Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! Be not like those who annoyed Mûsa (Moses), but Allâh cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was honourable before Allâh.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَاyāayyuhāO you who believe
ٱلَّذِينَalladhīnaO you who believe
ءَامَنُوا۟āmanūO you who believe
لَاlā(Do) not
تَكُونُوا۟takūnūbe
كَٱلَّذِينَka-alladhīnalike those who
ءَاذَوْا۟ādhawabused
مُوسَىٰmūsāMusa
فَبَرَّأَهُfabarra-ahuthen Allah cleared him
ٱللَّهُl-lahuthen Allah cleared him
مِمَّاmimmāof what
قَالُوا۟ ۚqālūthey said
وَكَانَwakānaAnd he was
عِندَʿindanear
ٱللَّهِl-lahiAllah
وَجِيهًۭاwajīhanhonorable
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.
O you who believe! Do not be like those who hurt Musa. Then Allah cleared him of what they said, and he was highly honored [108] in the sight of Allah.
[107] This verse is also supported and authenticated by the following hadith: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud ؓ narrates that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ distributed the spoils of war (after the Battle of Hunayn), a man said: "This distribution is not intended for Allah's pleasure." I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and informed him of this. Signs of anger appeared on his blessed face, and he said: "May Allah have mercy on Musa ؑ; he was hurt with even greater harm than this, but he remained patient." [بخاری۔ کتاب الجہاد باب ماکان النبیﷺ یعطی المؤلفۃ قلوبھم وغیرھم من الخمس ونحوہ] And the following hadith presents the explanation of this verse:
The Harm Inflicted Upon Musa ؑ by Bani Israel:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The Children of Israel used to bathe naked, looking at one another. But Musa ؑ used to bathe alone. The Children of Israel said: 'By Allah, nothing prevents Musa from bathing with us except that he suffers from a hernia (skin disease).' By chance, one day Musa ؑ began to bathe and placed his clothes on a stone. The stone ran away with his clothes, and Sayyiduna Musa ؑ chased after it, saying: 'O stone, my clothes! O stone, my clothes!' until the Children of Israel saw Sayyiduna Musa ؑ (naked) and said: 'By Allah! Musa ؑ has no disease.' (The stone stopped), Musa ؑ took his clothes and began to strike the stone. Abu Hurairah ؓ says: 'By Allah, there are six or seven marks on that stone.'" [بخاری۔ کتاب الغسل۔ باب من اغتسل عریاناً] Now, it is evident that those who deny supernatural events or miracles cannot accept this explanation. However, there is enough flexibility in the words of this hadith that even they can accept it, as follows: "Hajar" means both "stone" and "mare" (female horse) (according to Munjid). In this sense, the incident would be as follows: Musa ؑ was riding a mare. At a secluded place, he began to bathe, placed his clothes on the mare, and when he went to take his clothes after bathing, the mare ran off. Musa ؑ chased after her, saying "O stone, my clothes! O stone, my clothes!" until some people saw him naked and realized that he was completely free from blemish and the alleged disease. In this way, Allah Almighty cleared Musa ؑ of their accusation. As for the statement of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ that he swears there are six or seven marks on the stone, this is his own statement, not a Prophetic saying ﷺ that would be binding to accept. Furthermore, Qarun also bribed a prostitute to falsely accuse Sayyiduna Musa ؑ of adultery with her. But when Sayyiduna Musa ؑ asked her by Allah, such awe overcame her that she openly denied it and confessed that she had made the accusation at Qarun's instigation. And the harm caused by Bani Israel to Musa ؑ in this way becomes an even graver crime, considering that it was through him that Bani Israel were delivered from the slavery of Pharaoh. Their condition in Egypt was like that of the Shudras in India, or even worse than that, as they lived their lives there.
[108] The second meaning of ﴿وَجِيْهًا﴾ is a person of such dignity and awe that even if people have some objection against him, they cannot say anything to his face and instead talk behind his back. The same word has been used by Allah Almighty for Sayyiduna Isa, saying ﴿وَجِيْهًافِيْالدُّنْيَاوَالآخِرَةِ﴾[3: 45] meaning Isa was dignified in this world and will be dignified in the Hereafter as well. Thus, in this world, the Jews made accusations regarding his birth, but no one dared to say anything to his face. In this verse, the address is probably directed towards the hypocrites who mingled among the Muslims. Otherwise, it is impossible for sincere believers to hurt their beloved and greatest benefactor.