Surah Al Qasas Tafseer

Musa, the Father of the Two Women, and His Marriage to One of Them

When the two women came back quickly with the sheep, their father was surprised that they returned so soon. He asked them what had happened, and they told him what Musa, peace be upon him, had done. So he sent one of them to call him to meet her father.

Allah says:

فَجَاءتْهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَمْشِي عَلَى اسْتِحْيَاء

Then there came to him one of them, walking shyly.

meaning, she was walking like a free woman, as it was narrated from the Commander of the faithful, Umar, may Allah be pleased with him:

"She was covering herself from them with the folds of her garment."

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Amr bin Maymun said, Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

"She came walking shyly, putting her garment over her face. She was not one of those audacious women who come and go as they please."

This chain of narrators is Sahih.

قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِي يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا

She said:"Verily, my father calls you that he may reward you for having watered (our flocks) for us."

This is an example of good manners:she did not invite him directly lest he have some suspicious thoughts about her. Rather she said:"My father is inviting you so that he may reward you for watering our sheep," i.e., give you some payment for that.

فَلَمَّا جَاءهُ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقَصَصَ

So when he came to him and narrated the story,

means, he told him about his story and why he had to leave his country.

قَالَ لَاا تَخَفْ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

he said:"Fear you not. You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers."

He was saying:`calm down and relax, for you have left their kingdom and they have no authority in our land.' So he said:

نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

(You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers).

قَالَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الاْاَمِينُ