Prophet Mūsā: Part 2 — The Calling and the Magicians Who Believed
Section 6 of 36 · Lives of the Prophets
I Have Seen a Fire
Mūsā saw what appeared to be a fire, far away. And it seems from the ayat that only Mūsā was able to see it; his wife did not see it. Innī ānastu nārā — I have seen a fire. It seems that because this was a special light, only Mūsā was seeing it; his wife could not make it out.
۞ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ مُوسَى ٱلْأَجَلَ وَسَارَ بِأَهْلِهِۦٓ ءَانَسَ مِن جَانِبِ ٱلطُّورِ نَارًا قَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ جَذْوَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ
“So, when Mūsā completed the term and set forth with his wife, he noticed a fire from the direction of (the mount) Tūr, he said to his wife, “Stay here; I have noticed a fire. May be I bring to you some information or an ember from the fire, so that you may warm yourself.”” (28:29)
Allah (swt) says: when he was travelling with his family, he saw a fire in the direction of al-Ṭūr. He told his wife: wait here. I will go and try to find directions — that fire must have been lit by some people; there must be some people around it, so they will give me directions. I need guidance. Mūsā needs guidance. He says:
إِذْ رَءَا نَارًا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ هُدًى
“When he saw a fire and said to his family, “Stay here. I have noticed a fire. Perhaps I can bring you an ember from it, or find some guidance by the fire.”” (20:10)
That I may find guidance at the fire. What guidance is he talking about? Directions to Egypt. So that I can either bring you some light — because we need light; we are in complete darkness — or find guidance at the fire. So Mūsā walked in that direction. Mūsā does not know what he is going to face in front of him. He walks there. And Allah (swt) tells us about one of the most amazing conversations that has happened in the history of the universe.