Surah 28:17
Show Full Scripture Context (28:14-17) — 4 Verses
وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَٱسۡتَوَىٰٓ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ حُكۡمٗا وَعِلۡمٗاۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
When he reached his maturity and established (himself), We gave him judgment and knowledge. In this way We reward the doers of good.
وَدَخَلَ ٱلۡمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفۡلَةٖ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيۡنِ يَقۡتَتِلَانِ هَٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ وَهَٰذَا مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦۖ فَٱسۡتَغَٰثَهُ ٱلَّذِي مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ عَلَى ٱلَّذِي مِنۡ عَدُوِّهِۦ فَوَكَزَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِۖ قَالَ هَٰذَا مِنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِۖ إِنَّهُۥ عَدُوّٞ مُّضِلّٞ مُّبِينٞ
He entered the city at a time when its people were oblivious, and in it he found two men fighting: the one of his (own) party, and the other of his enemies. The one who was of his (own) party called him for help against the one who was of his enemies. So Moses struck him, and finished him off. He said, ‘This is the work of Satan. Surely he is a clear enemy (who) leads (people) astray.’
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِي فَٱغۡفِرۡ لِي فَغَفَرَ لَهُۥٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
He said, ‘My Lord, surely I have done myself evil. Forgive me!’ So God forgave him. Surely He – He is the Forgiving, the Compassionate.
قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيَّ فَلَنۡ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرٗا لِّلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ
He said, ‘My Lord, because of the blessing with which You have blessed me, I shall not be a supporter of the sinners.’
Having described Musa's beginnings, Allah then tells us that when he reached maturity, and was complete in stature, Allah gave him Hukm and religious knowledge. Mujahid said that this means prophethood.
Then Allah describes how Musa reached the status that was decreed for him, that of Prophethood and speaking to Allah, as a direct consequence of killing the Coptic, which was the reason why he left Egypt and went to Madyan. Allah says:
Ibn Jurayj narrated from 'Ata' Al-Khurasani, from Ibn 'Abbas, “That was between Maghrib and 'Isha'” Ibn Al-Munkadir narrated from 'Ata' bin Yasar from Ibn 'Abbas, “That was in the middle of the day.” This was also the view of Sa'id bin Jubayr, 'Ikrimah, As-Suddi and Qatadah.
{and he found there two men fighting,} meaning, hitting one another and struggling with one another.
{one of his party,} meaning, an Israelite,
{and the other of his foes.} meaning, a Coptic. This was the view of Ibn 'Abbas, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Muhammad bin Ishaq. The Israelite man asked Musa, peace be upon him, for help, and Musa took advantage of the fact that people were not paying attention, so he went to the Coptic man and
Mujahid said, “This means he punched him with his fist.” And then he died.
{He said} refers to Musa.
meaning, 'what You have given me of prestige, power and blessings - '
'those who disbelieve in You and go against Your commands.'