Tafseer of The Forgiver · Ghafir · 40:25
And when he brought them the truth from Us, they said, "Kill the sons of those who have believed with him and keep their women alive." But the plan of the disbelievers is not except in error.
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 discourse on the explanation of His statement, the Exalted: Then when he came to them with the truth from Us, they said: Kill the sons of those who believe with him, and let their women live; but the plotting of the disbelievers is only in error (25).
The Exalted, whose mention is exalted, says: When Mūsā came to these to whom Allah had sent him with the truth from Us — and that is his coming to them with the oneness of Allah (tawḥīd) and acting according to His obedience, together with the establishment of the proof against them that Allah had sent him to them with the call to that — they said: Kill the sons of those who believe in Allah with him among the Children of Israel and let their women live, says: and spare their women for service.
And if a questioner should ask: How was it said Then when he came to them with the truth from Us, they said: Kill the sons of those who believe with him, and let their women live, while Pharaoh's killing of the boys of the Children of Israel had in fact taken place out of fear of the newborn about whom he had been informed that through him would come the loss of his kingship and the destruction of his people — and that was, as is said, before Allah sent Mūsā as a prophet? Then it is said: This command to kill the sons of those who believed with Mūsā and to let their women live was a command of Pharaoh and his chiefs after the first command that issued from Pharaoh before the birth of Mūsā.
As Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: Then when he came to them with the truth from Us, they said: Kill the sons of those who believe with him, and let their women live, he said: this killing is another killing than the first killing that took place.
And His statement: but the plotting of the disbelievers is only in error says: and the cunning of the people of disbelief against the people who believe in Allah is only a straying from the path of truth, a turning away from the straight road, and a taking of something other than guidance.
