Taha 20:50
Ta-Ha · Juz 16 · Page 314
قَالَ رَبُّنَا ٱلَّذِيٓ أَعۡطَىٰ كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلۡقَهُۥ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ ٥٠
He said, "Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it]."
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 20:50–51
أَعْطَىٰ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلْقَهُ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ (who gave everything its shape then guidance 20:50) refers to the guidance of Takwin (تکوینی ھدایت).
Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) reminded the Pharaoh, at the first place, of those acts of Allah Ta` ala which are obviously done by Him alone and about which no one else could claim that he has performed them. The Pharaoh totally unable to refute this argument, and in his confusion asked Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) a question which was designed to entangle him into giving a reply that would greatly offend the Egyptians. The question was: how did the people of bygone ages stand who all worshipped idols, and what was their fate? The Pharaoh's purpose was that if Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) replied (as the Pharaoh surmised he would) that they were all misguided and deserving of Hell, then he could instigate his people against the latter. But the reply which Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) gave was so wise and discreet that the Pharaoh's evil design was completely frustrated.
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20:38
إِذۡ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّكَ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ ٣٨
When We inspired to your mother what We inspired,
20:39
أَنِ ٱقۡذِفِيهِ فِي ٱلتَّابُوتِ فَٱقۡذِفِيهِ فِي ٱلۡيَمِّ فَلۡيُلۡقِهِ ٱلۡيَمُّ بِٱلسَّاحِلِ يَأۡخُذۡهُ عَدُوّٞ لِّي وَعَدُوّٞ لَّهُۥۚ وَأَلۡقَيۡتُ عَلَيۡكَ مَحَبَّةٗ مِّنِّي وَلِتُصۡنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيۡنِيٓ ٣٩
[Saying], 'Cast him into the chest and cast it into the river, and the river will throw it onto the bank; there will take him an enemy to Me and an enemy to him.' And I bestowed upon you love from Me1 that you would be brought up under My eye [i.e., observation and care].
1 translator’s note
- Allāh put love of Moses into the hearts of the people. ↩
20:40
إِذۡ تَمۡشِيٓ أُخۡتُكَ فَتَقُولُ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَن يَكۡفُلُهُۥۖ فَرَجَعۡنَٰكَ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّكَ كَيۡ تَقَرَّ عَيۡنُهَا وَلَا تَحۡزَنَۚ وَقَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسٗا فَنَجَّيۡنَٰكَ مِنَ ٱلۡغَمِّ وَفَتَنَّٰكَ فُتُونٗاۚ فَلَبِثۡتَ سِنِينَ فِيٓ أَهۡلِ مَدۡيَنَ ثُمَّ جِئۡتَ عَلَىٰ قَدَرٖ يَٰمُوسَىٰ ٤٠
[And We favored you] when your sister went and said, 'Shall I direct you to someone who will be responsible for him?' So We restored you to your mother that she might be content and not grieve. And you killed someone,1 but We saved you from retaliation and tried you with a [severe] trial. And you remained [some] years among the people of Madyan. Then you came [here] at the decreed time, O Moses.
1 translator’s note
- The Copt who died after being struck by Moses. ↩
20:41
وَٱصۡطَنَعۡتُكَ لِنَفۡسِي ٤١
And I produced you for Myself.1
1 translator’s note
- Allāh had already selected Moses and made him strong in body and character according to the requirements of his mission. ↩
20:42
ٱذۡهَبۡ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِـَٔايَٰتِي وَلَا تَنِيَا فِي ذِكۡرِي ٤٢
Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance.
20:43
ٱذۡهَبَآ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ ٤٣
Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.
20:44
فَقُولَا لَهُۥ قَوۡلٗا لَّيِّنٗا لَّعَلَّهُۥ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوۡ يَخۡشَىٰ ٤٤
And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allāh]."
20:45
قَالَا رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفۡرُطَ عَلَيۡنَآ أَوۡ أَن يَطۡغَىٰ ٤٥
They said, "Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress."
20:46
قَالَ لَا تَخَافَآۖ إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَآ أَسۡمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ ٤٦
[Allāh] said, "Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.
20:47
فَأۡتِيَاهُ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ فَأَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَا بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ وَلَا تُعَذِّبۡهُمۡۖ قَدۡ جِئۡنَٰكَ بِـَٔايَةٖ مِّن رَّبِّكَۖ وَٱلسَّلَٰمُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ ٤٧
So go to him and say, 'Indeed, we are messengers of your Lord, so send with us the Children of Israel and do not torment them. We have come to you with a sign from your Lord. And peace1 will be upon he who follows the guidance.
1 translator’s note
- i.e., safety and security from Allāh's punishment. ↩
20:48
إِنَّا قَدۡ أُوحِيَ إِلَيۡنَآ أَنَّ ٱلۡعَذَابَ عَلَىٰ مَن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ ٤٨
Indeed, it has been revealed to us that the punishment will be upon whoever denies and turns away.'"
20:49
قَالَ فَمَن رَّبُّكُمَا يَٰمُوسَىٰ ٤٩
[Pharaoh] said, "So who is the Lord of you two, O Moses?"
20:50
قَالَ رَبُّنَا ٱلَّذِيٓ أَعۡطَىٰ كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلۡقَهُۥ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ ٥٠
He said, "Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it]."
20:51
قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ ٱلۡقُرُونِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ ٥١
[Pharaoh] said, "Then what is the case of the former generations?"