Al-Qasas: (10-11) And the heart of the mother of Moses...

Regarding His saying: {And the heart of the mother of Moses became empty} (Fāgha), they mentioned several interpretations:

1. Al-Hasan said: It was empty of every concern except the concern for Moses (peace be upon him).
2. Abu Muslim said: The emptiness of the heart (Faraġh al-Fu'ād) is fear and apprehension, like His saying: {And their hearts are void} (Ibrahim: 43).
3. The author of Al-Kashshāf said: "Empty" means devoid of intellect. The meaning is that when she heard he had fallen into Pharaoh's hands, her mind fled due to extreme distress and fear.
4. Al-Hasan and Muhammad ibn Isḥāq said: It was empty of the revelation We had revealed to her: "Cast him into the sea, and do not fear and do not grieve; indeed, We will return him to you." Then Satan came to her and said, "You hated that Pharaoh should kill your son, so that you would have a reward, so you caused his destruction." When the news came to her that Moses (peace be upon him) had fallen into Pharaoh's hands, the magnitude of the affliction made her forget the covenant of God with her.
5. Abu 'Ubaydah said: Empty of grief, because she knew he would not be killed, relying on God's guarantee for his welfare.

Ibn Qutaybah said: This is one of the wonders: how could her heart be empty of grief when the Almighty says: {Had We not strengthened her heart}? And strengthening (Rabṭ) is only applied to a distressed and grieving heart.

An answer can be given to this: It is not impossible that due to the intensity of her trust in God's promise, she did not fear when his name was revealed, and she was certain that even if he were revealed, he would be safe because of that promise. However, it was known in the Unseen that revealing him would cause harm, so God strengthened her heart.

It is also possible that His saying {Indeed, she was about to reveal him, had We not strengthened her heart} refers to the revelation, so she became secure and the grief left her heart. Under this interpretation, it is valid to understand that her heart was safe from grief for Moses from the very beginning.

A third view: She heard that Pharaoh's wife had compassion for him and adopted him. {Indeed, she was about to reveal him}—meaning, she was about to reveal that he was her son—because she could not restrain herself from joy upon hearing the news. {Had We not strengthened her heart}—meaning, We calmed what was in her of intense joy and elation—{so that she might be among the believers}, those trusting in God's promise. She would not adopt the cursed Pharaoh's wife and her compassion.

It was also read as (Qara'an), meaning empty, like the saying: "I seek refuge in God from an empty vessel and the rattling of the courtyard," and empty from the saying: "Their blood is spilled in vain" (i.e., nullified). Thus, her heart became nullified from the intensity of what afflicted her.

As for His saying: {Indeed, she was about to reveal him}, know that based on the interpretation that emptiness meant emptiness from grief, we have already mentioned the explanation of {Indeed, she was about to reveal him}.

However, based on the interpretation that emptiness meant the presence of fear, they mentioned several views:

1. Ibn 'Abbās said: She was about to announce, "The one you found is my son." In a narration from 'Ikrimah, she was about to say, "Oh, my son!" due to the intensity of her emotion when she saw the wave lifting and dropping him.
2. Al-Kallabī said: This happened when she heard people saying he was Pharaoh's son.
3. Al-Suddī said: When her son was taken, she was about to say, "He is my son," but God preserved her.

Then He said: {Had We not strengthened her heart}—meaning, by inspiring patience, just as one strengthens something loose so that it becomes firm and tranquil—{so that she might be among the believers}, those who affirm God's promise, which is His saying: {Indeed, We will return him to you} (Al-Qasas: 7).

As for His saying: {And she said to his sister, "Follow him"} (Qaṣṣih), meaning, follow his trace and see what happens to him and to whom he ends up. She was his full sister (by both parents), and her name was Maryam. {So she observed him}—Ibn 'Abbās (may God be pleased with him) said: She saw him. Al-Mubarrid said: Abṣarathu (she saw him) and Baṣarat bihi (she observed him) have the same meaning. His saying {from the side} ('an janb) means from a distance. It was also read as 'an jānib and 'an junb. Al-Jannb means the side. Thus, she looked with a sidelong, indirect glance, {while they were unaware} of her condition and her purpose.

**{7 < {And We had forbidden wet nurses to him before, so she said, "Shall I direct you to a household that will rear him for you, and they will be to him sincere advisors?" * So We returned him to his mother that her eye might be cooled and she not grieve and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them do not know.} > 7

<}**