’s kingdom (Egypt) as quickly as possible. In some exegeses, it is mentioned that each of them borrowed jewelry from the Copts, which they took with them when they departed, but this is not correct. See the commentary of Surah Ta-Ha (87).
