Describing Prophet Moses as 'strong' in the Quran does not imply shirk, as the context clearly differentiates between human attributes and divine attributes.
What the verse actually says
The verse in question involves a woman suggesting to her father to hire Moses for his strength and trustworthiness. These are qualities that are admirable and relevant to human capabilities. The context is a human interaction, not a theological discourse about God's attributes.One of the women said, "O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong, the trustworthy."
Quran 28:26
Understanding God's names and human attributes
In Islam, certain names of God can also describe human traits, but the understanding is different. When we call Moses 'strong', it refers to his physical and moral strength. When God is called 'Al-Qawi', it denotes His absolute, incomparable strength. The distinction lies in the infinite, perfect nature of God's attributes versus the finite, limited nature of human traits.Language and context in the Quran
The Arabic language often uses the same root words for different contexts. The Quran employs human language to communicate its message, which includes using terms that can describe both divine and human attributes. This does not equate human qualities with divine ones. The Quran is clear about the uniqueness of God's attributes elsewhere:In this context, calling Moses 'strong' is a recognition of his human ability, not a theological statement equating him with God.Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Quran 112:1-4