Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 25

(Ayah 25) ➊ The meaning of {فَجَآءَتْهُ اِحْدٰىهُمَا تَمْشِيْ عَلَى اسْتِحْيَآءٍ: ’’عَلٰي حَيَاءٍ‘‘} is "with modesty." In {’’ عَلَى اسْتِحْيَآءٍ ‘‘}, the addition of more letters increases the meaning, that is, with great modesty.
➋ Shah Abdul Qadir writes: "The women recognized that he was taking shelter in the shade, he is a traveler, has come from afar, is tired and hungry, so she went and told her father." Ibn Kathir writes: "When both of them quickly returned to their father, he was surprised and asked them about it. They mentioned the favor of Musa (peace be upon him), so he sent one of them to call him."
➌ "So one of the two came to Musa walking with great modesty." Subhan Allah! How modest that woman must have been, whose great modesty was testified by the Lord of the worlds. Instead of {’’ تَمْشِيْ بِاسْتِحْيَاءٍ‘‘}, it is said {’’ تَمْشِيْ عَلَى اسْتِحْيَآءٍ ‘‘}, as if she was riding on the mount of modesty, every form of modesty was within her reach. Ibn Abi Hatim has narrated from Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: [ «{ فَجَآءَتْهُ اِحْدٰىهُمَا تَمْشِيْ عَلَى اسْتِحْيَآءٍ }» قَائِلَةٌ بِثَوْبِهَا عَلٰی وَجْهِهَا لَيْسَتْ بِسَلْفَعِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَلَّاجَةً، خَرَّاجَةً ] [ طبري : ۲۷۵۸۵۔ ابن أبي حاتم : ۱۶۸۳۲] "She came with extreme modesty, covering her face with her garment, not like bold women who walk without hesitation and fear, intruding everywhere and going out in all directions." Ibn Kathir said: {’’ هٰذَا إِسْنَادٌ صَحِيْحٌ ‘‘} and the researcher of Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Hikmat bin Basheer, said: {’’وَ سَنَدُهُ صَحِيْحٌ۔‘‘} Apparently, this is an Israelite narration, but from this, it is known what modesty meant to the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). Those who do not believe in covering the face should reflect that the Commander of the Faithful considered covering the face as modesty.
➍ { قَالَتْ اِنَّ اَبِيْ يَدْعُوْكَ:} The manner in which the woman called also shows her perfect wisdom and modesty. She did not say from herself to walk along, but conveyed the message from her father, because it does not befit a modest woman to ask a strange man to walk along with her.
➎ { لِيَجْزِيَكَ اَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا:} She also said this out of modesty, because there should be a reasonable cause to take a non-mahram man along; otherwise, doubts could arise, which she preemptively prevented.
➏ Here, the commentators have raised a question that prophets do not take compensation for favors, so why did Musa (peace be upon him) set out to receive a reward for watering? One answer is that this is not compensation in the usual sense, but a return for a favor. If someone does a favor in return for a favor, there is no harm in accepting it, as it is said: «{ هَلْ جَزَآءُ الْاِحْسَانِ اِلَّا الْاِحْسَانُ }» [الرحمٰن : ۶۰ ] "Is there any reward for good other than good?" And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to accept gifts and also give something in return. The words of the hadith are: [ كَانَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقْبَلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَ يُثِيْبُ عَلَيْهَا ] [بخاري، الھبۃ، باب المکافأۃ في الھبۃ : ۲۵۸۵ ] Then Musa (peace be upon him) was in a state of extreme need at that time; he considered this invitation as the result of his supplication being accepted and did not waste this opportunity created by Allah due to unnecessary self-restraint. The second answer is that if someone insists that this was compensation, then taking wages for labor was not considered forbidden by Musa (peace be upon him), nor is it forbidden, especially when someone gives wages without being asked, as in the incident of Khidr (peace be upon him), when he straightened the collapsing wall, Musa (peace be upon him) said to him: «{ لَوْ شِئْتَ لَتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ اَجْرًا }» [ الکہف : ۷۷ ] "If you wished, you could have taken a wage for it."
➐ { فَلَمَّا جَآءَهٗ وَ قَصَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقَصَصَ:} When Musa (peace be upon him) came to the elder, obviously the first thing was introduction. Thus, Musa (peace be upon him) mentioned his name and lineage, the oppression of Pharaoh on his people, the story of his birth and upbringing, and how Pharaoh was after his life due to an unintentional killing.
➑ { قَالَ لَا تَخَفْ …:} The elder removed Musa’s (peace be upon him) fear before offering food, because a person afflicted with fear, even if he eats out of hunger, does not find pleasure in it. Therefore, first he said, "Do not fear, Pharaoh has no authority here, you have been saved from those wrongdoers." After that, he hosted him with great honor and respect.