26:20
Moses said: “I did it then, when I was in error.
This passage explains Moses’ response to Pharaoh’s accusation that he had killed an Egyptian. According to the interpretation, Moses clarified that the act was not a deliberate murder; rather, the death occurred unintentionally. Moses had struck the man with a blow, which accidentally resulted in the Egyptian’s death. The Qurʾānic verse describing this event employs a term derived from a root commonly associated with intentional error. However, the same term can also convey the meaning of acting in a state of unawareness, which includes unintentional mistakes. In this context, commentators interpret the word as referring to an unintended action rather than deliberate wrongdoing. This interpretation is supported by early exegetes such as Qatādah and Ibn Zayd.
References:
Shafi, Muhammad (2008). Maariful Quran. (Vol .6 surah 26 verse 20).