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Ayah
Word by Word
فَقُولَا
And speak
لَهُۥ
to him
قَوۡلٗا
a word
لَّيِّنٗا
gentle
لَّعَلَّهُۥ
perhaps he
يَتَذَكَّرُ
may take heed
أَوۡ
or
يَخۡشَىٰ
fear
فَقُولَا
And speak
لَهُۥ
to him
قَوۡلٗا
a word
لَّيِّنٗا
gentle
لَّعَلَّهُۥ
perhaps he
يَتَذَكَّرُ
may take heed
أَوۡ
or
يَخۡشَىٰ
fear
Translation
And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allāh]."
Tafsir
And speak to him gentle words, for him to renounce such [claims], that perhaps he may be mindful, be admonished, or fear', God and so repent - the 'hope' [for Pharaoh's repentance] is [expressed] from their perspective, for God knows that he was not going to repent.
Glad Tidings of the acceptance of Musa's Supplication and the Reminder of the Previous Blessings
Allah tells,
قَالَ قَدْ أُوتِيتَ سُوْلَكَ يَا مُوسَى
وَلَقَدْ مَنَنَّا عَلَيْكَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى
إِذْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى أُمِّكَ مَا يُوحَى
أَنِ اقْذِفِيهِ فِي التَّابُوتِ فَاقْذِفِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ فَلْيُلْقِهِ الْيَمُّ بِالسَّاحِلِ
(Allah) said:You are granted your request, O Musa! And indeed We conferred a favor on you another time (before).When We inspired your mother with that which We inspired. Saying:`Put him (the child) into the Tabut and put it into the river; then the river shall cast it up on the bank,
This is a response from Allah to His Messenger, Musa, for what he requested from His Lord. It also contains a reminder of Allah's previous favors upon him.
The first was inspiring his mother when she was breastfeeding him and she feared that Fir`awn and his chiefs would kill him.
Musa was born during a year in which they (Fir`awn's people) were killing all of the male children. So she placed him in a case and cast him into the river. The river carried him away and she became grieved and distressed, as Allah mentioned about her when He said,
وَأَصْبَحَ فُوَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَى فَارِغاً إِن كَادَتْ لَتُبْدِى بِهِ لَوْلا أَن رَّبَطْنَا عَلَى قَلْبِهَا
And the heart of the mother of Musa became empty. She was very near to disclose his (case) had We not strengthened her heart. (28:10)
So the river carried him to the home of Fir`awn.
فَالْتَقَطَهُ ءَالُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِيَكُونَ لَهُمْ عَدُوّاً وَحَزَناً
Then the people of Fir`awn picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief. (28:8)
Means that this was a destined matter, decreed by Allah.
They were killing the male children of the Israelites for fear of Musa's arrival. Therefore, with Allah having the great authority and the most perfect power, He determined that Musa would not be raised except upon Fir`awn's own bed. He would be sustained by Fir`awn's food and drink, while receiving the love of Fir`awn and his wife.
This is why Allah said,
يَأْخُذْهُ عَدُوٌّ لِّي وَعَدُوٌّ لَّهُ وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةً مِّنِّي
and there, an enemy of Mine and an enemy of his shall take him. And I endued you with love from Me,
This means that I made your enemy love you.
Salamah bin Kuhayl said,
وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةً مِّنِّي
(And I endued you with love from Me),
This means, `I made My creatures love you.'
وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَى عَيْنِي
in order that you may be brought up under My Eye.
Abu `Imran Al-Jawni said,
This means, `You will be raised under Allah's Eye.'
Concerning Allah's statement,
إِذْ تَمْشِي أُخْتُكَ فَتَقُولُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى مَن يَكْفُلُهُ فَرَجَعْنَاكَ إِلَى أُمِّكَ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا
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.
When he was accepted into the house of Fir`awn, women were brought in attempts to find someone who might be able to nurse him. But he refused to breast feed from any of them.
Allah, the Exalted, says,
وَحَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبْلُ
And We had already forbidden (other) foster suckling mothers for him. (28:12)
Then, his sister came and said,
هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَكْفُلُونَهُ لَكُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُ نَـصِحُونَ
Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and look after him in a good manner. (28:12)
She meant, Shall I guide you to someone who can nurse him for you for a fee.
So she took him and they went with her to his real mother. When her breast was presented to him, he took it and they (Fir`awn's family) were extremely happy for this. Thus, they hired her to nurse him and she achieved great happiness and comfort because of him, in this life and even more so in the Hereafter.
Allah, the Exalted, says here,
فَرَجَعْنَاكَ إِلَى أُمِّكَ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا
وَلَا تَحْزَنَ
So We restored you to your mother, that she might cool her eyes and she should not grieve.
This means that she should not grieve over you.
وَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا
Then you killed man,
This means that he killed a Coptic person (the people of Egypt, Fir`awn's people).
فَنَجَّيْنَاكَ مِنَ الْغَمِّ
but We saved you from great distress,
This is what he was feeling due to Fir`awn's family intending to kill him. So he fled from them until he came to the water of the people of Madyan.
This is when the righteous man said to him,
لَا تَخَفْ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّـلِمِينَ
Fear you not. You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers. (28:25)
Choosing Musa to go to Fir`awn and to be Soft and Gentle in His Invitation
Then Allah says,
وَفَتَنَّاكَ فُتُونًا فَلَبِثْتَ سِنِينَ فِي أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ ثُمَّ جِيْتَ عَلَى قَدَرٍ يَا مُوسَى
Then you stayed a number of years with the people of Madyan. Then you came here according to the fixed term which I ordained (for you), O Musa!
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 جِيْتَ عَلَى قَدَرٍ يَا مُوسَى
(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 جِيْتَ عَلَى قَدَرٍ يَا مُوسَى
(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 لِنَفْسِي
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 said,
الْتَقَى ادَمُ وَمُوسَى فَقَالَ مُوسَى أَنْتَ الَّذِي أَشْقَيْتَ النَّاسَ وَأَخْرَجْتَهُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ
فَقَالَ ادَمُ وَأَنْتَ الَّذِي اصْطَفَاكَ اللهُ بِرِسَالَتِهِ وَاصْطَفَاكَ لِنَفْسِهِ وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ التَّوْرَاةَ
قَالَ نَعَمْ
قَالَ فَوَجَدْتَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عَلَيَّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَنِي
قَالَ نَعَمْ
فَحَجَّ ادَمُ 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 بِأيَاتِي
Go you and your brother with My Ayat,
This means with My proofs, evidences and miracles.
وَلَا تَنِيَا فِي ذِكْرِي
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;
اذْهَبَا 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.
فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلاً لَّيِّنًا 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
Musa's fear of Fir`awn and Allah's strengthening Him
Allah, the Exalted, informs that Musa and Harun pleaded to Allah, expressing their grievance to him:
قَالَاا رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَا أَوْ أَن يَطْغَى
Both of them said:Verily, we fear lest he should hasten to punish us or lest he should transgress.
They meant that Fir`awn might seize them unexpectedly with a punishment, or transgress against them by tormenting them, when they actually did not deserve it.
Ad-Dahhak reported from Ibn Abbas that he said that;
transgress here means, To exceed the bounds.
قَالَ لَاا تَخَافَا إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَا أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَى
He (Allah) said:Fear not, verily, I am with you both, hearing and seeing.
meaning; Do not fear him (Fir`awn), for verily, I am with you and I hear your speech and his speech as well. I see your place and I see his place as well. Nothing is hidden from Me of your affair. Know that his forehead is in My Hand, and he does not speak, breathe, or use any force, except by My leave and after My command. I am with you by My protection, My help and My support.
فَأْتِيَاهُ فَقُولَاأ إِنَّا رَسُولَاأ رَبِّكَ
So go you both to him, and say:Verily, we are both Messengers of your Lord...
فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِي إِسْرَايِيلَ وَلَاأ تُعَذِّبْهُمْ
so let the Children of Israel go with us, and torment them not;
Musa admonishes Fir`awn
Concerning his statement,
قَدْ جِيْنَاكَ بِأيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكَ
indeed, We have come with a sign from your Lord!
meaning with evidence and a miracle from your Lord.
وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى
And peace will be upon him who follows the guidance!
meaning, `peace be upon you if you follow the guidance.'
Because of this, when the Messenger of Allah wrote a letter to Heraclius, the emperor of Rome, beginning with,
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللهِ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ
سَلَمٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدى أَمَّا بَعْدُ
فَإِنِّي أَدْعُوكَ بِدِعَايَةِ الاْإِسْلَإمِ فَأَسْلِمْ تَسْلَمْ يُوْتِكَ اللهُ أَجْرَكَ مَرَّتَيْن
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to Heraclius the emperor of Rome.
Peace be upon him who follows the guidance. Thus, to proceed:
Verily, I invite you with the invitation of Islam. So accept Islam and you will be safe, and Allah will give you a double reward.
Due to this, Musa and Harun said to Fir`awn,
وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى
إِنَّا قَدْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيْنَا أَنَّ الْعَذَابَ عَلَى مَن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى
And peace will be upon him who follows the guidance! Truly, it has been revealed to us that the torment will be for him who denies, and turns away.
In His flawless revelation, Allah has revealed to us that torment is prepared exclusively for those who reject the signs of Allah and turn away from His obedience.
As Allah says,
فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَى
وَءاثَرَ الْحَيَوةَ الدُّنْيَا
فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِىَ الْمَأْوَى
Then for him who transgressed all bounds, and preferred the life of this world, Verily, his abode will be Hellfire. (79:37-39)
Allah, the Exalted, also says,
فَأَنذَرْتُكُمْ نَاراً تَلَظَّى
لَا يَصْلَـهَأ إِلااَّ الااٌّشْقَى
الَّذِى كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى
Therefore I have warned you of a blazing Fire. None shall enter it save the most wretched. Who denies and turns away. (92:14-16)
Allah also says,
فَلَ صَدَّقَ وَلَا صَلَّى
وَلَـكِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى
So he neither believed nor prayed! But on the contrary, he belied and turned away. (75:31-32)
This means that he denied with his heart and turned away by his actions.
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