Tafseer of The Smoke · Ad-Dukhaan · 44:17
And We had already tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble messenger,
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.
And His word wa-laqad fatannā qablahum qawma firʿawn ("and indeed, We tested before them the people of Pharaoh") — the Exalted, praised be His mention, means: And indeed, O Muḥammad, before the polytheists of your people, We tested and put to the trial the likes of these: the people of Pharaoh, from among the Copts. wa-jāʾahum rasūlun karīm ("and there came to them a noble messenger") — He says: And there came to them a messenger from Us, whom We sent to them, and that is Mūsā ibn ʿImrān, Allah's blessings be upon him.
As Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word wa-laqad fatannā qablahum qawma firʿawna wa-jāʾahum rasūlun karīm ("and indeed, We tested before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble messenger"), he means Mūsā.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word rasūlun karīm ("a noble messenger"), he said: Mūsā, peace be upon him. And He, exalted is His praise, described him with nobility (karam), because he was noble before Him and held an exalted place with Him. It is also possible that He described him with that because he was eminent among his people and of high lineage.
