Surah TaHa ayat 40 Tafsir Quran 20:40

﴿إِذْ تَمْشِي أُخْتُكَ فَتَقُولُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن يَكْفُلُهُ ۖ فَرَجَعْنَاكَ إِلَىٰ أُمِّكَ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ ۚ وَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا فَنَجَّيْنَاكَ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَفَتَنَّاكَ فُتُونًا ۚ فَلَبِثْتَ سِنِينَ فِي أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَىٰ قَدَرٍ يَا مُوسَىٰ﴾
[ طه: 40]

20:40 [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, 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.

When idh for explanation your sister Maryam walked up to obtain news of you for they had brought wet nurses for you but you would not take to the breast of any of them and she then said “Shall I show you someone who will take care of him?”. Her offer was accepted and so she brought them his mother and he took to her breasts. Thus We restored you to your mother that her eyes might rejoice in seeing you again and not grieve at that point anymore. Then you slew a soul namely the Copt in Egypt — and you became distressed for having slain him because of how Pharaoh would react; whereupon We delivered you from great distress and We tried you with various ordeals We tested you by landing you in some other ordeal and again delivered you from it. Then you stayed for several years ten years among the people of Midian after you had reached it having left Egypt staying with the prophet Shu‘ayb and marrying his daughter. Then you came hither as ordained in My knowledge with the Message that you will deliver — and this was when you were forty years old O Moses!

Your sister, Allah said, marches to the gate of the Palace and says to the household: shall I inform you of an acceptable woman who would nurse and rear the child! There, We returned you to your mother so that she would be delighted and her eyes speak content and she would take off the robe of grief. Moreover, you killed a man -unintentionally when helping the Israelite against the Egyptian- (Surah 28, V.19), and We relieved you and freed you of the anguish and in various ways did We put you to straits And by consequence you stayed for a number of years among the Madianites, then you were impelled upon My will to come to serve Me here as I had planned O Mussa

Choosing Musa to go to Fir`awn and to be Soft and Gentle in His Invitation Allah, the Exalted, says in His address to Musa that he had lived among the people of Madyan, avoiding Fir`awn and his chiefs.
He worked as a shepherd for his father-in-law until the appointed time for his work ended.
Then he met the decree of Allah and His predetermined will, without him having any set appointment.
This entire situation was under the control of Allah, Blessed be He, the Most High.
He compels His servants and His creatures to whatever end He wills.
This is why Allah says, ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَى قَدَرٍ يمُوسَى ( Then You came here according to the fixed term which I ordained (for you ), O Musa!) Mujahid said, "For a set appointment." `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ma`mar reported from Qatadah that he said, ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَى قَدَرٍ يمُوسَى ( Then You came here according to the fixed term which I ordained (for you ), O Musa!) "For the decree of messengership and prophethood." Concerning Allah's statement, وَاصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِى ( And I have chosen you for Myself. ) This means, "I have chosen you and selected you to be a Messenger for Myself.
This is as I wish and according to My will." Concerning the Tafsir of this Ayah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«الْتَقَى آدَمُ وَمُوسَى فَقَالَ مُوسَى: أَنْتَ الَّذِي أَشْقَيْتَ النَّاسَ وَأَخْرَجْتَهُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ، فَقَالَ آدَمُ: وَأَنْتَ الَّذِي اصْطَفَاكَ اللهُ بِرِسَالَتِهِ وَاصْطَفَاكَ لِنَفْسِهِ، وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ التَّوْرَاةَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قَالَ: فَوَجَدْتَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عَلَيَّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَنِي؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، فَحَجَّ آدَمُ مُوسَى»
( Adam and Musa met, and Musa said, "You are the one who made things difficult for mankind and you caused them to be evicted from Paradise." Adam said, "Are you the one whom Allah chose for His Message, and He selected you for Himself and He revealed the Tawrah to you" Musa replied, "Yes." Then Adam said, "Did you find that it was preordained upon me before He (Allah ) created me" Musa replied, "Yes." Therefore, Adam defeated Musa's argument.) Both Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded this narration.
Concerning Allah's statement, اذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِـَايَـتِى ( Go you and your brother with My Ayat, ) This means with My proofs, evidences and miracles. وَلاَ تَنِيَا فِى ذِكْرِى ( And do not, you both, slacken and become weak in My remembrance. ) `Ali bin Abi Talhah related from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "This means do not be slow." Mujahid reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "This means do not be weak." The meaning here is that they should not slacken in the remembrance of Allah.
Rather, they both should remember Allah during their meeting with Fir`awn so that the remembrance of Allah can be an aid for them against him.
The remembrance of Allah would be their strength and their power that would defeat him.
Allah's statement; اذْهَبَآ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَى ( Go both of you to Fir`awn, Verily, he has transgressed. ) means that he has rebelled and become haughty and insolent against Allah and he has disobeyed Him. فَقُولاَ لَهُ قَوْلاً لَّيِّناً لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى ( And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allah ).) This Ayah contains a great lesson.
Even though Fir`awn was the most insolent and arrogant of people and Musa was the friend of Allah among His creation at that time, Musa was still commanded to speak to Fir`awn with mildness and softness.
Therefore, their invitation to him was with gentle, soft and easy speech that is used by one who is a close friend.
This is so that the message may have more effect on the souls, and so it would have deeper and more beneficial results.
This is as Allah, the Exalted, says, ادْعُ إِلِى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَـدِلْهُم بِالَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ( Invite (mankind ) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better.) 16:125 Concerning Allah's statement, لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى ( perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allah ).
) This means that perhaps he will recant from that which he is in of misguidance and destruction, أَوْ يَخْشَى ( or he will fear ) meaning that he will become obedient due to fear of Allah.
This is as Allah says, لِّمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَذَّكَّرَ أَوْ أَرَادَ شُكُوراً ( For such who desires to remember or desires to show his gratitude. ) 25:62 Thus, to remember means to recant from that which is dangerous, and fear means to attain obedience.

Choosing Musa to go to Fir`awn and to be Soft and Gentle in His Invitation Allah, the Exalted, says in His address to Musa that he had lived among the people of Madyan, avoiding Fir`awn and his chiefs.
He worked as a shepherd for his father-in-law until the appointed time for his work ended.
Then he met the decree of Allah and His predetermined will, without him having any set appointment.
This entire situation was under the control of Allah, Blessed be He, the Most High.
He compels His servants and His creatures to whatever end He wills.
This is why Allah says, ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَى قَدَرٍ يمُوسَى ( Then You came here according to the fixed term which I ordained (for you ), O Musa!) Mujahid said, "For a set appointment." `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ma`mar reported from Qatadah that he said, ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَى قَدَرٍ يمُوسَى ( Then You came here according to the fixed term which I ordained (for you ), O Musa!) "For the decree of messengership and prophethood." Concerning Allah's statement, وَاصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِى ( And I have chosen you for Myself. ) This means, "I have chosen you and selected you to be a Messenger for Myself.
This is as I wish and according to My will." Concerning the Tafsir of this Ayah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «الْتَقَى آدَمُ وَمُوسَى فَقَالَ مُوسَى: أَنْتَ الَّذِي أَشْقَيْتَ النَّاسَ وَأَخْرَجْتَهُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ، فَقَالَ آدَمُ: وَأَنْتَ الَّذِي اصْطَفَاكَ اللهُ بِرِسَالَتِهِ وَاصْطَفَاكَ لِنَفْسِهِ، وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ التَّوْرَاةَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قَالَ: فَوَجَدْتَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عَلَيَّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَنِي؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، فَحَجَّ آدَمُ مُوسَى» ( Adam and Musa met, and Musa said, "You are the one who made things difficult for mankind and you caused them to be evicted from Paradise." Adam said, "Are you the one whom Allah chose for His Message, and He selected you for Himself and He revealed the Tawrah to you" Musa replied, "Yes." Then Adam said, "Did you find that it was preordained upon me before He (Allah ) created me" Musa replied, "Yes." Therefore, Adam defeated Musa's argument.) Both Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded this narration.
Concerning Allah's statement, اذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِـَايَـتِى ( Go you and your brother with My Ayat, ) This means with My proofs, evidences and miracles. وَلاَ تَنِيَا فِى ذِكْرِى ( And do not, you both, slacken and become weak in My remembrance. ) `Ali bin Abi Talhah related from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "This means do not be slow." Mujahid reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "This means do not be weak." The meaning here is that they should not slacken in the remembrance of Allah.
Rather, they both should remember Allah during their meeting with Fir`awn so that the remembrance of Allah can be an aid for them against him.
The remembrance of Allah would be their strength and their power that would defeat him.
Allah's statement; اذْهَبَآ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَى ( Go both of you to Fir`awn, Verily, he has transgressed. ) means that he has rebelled and become haughty and insolent against Allah and he has disobeyed Him. فَقُولاَ لَهُ قَوْلاً لَّيِّناً لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى ( And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allah ).) This Ayah contains a great lesson.
Even though Fir`awn was the most insolent and arrogant of people and Musa was the friend of Allah among His creation at that time, Musa was still commanded to speak to Fir`awn with mildness and softness.
Therefore, their invitation to him was with gentle, soft and easy speech that is used by one who is a close friend.
This is so that the message may have more effect on the souls, and so it would have deeper and more beneficial results.
This is as Allah, the Exalted, says, ادْعُ إِلِى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَـدِلْهُم بِالَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ( Invite (mankind ) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better.) 16:125 Concerning Allah's statement, لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى ( perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allah ).
) This means that perhaps he will recant from that which he is in of misguidance and destruction, أَوْ يَخْشَى ( or he will fear ) meaning that he will become obedient due to fear of Allah.
This is as Allah says, لِّمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَذَّكَّرَ أَوْ أَرَادَ شُكُوراً ( For such who desires to remember or desires to show his gratitude. ) 25:62 Thus, to remember means to recant from that which is dangerous, and fear means to attain obedience.

( When your sister went ) when she entered Pharaoh’s palace ( and said: Shall I show you one who will nurse him ) breastfeed him? ( and We restored thee ) We returned you to your mother ( to your mother that her eyes might be refreshed ) that she might be comforted ( and might not sorrow ) thinking that her son may have died upon throwing him in the river. ( And thou didst kill a man ) a Coptic man ( and We delivered thee from great distress ) from the distress caused to you by the people, ( and tried thee with a heavy trial ) We tried again and again. ( And thou didst tarry years ) ten years ( among the folk of Midian. Then comest thou (hither ) by ( My ) providence, O Moses) then you came to face My decree, in that I spoke with you and sent you with a message to Pharaoh,

"When your sister went and said: 'Shall I show you one who will nurse him?' So We restored you to your mother, that she might cool her eyes and she should not grieve. Then you did kill a man, but We saved you from great distress and tried you with a heavy trial. Then you stayed a number of years with the people of Madyan (Midian). Then you came here according to the fixed term which I ordained (for you), O Musa (Moses)!

• Previous
• Ayah 40
• Next