Episod ringkas dan pantas tentang Musa ini berlaku sejurus selepas Tuhan memberi jaminan kepada Nabi tentang wahyu-wahyu-Nya: “Sesungguhnya engkau benar-benar menerima Al-Qur’an daripada Tuhan Yang Maha Bijaksana, Maha Mengetahui.” (Ayat 6) Seolah-olah Nabi Muhammad ﷺ diberitahu bahawa menerima wahyu sedemikian bukanlah perkara baharu, dan bukan sesuatu yang tiada duluan dalam sejarah. Di sini, kita melihat Musa diberi tugasnya. Beliau dipanggil dari atas untuk menyampaikan mesej kepada Firaun dan kaumnya. Begitu juga, Nabi ﷺ diberitahu bahawa tentangan yang ditemuinya dan tuduhan yang dilemparkan kepadanya oleh kaumnya bukanlah sesuatu yang baharu. Kaum Musa, dalam hati mereka, yakin bahawa tanda-tanda yang ditunjukkan kepada mereka adalah kerja tidak lain daripada Tuhan, namun dalam kesombongan jahat mereka, mereka tetap mengingkarinya. Kesudahan yang menimpa orang-orang zalim terdahulu itu patut direnungkan, kerana kaum baginda sendiri yang juga degil dalam menolak kebenaran wahyu ilahi boleh menghadapi kesudahan yang serupa.

This short and quick episode about Moses occurs immediately after God has assured the Prophet of his divine revelations: “Most certainly, you receive the Qur’ān out of the grace of One who is Wise, All-Knowing.” (Verse 6) It is as though the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was being told that receiving such revelations was not a new phenomenon without precedent in history. Here, we see Moses being assigned his mission. He was called from on high to deliver the message to Pharaoh and his people. Similarly, the Prophet was told that the opposition he met with and the accusations levelled at him by his people were nothing new. Moses’ people were certain at heart that the signs they were shown were the work of none other than God but, in their wicked arrogance, they nevertheless denied them. The end those evildoers of old met should be reflected upon, for his own people who were also stubborn in their rejection of the truth of the divine message could face a similar end.

"Musa berkata kepada keluarganya: Sesungguhnya aku melihat api; aku akan membawakan kepadamu daripadanya suatu berita, atau aku akan membawa kepadamu sebatang api yang menyala supaya kamu dapat memanaskan diri." (Ayat 7) Peristiwa yang disebut dalam Surah 20, Ţā Hā, ini berlaku ketika Musa dalam perjalanan pulang dari Madyan ke Mesir, bersama isterinya, anak perempuan Shu`ayb (alaihissalam).5 Dia nampaknya telah sesat jalan pada suatu malam yang gelap dan sejuk. Ini dapat dilihat daripada kata-katanya kepada isterinya bahawa dia akan membawa berita atau obor untuk memberi mereka kehangatan. Peristiwa ini berlaku berhampiran Gunung Sinai, yang dinamakan al-Ţūr dalam bahasa Arab.

“Moses said to his family: I perceive a fire. I will bring you from there some information, or else, I will bring you a burning brand so that you may warm yourselves.” (Verse 7) This event, which is mentioned in Sūrah 20, Ţā Hā, took place when Moses was on his way back from Madyan to Egypt, accompanied by his wife, the daughter of Shu`ayb (peace be upon him).5 He apparently lost his way on a dark cold night. This is suggested by him saying to his wife that he would bring information or a torch to give them some warmth. This occurred close to Mount Sinai, called al-Ţūr in Arabic.

Penduduk padang pasir dahulu biasa menyalakan api di tempat yang tinggi untuk memberi panduan kepada para musafir yang bermusafir pada waktu malam. Apabila para musafir itu tiba di api tersebut, mereka akan diberi layanan dan kehangatan, atau sekurang-kurangnya ditunjukkan jalan untuk meneruskan perjalanan.

Desert dwellers used to light fires on high ground so as to provide guidance to night travellers. When such travellers arrived at the fire, they would be given hospitality and warmth, or at least be guided on their way.

"Aku melihat api." Inilah yang pertama kali diucapkan Musa apabila terpandang api itu. Perkataan Arab yang digunakan untuk 'melihat', ānast, membawa konotasi mesra. Maka, kata-katanya berbunyi seperti: Aku dapat melihat api yang mengalu-alukan, yang seharusnya memberi kami sedikit keselesaan. Kami boleh bertanya arah yang seharusnya memberitahu kami ke mana hendak pergi, dan kami boleh mendapatkan sebatang kayu api untuk memanaskan diri. Ketika Musa berjalan menuju api itu, dia menerima seruan dari atas: "Tetapi apabila dia menghampirinya, dia diseru: {Diberkatilah orang-orang yang berada di dalam api itu dan orang-orang yang berada di sekelilingnya! Dan Maha Suci Allah, Tuhan sekalian alam.} Wahai Musa! Sesungguhnya Aku ini adalah Tuhan, Yang Maha Perkasa, Maha Bijaksana!" (Ayat 8-9)

“I perceive a fire.” This is what Moses first said on sighting the fire. The Arabic text uses the verb ānast for ‘perceive’ which carries connotations of friendliness. Thus, his words sound like: I can see a welcoming fire which should give us some comfort. We can ask directions which should tell us which way to go, and we could get a brand to warm ourselves. As Moses walked towards the fire, he received the call from on high: “But when he came close to it, he was addressed: Blessed are those in the fire and those around it! And limitless in His glory is God, the Lord of all the worlds. Moses! Truly, I am alone God, the Almighty, the Wise!’“ (Verses 8-9)