Tafsir of Al-Qasas 28:19

"And when he decided to strike the one who was an enemy to them both": The apparent meaning is that the phrase "the one who was an enemy to them both" is a substitute for the word "that." Al-batsh (striking) is seizing with force and power. The tanwin in "an enemy" is for magnification, meaning an enemy of great enmity, and because of this intention, he did not attribute it to him.

The intended meaning of "the one who was an enemy to them both" is the Copt, for the Copts were the greatest of people in enmity toward the Children of Israel. It is also said that his enmity toward them was because he was not upon their religion. Al-Hasan and Abu Ja'far recited yabtishu with a damma on the ta’.

"He said, 'O Moses, do you intend to kill me as you killed a person yesterday?'": This was said by the Israelite who was calling for his help, according to what has been narrated from Ibn Abbas and the majority of exegetes. It is as if he imagined that the intent of the strike was directed at him rather than the Copt, due to Moses (peace be upon him) calling him ghawiy (a persistent deviator). Al-Hasan said: The one who said this was the Copt, who was the enemy of them both, as if he imagined from his [Moses’] saying to the Israelite, "You are indeed a persistent deviator," that he was the one who killed the Copt the day before. There is nothing far-fetched in this, because what was mentioned is either a summary of a speech from which that is understood, or because his saying that to the oppressed person whom he helped is contrary to the apparent situation, so there is no distance in moving from it to that.

As for the two men, they were both from the Children of Israel, while the two men he saw the day before were one Israelite and one Egyptian. The matter of enmity is understood in this way: that this one whom he (peace be upon him) intended to strike was a transgressor against the one who called for his help, thus he was an enemy to him and disobedient to Allah the Exalted, and consequently an enemy to Moses (peace be upon him). It is also possible that his enmity toward them was due to him being contrary to the religion they held, even if he were an Israelite. In this [the Israelite scripture/tradition] there is also what is explicit that the transgressor is the one who said that.

You know that this Torah is not to be heeded regarding what contradicts the Quran or the authentic Sunnah. Regarding anything else, it is like the rest of the reports of the Children of Israel: they are neither confirmed nor denied. Yes, one may find some familiarity in them for certain matters. Furthermore, what is in it regarding the story of Moses (peace be upon him) contradicts what Allah the Exalted has narrated here and in other places, both in addition and omission, and this is apparent to anyone who examines it. The ruling on this is not hidden. It is devoid here of the mention of the arrival of the believer from the family of Pharaoh and his advising Moses (peace be upon him), as well as devoid of what points to his saying:

"You do not intend [i.e., you do not want] except to be a tyrant in the land": This is one who does whatever he wishes—striking and killing—without considering the consequences. It is also said: the arrogant one who does not humble himself to the command of Allah the Exalted. Its root, as it is said, is the tall palm tree, and it was metaphorically applied to what was mentioned, either in consideration of his lofty status in a conceptual sense or his arrogance. Ibn al-Mundhir narrated from al-Sha'bi that he said: "Whoever kills two men," meaning unjustly, "he is a tyrant," then he recited this verse. Ibn Abi Hatim narrated something similar from Ikrimah.

"And you do not intend to be among the reformers" among the people, resolving disputes in the way that is best. When he said this, the talk spread and reached Pharaoh and his assembly, and they plotted to kill Moses (peace be upon him). Then a believer from the family of Pharaoh—who was a cousin of Pharaoh—came out to inform him of that and advise him, as Allah the Exalted said: [The text breaks here].