Taha 20:13
Ta-Ha · Juz 16 · Page 313
وَأَنَا ٱخۡتَرۡتُكَ فَٱسۡتَمِعۡ لِمَا يُوحَىٰٓ ١٣
And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed [to you].
Tafsir · in English
Tazkirul Quran
Brief · Short modern reflections on each passage.
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Commentary on 20:11–16
The fire seen by Moses was not an ordinary fire, but the glowing manifestation of God’s glory. Therefore, when he reached there, he was made to realise the importance of the audience he was having. He was asked to remove his shoes in order that, in all humility, he should be fully attentive. Then came the voice informing him that he was in the presence of God and that He (God) had chosen him as His messenger. At that time, the instructions given to Moses were the same as were always given to all God’s prophets, namely, to hold worthy of worship the one and only God, to pray to Him alone and to remember Him on all occasions. Then, Moses was informed of the fact that the present world was a world of trial, and that for a certain period God had kept the realities hidden in the realms of the unseen. On the Day of Judgement, this curtain would be torn asunder. Thereafter, the second phase of man’s life would start, when everybody would be judged according to his deeds in the present world. When emotions and desires get the better of a man, he becomes unmindful of the Hereafter and starts pursuing the ways of this world. To justify his misdeeds, he masks the true nature of the course of his action in beautiful and charming words. Others are impressed. On hearing this, they too become forgetful of the Hereafter. Under these circumstances, a man of faith needs to be extremely watchful about his own attitude and actions. He needs to save himself from being influenced by those who are unmindful of God and forgetful of the Hereafter.
Page 313
20:13
وَأَنَا ٱخۡتَرۡتُكَ فَٱسۡتَمِعۡ لِمَا يُوحَىٰٓ ١٣
And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed [to you].
20:14
إِنَّنِيٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعۡبُدۡنِي وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكۡرِيٓ ١٤
Indeed, I am Allāh. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.
20:15
إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخۡفِيهَا لِتُجۡزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفۡسِۭ بِمَا تَسۡعَىٰ ١٥
Indeed, the Hour is coming - I almost conceal it1 - so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives.
1 translator’s note
- Meaning that Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) keeps knowledge of the Hour hidden from everyone except Himself. ↩
20:16
فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنۡهَا مَن لَّا يُؤۡمِنُ بِهَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ فَتَرۡدَىٰ ١٦
So do not let one avert you from it1 who does not believe in it and follows his desire, for you [then] would perish.
1 translator’s note
- From preparation for the Hour or for the Hereafter. ↩
20:17
وَمَا تِلۡكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَٰمُوسَىٰ ١٧
And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?"
20:18
قَالَ هِيَ عَصَايَ أَتَوَكَّؤُاْ عَلَيۡهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَىٰ غَنَمِي وَلِيَ فِيهَا مَـَٔارِبُ أُخۡرَىٰ ١٨
He said, "It is my staff; I lean upon it, and I bring down leaves for my sheep and I have therein other uses."
20:19
قَالَ أَلۡقِهَا يَٰمُوسَىٰ ١٩
[Allāh] said, "Throw it down, O Moses."
20:20
فَأَلۡقَىٰهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٞ تَسۡعَىٰ ٢٠
So he threw it down, and thereupon it was a snake, moving swiftly.
20:21
قَالَ خُذۡهَا وَلَا تَخَفۡۖ سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيرَتَهَا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ ٢١
[Allāh] said, "Seize it and fear not; We will return it to its former condition.
20:22
وَٱضۡمُمۡ يَدَكَ إِلَىٰ جَنَاحِكَ تَخۡرُجۡ بَيۡضَآءَ مِنۡ غَيۡرِ سُوٓءٍ ءَايَةً أُخۡرَىٰ ٢٢
And draw in your hand to your side; it will come out white without disease - another sign,
20:23
لِنُرِيَكَ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا ٱلۡكُبۡرَى ٢٣
That We may show you [some] of Our greater signs.
20:24
ٱذۡهَبۡ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ ٢٤
Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed [i.e., tyrannized]."
20:25
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشۡرَحۡ لِي صَدۡرِي ٢٥
[Moses] said, "My Lord, expand [i.e., relax] for me my breast [with assurance]
20:26
وَيَسِّرۡ لِيٓ أَمۡرِي ٢٦
And ease for me my task
20:27
وَٱحۡلُلۡ عُقۡدَةٗ مِّن لِّسَانِي ٢٧
And untie the knot from my tongue
20:28
يَفۡقَهُواْ قَوۡلِي ٢٨
That they may understand my speech.
20:29
وَٱجۡعَل لِّي وَزِيرٗا مِّنۡ أَهۡلِي ٢٩
And appoint for me a minister [i.e., assistant] from my family -
20:30
هَٰرُونَ أَخِي ٣٠
Aaron, my brother.
20:31
ٱشۡدُدۡ بِهِۦٓ أَزۡرِي ٣١
Increase through him my strength
20:32
وَأَشۡرِكۡهُ فِيٓ أَمۡرِي ٣٢
And let him share my task
20:33
كَيۡ نُسَبِّحَكَ كَثِيرٗا ٣٣
That we may exalt You much
20:34
وَنَذۡكُرَكَ كَثِيرًا ٣٤
And remember You much.
20:35
إِنَّكَ كُنتَ بِنَا بَصِيرٗا ٣٥
Indeed, You are of us ever Seeing."
20:36
قَالَ قَدۡ أُوتِيتَ سُؤۡلَكَ يَٰمُوسَىٰ ٣٦
[Allāh] said, "You have been granted your request, O Moses.
20:37
وَلَقَدۡ مَنَنَّا عَلَيۡكَ مَرَّةً أُخۡرَىٰٓ ٣٧
And We had already conferred favor upon you another time,