The Story, Stories, The Narrative — Verse 22
28:22 · al-Qasas
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وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلۡقَاۤءَ مَدۡیَنَ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّیۤ أَن یَهۡدِیَنِی سَوَاۤءَ ٱلسَّبِیلِ ٢٢
walammā tawajjaha til'qāa madyana qāla ʿasā rabbī an yahdiyanī sawāa l-sabīl
The Story, Stories, The Narrative / al-Qasas (28:22)
Connections 2 multi-source 1 single-source 4 commentators
Multi-source connections cited by 2+ commentators
Single-source mention (1) cited by only one commentator
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Q 7:3 (al-A`raf)
cited by
By commentator who cites how many verses on this ayah
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Al-Qushairi Tafsir 2 verses 6 mentions total
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Kashani Tafsir 2 verses 6 mentions total
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Kashf Al-Asrar Tafsir 2 verses 3 mentions total
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Tafsir al-Tabari 1 verse
Note: these connections are extracted from numeric S:A references inside the commentary text and are therefore biased toward mufassirun who use that notation. Prose-style references (e.g. "Surat al-Baqarah verse 30") will be added later, which should surface additional multi-source consensus.
As he made his way towards Midian, he was saying, ‘May my Lord guide me to the right way.’
walammā tawajjaha til'qāa madyana qāla ʿasā rabbī an yahdiyanī sawāa l-sabīl
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Tafsir Commentary
Musa, peace be upon him, in Madyan, and how He watered the Flocks of the Two Women
When the man told Musa about how Fir`awn and his chiefs were conspiring against him, he left Egypt on his own. He was not used to being alone, because before that he had been living a life of luxury and ease, in a position of leadership.
فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَآئِفاً يَتَرَقَّبُ
(So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear.) meaning, turning around and watching.
قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّـلِمِينَ
(My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrongdoers!) means, from Fir`awn and his chiefs. It was mentioned that Allah sent to him an angel riding a horse, who showed him the way. And Allah knows best.
وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَآءَ مَدْيَنَ
(And when he went towards (the land of) Madyan,) means, he took a smooth and easy route -- and he rejoiced because of that.
قَالَ عَسَى رَبِّى أَن يَهْدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ السَّبِيلِ
(he said: "It may be that my Lord guides me to the right way.") meaning, the most straight route. And Allah did indeed do that, for He guided him to the straight path in this world and the Hereafter, and caused him to be guided and to guide others.
وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدْيَنَ
(And when he arrived at the water (a well) of Madyan,) means, when he reached Madyan and went to drink from its water, for it had a well where shepherds used to water their flocks,
وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ امْرَأَتَينِ تَذُودَانِ
(he found there a group of men watering, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back.) means, they were stopping their sheep from drinking with the sheep of those shepherds, lest some harm come to them. When Musa, peace be upon him, saw them, he felt sorry for them and took pity on them.
قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا
(He said: "What is the matter with you") meaning, `why do you not water your flocks with these people'
قَالَتَا لاَ نَسْقِى حَتَّى يُصْدِرَ الرِّعَآءُ
(They said: "We cannot water until the shepherds take...") meaning, `we cannot water our flocks until they finish.'
وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ
(And our father is a very old man.) means, `this is what has driven us to what you see.'
فَسَقَى لَهُمَا
(So he watered (their flocks) for them, )
ثُمَّ تَوَلَّى إِلَى الظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
(then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!")
إِلَى الظِّلِّ
(to shade,) Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and As-Suddi said: "He sat beneath a tree." `Ata' bin As-Sa'ib said: "When Musa said:
رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
("My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!") the women heard him."
And when he turned his face towards Midian in the direction thereof — and this Midian was the town of the prophet Shu‘ayb eight day’s journeying from Egypt so named after Midian son of Abraham; he Moses did not know the route to it — he said ‘Perhaps my Lord will show me the right way’ that is to say which route to follow in other words the simplest route to it. God thus sent forth to him an angel with a goat which he Moses set off following towards it the town.
When he turned his face toward Midian, he said, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me on the even way.” In what preceded all precedents, the scented garden of recognition was adorned with the trees of love. The playing field of bewilderment and love was placed in front of it and made its access-way. “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things.” Whenever they wanted to bring someone into the garden of recognition, they first brought him into the playing field of bewilderment, and they made his head the polo-ball of tribulation. Thus he would taste the flavor of bewilderment and tribulation, and then he would reach the fragrance of love. This was the state of Moses, God's speaking companion. When they wanted to garb him in the clothing of prophethood and take him to the presence of messengerhood and conversation, first they put him in the bend of trial's polo stick until he was cooked in those trials and troubles. Thus the Exalted Lord says, “We tried thee with trials” [20:40]. In other words: “We cooked you well with trial until you became limpid and immaculate.” He came out of Egypt fearful and trembling. In terror of his enemy he was looking right and left, just as a fearful person does. That is His words, “So he left there, fearful and vigilant” [28:21]. In the end he wept to God and complained of his burning liver. He said, “My Lord, deliver me from the wrongdoing people” [28:21]. The Lord of the Worlds answered his supplication and kept him safe from the enemy. Tranquility came down into his heart and took up residence. It was said to his secret core, “Have no fear and no sorrow. The Lord who kept you under His protection and guarding and did not give you over to the enemy when you were an infant in Pharaoh's chamber and you were slapping his face will today also keep you in His protection and not give you over to the enemy.” Then he set off in the desert all at once, not aiming for Midian. The Exalted Lord threw him to Midian for the sake of a secret that He had prepared there. Shuʿayb was God's prophet and dwelled in Midian. He was a worshipful man, overcome by fear. In the moments of his seclusion he wept so much that he lost his eyesight from weeping, but the Exalted Lord gave him back his eyesight through a miracle.
When he turned his face toward Midian, he said, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me on the even way.” In what preceded all precedents, the scented garden of recognition was adorned with the trees of love. The playing field of bewilderment and love was placed in front of it and made its access-way. “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things.” Whenever they wanted to bring someone into the garden of recognition, they first brought him into the playing field of bewilderment, and they made his head the polo-ball of tribulation. Thus he would taste the flavor of bewilderment and tribulation, and then he would reach the fragrance of love. This was the state of Moses, God's speaking companion. When they wanted to garb him in the clothing of prophethood and take him to the presence of messengerhood and conversation, first they put him in the bend of trial's polo stick until he was cooked in those trials and troubles. Thus the Exalted Lord says, “We tried thee with trials” [20:40]. In other words: “We cooked you well with trial until you became limpid and immaculate.” He came out of Egypt fearful and trembling. In terror of his enemy he was looking right and left, just as a fearful person does. That is His words, “So he left there, fearful and vigilant” [28:21]. In the end he wept to God and complained of his burning liver. He said, “My Lord, deliver me from the wrongdoing people” [28:21]. The Lord of the Worlds answered his supplication and kept him safe from the enemy. Tranquility came down into his heart and took up residence. It was said to his secret core, “Have no fear and no sorrow. The Lord who kept you under His protection and guarding and did not give you over to the enemy when you were an infant in Pharaoh's chamber and you were slapping his face will today also keep you in His protection and not give you over to the enemy.” Then he set off in the desert all at once, not aiming for Midian. The Exalted Lord threw him to Midian for the sake of a secret that He had prepared there. Shuʿayb was God's prophet and dwelled in Midian. He was a worshipful man, overcome by fear. In the moments of his seclusion he wept so much that he lost his eyesight from weeping, but the Exalted Lord gave him back his eyesight through a miracle.
When he turned his face toward Midian, he said, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me on the even way.” In what preceded all precedents, the scented garden of recognition was adorned with the trees of love. The playing field of bewilderment and love was placed in front of it and made its access-way. “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things.” Whenever they wanted to bring someone into the garden of recognition, they first brought him into the playing field of bewilderment, and they made his head the polo-ball of tribulation. Thus he would taste the flavor of bewilderment and tribulation, and then he would reach the fragrance of love. This was the state of Moses, God's speaking companion. When they wanted to garb him in the clothing of prophethood and take him to the presence of messengerhood and conversation, first they put him in the bend of trial's polo stick until he was cooked in those trials and troubles. Thus the Exalted Lord says, “We tried thee with trials” [20:40]. In other words: “We cooked you well with trial until you became limpid and immaculate.” He came out of Egypt fearful and trembling. In terror of his enemy he was looking right and left, just as a fearful person does. That is His words, “So he left there, fearful and vigilant” [28:21]. In the end he wept to God and complained of his burning liver. He said, “My Lord, deliver me from the wrongdoing people” [28:21]. The Lord of the Worlds answered his supplication and kept him safe from the enemy. Tranquility came down into his heart and took up residence. It was said to his secret core, “Have no fear and no sorrow. The Lord who kept you under His protection and guarding and did not give you over to the enemy when you were an infant in Pharaoh's chamber and you were slapping his face will today also keep you in His protection and not give you over to the enemy.” Then he set off in the desert all at once, not aiming for Midian. The Exalted Lord threw him to Midian for the sake of a secret that He had prepared there. Shuʿayb was God's prophet and dwelled in Midian. He was a worshipful man, overcome by fear. In the moments of his seclusion he wept so much that he lost his eyesight from weeping, but the Exalted Lord gave him back his eyesight through a miracle.
When he turned his face toward Midian, he said, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me on the even way.” In what preceded all precedents, the scented garden of recognition was adorned with the trees of love. The playing field of bewilderment and love was placed in front of it and made its access-way. “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things.” Whenever they wanted to bring someone into the garden of recognition, they first brought him into the playing field of bewilderment, and they made his head the polo-ball of tribulation. Thus he would taste the flavor of bewilderment and tribulation, and then he would reach the fragrance of love. This was the state of Moses, God's speaking companion. When they wanted to garb him in the clothing of prophethood and take him to the presence of messengerhood and conversation, first they put him in the bend of trial's polo stick until he was cooked in those trials and troubles. Thus the Exalted Lord says, “We tried thee with trials” [20:40]. In other words: “We cooked you well with trial until you became limpid and immaculate.” He came out of Egypt fearful and trembling. In terror of his enemy he was looking right and left, just as a fearful person does. That is His words, “So he left there, fearful and vigilant” [28:21]. In the end he wept to God and complained of his burning liver. He said, “My Lord, deliver me from the wrongdoing people” [28:21]. The Lord of the Worlds answered his supplication and kept him safe from the enemy. Tranquility came down into his heart and took up residence. It was said to his secret core, “Have no fear and no sorrow. The Lord who kept you under His protection and guarding and did not give you over to the enemy when you were an infant in Pharaoh's chamber and you were slapping his face will today also keep you in His protection and not give you over to the enemy.” Then he set off in the desert all at once, not aiming for Midian. The Exalted Lord threw him to Midian for the sake of a secret that He had prepared there. Shuʿayb was God's prophet and dwelled in Midian. He was a worshipful man, overcome by fear. In the moments of his seclusion he wept so much that he lost his eyesight from weeping, but the Exalted Lord gave him back his eyesight through a miracle.
When he turned his face toward Midian, he said, �Perhaps my Lord will guide me on the even way.�In what preceded all precedents, the scented garden of recognition was adorned with the trees of love. The playing field of bewilderment and love was placed in front of it and made its access-way. �The Garden is surrounded by disliked things.� Whenever they wanted to bring someone into the garden of recognition, they first brought him into the playing field of bewilderment, and they made his head the polo-ball of tribulation. Thus he would taste the flavor of bewilderment and tribulation, and then he would reach the fragrance of love. This was the state of Moses, God's speaking companion.When they wanted to garb him in the clothing of prophethood and take him to the presence of messengerhood and conversation, first they put him in the bend of trial's polo stick until he was cooked in those trials and troubles. Thus the Exalted Lord says, �We tried thee with trials� [20:40].In other words: �We cooked you well with trial until you became limpid and immaculate.�He came out of Egypt fearful and trembling. In terror of his enemy he was looking right and left, just as a fearful person does. That is His words, �So he left there, fearful and vigilant� [28:21]. In the end he wept to God and complained of his burning liver. He said, �My Lord, deliver me from the wrongdoing people� [28:21]. The Lord of the Worlds answered his supplication and kept him safe from the enemy. Tranquility came down into his heart and took up residence. It was said to his secret core, �Have no fear and no sorrow. The Lord who kept you under His protection and guarding and did not give you over to the enemy when you were an infant in Pharaoh's chamber and you were slapping his face will today also keep you in His protection and not give you over to the enemy.�Then he set off in the desert all at once, not aiming for Midian. The Exalted Lord threw him to Midian for the sake of a secret that He had prepared there. Shuʿayb was God's prophet and dwelled in Midian. He was a worshipful man, overcome by fear. In the moments of his seclusion he wept so much that he lost his eyesight from weeping, but the Exalted Lord gave him back his eyesight through a miracle.
ولما قصد موسى بلاد "مدين" وخرج من سلطان فرعون قال: عسى ربي أن يرشدني خير طريق إلى "مدين".
"ولما توجه تلقاء مدين" أي أخذ طريقا سالكا مهيعا فرح بذلك "قال عسى ربي أن يهديني سواء السبيل" أي الطريق الأقوم ففعل الله به ذلك وهداه إلى الصراط المستقيم في الدنيا والآخرة فجعل هاديا مهديا.
ثم حكت لنا السورة الكريمة بعد ذلك ، ما كان منه عندما توجه إلى جهة مدين ، وما حصل له فى تلك الجهة من أحداث ، فقال - تعالى - : ( وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَآءَ . . . ) .لفظ ( تِلْقَآءَ ) فى قوله - تعالى - : ( وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَآءَ مَدْيَنَ ) منصوب على الظرفية المكانية ، وهو فى الأصل اسم مصدر . يقال دارى تلقاء دار فلان ، إذا كانت محاذية لها .و ( مَدْيَنَ ) اسم لقبيلة شعيب - عليه السلام - أو لقريته التى كان يسكن فيها ، سميت بذلك نسبه إلى مدين بن إبراهيم - عليه السلام - .وإنما توجه إليها موسى - عليه السلام - ، لأنها لم تكن داخلة تحت سلطان فرعون وملئه .أى : وبعد أن خرج موسى من مصر خائفا يترقب ، صرف وجهه إلى جهة قرية مدين التى على أطراف الشام جنوبا ، والحجاز شمالا .صرف وجهه إليها مستسلماً لأمر ربه ، متوسلا إليه بقوله : ( عسى ربي أَن يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَآءَ السبيل ) .أى : قال على سبيل الرجاء فى فضل الله - تعالى - وكرمه : عسى ربى الذى خلقنى بقدرته ، وتولانى برعايته وتربيته ، أن يهدينى ويرشدنى إلى أحسن الطرق التى تؤدى بى إلى النجاة من القوم الظالمين .فالمراد بسواء السبيل : الطريق المستقيم السهل المؤدى . إلى النجاة ، من إضافة الصفة إلى الموضوف أى : عسى أن يهدينى ربى إلى الطريق الوسط الواضح .
القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَاءَ مَدْيَنَ قَالَ عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ (22)وقوله: ( وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَاءَ مَدْيَنَ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: ولما جعل موسى وجهه نحو مدين, ماضيا إليها, شاخصا عن مدينة فرعون, وخارجا عن سلطانه,( قَالَ عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ ) وعنى بقوله: " تلقاء " نحو مدين; ويقال: فعل ذلك من تلقاء نفسه, يعني به: من قبل نفسه ويقال: داره تلقاء دار فلان: إذا كانت محاذيتها, ولم يصرف اسم مدين لأنها اسم بلدة معروفة, كذلك تفعل العرب بأسماء البلاد المعروفة; ومنه قول الشاعر:رُهْبَــانُ مَــدْيَنَ لَـوْ رَأَوْكِ تَـنزلُواوَالعُصْـمُ مِـنْ شَـعَفِ العُقُـولِ الفَادِرِ (1)وقوله: ( عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ ) يقول: عسى ربي أن يبين لي قصد السبيل إلى مدين, وإنما قال ذلك لأنه لم يكن يعرف الطريق إليها.وذُكر أن الله قيض له إذ قال: ( رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ) ملَكا سدده الطريق, وعرفه إياه.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا موسى, قال: ثنا عمرو, قال: ثنا أسباط, عن السدي, قال: لما أخذ موسى في بنيات الطريق جاءه مَلَك على فرس بيده عَنـزة; فلما رآه موسى سجد له من الفَرَق قال: لا تسجد لي ولكن اتبعني, فاتبعه, فهداه نحو مدين، وقال موسى وهو متوجه نحو مدين: ( عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ ) فانطلق به حتى انتهى به إلى مَدين.حدثنا العباس, قال: أخبرنا يزيد, قال: أخبرنا الأصبغ بن زيد, قال: ثنا القاسم, قال: ثنا سعيد بن جُبَيْر, عن ابن عباس, قال: خرج موسى متوجها نحو مدين, وليس له علم بالطريق إلا حسن ظنه بربه, فإنه قال: ( عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ ).حدثنا ابن حميد, قال: ثنا سلمة, عن ابن إسحاق, قال: ذُكر لي أنه خرج وهو يقول: ( رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ) فهيأ الله الطريق إلى مَدين, فخرج من مصر بلا زاد ولا حذاء ولا ظهر (2) ولا درهم ولا رغيف, خائفا يترقب, حتى وقع إلى أمة من الناس يسقون بمَدين.حدثنا أبو عمار الحسين بن حريث المَروزِيّ, قال: ثنا الفضل بن موسى, عن الأعمش, عن المنهال بن عمرو, عن سعيد بن جُبَيْر, قال: خرج موسى من مصر إلى مَدْيَنَ, وبينها وبينها مسيرة ثمان, قال: وكان يقال نحو من الكوفة إلى البصرة, ولم يكن له طعام إلا وَرَق الشجر, وخرج حافيا, فما وصل إليها حتى وقع خفّ قدمه.حدثنا أبو كُرَيب, قال: ثنا عثام, قال: ثنا الأعمش, عن المنهال, عن سعيد, عن ابن عباس, قال: لما خرج موسى من مصر إلى مدين, وبينه وبينها ثمان ليال, كان يقال: نَحوٌ من البصرة إلى الكوفة ثم ذكر نحوه.ومدين كان بها يومئذ قوم شعيب عليه السلام.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا بشر, قال: ثنا يزيد, قال: ثنا سعيد, عن قَتادة, قوله: ( وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَاءَ مَدْيَنَ ) ومدين: ماء كان عليه قوم شعيب ( قَالَ عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ ).وأما قوله: ( سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ ) فإن أهل التأويل اختلفوا في تأويله نحو قولنا فيه.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثني محمد بن عمرو, قال: ثنا أبو عاصم, قال: ثنا عيسى; وحدثني الحارث, قال: ثنا الحسن, قال: ثنا ورقاء، جميعا عن ابن أبي نجيح, عن مجاهد: ( سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ ) قال: الطريق إلى مدين.حدثنا القاسم, قال: ثنا الحسين, قال: ثني حجاج, عن ابن جُرَيج, عن مجاهد, مثله.قال: ثنا الحسين, قال: ثنا أبو سفيان, عن معمر, عن قَتادة: ( قَالَ عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ ) قال: قصد السبيل.حدثنا ابن بشار, قال: ثنا عبد الرحمن, قال: ثنا عَبَّاد بن راشد, عن الحسن: ( عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ ) قال: الطريق المستقيم.--------------------الهوامش :(1) البيت لجرير، وقد تقدم الاستشهاد به على الرهبان جمع راهب في (7: 3) من هذا التفسير. واستشهد به هنا على أن مدين ممنوعة من الصرف لأنها علم على بلدة، ففيها العلمية والتأنيث.(2) الظهر: الدابة التي يركب ظهرها، من جمل ونحوه.
( ولما توجه تلقاء مدين ) أي : قصد نحوها ماضيا إليها ، يقال : داره تلقاء دار فلان ، إذا كانت في محاذاتها ، وأصله من اللقاء ، قال الزجاج : يعني سلك الطريق الذي تلقاء مدين فيها ، ومدين هو مدين بن إبراهيم ، سميت البلدة باسمه ، وكان موسى قد خرج خائفا بلا ظهر ولا حذاء ولا زاد ، وكانت مدين على مسيرة ثمانية أيام من مصر ، ( قال عسى ربي أن يهديني سواء السبيل ) أي : قصد الطريق إلى مدين ، قال ذلك لأنه لم يكن يعرف الطريق إليها قبل ، فلما دعا جاءه ملك بيده عنزة فانطلق به إلى مدين . قال المفسرون : خرج موسى من مصر ولم يكن له طعام إلا ورق الشجر والبقل ، حتى يرى خضرته في بطنه ، وما وصل إلى مدين حتى وقع خف قدميه . قال ابن عباس : وهو أول ابتلاء من الله - عز وجل - لموسى عليه السلام .
وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَاءَ مَدْيَنَ قَالَ عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ (22)هذه هجرة نبوية تشبه هجرة إبراهيم عليه السلام إذ قال { إني مهاجر إلى ربي } [ العنكبوت : 26 ] . وقد ألهم الله موسى عليه السلام أن يقصد بلاد مدين إذ يجد فيها نبيئاً يبصره بآداب النبوءة ولم يكن موسى يعلم إلى أين يتوجه ولا من سيجد في وجهته كما دل عليه قوله { عسى ربي أن يهديني سواء السبيل } .فقوله تعالى { ولما توجه تلقاء مدين } عطف على جمل محذوفة إذ التقدير : ولما خرج من المدينة هائماً على وجهه فاتفق أن كان مسيره في طريق يؤدي إلى أرض مدين حينئذ قال { عسى ربي أن يهديني سواء السبيل } . قال ابن عباس : خرج موسى ولا علم له بالطريق إلا حسن ظن بربه .و { توجه } : ولى وجهه ، أي استقبل بسيره تلقاء مدين .و { تلقاء } : أصله مصدر على وزن التفعال بكسر التاء ، وليس له نظير في كسر التاء إلا تمثال ، وهو بمعنى اللقاء والمقاربة . وشاع إطلاق هذا المصدر على جهته فصار من ظروف المكان التي تنصب على الظرفية . والتقدير : لما توجه جهة تلاقي مدْيَن ، أي جهة تلاقي بلاد مدين ، وقد تقدم قوله تعالى { وإذا صرفت أبصارهم تلقاء أصحاب النار } في سورة الأعراف .( 47 ) و { مدْيَن } : قوم من ذرية مدين بن إبراهيم . وقد مضى الكلام عليهم عند قوله تعالى { وإلى مدين أخاهم شعيباً } في سورة الأعراف ( 85 ) .وأرض مدين واقعة على الشاطىء الغربي من البحر الأحمر وكان موسى قد سلك إليها عند خروجه من بلد ( رعمسيس ) أو ( منفيس ) طريقاً غربية جنوبية فسلك برية تمر به على أرض العمالقة وأرض الأدوميين ثم بلاد النبط إلى أرض مدين . تلك مسافة ثمانمائة وخمسين ميلاً تقريباً . وإذ قد كان موسى في سيره ذلك راجلاً فتلك المسافة تستدعي من المدة نحواً من خمسة وأربعين يوماً . وكان يبيت في البرية لا محالة . وكان رجلاً جلداً وقد ألهمه الله سواء السبيل فلم يضل في سيره .والسواء : المستقيم النهج الذي لا التواء فيه . وقد ألهمه الله هذه الدعوة التي في طيها توفيقه إلى الدين الحق .
{ وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَاءَ مَدْيَنَ } أي: قاصدا بوجهه مدين، وهو جنوبي فلسطين، حيث لا ملك لفرعون، { قَالَ عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ } أي: وسط الطريق المختصر، الموصل إليها بسهولة ورفق، فهداه اللّه سواء السبيل، فوصل إلى مدين.
قوله تعالى : ولما توجه تلقاء مدين قال عسى ربي أن يهديني سواء السبيل لما خرج موسى عليه السلام فارا بنفسه منفردا خائفا ، لا شيء معه من زاد ولا راحلة ولا حذاء نحو مدين ، للنسب الذي بينه وبينهم ; لأن مدين من ولد إبراهيم ، وموسى من ولد يعقوب بن إسحاق بن إبراهيم ; ورأى حاله وعدم معرفته بالطريق ، وخلوه من زاد وغيره ، أسند أمره إلى الله تعالى بقوله : عسى ربي أن يهديني سواء السبيل وهذه حالة المضطر .قلت : روي أنه كان يتقوت ورق الشجر ، وما وصل حتى سقط خف قدميه . قال أبو مالك : وكان فرعون وجه في طلبه وقال لهم : اطلبوه في ثنيات الطريق ، فإن موسى لا يعرف [ ص: 246 ] الطريق . فجاءه ملك راكبا فرسا ومعه عنزة ، فقال لموسى اتبعني فاتبعه فهداه إلى الطريق ، فيقال : إنه أعطاه العنزة فكانت عصاه . ويروى أن عصاه إنما أخذها لرعي الغنم من مدين وهو أكثر وأصح . قال مقاتل والسدي : إن الله بعث إليه جبريل ; فالله أعلم . وبين مدين ومصر ثمانية أيام ; قال ابن جبير والناس : وكان ملك مدين لغير فرعون .
Moses’s departure took him on a journey towards an unknown destination. Moses had the same intense feelings as a believer’s heart experiences under such circumstances. Proceeding on the strength of prayers, he reached Midian after a ten day journey. Following his urge to help the weak, Moses helped the two girls of Madyan. The father of the girls was an elderly gentleman who belonged to the progeny of Abraham through his son Midyaan. Incidentally, Moses also belonged to the progeny of Abraham through his son Isaac (Ishaq), which made them blood relations. At that time, this prayer spontaneously fell from Moses’s lips, ‘Lord, I am truly in need of whatever blessing You may send down for me.’ This prayer shows the condition of a believer in such circumstances. He entrusts all his affairs to the care of God. He has the firm belief that whatever a man receives comes from God, and that whatever is received from God is ‘good’.
Commentary
وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَاءَ مَدْيَنَ (And when he set out towards Madyan - 28:22). Madyan (مَدْيَنَ ) is the name of a city in Sham (a large territory now consisting of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine) which was named after Madyan, the son of Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) . This area was outside the empire of the Pharaoh. It was eight days journey from Egypt. When Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) was taken over by the natural fright of the pursuing army of the Pharaoh, which was not in conflict either with the prophethood or with trust in Allah, he resolved to leave Egypt. Perhaps he decided to proceed toward Madyan because it was a habitation of the descendants of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) and he was also his progeny.
When Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) left Egypt, he was in a condition that he had neither any provisions for the journey nor any baggage, and also he did not know the route. In this state of helplessness he turned to Allah Ta` ala and asked عَسَىٰ رَبِّي أَن يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ (I hope my Lord will guide me to the straight path - 28:22), Allah Ta` ala accepted this prayer. Scholars have observed that the only food Musa علیہ السلام had during this journey was the leaves of trees. Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ has said that this was the first trial and test of Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) . Details of trials and tests of Musa (علیہ السلام) have already been described under Surah Taha while quoting a lengthy hadith.
(And when he turned his face towards Midian) he was afraid to miss the way, (he said: Peradventure my Lord will guide me in the right road) leading to Midian.