Al-Qasas (ٱلْقَصَص)

Surah Al-Qasas (Arabic: ٱلْقَصَص, translation: the story or narratives) is the 28th surah (chapter) of the Noble Quran. The surah has 88 verses divided into 9 Rukus and is in the 20th Juz (para) of the Quran. Surah Al-Qasas is a Makki (Meccan) surah. Makki Surahs are the chapters of the Quran that were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad while he was in Makkah before he migrated to Medina. It is the 18th Makki Surah and was revealed after the 6th year of prophethood.  

Surah Al-Qasas was revealed when the Prophet Muhammad's (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prophethood was questioned by the nonbelievers who were wondering how he could be blessed with the prophethood suddenly. The nonbelievers were also wondering why Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى would assign the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) this mission without any special help or supernatural forces to aid him. The surah Al-Qasas removes the doubts and objections raised against the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). 

The surah recounts the story of Prophet Musa, his followers, and the Pharaoh. It emphasizes the Omnipotence of Allah, the fight between good and evil, and the rewards for those who persevere in the way of Allah despite adversity. It draws comparison between the situation of Prophet Musa and his followers and Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his followers. This comparison and the promise of reward encouraged the early believers of Islam to remain steadfast.

The Historical Background of Surah Al-Qasas (ٱلْقَصَص)

Surah Al-Qasas tells the story of Moses, Musa (عليه السلام), from his birth to his prophethood and his struggles against the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh plotted to kill all the male children of the Israelites for fear of a prophesized male child who would overthrow him. Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى saved Musa (عليه السلام) and arranged for him to be brought up in the Pharaoh's own household. In verses 7 to 9, Allah states that He ordered the mother of Musa (عليه السلام) to send him down the river when she came to fear for his life. Allah strengthened her heart and told her not to worry about her child, for he will be reunited with her and will be made a messenger of Allah. When the Pharoah's people saw a child floating down the river, they brought the child to his wife who asked to raise the child as her own. Thus, Allah saved Musa (عليه السلام) from the Pharoah and raised him in his own home. 

The nonbelievers of Mecca denied the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). They speculated how he could be blessed with prophethood all of a sudden. Allah answers this accusation through the story of Prophet Musa (عليه السلام), who was given prophethood unexpectedly during a journey while he himself did not know what he was going to be blessed with. He had gone to bring a piece of fire but had returned with the gift of prophethood. Allah says to Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), just like Musa (عليه السلام), we have sent you to guide the Quraish and bring them the true religion of Allah lest they say that no guidance was provided to them. 

٢٨ - ٱلْقَصَص

28 - Al-Qasas

طٰسۗمّۗ۝۱
Taseenmeem

English

Ahmed Ali

TA SIN MIM.

1

تِلْكَ اٰيٰتُ الْكِتٰبِ الْمُبِيْنِ۝۲
Tilka ayatu alkitabi almubeeni

English

Ahmed Ali

These are the verses of the illuminating Book.

2

نَتْلُوْا عَلَيْكَ مِنْ نَّبَـاِ مُوْسٰى وَفِرْعَوْنَ بِالْحَقِّ لِقَوْمٍ يُّؤْمِنُوْنَ۝۳
Natloo AAalayka min nabai moosa wafirAAawna bialhaqqi liqawmin yuminoona

English

Ahmed Ali

We narrate to you from the history of Moses and Pharaoh in all verity, for those who believe.

3

اِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْاَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ اَہْلَہَا شِيَعًا يَّسْتَضْعِفُ طَاۗىِٕفَۃً مِّنْہُمْ يُذَبِّحُ اَبْنَاۗءَہُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيٖ نِسَاۗءَہُمْ۝۰ۭ اِنَّہٗ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِيْنَ۝۴
Inna firAAawna AAala fee alardi wajaAAala ahlaha shiyaAAan yastadAAifu taifatan minhum yuthabbihu abnaahum wayastahyee nisaahum innahu kana mina almufsideena

English

Ahmed Ali

The Pharaoh had become high and mighty in the land, and divided the people into different classes, and impoverished one class, slaying its males and sparing its women, for he was indeed a tyrant.

4

وَنُرِيْدُ اَنْ نَّمُنَّ عَلَي الَّذِيْنَ اسْتُضْعِفُوْا فِي الْاَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَہُمْ اَىِٕمَّۃً وَّنَجْعَلَہُمُ الْوٰرِثِيْنَ۝۵ۙ
Wanureedu an namunna AAala allatheena istudAAifoo fee alardi wanajAAalahum aimmatan wanajAAalahumu alwaritheena

English

Ahmed Ali

We wished to favour those who were weak in the land and make them leaders and heirs,

5

وَنُمَكِّنَ لَہُمْ فِي الْاَرْضِ وَنُرِيَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَہَامٰنَ وَجُنُوْدَہُمَا مِنْہُمْ مَّا كَانُوْا يَحْذَرُوْنَ۝۶
Wanumakkina lahum fee alardi wanuriya firAAawna wahamana wajunoodahuma minhum ma kanoo yahtharoona

English

Ahmed Ali

And establish them in the country; and to make the Pharaoh, Haman and their hordes beware of what they feared from them.

6

وَاَوْحَيْنَاۗ اِلٰۗى اُمِّ مُوْسٰۗى اَنْ اَرْضِعِيْہِ۝۰ۚ فَاِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْہِ فَاَلْقِيْہِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِيْ وَلَا تَحْـزَنِيْ۝۰ۚ اِنَّا رَاۗدُّوْہُ اِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوْہُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِيْنَ۝۷
Waawhayna ila ommi moosa an ardiAAeehi faitha khifti AAalayhi faalqeehi fee alyammi wala takhafee wala tahzanee inna raddoohu ilayki wajaAAiloohu mina almursaleena

English

Ahmed Ali

So We conveyed to the mother of Moses: "Suckle him. If you are afraid for him, cast him in the river without any fear or regret, for We shall restore him to you, and make him an apostle."

7

فَالْتَقَطَہٗۗ اٰلُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِيَكُوْنَ لَہُمْ عَدُوًّا وَّحَزَنًا۝۰ۭ اِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ وَہَامٰنَ وَجُنُوْدَہُمَا كَانُوْا خٰطِـــــِٕيْنَ۝۸
Failtaqatahu alu firAAawna liyakoona lahum AAaduwwan wahazanan inna firAAawna wahamana wajunoodahuma kanoo khatieena

English

Ahmed Ali

Then he was picked up by the family of Pharaoh (unaware) that he would become their enemy and a cause for regret. Surely the Pharaoh, Haman and their hordes were habitual sinners.

8

وَقَالَتِ امْرَاَتُ فِرْعَوْنَ قُرَّتُ عَيْنٍ لِّيْ وَلَكَ۝۰ۭ لَا تَقْتُلُوْہُ۝۰ۤۖ عَسٰۗى اَنْ يَّنْفَعَنَاۗ اَوْ نَتَّخِذَہٗ وَلَدًا وَّہُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُوْنَ۝۹
Waqalati imraatu firAAawna qurratu AAaynin lee walaka la taqtuloohu AAasa an yanfaAAana aw nattakhithahu waladan wahum la yashAAuroona

English

Ahmed Ali

The Pharaoh's wife said: "He will be a comfort to me and to you. Do not kill him. He may well be of some advantage to us, or we may adopt him as a son." They were not aware (of what the future held in store).

9

وَاَصْبَحَ فُؤَادُ اُمِّ مُوْسٰى فٰرِغًا۝۰ۭ اِنْ كَادَتْ لَتُبْدِيْ بِہٖ لَوْلَاۗ اَنْ رَّبَطْنَا عَلٰي قَلْبِہَا لِتَكُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ۝۱۰
Waasbaha fuadu ommi moosa farighan in kadat latubdee bihi lawla an rabatna AAala qalbiha litakoona mina almumineena

English

Ahmed Ali

The mother of Moses was perturbed in the morning. Had We not strengthened her heart to remain a believer she had almost given him away.

10

Themes and Subject Matter of Surah Al-Qasas (ٱلْقَصَص)

Surah Al-Qasas is a complete answer to the baseless accusations of the Quraish about the prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The themes of the surah can be divided into the following three parts: 

Allah's Wisdom 

With the example of Prophet Musa (عليه السلام), Allah made evident that He is all-knowing and his decisions are backed by his wisdom and omnipotence. There is wisdom in all His actions. Allah has ordained a time for everything, and the time for prophethood is also from him. Just like he gave Musa prophethood when he went to Mount Tur to get fire, so has he given prophethood to Prophet Muhammad so he may bring the message of Allah to the Arabs. This is Allah's divine wisdom and plan. 

Allah's Mercy 

The next theme is that of Allah's mercy. Musa (عليه السلام) killed a man and left for Madyan to get away from the retribution. He begged Allah for mercy and sincerely made tawba. He prayed: "O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul! Do Thou then forgive me!" So (Allah) forgave him: for He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Verse 16). Allah heard his prayers and forgave him. It reassures the believers that Allah is all-forgiving and merciful. If you seek His forgiveness with a true heart, He will forgive you. 

Allah's Punishment 

Through the example of the Pharoah, Haman, and their followers, Allah makes evident the consequence of evildoing, arrogance, and tyranny. The Pharoah boasted that he was the God and none could beat him, but Allah drowned him and his followers in the sea. The consequence of arrogance and tyranny is rewarded with swift and terrible punishment. It is a message for the Quraish that no matter how powerful you are, this worldly power cannot protect you from Allah's just punishment in this world and on the day of judgment. So, correct your ways and come to the path of Allah. 

Allah's Reward 

The story of Moses and the Israelites teaches patience and determination in the face of adversity. It warns of the consequences of disobedience and rebellion against Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى commands. The importance of gratitude and thankfulness to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى for His blessings and favours are narrated in this surah. It symbolizes the eternal struggle between good and evil, with Musa (عليه السلام) representing good and Pharaoh representing evil.

As mentioned in the Quran, "So We seized him and his soldiers and threw them into the sea. So see how the end of the wrongdoers was."Surah Al-Qasas (40).

It focuses attention on the role of prophets as guides and leaders and the importance of obeying their commands. It serves as a reminder of the Day of Judgment, encouraging believers to prepare for the Hereafter. 

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Al-Qasas (ٱلْقَصَص)

The surah provides guidance for believers, especially in times of oppression and hardship. It teaches us determination and patience through the story of Musa (عليه السلام) and the Israelites. Reciting Surah Al-Qasas brings relief from hardships and protection from oppression and tyranny. It emphasizes Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى forgiveness and mercy, encouraging believers to seek forgiveness and show mercy to others. It protects against evil forces and satan's whispers. Blessings and prosperity make way through the recitation of this surah. Some traditions suggest that Surah Al-Qasas has healing properties and can be used as a cure for ailments. It also helps in spiritual growth and development, encouraging believers to reflect on the stories and lessons contained within. 

Surah Al-Qasas guides us to understand the stories of the prophets and their struggles, which helps us in our own lives and also asks us to be patient in the face of adversity, just like the prophets. It strengthens our trust in Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى plan and His might to help us overcome challenges and provides comfort to those who are oppressed by serving as a warning to those who reject faith and disobey Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى commands. In addition, recitation of any surah of the Quran increases knowledge and understanding. As reported by Abu Huraira, The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Do not turn your houses into graves. Verily, Satan does not enter the house where Surat al-Baqarah is recited." (Reference Sahih Muslim, Book 6, Hadith 212).