Tafsir of An-Nazi'at 79:22

Surah An-Nazi'at: (22) Then he turned his back and strove (or hurried away)

And the second [interpretation] concerns His saying: {Then he turned his back and strove} (or hurried away). In this, there are several interpretations:

1. First: When he saw the serpent, he turned his back, terrified, hurrying away quickly in his gait. Al-Hasan said: He was a rash, flighty man.
2. Second: He turned away from Moses, striving and exerting himself in plotting against him.
3. Third: The meaning could be: Then he advanced, striving, just as it is said, "So-and-so advanced doing such-and-such," meaning he began to do it. Thus, "turned his back" (أدبر) was used instead of "advanced" (أقبل) so that he would not be described as advancing (in a positive sense).

**{Then he gathered [his forces] and proclaimed, And said, "I am your Lord, the Most High!"}**