Taha 20:19
Ta-Ha · Juz 16 · Page 313
قَالَ أَلۡقِهَا يَٰمُوسَىٰ ١٩
[Allāh] said, "Throw it down, O Moses."
Tafsir · in English
Ibn Kathir (abridged)
Medium · The classic, abridged: ayahs explained by ayahs and hadith.
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Commentary on 20:17–21
The Stick of Musa turned into a Snake
This was a proof from Allah for Musa and a great miracle. This was something that broke through the boundaries of what is considered normal, thus, it was a brilliant evidence that none but Allah could do. It was also a proof that no one could come with the likes of this (from mankind) except a Prophet who was sent (by Allah). Concerning Allah's statement,
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يمُوسَى
(And what is that in your right hand, O Musa) Some of the scholars of Tafsir have said, "He (Allah) only said this to him in order to draw his attention to it." It has also been said, "He only said this to him in order to affirm for him what was in his hand. In other words, that which is in your right hand is a stick that you are familiar with. You will see what We are about to do to it now."
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يمُوسَى
(And what is that in your right hand, O Musa) This is an interrogative phrase for the purpose of affirmation.
قَالَ هِىَ عَصَاىَ أَتَوَكَّؤُا عَلَيْهَا
(He said: "This is my stick, whereon I lean...") I lean on it while I am walking.
وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَى غَنَمِى
(and wherewith I beat down branches for my sheep,) This means, `I use it to shake the branches of trees so that the leaves will fall for my sheep to eat them. ' `Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Qasim reported from Imam Malik that he said, "It is when a man places his staff into a branch and shakes it so that its leaves and fruit will fall without breaking the stick. It is not the same as striking or beating." Maymun bin Mahran also said the same. Concerning his statement,
وَلِىَ فِيهَا مَأَرِبُ أُخْرَى
(and wherein I find other uses.) This means other benefits, services and needs besides this. Some of the scholars took upon themselves the burden of mentioning many of these obscure uses. Concerning Allah's statement,
قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يمُوسَى
((Allah) said: "Cast it down, O Musa!") "Throw down this stick that is in your right hand, O Musa."
فَأَلْقَهَا فَإِذَا هِىَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَى
(He cast it down, and behold! It was a snake, moving quickly.) This means that the stick changed into a huge snake, like a long python, and it moved with rapid movements. It moved as if it were the fastest type of small snake. Yet, it was in the form of the largest snake, while still having the fastest of movements.
تَسْعَى
(moving quickly.) moving restlessly. Concerning Allah's statement,
سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيَرتَهَا الاٍّولَى
(We shall return it to its former state. ) the form that it was in, as you recognized it before.
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,
Translation: Saheeh International · Text and layout: Quran Foundation · Mushaf fonts: King Fahd Complex, provided by Quran Foundation · Privacy