Verse 12 of Surah Al-Qasas - foster mothers not for Prophet Moses

[Zainab_M]

Furthermore, for the completion of knowledge & education, I would also like to include Verse 28:9 in this thread which is very close to the topic under discussion. 

"And the wife of Pharaoh said: (He will be) a consolation for me and for you. Kill him not. Peradventure he may be of use to us, or we may choose him for a son. And they perceived not."  28:9.

A question in regard to this Verse was posted on Twitter by a brother who is a guest reader of MV.  He asked if this Verse confirms whether Pharaoh and his wife knew at this moment who this baby was.

The Noble Quran does not directly confirm this aspect.  Several Quran commentators are of the view that from the appearance of the baby, Pharaoh and his wife knew he was of Hebrew ethnicity.  Quran commentators are also of the view that the basket carrying baby that drifted along the river came from a direction where mostly the Hebrew people resided.  However, only Allah knows how far this is correct.

The fact that the practice of killing Hebrew males and not females on the orders of Pharaoh is definitely confirmed in the Noble Quran. 

"Indeed! Pharaoh exalted himself in the earth and made its people castes. A tribe among them he oppressed, killing their sons and sparing their women. Indeed! he was of those who work corruption."  28:4

"And (remember) when We did deliver you from Pharaoh's folk, who were afflicting you with dreadful torment, slaying your sons and sparing your women: that was a tremendous trial from your Rab."  2:49

Verse 141 of Surah Al-Araf is identical to Verse 2:49.

[Ruhi_Rose]

The Noble Quran does not directly confirm this aspect.  Several Quran commentators are of the view that from the appearance of the baby, Pharaoh and his wife knew he was of Hebrew ethnicity.  Quran commentators are also of the view that the basket carrying baby that drifted along the river came from a direction where mostly the Hebrew people resided.  However, only Allah knows how far this is correct.

Thank you for this Sis.   Indeed only Allah The Almighty can confirm this point.  However, the opinion that the appearance of the baby may have indicated his ethnicity could be correct.  From what I learned through some historical data (which is by no means confirmed), that Hebrews and non-Hebrew Egyptians in the ancient land of Egypt had more or less of the same skin color, yet their features and hair texture were not quite the same. Such differences in regard to ethnicity reflect since infancy.  So it's possible Pharaoh and his wife guessed it.  But Allah-o-Alim.

 

[Zainab_M]

Exactly sister Ruhi.

[Ruhi_Rose]

 





"And We inspired the mother of Moses, saying: Suckle him and, when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not nor grieve.  Indeed! We shall bring him back unto you and shall make him (one) of Our messengers."  28:7  Al-Qasas.


As-Salam Alaykum dear all. 

Can it be assumed that the inspiration was through Divine Revelation? 

Some details on difference between Divine Revelation and 'inspiration' would be very helpful.

[Zainab_M]

Walaikum As-Salaam dear Sister Ruhi.    No, I would not say it was the same method of Revelation as received by the Prophets.  This Verse refers to the fact that Allah Almighty created an out-of-the-ordinary feeling within Prophet Musa's mother, prompting her to make the right decision and take the right step under the circumstances.   

Usually in the Noble Quran the term stated for Divine Revelation is from the root (ن ز ل) occurring many times in the Noble Quran with several grammatical variations such as "anzal nahu," "unzila," " wa anzalna" and several more grammatical adjustments as listed in Corpus Quran.  Few times it occurs as 'nazala' (نَزَلَ).  The root word always means or refers to 'descend' or 'send down' or 'sent down.'

Following Verses of the Noble Quran are quoted as example:


(97:1) Al-Qadr  إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
"Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Qadr."   
Mark the expression "anzal nahu" means the Quran was sent down.


(2:4) Al-Baqrah   وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ
"And who believe in the Revelation sent to you (Muhammad)"   
Mark the expression "unzila ilayka" referring to the Noble Quran sent down to the Final Messenger ....


(57:25) Al-Hadid    وَأَنْزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ
"and We sent down with them the Scripture and the Balance" 
Mark the term  "wa anzalna" referring to the Scripture and the Balance sent down by The Almighty with all messengers to inform humankind.


Coming to the term 'inspire' .. the original Arabic term in Verse 28:7 is  "wa awhayna" (And We inspired). 

(28:7) Al-Qasas   وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ
"And We inspired the mother of Moses,"   
The underlined word "And We inspired"

From what I know, the root is 'wahy'  (وَحْي) which may be translated in English as 'inspiration' but certainly not in the same sense as Divine Revelation.  'Inspiration' here carries the concept of having a special feeling;  can also refer a feeling based on natural instinct as ordained by The Almighty.    An example is also Verse 16:68.

(16:68) An-Nahl     وَأَوْحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ
"And your Rab inspired to the bee, ...."     
Note the expression "wa awha" ("And your Rab inspired").  Reference is to the ordainment of nature by The Almighty that includes how bees make their dwellings in trees and mountains.

There is a clear difference between this kind of wahy, and wahy that came to the Final Messenger (pbuh) and his predecessors which is more explicitly described with root 'nazala' (نَزَلَ).   All Prophets were completely aware that the Revelations they received came directly from the Allah Almighty via the arch angel, Jibreel, and in the case of Prophet Musa (pbuh), The Almighty decided to directly speak to his slave, Musa.  

But the inspiration stated in V.28:7 (and some other similar ones in other Verses of the Noble Quran) is not the same as Divine Revelation.


Hope, Insh'Allah, my explanation helped.
 

[N. Truth Seeker]

Very nice read.  Thank you Sister Zeynab. 

[Ruhi_Rose]

Subhan'Allah.  Yes sis, this helped tremendously. 

This means, when Prophet Musa's (pbuh) mother decided to put him into the basket and put the basket onto the river, it was a thoughtful decision with an inexplicable feeling that she was doing the right and best thing under the circumstances.  She was strongly convinced in an incomprehensible way that the outcome would somehow be favorable for the baby.  In other words, it was a specific guidance from Allah Almighty through unspoken words for the safety of Musa and that was the inspiration.  Am I right?

[Zainab_M]

Thank you brother TS and sister Ruhi.

Yes sister, you're right.  This is what the inspiration means.  And only Allah knows the precise details. 

It is also possible that the inspiration was carried out with Prophet Musa's (pbuh) mother and sister, arranging and planning the matter together.  As Allah Almighty mentions in Verses 11 and 12 of Surah 28:

"And she said unto his sister: Trace him. So she observed him from afar, and they perceived not.    And We had before forbidden foster-mothers for him, so she said: Shall I show you a household who will rear him for you and take care of him ?"   28:11-12 Al-Qasas.

It's was Prophet Musa's sister who kept observing the floating ark carrying her baby brother.  When the drifting ark came close to the river bank where the women of Pharaoh's family were present and Pharaoh's wife decided to adopt the baby, it was Prophet Musa's sister who suggested that she knew a nurse (Musa's mother) who could take care of the baby for them.

So obviously, step to be taken for the safety of Prophet Musa which was inspired in Musa's mother was carefully and sensibly planned by Prophet Musa's mother and sister.  Subhan'Allah.
 

[Ruhi_Rose]

Exactly, makes perfect sense.   Alhumdulilah.