سُوْرَةُ الْقَصَصِ
Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 3
نَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرْعَوْنَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿3﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
We recite to you some of the news of Mûsâ (Moses) and Fir‘aun (Pharaoh) in truth, for a people who believe (in this Qur’ân, and in the Oneness of Allâh).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
نَتْلُوا۟
natlū
We recite
عَلَيْكَ
ʿalayka
to you
مِن
min
from
نَّبَإِ
naba-i
(the) news
مُوسَىٰ
mūsā
(of) Musa
وَفِرْعَوْنَ
wafir'ʿawna
and Firaun
بِٱلْحَقِّ
bil-ḥaqi
in truth
لِقَوْمٍۢ
liqawmin
for a people
يُؤْمِنُونَ
yu'minūna
who believe
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
3. We recite to you the true account of Moses [1] and Pharaoh [2] for the benefit of those who believe [3].
[1]
Why is the Mention of Sayyiduna Musa (Moses) ؑ Usually First in the Stories of the Prophets in the Quran?
In most places in the Noble Quran, the mention of Hazrat Musa ؑ and Pharaoh is given in great detail, and among the Prophets, the mention of Hazrat Musa ؑ comes first. We have already written the reasons for this. In brief, it is that Musa ؑ was commanded to fulfill the duty of Prophethood under circumstances even more severe than those faced by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. For example, the nation to which Hazrat Musa ؑ belonged, Bani Israel, had been made by Pharaoh into a lower class of beings, like untouchables, and practically enslaved. Whereas you ﷺ were a member of your own nation, the Quraysh. Then, Hazrat Musa ؑ was sent with the message of Prophethood to a ruler like Pharaoh, who was arrogant, rebellious, tyrannical, and quick to anger, whereas your ﷺ primary addressees were your own people. Thirdly, Hazrat Musa ؑ was also commanded to demand, along with the call to monotheism, the release of his nation, Bani Israel, whereas the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was not given such a command. Fourthly, he was a wanted criminal in Pharaoh’s eyes. And the outcome of this story is that, in the end, Allah Almighty helps Hazrat Musa ؑ and his companions, granting them deliverance from the Pharaoh’s people, and drowns Pharaoh and his people in the sea, erasing the very trace of such oppressors from the face of the earth. Thus, in this story, the lesson for you ﷺ and for the Muslims is that when Musa ؑ endured such severe circumstances and, relying on Allah, bore all hardships, then you should do the same, and the glad tidings are that Allah Almighty, in this battle between truth and falsehood, ultimately grants success to His Messenger and the believers, and their enemies are destroyed.
[2]
The Title and Era of Pharaoh:
The kings of Egypt were called Pharaoh, just as in ancient times the kings of the Turks were called Khagan, the kings of Yemen were called Tubba’, the kings of Abyssinia were called Najashi, the kings of Rome were called Caesar, and the kings of Persia were called Kisra. Similarly, the kings of Egypt were called Pharaoh. Musa ؑ encountered two Pharaohs or two kings. The Pharaoh who raised him was named Ramses, and the one to whom he was sent after receiving Prophethood was Ramses’ son, Merneptah. Their reign was approximately fourteen hundred years before Christ.
[3] That is, the real purpose of narrating this story in the Quran is to inform people of the ultimate fate of those who disobey and are arrogant towards Allah, and what becomes of those who obey Allah. But only those people can derive admonition, guidance, and lessons from this story who accept these events as true and, by reflecting on them, become believers. As for those who consider it merely a historical tale or a legend, what lesson can they possibly draw from it?
[1]
Why is the Mention of Sayyiduna Musa (Moses) ؑ Usually First in the Stories of the Prophets in the Quran?
In most places in the Noble Quran, the mention of Hazrat Musa ؑ and Pharaoh is given in great detail, and among the Prophets, the mention of Hazrat Musa ؑ comes first. We have already written the reasons for this. In brief, it is that Musa ؑ was commanded to fulfill the duty of Prophethood under circumstances even more severe than those faced by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. For example, the nation to which Hazrat Musa ؑ belonged, Bani Israel, had been made by Pharaoh into a lower class of beings, like untouchables, and practically enslaved. Whereas you ﷺ were a member of your own nation, the Quraysh. Then, Hazrat Musa ؑ was sent with the message of Prophethood to a ruler like Pharaoh, who was arrogant, rebellious, tyrannical, and quick to anger, whereas your ﷺ primary addressees were your own people. Thirdly, Hazrat Musa ؑ was also commanded to demand, along with the call to monotheism, the release of his nation, Bani Israel, whereas the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was not given such a command. Fourthly, he was a wanted criminal in Pharaoh’s eyes. And the outcome of this story is that, in the end, Allah Almighty helps Hazrat Musa ؑ and his companions, granting them deliverance from the Pharaoh’s people, and drowns Pharaoh and his people in the sea, erasing the very trace of such oppressors from the face of the earth. Thus, in this story, the lesson for you ﷺ and for the Muslims is that when Musa ؑ endured such severe circumstances and, relying on Allah, bore all hardships, then you should do the same, and the glad tidings are that Allah Almighty, in this battle between truth and falsehood, ultimately grants success to His Messenger and the believers, and their enemies are destroyed.
[2]
The Title and Era of Pharaoh:
The kings of Egypt were called Pharaoh, just as in ancient times the kings of the Turks were called Khagan, the kings of Yemen were called Tubba’, the kings of Abyssinia were called Najashi, the kings of Rome were called Caesar, and the kings of Persia were called Kisra. Similarly, the kings of Egypt were called Pharaoh. Musa ؑ encountered two Pharaohs or two kings. The Pharaoh who raised him was named Ramses, and the one to whom he was sent after receiving Prophethood was Ramses’ son, Merneptah. Their reign was approximately fourteen hundred years before Christ.
[3] That is, the real purpose of narrating this story in the Quran is to inform people of the ultimate fate of those who disobey and are arrogant towards Allah, and what becomes of those who obey Allah. But only those people can derive admonition, guidance, and lessons from this story who accept these events as true and, by reflecting on them, become believers. As for those who consider it merely a historical tale or a legend, what lesson can they possibly draw from it?
