When the man told Musa about how Fir`awn and his chiefs were conspiring
against him, he left Egypt on his own. He was not used to being alone, because
before that he had been living a life of luxury and ease, in a position of
leadership.
[فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا
خَآئِفاً يَتَرَقَّبُ]
(So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear.) meaning,
turning around and watching.
[قَالَ رَبِّ
نَجِّنِى مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّـلِمِينَ]
(My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrongdoers!) means, from Fir`awn
and his chiefs. It was mentioned that Allah sent to him an angel riding a horse,
who showed him the way. And Allah knows best.
[وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ
تِلْقَآءَ مَدْيَنَ]
(And when he went towards (the land of) Madyan,) means, he took a smooth and
easy route -- and he rejoiced because of that.
[قَالَ عَسَى رَبِّى
أَن يَهْدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ السَّبِيلِ]
(he said: "It may be that my Lord guides me to the right way.'') meaning, the
most straight route. And Allah did indeed do that, for He guided him to the
straight path in this world and the Hereafter, and caused him to be guided and
to guide others.
[وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ
مَآءَ مَدْيَنَ]
(And when he arrived at the water (a well) of Madyan,) means, when he reached
Madyan and went to drink from its water, for it had a well where shepherds used
to water their flocks,
[وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ
أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ امْرَأَتَينِ
تَذُودَانِ]
(he found there a group of men watering, and besides them he found two women
who were keeping back.) means, they were stopping their sheep from drinking with
the sheep of those shepherds, lest some harm come to them. When Musa, peace be
upon him, saw them, he felt sorry for them and took pity on them.
[قَالَ مَا
خَطْبُكُمَا]
(He said: "What is the matter with you'') meaning, `why do you not water your
flocks with these people'
[قَالَتَا لاَ
نَسْقِى حَتَّى يُصْدِرَ الرِّعَآءُ]
(They said: "We cannot water until the shepherds take...'') meaning, `we
cannot water our flocks until they finish.'
[وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ
كَبِيرٌ]
(And our father is a very old man.) means, `this is what has driven us to
what you see.'
[فَسَقَى
لَهُمَا]
(So he watered (their flocks) for them, )
[ثُمَّ تَوَلَّى
إِلَى الظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ
فَقِيرٌ]
(then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of
whatever good that You bestow on me!'')
[إِلَى
الظِّلِّ]
(to shade,) Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and As-Suddi said: "He sat beneath a
tree.'' `Ata' bin As-Sa'ib said: "When Musa said:
[رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ
أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ]
("My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!'') the
women heard him.''
[فَجَآءَتْهُ
إِحْدَاهُمَا تَمْشِى عَلَى اسْتِحْيَآءٍ قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِى يَدْعُوكَ
لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ
الْقَصَصَ قَالَ لاَ تَخَفْ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّـلِمِينَ - قَالَتْ
إِحْدَاهُمَا يأَبَتِ اسْتَـْجِرْهُ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَـْجَرْتَ الْقَوِىُّ
الأَمِينُ - قَالَ إِنِّى أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُنكِحَكَ إِحْدَى ابْنَتَىَّ هَاتَيْنِ
عَلَى أَن تَأْجُرَنِى ثَمَانِىَ حِجَجٍ فَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ عَشْراً فَمِنْ عِندِكَ
وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَيْكَ سَتَجِدُنِى إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ
الصَّـلِحِينَ - قَالَ ذَلِكَ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكَ أَيَّمَا الاٌّجَلَيْنِ قَضَيْتُ
فَلاَ عُدْوَانَ عَلَىَّ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ ]
(25. Then there came to him one of them, walking shyly. She said: "Verily, my
father calls you that he may reward you for having watered (our flocks) for
us.'' So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said: "Fear you not. You
have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers.'') (26. And said one of them
(the two women): "O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire
is the strong, the trustworthy.'') (27. He said: "I intend to wed one of these
two daughters of mine to you, on condition that you serve me for eight years;
but if you complete ten years, it will be (a favor) from you. But I intend not
to place you under a difficulty. If Allah wills, you will find me one of the
righteous.'') (28. He (Musa) said: "That (is settled) between me and you:
whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there will be no injustice to me, and
Allah is Surety over what we say.'')