Tafsir of Ash-Shu`ara' 26:14

(And they have a sin against me), meaning: a consequence of a sin. The possessive noun (mudaf) has been omitted, and the possessive-genitive (mudaf ilayh) has been placed in its stead. Or, it has been named by its name metaphorically, based on the relationship of causality; what is meant by it is his killing of Pharaoh’s Coptic baker with the blow he struck him with. His story is detailed in more than one place. Calling it a "sin" is according to their claim, as indicated by His saying: (And I fear) that if I come to them alone (they will kill me) because of that.

His intent, peace be upon him, by this was to ward off the affliction, fearing the loss of the benefit of the message and the spread of its affair, as is fitting for the station of the Messengers of firm resolve (Ulu al-Azm), peace be upon them. For they are cautious of that, just as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to be until it was revealed to him: (And Allah will protect you from the people). Perhaps the truth is that the intention of self-preservation does not contradict their station.

It is stated in al-Kashshaf that he, peace be upon him, feared that he would be killed before delivering the message. The apparent meaning is that—even though he was a Prophet—he did not know that he would remain until he delivered the message, and some have leaned toward this due to the possibility that he was only commanded with that [the message] on the condition of being empowered [to complete it], while Allah, the Exalted, has the power to abrogate that beforehand.

Al-Tayyibi said: The closest view is that the Prophets, peace be upon them, know when Allah, the Exalted, charges them with delivering the message, that He, the Glorified, will empower them and that they will remain until that time. This contains an obvious prevention.

In al-Kashf it is stated that according to both opinions, the statement of al-Zamakhshari—"he feared, etc."—is valid, because that was before he was commissioned as a Prophet, for the call [from the burning bush] was its prelude. I do not think you would argue for that. And His saying: