It was also narrated from Ali concerning the words, “at a time when its people were unaware,” that it was a festival day for them, and they were occupied with their amusements and play.

“And he found there two men fighting,” that is, disputing and quarrelling. “This one was from his own people,” namely, the Children of Israel, “and this one was from his enemy,” namely, the Copts. It was said that the one from his own people was al-Samiri, while the one from his enemy, a Copt, was said to have been Pharaoh’s cook, whose name was Falyathun. It was also said that “this one was from his own people, and this one was from his enemy” means: this one was a believer, and this one was a disbeliever. The Copt had compelled the Israelite to carry firewood to the kitchen.

Sa‘id ibn Jubayr narrated from Ibn Abbas: When Moses reached full maturity, none of Pharaoh’s household could lay hands unjustly upon any of the Children of Israel, for they had become fully protected. The Children of Israel had gained strength through Moses’s position, for they knew that he was one of them. Moses then found two men fighting, one of them from the Children of Israel and the other from Pharaoh’s household. “The one from his own people appealed to him for help against the one from his enemy”: the Israelite appealed to him for help against the Copt. Seeking help means requesting deliverance.

Moses became angry, and his anger grew intense, because the Copt had laid hands on the Israelite despite knowing Moses’s standing among the Children of Israel and his protection of them. The people knew only of his connection to Moses’s mother through nursing. Moses said to the Copt, “Let him go.” He replied, “I only took him to carry firewood to your father’s kitchen.” Moses then grappled with him, and the Copt said, “62/ I was about to make him carry you.”

Moses had been granted great physical stature, strength, and might. “So Moses struck him”: Ibn Mas‘ud recited, “So Moses punched him.” Both have the same meaning: striking with a clenched hand. It was also said that a strike is a blow to the chest, whereas a punch is a blow to the back. Al-Farra’ said that both mean to push. Abu Ubaydah said: A strike is a push with the fingertips. In some works of exegesis, it is related that Moses formed the hand-sign for eighty-three and struck him in the chest. “And killed him,” that is, he killed him and finished him off. Whatever one has finished with is said to have been concluded or disposed of. Moses, peace be upon him, regretted it, for he had not intended to kill him, and he buried him in the sand. “He said, ‘This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy,’” that is, one plainly given to leading astray.

“He said, ‘My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.’ So He forgave him; surely He is the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (16) He said, ‘My Lord, because of the favour You have bestowed upon me, I will never be a supporter of the criminals.’ (17)”

“He said, ‘My Lord, I have wronged myself,’” by killing the Copt without being commanded to do so. “So forgive me.” Thus He forgave him; surely He is the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

“He said, ‘My Lord, because of the favour You have bestowed upon me,’” namely, forgiveness, “I will never be a supporter,” that is, a helper, “of the criminals.” He said: