Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Qasas Verse 15

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Once he entered the city at a time when its people were heedless; so he found in it two men fighting each other: This one was from his own group, and that one from his enemies. So the one from his own group called him for help against the one who was from his enemies. So Mūsā gave him a blow with his fist and finished him off. (Then) He (Mūsā) said (out of remorse), “This is some of Satan’s act. He is indeed a clear enemy who misleads (people).”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

˹One day˺ he entered the city unnoticed by its people.[[ In his adulthood, Moses and Pharaoh’s people were not on good terms because he started to question their evil practices.]] There he found two men fighting: one of his own people, and the other of his enemies. The man from his people called to him for help against his foe. So Moses punched him, causing his death. Moses cried, “This is from Satan’s handiwork. He is certainly a sworn, misleading enemy.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Once he entered the city unnoticed by its people, and found two men fighting: one of his own people and the other of his enemies. The one from his own people called him for help against his enemy, so Moses struck him with his fist, causing his death. Moses said, “This is of Satan’s work; he is a sworn enemy who mislead people.”

A. J. Arberry

And he entered the city, at a time when its people were unheeding, and found there two men fighting; the one was of his own party, and the other was of his enemies. Then the one that was of his party cried to him to aid him against the other that was of his enemies; so Moses struck him, and despatched him, and said, 'This is of Satan's doing; he is surely an enemy misleading, manifest.'

Abdul Haleem

He entered the city, unnoticed by its people, and found two men fighting: one from his own people, the other an enemy. The one from his own people cried out to him for help against the enemy. Moses struck him with his fist and killed him. He said, ‘This must be Satan’s work: clearly he is a misleading enemy.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And he entered the City at a time of unawareness of the inhabitants thereof, and he found therein two men fighting, one being of his own party, and the other of his enemies. And he who was of his party, called him for help against him who was of his enemies. So Musa truck him with his fist, and put an end of him. He said: this is of the work of the satan, verily he is an enemy, a misleader manifest.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And he entered the city at a time when its people were not watching; and he found there two men fighting,- one of his own religion, and the other, of his foes. Now the man of his own religion appealed to him against his foe, and Moses struck him with his fist and made an end of him. He said; "This is a work of Evil (Satan); for he is an enemy that manifestly misleads!"

Abul Ala Maududi

Once he entered the city at a time when its people were heedless, and he encountered two men fighting, one of whom belonged to his own people and the other to his foes. Now the man belonging to Moses' own people cried out to him for help against the man from the foes, and Moses struck him with his fist and finished him. Moses said: "This is an act of Satan. Surely he is an enemy who openly misleads."

Ahmed Ali

He came to the city when the people were in a care-free mood, and saw two men quarrelling, one belonging to his community, the other to his enemies. The man who belonged to his community appealed for help against the one who belonged to the enemies. Moses struck him a blow with his fist and finished him off. "This is of Satan's doing," he said. "He is certainly an enemy and a corrupter."

Ahmed Raza Khan

And he entered the city when its inhabitants were sleeping unaware in the afternoon – he therefore found two men fighting; one was from Moosa’s group, and the other from among his enemies; so the one who was of Moosa’s group pleaded to Moosa for help against him who was of his enemies – therefore Moosa punched him thereby finishing him; he said, “This act was from the devil*; indeed he is an open enemy, a misleader.” (* The act of oppressing the man from Bani Israel).

Ali Quli Qarai

[One day] he entered the city at a time when its people were not likely to take notice. He found there two men fighting, this one from among his followers, and that one from his enemies. The one who was from his followers sought his help against him who was from his enemies. So Moses hit him with his fist, whereupon he expired. He said, ‘This is of Satan’s doing. Indeed he is clearly a misguiding enemy.’

Ali Ünal

(One day he left the palace where he was living and) he entered the city at a time when he was unnoticed by its people, and found therein two men fighting, one of his own people and the other of their enemies (the native Copts). The one from his people called on him for help against the other, who was from their enemies. So Moses struck him with his hand and caused his death (unintentionally). He said: "This (enmity and fighting) is of Satan’s doing. Surely he is manifestly a misleading enemy."

Amatul Rahman Omar

And (one day Moses) entered the city at a time when its inhabitants were idling (in a state of heedlessness), and found therein two men fighting with one another; one of his own party (- an Israelite), while the other (belonged to that) of his enemies. The one who belonged to his own people sought his (- Moses´) help against the other who belonged to those of his enemies. Thereat Moses struck him (the latter) with his fist and this brought about his death. He (- Moses) said, `This (death of his) has occurred owing to (his) satanic action; he (- satan) is of course an enemy (of yours) misleading (and) cutting your ties (with God).´

English Literal

And He entered the city/town at a time of negligence/disregard (unnoticed) from its people , so he found in it two men (B) fighting/killing each other, that from his group/party , and that from his enemy, so who (was) from his group/party seeked/asked him for help, on (against) who (was) from his enemy, so he struck himwith his fist so he killed on him, Moses, he said that (is) from the devils` work/deed , that he truly is an enemy, misguiding, clear/evident ."

Faridul Haque

And he entered the city when its inhabitants were sleeping unaware in the afternoon - he therefore found two men fighting; one was from Moosa’s group, and the other from among his enemies; so the one who was of Moosa’s group pleaded to Moosa for help against him who was of his enemies - therefore Moosa punched him thereby finishing him; he said, “This act was from the devil *; indeed he is an open enemy, a misleader.” (* The act of oppressing the man from Bani Israel).

Hamid S. Aziz

And when he reached maturity and was firmly established, We gave him Wisdom and Knowledge; for thus do We reward those who do good.

Hilali & Khan

And he entered the city at a time of unawareness of its people, and he found there two men fighting, - one of his party (his religion - from the Children of Israel), and the other of his foes. The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe, so Musa (Moses) struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: "This is of Shaitan's (Satan) doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

So We gave him back to his mother that her eye might be refreshed, and that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them know not.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And he went into the city at a time of unvigilance on the part of its people, so he found therein two men fighting, one being of his party and the other of his foes, and he who was of his party cried out to him for help against him who was of his enemies, so Musa struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: This is on account of the Shaitan's doing; surely he is an enemy, openly leading astray.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And he entered the city at a time of carelessness of its folk, and he found therein two men fighting, one of his own caste, and the other of his enemies; and he who was of his caste asked him for help against him who was of his enemies. So Moses struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: This is of the devil's doing. Lo! he is an enemy, a mere misleader.

Muhammad Sarwar

He entered the city without the knowledge of its inhabitants and found two men fighting each other. One was his follower and the other his enemy. His follower asked him for help. Moses struck his enemy to death, but later said, "It was the work of satan; he is the sworn enemy of the human being and wants to mislead him".

Qaribullah & Darwish

And he entered the city unnoticed by the people and found two men fighting, one was of his own party, and the other of his enemies. The one of his party appealed for his help against his enemy, Moses struck and killed him, and said: 'This is the work of satan, he is surely a clear, misleading enemy.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And he entered the city when its people were unaware: and he found there two men fighting, -- one of his party, and the other of his foes. The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe, so Musa struck him with his fist and he died. He said: "This is of Shaytan's doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy."

Wahiduddin Khan

He entered the city unnoticed by its people, and there he encountered two men fighting with one another -- one of his own people and the other one of his enemies. The one who belonged to his own people cried out to him for help against his foe -- whereupon Moses struck him down with his fist, thereby causing his death. Moses said, "This is Satan's doing; he is an open foe, leading man astray."

Talal Itani

Once he entered the city, unnoticed by its people. He found in it two men fighting—one of his own sect, and one from his enemies. The one of his sect solicited his assistance against the one from his enemies; so Moses punched him, and put an end to him. He said, “This is of Satan's doing; he is an enemy that openly misleads.”

Tafsir jalalayn

And he, Moses, entered the city, Pharaoh's city, Memphis, having been absent from it for a while, at a time when its people were oblivious, the time of the afternoon nap, and found therein two men fighting, one of his own faction, namely, an Israelite, and the other of his enemies, in other words, an Egyptian, who was exploiting an Israelite to carry firewood to Pharaoh's kitchen. So the one who was of his faction called to him for help against the one who was of his enemies, and so Moses said to him, `Leave him be!', and it is said that he replied to Moses [thus]; `I am truly considering making you carry this [firewood]!'. So Moses punched him, that is, he hit him with his fist clenched -- he [Moses] was a strong man with a powerful strike, and did away with him, that is, he killed him, but he had not intended to kill him. He buried him in the sand. He said, `This, killing of him, is of Satan's doing, inciting my anger. Indeed he is an enemy, to the son of Adam, a manifest misleader', of him.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَدَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ عَلَى حِينِ غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا

And he entered the city when its people were unaware.

Ibn Jurayj narrated from Ata' Al-Khurasani, from Ibn Abbas,

"That was between Maghrib and `Isha'."

Ibn Al-Munkadir narrated from Ata' bin Yasar from Ibn Abbas,

"That was in the middle of the day."

This was also the view of Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ikrimah, As-Suddi and Qatadah.

فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَنِ

and he found there two men fighting,

meaning, hitting one another and struggling with one another.

هَذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِ

one of his party,

meaning, an Israelite,

وَهَذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ

and the other of his foes.

meaning, a Coptic.

This was the view of Ibn Abbas, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Muhammad bin Ishaq.

فَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الَّذِي مِن شِيعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ

The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe,

The Israelite man asked Musa, peace be upon him, for help, and Musa took advantage of the fact that people were not paying attention, so he went to the Coptic man and

فَوَكَزَهُ مُوسَى فَقَضَى عَلَيْهِ

so Musa struck him with his fist and he died.

Mujahid said,

"This means he punched him with his fist." And then he died.

قَالَ

He said, (refers to Musa).

هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ مُّضِلٌّ مُّبِينٌ



"This is of Shaytan's doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy.