Taha 20:21
Ta-Ha · Juz 16 · Page 313
قَالَ خُذۡهَا وَلَا تَخَفۡۖ سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيرَتَهَا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ ٢١
[Allāh] said, "Seize it and fear not; We will return it to its former condition.
Tafsir · in English
Ma'arif al-Qur'an
Detailed · A modern classic, with rulings and practical points.
Change
Commentary on 20:20–21
فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَىٰ (And suddenly it was a snake running - 20:20): When Sayyidna Musa علیہ السلام in obedience to the command of Allah Ta` ala, cast down his staff it turned into a serpent. The Qur'an has described this serpent at one place as كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ (28:31). The word جَانٌّ means a small and slim snake. At another place it has been referred to as فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعْبَانٌ (26:32). The word ثُعْبَانٌ means a long and thick snake. The word حَيَّةٌ occurring in this verse is a generic name used for snakes of all sizes and thickness. These different words can be reconciled by the fact that this serpent was slim and small in the beginning and grew later on in size and thickness. Or that this serpent was originally long and thick and has been called جَانٌّ - by reason of its fast speed because as a general rule big and thick snakes are slow moving. The word كَأَنَّهَا used in this verse, which means "as if' also points to the fact that it has been compared to جَانٌّ on account of its swift movements. (Mazhari)
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,