Surah 28

Surah 28:37

"But Moses said, ‘My Lord knows who brings the guidance from Him, and to whom the final Home (belongs). Surely the evildoers will not prosper.’"
Musa before Fir'awn and His People Verses 28:36-37
Show Full Scripture Context (28:36-37) — 2 Verses
Verse 36

فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم مُّوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا بَيِّنَٰتٖ قَالُواْ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحۡرٞ مُّفۡتَرٗى وَمَا سَمِعۡنَا بِهَٰذَا فِيٓ ءَابَآئِنَا ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ

When Moses brought them Our clear signs, they said, ‘This is nothing but a magic trick. We have not heard of this among our fathers of old.’

Verse 37

وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبِّيٓ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن جَآءَ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ مِنۡ عِندِهِۦ وَمَن تَكُونُ لَهُۥ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ

But Moses said, ‘My Lord knows who brings the guidance from Him, and to whom the final Home (belongs). Surely the evildoers will not prosper.’

Allah tells us how Musa and his brother Harun came before Fir'awn and his chiefs, and showed them the clear miracles and overwhelming proof that Allah had given them to confirm the truth of what they were saying about Allah being One and that His commandments were to be followed. Fir'awn and his chiefs saw that with their own eyes and realized that it was certainly from Allah, but because of their disbelief and sin they resorted to stubbornness and false arguments. This was because they were too evil and arrogant to follow the truth. They said:

{This is nothing but invented magic} meaning, fabricated and made up. They wanted to oppose him by means of their own tricks and their position and power, but this did not work.

Quoted Scripture
"Never did we hear of this among our fathers of old."

They were referring worshipping Allah Alone, with no partner or associate. They said: “We have never seen anyone among our forefathers following this religion; we have only ever seen people associating other gods in worship with Allah. Musa said in response to them:

Quoted Scripture
"My Lord knows best him who came with guidance from Him,"

meaning, 'of me and you, and He will decide between me and you.' So he said:

Quoted Scripture
"and whose will be the happy end in the Hereafter."

meaning, who will be supported and will prevail.

Quoted Scripture
"Verily, the wrongdoers will not be successful."

refers to the idolaters who associate others in worship with Allah.

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.