Surah TaHa ayat 28 Tafsir Quran 20:28

﴿يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي﴾
[ طه: 28]

20:28 That they may understand my speech.

so that they may understand what I shall say when I am delivering the Message.

So that they understand my discourse and comprehend all that I say

The Hand of Musa turning White without any Disease This is the second sign of Musa.
That is Allah has commanded him to place his hand into the opening of his garment, as is clearly stated in another Ayah.
It mentioned here merely as a passing reference, saying: وَاضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَى جَنَاحِكَ ( And press your hand to your side: ) Allah said in another Ayah, وَاضْمُمْ إِلَيْكَ جَنَاحَكَ مِنَ الرَّهْبِ فَذَانِكَ بُرْهَانَـنِ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ ( And draw your hand close to your side to be free from fear.
These are two signs from your Lord to Fir`awn and his chiefs. ) 28:32 Mujahid said, وَاضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَى جَنَاحِكَ ( And press your hand to your side: ) "This means put your palm under your upper arm." When Musa put his hand into the opening of his garment and brought it out, it came out shining as if it were a half moon.
Concerning His statement, تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَآءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ ( it will come forth white, without any disease ) This means without any leprosy, ailment, or disfigurement.
This was stated by Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi and others.
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, "He brought it out, and by Allah, it was as if it were a lamp.
From this Musa knew that he had surely met his Lord, the Mighty and Sublime." This is why Allah says, لِنُرِيَكَ مِنْ ءَايَـتِنَا الْكُبْرَى ( That We may show you (some ) of Our greater signs.) Allah commanded Musa to go to Fir`awn to convey the Message Allah said, Allah commanded Musa to go to Fir`awn to convey the Message Allah said, اذْهَبْ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَى ( Go to Fir`awn! Verily, he has transgressed. ) This means, "Go to Fir`awn, the king of Egypt, whom you left Egypt fleeing from, and invite him to the worship of Allah alone, Who has no partners.
Command him to treat the Children of Israel well and to not torment them.
For verily, he has transgressed, oppressed, preferred the worldly life and forgotten the Most High Lord." The Supplication of Musa قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى - وَيَسِّرْ لِى أَمْرِى ( (Musa ) said: "O my Lord! Open for me my chest, and ease my task for me.") Musa requsted his Lord to expand his chest for his mission.
For verily, He was commanding him with a great task and a weighty affair.
He was sending him to the mightiest king on the face of the earth at that time.
He was the most arrogant and severe of all people in his disbelief, and He had the largest army and the most powerful kingdom.
He was the most tyrannical and the most obstinate of rulers.
His case was such that he claimed not to know Allah at all, and that he knew of no god for his subjects other than himself.
Along with this, Musa lived in his home for a period of time as a child.
He stayed in Fir`awn's own room and slept on his bed.
Then, after this, he killed one of their people and feared that they would retaliate by killing him in return.
Thus, he fled from them and remained an outlaw during this entire time.
Then, after all of this, His Lord sent him to them as a warner calling them to worship Allah alone, without associating partners with Him.
This is why he said, قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى - وَيَسِّرْ لِى أَمْرِى ( O my Lord! Open for me my chest, and ease my task for me. ) This means, "I cannot perform this task if You do not help me, aid me and support me." وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِى - يَفْقَهُواْ قَوْلِي ( And loosen the knot from my tongue, that they understand my speech. ) This is referring to the lisp that he had.
This lisp was a result of an incident when he was presented a date and a hot coal stone and he placed the coal on his tongue instead of the date.
A detailed explanation of this story is forthcoming in the following chapters.
However, he did not ask Allah to remove this affliction all together.
Rather, he asked for removal of his stammering so the people would understand what he intended in his speech.
He was only asking for what was necessary to deliver his message.
If he had asked for the removal of his affliction in its entirety, it would have been cured for him.
However, the Prophets do not ask for any more than what is required.
Therefore, he was left with the remnants of this accident that took place with his tongue.
Allah informed of what Fir`awn said concerning him, أَمْ أَنَآ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ هَـذَا الَّذِى هُوَ مَهِينٌ وَلاَ يَكَادُ يُبِينُ ( Am I not better than this one who is despicable and can scarcely express himself clearly )43:52 This means that he is not eloquent in speech.
Concerning Allah's statement, وَاجْعَل لِّى وَزِيراً مِّنْ أَهْلِى - هَـرُونَ أَخِى ( And appoint for me a helper from my family, Harun, my brother. ) This was also a request from Musa concerning something not pertaining to himself.
That was his request for the assistance of his brother, Harun.
Ath-Thawri reported from Abu Sa`id, from `Ikrimah, who said that Ibn `Abbas said, "Harun was made a Prophet at the same moment that Musa was made a Prophet." Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `A'ishah went out intending to perform `Umrah and stopped to camp among some bedouins.
While she was among them she heard a man say, "Which brother in this life was the most beneficial to his brother" The people said, "We do not know." The man said, "By Allah, I know." `A'ishah said, "I said to myself about his swearing, that he should not swear such an oath, singling himself out as knowing what person was of most benefit to his brother." The man said, "It is Musa, when he asked for prophethood to be bestowed upon his brother." Then `A'ishah said, "By Allah, he has spoken truthfully." This is why Allah commended Musa by saying, وَكَانَ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَجِيهاً ( And he was honorable before Allah. )33:69 Concerning Musa's statement, اشْدُدْ بِهِ أَزْرِى ( Increase my strength with him. ) Mujahid said, "This means to make my back strong." وَأَشْرِكْهُ فِى أَمْرِى ( And let him share my task. ) make him my consultant in this matter. كَىْ نُسَبِّحَكَ كَثِيراً - وَنَذْكُرَكَ كَثِيراً ( That we may glorify You much, and remember You much. ) Mujahid said, "A servant of Allah is not considered of those who remember Allah much until he remembers Allah while standing, sitting and lying down." Concerning his statement, إِنَّكَ كُنتَ بِنَا بَصِيراً ( Verily, You are ever seeing us. ) This means in Your choosing us, giving us the prophethood and sending us to Your enemy, Fir`awn.
So unto You is all praise for this.

(20:28) so that people may understand my speech, *15

That they may understand my speech. meaning

*15) Prophet Moses prayed to Allah for this because he was conscious that he was not a fluent speaker but was slow of speech.
He also knew that as a Messenger he would have to be fluent in order to impress Pharaoh and his courtiers.
This is confirmed by the Bible ( Exodus 4: 10 ) but the Talmud gives a strange explanation for this impediment in his speech.
According to it, when he was a child he burnt his tongue with a live coal to escape punishment from Pharaoh whose crown he had taken off from his head and put it on his own head.
The same story has been adopted by many of our commentators though it is absurd on the face of it.
Our interpretation is also confirmed by the Qur'an.
The tact is, that at first he was not a fluent speaker and Pharaoh had also taunted him on this impediment ( XLIII: 52 ).
Prophet Moses realized the same for he said, " My brother Aaron is more fluent than I, so send him with me as a helper, so that he may support me ( with his fluent speech ). " ( XXVIII: 34 ).
Afterwards this impediment in his speech was removed and he was able to deliver very fluent speeches.
This tray be testified by his speeches which have been cited both in the Bible and in the Qur'an for they are masterpieces of eloquence and rhetoric.

Above all, it does not stand to reason that Allah should appoint a lisper or a stammerer or a stutterer as His Messenger.
That is why the Messengers have always been the best of mankind in regard to their appearance, personality and capabilities for they had to be most impressive both in their appearance and conduct, so that they could not be made the target of ridicule and contempt by the people because of such personal defects as stammering or stuttering.

 

The Hand of Musa turning White without any Disease This is the second sign of Musa.
That is Allah has commanded him to place his hand into the opening of his garment, as is clearly stated in another Ayah.
It mentioned here merely as a passing reference, saying: وَاضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَى جَنَاحِكَ ( And press your hand to your side: ) Allah said in another Ayah, وَاضْمُمْ إِلَيْكَ جَنَاحَكَ مِنَ الرَّهْبِ فَذَانِكَ بُرْهَانَـنِ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ ( And draw your hand close to your side to be free from fear.
These are two signs from your Lord to Fir`awn and his chiefs. ) 28:32 Mujahid said, وَاضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَى جَنَاحِكَ ( And press your hand to your side: ) "This means put your palm under your upper arm." When Musa put his hand into the opening of his garment and brought it out, it came out shining as if it were a half moon.
Concerning His statement, تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَآءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ ( it will come forth white, without any disease ) This means without any leprosy, ailment, or disfigurement.
This was stated by Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi and others.
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, "He brought it out, and by Allah, it was as if it were a lamp.
From this Musa knew that he had surely met his Lord, the Mighty and Sublime." This is why Allah says, لِنُرِيَكَ مِنْ ءَايَـتِنَا الْكُبْرَى ( That We may show you (some ) of Our greater signs.) Allah commanded Musa to go to Fir`awn to convey the Message Allah said, Allah commanded Musa to go to Fir`awn to convey the Message Allah said, اذْهَبْ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَى ( Go to Fir`awn! Verily, he has transgressed. ) This means, "Go to Fir`awn, the king of Egypt, whom you left Egypt fleeing from, and invite him to the worship of Allah alone, Who has no partners.
Command him to treat the Children of Israel well and to not torment them.
For verily, he has transgressed, oppressed, preferred the worldly life and forgotten the Most High Lord." The Supplication of Musa قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى - وَيَسِّرْ لِى أَمْرِى ( (Musa ) said: "O my Lord! Open for me my chest, and ease my task for me.") Musa requsted his Lord to expand his chest for his mission.
For verily, He was commanding him with a great task and a weighty affair.
He was sending him to the mightiest king on the face of the earth at that time.
He was the most arrogant and severe of all people in his disbelief, and He had the largest army and the most powerful kingdom.
He was the most tyrannical and the most obstinate of rulers.
His case was such that he claimed not to know Allah at all, and that he knew of no god for his subjects other than himself.
Along with this, Musa lived in his home for a period of time as a child.
He stayed in Fir`awn's own room and slept on his bed.
Then, after this, he killed one of their people and feared that they would retaliate by killing him in return.
Thus, he fled from them and remained an outlaw during this entire time.
Then, after all of this, His Lord sent him to them as a warner calling them to worship Allah alone, without associating partners with Him.
This is why he said, قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى - وَيَسِّرْ لِى أَمْرِى ( O my Lord! Open for me my chest, and ease my task for me. ) This means, "I cannot perform this task if You do not help me, aid me and support me." وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِى - يَفْقَهُواْ قَوْلِي ( And loosen the knot from my tongue, that they understand my speech. ) This is referring to the lisp that he had.
This lisp was a result of an incident when he was presented a date and a hot coal stone and he placed the coal on his tongue instead of the date.
A detailed explanation of this story is forthcoming in the following chapters.
However, he did not ask Allah to remove this affliction all together.
Rather, he asked for removal of his stammering so the people would understand what he intended in his speech.
He was only asking for what was necessary to deliver his message.
If he had asked for the removal of his affliction in its entirety, it would have been cured for him.
However, the Prophets do not ask for any more than what is required.
Therefore, he was left with the remnants of this accident that took place with his tongue.
Allah informed of what Fir`awn said concerning him, أَمْ أَنَآ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ هَـذَا الَّذِى هُوَ مَهِينٌ وَلاَ يَكَادُ يُبِينُ ( Am I not better than this one who is despicable and can scarcely express himself clearly )43:52 This means that he is not eloquent in speech.
Concerning Allah's statement, وَاجْعَل لِّى وَزِيراً مِّنْ أَهْلِى - هَـرُونَ أَخِى ( And appoint for me a helper from my family, Harun, my brother. ) This was also a request from Musa concerning something not pertaining to himself.
That was his request for the assistance of his brother, Harun.
Ath-Thawri reported from Abu Sa`id, from `Ikrimah, who said that Ibn `Abbas said, "Harun was made a Prophet at the same moment that Musa was made a Prophet." Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `A'ishah went out intending to perform `Umrah and stopped to camp among some bedouins.
While she was among them she heard a man say, "Which brother in this life was the most beneficial to his brother" The people said, "We do not know." The man said, "By Allah, I know." `A'ishah said, "I said to myself about his swearing, that he should not swear such an oath, singling himself out as knowing what person was of most benefit to his brother." The man said, "It is Musa, when he asked for prophethood to be bestowed upon his brother." Then `A'ishah said, "By Allah, he has spoken truthfully." This is why Allah commended Musa by saying, وَكَانَ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَجِيهاً ( And he was honorable before Allah. )33:69 Concerning Musa's statement, اشْدُدْ بِهِ أَزْرِى ( Increase my strength with him. ) Mujahid said, "This means to make my back strong." وَأَشْرِكْهُ فِى أَمْرِى ( And let him share my task. ) make him my consultant in this matter. كَىْ نُسَبِّحَكَ كَثِيراً - وَنَذْكُرَكَ كَثِيراً ( That we may glorify You much, and remember You much. ) Mujahid said, "A servant of Allah is not considered of those who remember Allah much until he remembers Allah while standing, sitting and lying down." Concerning his statement, إِنَّكَ كُنتَ بِنَا بَصِيراً ( Verily, You are ever seeing us. ) This means in Your choosing us, giving us the prophethood and sending us to Your enemy, Fir`awn.
So unto You is all praise for this.

( That they may understand my saying ) that they may understand what I say to them.

"That they understand my speech,

Page 313 English transliteration