falammā an arāda an yabṭisha bi-alladhī huwa ʿaduwwun lahumā qāla yāmūsā aturīdu an taqtulanī kamā qatalta nafsan bil-amsi in turīdu illā an takūna jabbāran fī l-arḍi wamā turīdu an takūna mina l-muṣ'liḥīna
Translation
And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he1098 said, "O Moses, do you intend to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the amenders."
Notes
[1098] i.e., the Israelite, thinking that Moses meant to strike him. Some commentators have attributed the words to the Copt; however, the Israelite was the only one who knew of the previous occurrence.
Verse 19 of Surah Al-Qasas (28:19), a Meccan surah, is in juz 20, on page 387 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.
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Tafsir of verse 19
Al-Mukhtasar
So when Moses (peace be upon him) intended to strike the Copt who was his and the caller’s enemy, the Copt said: “Do you intend to kill me just like you killed another yesterday? You only wish to become a tyrant on Earth by killing people and oppressing them; you have no desire to be one of those who reconcile between those who dispute!”
When he was about to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he10 said, “O Moses, do you want to kill me as you killed that person yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land, and you do not want to be one of those who put things right!”
Notes
[10] i.e., the Israelite thought that Moses wanted to strike him.
Then when he decided to seize the man who was an enemy to both of them, the man said: "O Mûsâ (Moses)! Is it your intention to kill me as you killed a man yesterday? Your aim is nothing but to become a tyrant in the land, and not to be one of those who do right."
And when he would have fallen upon the man who was an enemy unto them both, he said: O Moses! Wouldst thou kill me as thou didst kill a person yesterday. Thou wouldst be nothing but a tyrant in the land, thou wouldst not be of the reformers.
Then, when he decided to lay hold of the man who was an enemy to both of them, that man said: "O Moses! Is it thy intention to slay me as thou slewest a man yesterday? Thy intention is none other than to become a powerful violent man in the land, and not to be one who sets things right!"
So when he desired to seize him who was an enemy to them both, he said: O Musa! do you intend to kill me as you killed a person yesterday? You desire nothing but that you should be a tyrant in the land, and you do not desire to be of those who act aright.
Then, as soon as he would have assaulted (the man) who was an enemy to them both, (the man) said, "O Musa, would you like to kill me as you killed a person (Literally: a self) yesterday? Decidedly you would like to be nothing except a potentate in the land, and in no way would you like to be one of the reformers." (i.e., the righteous-doers)
