سُوْرَةُ الْقَصَصِ
Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 12
۞ وَحَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ ٱلْمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبْلُ فَقَالَتْ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَكْفُلُونَهُۥ لَكُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُۥ نَـٰصِحُونَ ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We had already forbidden (other) foster suckling mothers for him, until she (his sister came up and) said: "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and look after him in a good manner?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَحَرَّمْنَا
waḥarramnā
And We had forbidden
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
for him
ٱلْمَرَاضِعَ
l-marāḍiʿa
the wet nurses
مِن
min
before
قَبْلُ
qablu
before
فَقَالَتْ
faqālat
so she said
هَلْ
hal
Shall I
أَدُلُّكُمْ
adullukum
direct you
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
to
أَهْلِ
ahli
(the) people
بَيْتٍۢ
baytin
(of) a house
يَكْفُلُونَهُۥ
yakfulūnahu
who will rear him
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
وَهُمْ
wahum
while they
لَهُۥ
lahu
to him
نَـٰصِحُونَ
nāṣiḥūna
(will be) sincere
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 12) ➊ { وَ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَرَاضِعَ مِنْ قَبْلُ:’’ الْمَرَاضِعَ ‘‘ ’’مُرْضِعٌ‘‘} can also be plural, meaning wet nurses, and {’’ مَرْضَعٌ‘‘} can also be a locative noun, so the meaning would be the place of suckling, i.e., the breasts for milk, and if it is a verbal noun, then it would mean all kinds of milk, i.e., We had already made all milk forbidden for Musa (peace be upon him) by Our predetermined decree, meaning he was prevented from drinking it. Pharaoh’s wife became extremely fond of Musa (peace be upon him) and wanted to arrange milk for him at any cost, but whichever nurse was brought, Musa refused to drink her milk. Pharaoh’s wife was deeply worried that such a beloved child might die due to not drinking milk.
➋ { فَقَالَتْ هَلْ اَدُلُّكُمْ عَلٰۤى اَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَّكْفُلُوْنَهٗ لَكُمْ …:} Musa’s (peace be upon him) sister was observing all this as a stranger. When all attempts to feed Musa (peace be upon him) milk failed, she seized the opportunity and said, “Shall I tell you of a household who will take care of him for you and will be well-wishers to him?” Here, the intermediate conversation is omitted, as it is self-evident that Pharaoh’s household asked her who those people were. She said, “My mother.” They said, “That means this child is yours and you know about him.” She said, “Rather, we are well-wishers and sincere lovers of the king, so we will not fall short in the well-being and service of this child.” They said, “How does your mother have milk?” She said, “My brother Harun was born last year and is nursing.” Thus, they summoned Musa’s (peace be upon him) mother, as they had no other option. The queen of the kingdom wanted to arrange milk for him at any cost; as soon as the mother put her breast to the child’s mouth, the child happily began to drink milk.
➋ { فَقَالَتْ هَلْ اَدُلُّكُمْ عَلٰۤى اَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَّكْفُلُوْنَهٗ لَكُمْ …:} Musa’s (peace be upon him) sister was observing all this as a stranger. When all attempts to feed Musa (peace be upon him) milk failed, she seized the opportunity and said, “Shall I tell you of a household who will take care of him for you and will be well-wishers to him?” Here, the intermediate conversation is omitted, as it is self-evident that Pharaoh’s household asked her who those people were. She said, “My mother.” They said, “That means this child is yours and you know about him.” She said, “Rather, we are well-wishers and sincere lovers of the king, so we will not fall short in the well-being and service of this child.” They said, “How does your mother have milk?” She said, “My brother Harun was born last year and is nursing.” Thus, they summoned Musa’s (peace be upon him) mother, as they had no other option. The queen of the kingdom wanted to arrange milk for him at any cost; as soon as the mother put her breast to the child’s mouth, the child happily began to drink milk.
