بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Taha 20:9
Ta-Ha · Juz 16 · Page 312
وَهَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰٓ ٩
And has the story of Moses reached you? -
Tafsir · in English
Ibn Kathir (abridged)
Medium · The classic, abridged: ayahs explained by ayahs and hadith.
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Commentary on 20:9–10
A Discussion of the Message of Musa
From this point, Allah begins to mention the story of Musa, how revelation began to come to Him, and Allah's speaking directly to him. This occurred after Musa had completed the time agreed upon between he and his father-in-law that he would herd sheep. He was traveling with his family, and it has been said that he was headed for the land of Egypt, after having been away from it for more than ten years. He had his wife with him and he became lost on the way during a cold, wintery night. Therefore, he settled down, making a camp between some mountain passes and mountains that were covered with snow, sleet, dense clouds, darkness and fog. He began to try to make a fire with a kindling device he had with him, in order to produce some light, as was customary. However, it would not kindle anything and it even stopped giving off sparks. While he was in this condition, he saw a fire from the side of the mountain. It appeared to him to be a fire glowing from the right side of the mountain from where he was. He then announced the good news to his family saying,
إِنِّى ءَانَسْتُ نَاراً لَّعَلِّى آتِيكُمْ مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ
(Verily, I have seen a fire; perhaps I can bring you some burning brand) This means a flame from a fire. In another Ayah he said,
أَوْ جَذْوَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ
(or a burning firebrand.) 28:29) This is a coal that has a burning flame.
لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ
(that you may warm yourselves. ) 28:29 This proves that it was in fact cold weather at that time. Concerning his statement,
بِقَبَسٍ
(some burning brand) This proves that it was dark. In reference to his statement,
أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى النَّارِ هُدًى
(or find some guidance at the fire.) This means someone who can guide me to the road. This proves that he lost the road. This is as Ath-Thawri reported from Abu Sa`id Al-A`war, from `Ikrimah, from Ibn `Abbas that he said concerning Allah's statement,
أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى النَّارِ هُدًى
(or find some guidance at the fire.) "This means someone who will guide me to the road. They were cold and had lost their way. Then, when he (Musa) saw the fire he said, `Either I will find someone who can guide us to the road, or at least I can bring you all some fire that you can kindle with.' "
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19:96
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ سَيَجۡعَلُ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ وُدّٗا ٩٦
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.1
1 translator’s note
- From Himself and from among each other. ↩
19:97
فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرۡنَٰهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ وَتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ قَوۡمٗا لُّدّٗا ٩٧
So, [O Muḥammad], We have only made it [i.e., the Qur’ān] easy in your tongue [i.e., the Arabic language] that you may give good tidings thereby to the righteous and warn thereby a hostile people.
19:98
وَكَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُم مِّن قَرۡنٍ هَلۡ تُحِسُّ مِنۡهُم مِّنۡ أَحَدٍ أَوۡ تَسۡمَعُ لَهُمۡ رِكۡزَۢا ٩٨
And how many have We destroyed before them of generations? Do you perceive of them anyone or hear from them a sound?
20:1
طه ١
Ṭā, Hā.1
1 translator’s note
- See footnote to 2:1. ↩
20:2
مَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِتَشۡقَىٰٓ ٢
We have not sent down to you the Qur’ān that you be distressed
20:3
إِلَّا تَذۡكِرَةٗ لِّمَن يَخۡشَىٰ ٣
But only as a reminder for those who fear [Allāh] -
20:4
تَنزِيلٗا مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ ٱلۡعُلَى ٤
A revelation from He who created the earth and highest heavens,
20:5
ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ ٥
The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., having ascendancy over all creation. See footnotes to 2:19 and 7:54. ↩
20:6
لَهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحۡتَ ٱلثَّرَىٰ ٦
To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth and what is between them and what is under the soil.
20:7
وَإِن تَجۡهَرۡ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَعۡلَمُ ٱلسِّرَّ وَأَخۡفَى ٧
And if you speak aloud - then indeed, He knows the secret and what is [even] more hidden.
20:8
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ ٨
Allāh - there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names.
20:9
وَهَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰٓ ٩
And has the story of Moses reached you? -
20:10
إِذۡ رَءَا نَارٗا فَقَالَ لِأَهۡلِهِ ٱمۡكُثُوٓاْ إِنِّيٓ ءَانَسۡتُ نَارٗا لَّعَلِّيٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنۡهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوۡ أَجِدُ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ هُدٗى ١٠
When he saw a fire and said to his family, "Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire; perhaps I can bring you a torch or find at the fire some guidance."
20:11
فَلَمَّآ أَتَىٰهَا نُودِيَ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ ١١
And when he came to it, he was called, "O Moses,
20:12
إِنِّيٓ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكَ فَٱخۡلَعۡ نَعۡلَيۡكَ إِنَّكَ بِٱلۡوَادِ ٱلۡمُقَدَّسِ طُوٗى ١٢
Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the blessed valley of Ṭuwā.
Translation: Saheeh International · Text and layout: Quran Foundation · Mushaf fonts: King Fahd Complex, provided by Quran Foundation · Privacy