Surah Al-Qasas 28:25
سُورَةُ القَصَصِ · Meccan · Verse 25 of 88
فَجَآءَتْهُ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا تَمْشِى عَلَى ٱسْتِحْيَآءٍۢ قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِى يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا ۚ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُۥ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
Translation
and then one of the two women approached him, walking shyly, and said, ‘My father is asking for you: he wants to reward you for watering our flocks for us.’ When Moses came to him and told him his story, the old man said, ‘Do not be afraid, you are safe now from people who do wrong.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse opens with a moment of divine grace for Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) after his arduous journey. Having just helped two women water their flocks, he retreated to the shade, making a heartfelt supplication to Allah for any good. At this precise juncture, one of those women returns to him, delivering a crucial invitation. The conversation that follows involves this woman and then, later, her father. The situation is one of immediate relief and finding refuge after danger.
Walking with Modesty
The Quran describes her approach with the deeply evocative phrase, "تَمْشِى عَلَى ٱسْتِحْيَاءٍۢ" (tamshee 'alaa istihiyaa', she walked with shyness). The choice of "تَمْشِي" (she walks) is intentional, setting the stage for the manner of her walk, rather than just stating "she came," as Ibn Ashur explains. The word "اسْتِحْيَاءٍ" (istihyaa') itself, as Ibn Ashur notes, is an emphatic form of "حياء" (hayaa'), signifying profound modesty. The preposition "عَلَى" (alaa, upon/on) further suggests that her modesty wasn't just an attribute but deeply rooted and enveloping her entire demeanor as she moved. The scholars envision this as her not strutting, not displaying adornments, perhaps even partially covering her face as a mark of intense feminine discretion. This precise wording paints a vivid picture of a pure and upright character, reflecting the environment she came from.
The Invitation for Recompense
She then conveys her father's invitation: "إِنَّ أَبِى يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا" (inna abee yad'ooka liyajziyaka ajra maa saqayta lanaa, "Indeed, my father invites you to reward you for what you watered for us"). The particle "إِنَّ" (inna, indeed) emphasizes the truth and importance of this message, aiming to reassure Musa, as Ibn Ashur points out. The word "أَجْرَ" (ajra, recompense) here isn't a wage from an employment contract. As Ibn Ashur clarifies, Musa's act was pure kindness, and the father's invitation was an act of noble hospitality, customary for people of virtue. The "مَا" (maa) in "مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا" functions as a verbal noun, simply meaning "for your watering for us," underscoring the specific good deed being acknowledged.
The Weight of "The Story"
Upon Musa's arrival, the verse states, "وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَصَصَ" (wa qassa 'alayhil qasas, and he recounted to him the story). The definite article "ال" (al-, the) attached to "القَصَصَ" (al-qasas, the story) isn't just a generic mention. It refers to a story already known or deeply implied by the context of Musa's escape from Pharaoh. It carries the weight of all that Musa had endured, from killing the Copt to his terrifying flight, validating the gravity of his past.
Reassurance from the Oppressors
The father's response is immediate and profoundly comforting: "لَا تَخَفْ ۖ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ" (laa takhaf, najawta minal qawmidh dhaalimeen, "Do not fear, you have escaped from the wrongdoing people"). The imperative "لا تَخَفْ" (Do not fear) is a direct, emphatic command to quell Musa's apprehension. This reassurance is immediately followed by its powerful justification, "نَجَوْتَ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ" (you have escaped from the wrongdoing people), serving as a direct explanation for the removal of fear, as Ibn Ashur explains. By explicitly calling Pharaoh's people "الظَّٰلِمِينَ" (the wrongdoers or oppressors), the father implicitly confirms and validates Musa's own narrative of injustice and persecution, offering him not just physical safety but also moral affirmation in his new haven.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Qasas 28:25 is discussed in 8 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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