سُوْرَةُ الْقَصَصِ
Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 11
وَقَالَتْ لِأُخْتِهِۦ قُصِّيهِ ۖ فَبَصُرَتْ بِهِۦ عَن جُنُبٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And she said to his [Mûsâ’s (Moses)] sister: "Follow him." So she (his sister) watched him from a far place secretly, while they perceived not.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَقَالَتْ
waqālat
And she said
لِأُخْتِهِۦ
li-ukh'tihi
to his sister
قُصِّيهِ ۖ
quṣṣīhi
Follow him
فَبَصُرَتْ
fabaṣurat
So she watched
بِهِۦ
bihi
him
عَن
ʿan
from
جُنُبٍۢ
junubin
a distance
وَهُمْ
wahum
while they
لَا
lā
(did) not
يَشْعُرُونَ
yashʿurūna
perceive
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 11) ➊ { وَ قَالَتْ لِاُخْتِهٖ قُصِّيْهِ:’’ قَصَّ يَقُصُّ‘‘} means both "to explain" and "to follow behind." The mother of Musa (Moses) (peace be upon him) told his sister to follow him behind. Before this, Musa (peace be upon him) had a brother, Harun, and a sister.
➋ { فَبَصُرَتْ بِهٖ عَنْ جُنُبٍ وَّ هُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُوْنَ: ’’ عَنْ جُنُبٍ ‘‘} means "from a distance" or "from the side," that is, she walked along the edge, watching him from afar, in such a way that no one realized she was following him. This shows the wisdom and intelligence of the girl. The mother had only told her to follow behind, but it was her own prudence as to how to follow. An Arab poet has beautifully said:
{إِذَا كُنْتَ فِيْ حَاجَةٍ مُرْسِلاً ¤ فَأَرْسِلْ حَكِيْمًا وَ لَا تُوْصِهٖ}
"When you send someone for a task, send a wise person, then there is no need to explain to him."
➋ { فَبَصُرَتْ بِهٖ عَنْ جُنُبٍ وَّ هُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُوْنَ: ’’ عَنْ جُنُبٍ ‘‘} means "from a distance" or "from the side," that is, she walked along the edge, watching him from afar, in such a way that no one realized she was following him. This shows the wisdom and intelligence of the girl. The mother had only told her to follow behind, but it was her own prudence as to how to follow. An Arab poet has beautifully said:
{إِذَا كُنْتَ فِيْ حَاجَةٍ مُرْسِلاً ¤ فَأَرْسِلْ حَكِيْمًا وَ لَا تُوْصِهٖ}
"When you send someone for a task, send a wise person, then there is no need to explain to him."
