Allah the Exalted says in verse twenty of Surat Yasin: “And there came a man from the farthest end of the city, striving [for the truth], saying, ‘O my people, follow the messengers,’” and in the verse
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The questioner : This listener, Abdul Qadir Abdullah from the Democratic Republic of Sudan, is asking about the interpretation of the verse where Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, says in verse twenty of Surat Yasin [Ya-Sin 36:20] and also in verse twenty of Surat al-Qasas [Al-Qasas 28:20]. The question is: Who are these two men, and what is the interpretation of these verses? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Before answering the question, it should be known that if a name is mentioned vaguely in the Qur'an or in the Sunnah, it is obligatory to leave it vague and not to strain to identify it, because the important thing is the story and the matter for which the speech was conveyed, for the sake of taking a lesson and being admonished. Whether it was so-and-so or so-and-so does not matter; the important thing is the actual event. The Noble Qur'an did not specify this man in the two noble verses; rather, in Surat al-Qasas it said and in Surat Yasin it said [Ya-Sin 36:20]. So the man was mentioned first in Surat al-Qasas and last in Surat Yasin, and it was not specified. Attempting to find an identification for him has no significant benefit. Therefore, one should not occupy oneself with identifying such names, but rather the verses and hadiths should remain vague, and the addressee should be directed to the fact that the intent is to take a lesson from the rulings and admonitions contained in the story.
The questioner : He is asking about the interpretation of the two verses?
The Shaykh : Yes. As for the interpretation of the two verses, in Surat al-Qasas, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, appointed for Musa a man who was an advisor. He came from the farthest end of the city to inform Musa (peace be upon him) that the chiefs, who are the nobles and elders of the city, were consulting about what to do with Musa (peace be upon him), who had killed one of them, meaning one of the Copts. This was a facilitation by Allah, Mighty and Majestic, for Musa (peace and blessings be upon him). For this reason, the man guided him to go out, saying[Al-Qasas 28:20-21]. And Allah mentioned the rest of the story.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : As for Surat Yasin, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, sent two messengers to the people of the town, but they denied them and rejected their message. So Allah, the Exalted, sent a third messenger to support them, meaning to strengthen them with him. But despite that, they persisted in their denial, and what happened between them and the people of this town happened. Then a man came from the farthest end of the city. Here, “the farthest end of the city” was placed first to emphasize this matter, so he said, meaning that despite his distance, he came to his people, saying [Ya-Sin 36:20-22] up to the end of the story. So this man was an advisor to his people and a guide for them. And his outcome was that it was said to him [Ya-Sin 36:26-27]. Yes.
The questioner : Thank you, Your Eminence the Shaykh, for your kindness in answering the honorable listeners.
Our noble brothers, today's episode of the program Nur 'ala al-Deeb has ended. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
And there came from the farthest end of the city a man, running. He said, "O my people, follow the messengers.
وجاء من أقصى المدينة رجل يسعى قال يا قوم اتبعوا المرسلينAnd a man came from the farthest end of the city, running. He said, "O Moses, indeed the eminent ones are conferring over you [intending] to kill you, so leave [the city]; indeed, I am to you of the sincere advisors."
وجاء رجل من أقصى المدينة يسعى قال يا موسى إن الملأ يأتمرون بك ليقتلوك فاخرج إني لك من الناصحينThe Shaykh : Before answering the question, it should be known that if a name is mentioned vaguely in the Qur'an or in the Sunnah, it is obligatory to leave it vague and not to strain to identify it, because the important thing is the story and the matter for which the speech was conveyed, for the sake of taking a lesson and being admonished. Whether it was so-and-so or so-and-so does not matter; the important thing is the actual event. The Noble Qur'an did not specify this man in the two noble verses; rather, in Surat al-Qasas it said
And there came a man from the farthest end of the city, striving [for the truth]
وجاء رجل من أقصى المدينة يسعىAnd there came from the farthest end of the city a man, running.
وجاء من أقصى المدينة رجل يسعىThe questioner : He is asking about the interpretation of the two verses?
The Shaykh : Yes. As for the interpretation of the two verses, in Surat al-Qasas, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, appointed for Musa a man who was an advisor. He came from the farthest end of the city to inform Musa (peace be upon him) that the chiefs, who are the nobles and elders of the city, were consulting about what to do with Musa (peace be upon him), who had killed one of them, meaning one of the Copts. This was a facilitation by Allah, Mighty and Majestic, for Musa (peace and blessings be upon him). For this reason, the man guided him to go out, saying
so leave [the city]; indeed, I am to you of the sincere advisors." (21) So he left it, fearful and anticipating
فاخرج إني لك من الناصحين * فخرج منها خائفا يترقبThe questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : As for Surat Yasin, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, sent two messengers to the people of the town, but they denied them and rejected their message. So Allah, the Exalted, sent a third messenger to support them, meaning to strengthen them with him. But despite that, they persisted in their denial, and what happened between them and the people of this town happened. Then a man came from the farthest end of the city. Here, “the farthest end of the city” was placed first to emphasize this matter, so he said
from the farthest end of the city
من أقصى المدينةHe said, "O my people, follow the messengers. (21) Follow those who do not ask of you [any] payment, and they are [rightly] guided. (22) And why should I not worship He who created me and to whom you will be returned?
قال يا قومي اتبعوا المرسلين * اتبعوا من لا يسألكم أجرا وهم مهتدون * وما لي لا أعبد الذي فطرني وإليه ترجعون(26) It was said, "Enter Paradise." He said, "I wish my people could know (27) Of how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honored."
ادخل الجنة قال يا ليت قومي يعلمون * بما غفر لي ربي وجعلني من المكرمينThe questioner : Thank you, Your Eminence the Shaykh, for your kindness in answering the honorable listeners.
Our noble brothers, today's episode of the program Nur 'ala al-Deeb has ended. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.