Juz 20: An-Naml 56 to Al-ʿAnkabūt 45
Section 7 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
7. Story of Musa and Pharaoh - Birth and Protection
Surah Al-Qasas begins with the powerful story of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and Pharaoh. After the mystic letters "Ta-Seen-Meem," Allah introduces this as the narrative of truth, specifically for those who believe. This story has profound lessons about divine protection of the righteous and Allah's plan to elevate those who are oppressed.
طسم تلك آيات الكتاب المبين نتلوا عليك من نبإ موسى وفرعون بالحق لقوم يؤمنون
“Ta-Seen-Meem. These are verses of the clear Book. We recite to you some of the story of Musa and Pharaoh with truth for a people who believe.”
The historical context is significant. Pharaoh ruled over Egypt with absolute tyranny, particularly targeting the Bani Israel (Children of Israel). His approach to governance reflected a cunning "divide and rule" policy:
إن فرعون علا في الأرض وجعل أهلها شيعا يستضعف طائفة منهم يذبح أبناءهم ويستحيي نساءهم إنه كان من المفسدين
“Indeed, Pharaoh had become high-handed in the land, and divided its people into different groups; he used to persecute a group of them, slaughtering their sons and keeping their women alive. Indeed he was one of the mischief-makers.”
What makes this story even more powerful is Allah's declaration of His intention to reverse this situation completely:
ونريد أن نمن على الذين استضعفوا في الأرض ونجعلهم أئمة ونجعلهم الوارثين
“And We intended to favor those who were held as weak in the land, and to make them leaders and make them inheritors.”
This divine promise demonstrates a recurring pattern in human history - that oppression, no matter how powerful it seems, carries within it the seeds of its own destruction, while the oppressed, with faith and perseverance, eventually rise to prominence.
When Pharaoh learned through predictive knowledge that a child would be born among the Bani Israel who would cause his downfall, he implemented a brutal policy of infanticide against all male newborns. This led to the extraordinary circumstances of Musa's birth and protection.
Allah inspired Musa's mother with a remarkable solution when her child was born during a year when male infants were to be killed:
وأوحينا إلى أم موسى أن أرضعيه فإذا خفت عليه فألقيه في اليم ولا تخافي ولا تحزني إنا رادوه إليك وجاعلوه من المرسلين
“And We inspired the mother of Musa saying, "Suckle him. Then once you fear about him, cast him in the river, and do not fear, and do not grieve. Surely We are going to bring him back to you and make him one of the messengers.”
This divine instruction led to one of history's most remarkable ironies - Pharaoh's own household became the place of safety for the very child destined to overthrow him. When Musa's mother placed him in a box in the Nile, divine providence guided it directly to Pharaoh's palace.
The role of Pharaoh's wife, Asiya, is particularly noteworthy. Her compassion overcame Pharaoh's murderous intent:
وقالت امرأت فرعون قرت عين لي ولك لا تقتلوه عسى أن ينفعنا أو نتخذه ولدا وهم لا يشعرون
“And the wife of Pharaoh said, "He is comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him. Perhaps he brings us some benefit, or we take him as a son." And they were unaware.”
Meanwhile, Musa's sister followed the floating box and ingeniously suggested a wet nurse when the royal household found that the infant refused to be nursed:
وقالت لأخته قصيه فبصرت به عن جنب وهم لا يشعرون وحرمنا عليه المراضع من قبل فقالت هل أدلكم على أهل بيت يكفلونه لكم وهم له ناصحون
“And she said to his sister, "Follow him." So she watched him from a distance, while they were not aware. And We had already forbidden suckle-mothers for him. So she said, "Shall I point out to you a family who will nurse him for you and they will be caregivers for him?”
This divinely orchestrated plan resulted in the remarkable outcome - Musa's own mother was hired and paid by Pharaoh to nurse her son, thus fulfilling Allah's promise:
فرددناه إلى أمه كي تقر عينها ولا تحزن ولتعلم أن وعد الله حق ولكن أكثرهم لا يعلمون
“Thus We returned him to his mother so that her eye might have comfort and she might not grieve, and so that she might know that Allah's promise is true, but most of them do not know.”
This episode powerfully illustrates how Allah's plans unfold in unexpected ways, turning seemingly hopeless situations into opportunities for divine mercy and wisdom, and how the very means intended for destruction become the means for salvation.