Juz 20: An-Naml 56 to Al-ʿAnkabūt 45
Section 9 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
9. Musa in Madyan with Shuaib's Family
After fleeing from Egypt, Musa (peace be upon him) journeyed towards the land of Madyan. Upon reaching the wells of Madyan, he encountered a scene that would change the course of his life. At the water source, he observed shepherds watering their flocks, while two women stood apart, waiting for the men to finish.
وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِي حَتَّىٰ يُصْدِرَ الرِّعَاءُ وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ
“And when he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found a multitude of people watering (their cattle) and found, aloof from them, two women keeping their cattle back. He said, "What is the matter with you?" They said, "We cannot water (our cattle) until these shepherds take (their cattle) back, and our father is a very old man.”
This verse reveals the character of Musa (peace be upon him) who, despite being exhausted from his journey and facing his own troubles, did not hesitate to help those in need. He immediately watered their flocks for them, displaying his physical strength and moral character.
After performing this act of kindness, Musa (peace be upon him) retreated to the shade, physically exhausted and in a state of need. He turned to Allah with one of the most touching supplications in the Quran:
فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰ إِلَى الظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
“So he watered (their cattle) for them, then he turned to a shade and said, "My Lord, I am in need of whatever good you send down to me.”
This beautiful supplication demonstrates Musa's complete reliance on Allah during his time of distress. Rather than asking for specific things, he acknowledged his neediness before Allah and left it to His wisdom to provide what was best. It stands as a perfect example of how believers should approach Allah in times of need.
In response to his kindness, one of the two women returned to Musa, walking with notable haya (modesty), a quality the Quran specifically highlights:
فَجَاءَتْهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَمْشِي عَلَى اسْتِحْيَاءٍ قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِي يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا
“Then one of the two women came to him, walking bashfully. She said, "My father is calling you, so that he may give you a reward for watering for us.”
The emphasis on her modest manner of walking is significant as it teaches us that haya (modesty) is one of the most distinguished characteristics in Islam, particularly for women. This quality represents an inner spiritual state that manifests in outward behavior and appearance.
When Musa (peace be upon him) met their father, who was the prophet Shuaib (peace be upon him), he narrated his story. Shuaib reassured him:
فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفْ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
“When he came to him and narrated to him the whole story, he said, "Do not fear; you have escaped from the wrongdoing people.”
One of Shuaib's daughters suggested to her father that he hire Musa, citing his strength and trustworthiness – two essential qualities for employment:
قَالَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الْأَمِينُ
“One of the two women said, "Dear father, hire him; the best one you can hire is the one who is strong, trustworthy.”
Shuaib then proposed to Musa that he marry one of his daughters, with the mahr (dowry) being that Musa work for him for eight years, with an optional additional two years:
قَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُنكِحَكَ إِحْدَى ابْنَتَيَّ هَاتَيْنِ عَلَىٰ أَن تَأْجُرَنِي ثَمَانِيَ حِجَجٍ فَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ عَشْرًا فَمِنْ عِندِكَ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَيْكَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
“He said, "I wish to marry one of these two daughters of mine to you on condition that you act as my employee for eight years. Then, if you complete ten (years), it will be of your own accord. And I do not want to put you in hardship. You will find me, if Allah wills, among the righteous.”
Musa accepted this arrangement, saying:
قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ أَيَّمَا الْأَجَلَيْنِ قَضَيْتُ فَلَا عُدْوَانَ عَلَيَّ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ
“He said, "This is (a deal) between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there should be no excess against me. And Allah is witness to what we say.”
This episode in Musa's life demonstrates how Allah (swt) brings relief after hardship and arranges matters for His servants in ways they could never anticipate. From a fugitive fleeing for his life, Musa found safety, marriage, and a period of stability in Madyan – all beginning with a simple act of kindness at the well.