Sura 28, al-Qasas, Mecca 49

Moses killing an Egyptian

The Quranic text and Ali’s version

وَدَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ عَلَى حِينِ غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ...

28:15. And he entered the City at a time when its people were not watching:

and he found there two men fighting --

C3341. That may have been either the time of the noontime siesta, when all business is suspended even now in Egypt, or

the time of night, when people are usually asleep.

The latter is more probable, in view of verse 18 below. But there is also another suggestion.

A guest in a Palace is not free to wander about at will in the plebeian quarters of the City at all sorts of hours, and this applies even more to an inmate of the Palace brought up as a son.

Moses was therefore visiting the City privately and eluding the guards. His object may have been to see for himself how things were going on; perhaps he had heard that his people were being oppressed, as we may suppose that he had retained contact with his mother.

...هَذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِ وَهَذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ...

one of his own religion, and the other, of his foes.

...فَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الَّذِي مِن شِيعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ... ...

Now the man of his own religion appealed to him against his foe,

...فَوَكَزَهُ مُوسَى فَقَضَى عَلَيْهِ... ...

and Moses struck him with his fist and made an end of him.

C3342. His object was apparently to strike him so as to release the Israelite, not to kill the Egyptian,

In fact he killed the Egyptian. This was unfortunate in more ways than one. His visit to the City was clandestine; he had taken the side of the weaker and despised party; and he had taken the life of an Egyptian. He was full of regrets and repentance, and he prayed to Allah, and obtained Allah's forgiveness.

...قَالَ هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ...

He said:

"This is a work of Evil (Satan):

...إِنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ مُّضِلٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿١٥﴾

for he is an enemy that manifestly misleads!"

وَدَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ عَلَى حِينِ غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ...

Asad’s version

28:15 And (one day] he entered the city at a time when [most of] its people were [resting in their houses,] unaware of what was going on [in the streets]; 13 and there he encountered two men fighting with one another - one of his own people, 14 and the other of his enemies. And the one who belonged to his own people cried out to him for help against him who was of his enemies - whereupon Moses struck him down with his fist, and [thus] brought about his end.

[[ Asad’s notes –

13 Lit., "at a time of its people's unawareness".

14 I.e., of the Hebrews. ]]