نتلو عليك من نبا موسى وفرعون بالحق لقوم يؤمنون

نَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرْعَوْنَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

The surah begins with three letters, of which the meaning is not understood. Just as in surat baqara, it is followed by a reference to the Quran as a book of certainty/guidance. Lesson 1: We humans know not while Allah knows. What we need to know is present in Allah's words.

Musa (AS) is the Prophet mentioned most often in the Quran. His story parallels the Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) in many ways from having to watch his people be tortured (in Meccan times) to dealing with the challenges of a migration and building a new community, to dealing with the reality of hypocrisy in the community. Musa would serve as a prophetic diary for our prophet (SAW) to read about and draw inspiration and lessons from. 

Already these verses offer insight into two dimensions, physical and metaphysical: physically, the descriptions of the torture of the sons and women of Bani Israel is described. Metaphysically, Allah describes His plan to free those oppressed and destroy their oppressors. Indeed, Allah is the best of planners. It also highlights the mental burden of oppression, that oppressors will always live in an anxiety that one day, rebellion will lead to their being overthrown. It reminds me of Khalid Ibn Walid's statement "may the eyes of cowards never sleep". It also reminds me of Umar (RA) not needing guards because of his justice with the people.

Points from tafseer:
"natloo" or recite in verse 3 refers to Jibreel AS's relating these verses to Muhammad SAW
Verse 5: to be made leaders in faith and inheritors (although of what is not mentioned). This is in line with other verses that describe Bani Israel as being the initial chosen people. Yet, they would lose that status after constant disgracing of their messenger and Allah SWT
Verse 6: The exact identity of Haman isn't known, though some israelite and biblical references are used. Some scholar mention Haman may just be a title rather than a name. "The fulfillment of what they feared" may refer to either the prophecy of Musa destroying Firawn's reign OR to Firawn's fear of losing power over a subservient group.

#MASRamadan2020

We narrate to you ˹O Prophet˺ part of the story of Moses and Pharaoh in truth for people who believe.

Indeed, Pharaoh ˹arrogantly˺ elevated himself in the land and divided its people into ˹subservient˺ groups, one of which he persecuted, slaughtering their sons and keeping their women. He was truly one of the corruptors.

But it was Our Will to favour those who were oppressed in the land, making them models ˹of faith˺ as well as successors;

and to establish them in the land; and through them show Pharaoh, Hamân, and their soldiers ˹the fulfilment of˺ what they feared.