Tafseer of The Stories · Al-Qasas · 28:21
So he left it, fearful and anticipating [apprehension]. He said, "My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people."
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the word of the Most High: فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ('So he departed from it, fearful and watchful. He said: My Lord, deliver me from the wrongdoing people') (verse 21)
The Most High says: Mūsā departed from the city of Firʿawn, fearful on account of his slaying [of the man], that they would put him to death for it; يَتَرَقَّبُ — He says: he is watching out for the pursuit, lest it overtake him and seize him.
As Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ — fearful on account of the slaying, watching out for the pursuit; قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ .
Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Abū Sufyān related to me, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda: فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ — he said: fearful on account of the slaying, watching out for the pursuit, lest it seize him.
Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: Salama related to us, on the authority of Ibn Isḥāq, who said: it was related to me that he departed not knowing which direction he should take, while he was saying: رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ .
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ — he said: watching out for the pursuit out of fear of it.
As for قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ('he said: My Lord, deliver me from the wrongdoing people'): the Most High says: Mūsā said, as he departed in haste from the city of Firʿawn, fearful: 'Lord, deliver me from these unbelieving people who have wronged themselves through their unbelief in You.'
