Ta Ha — Verse 13

The First Revelation to Musa Allah, the Exalted, says, فَلَمَّآ أَتَاهَا (And when he came to it,) This is referring to the fire when he approached it. نُودِىَ يمُوسَى (He was called by name: "O Musa!") In another Ayah it says, نُودِىَ مِن شَاطِىءِ الْوَادِى الأَيْمَنِ فِى الْبُقْعَةِ الْمُبَارَكَةِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ أَن يمُوسَى إِنِّى أَنَا اللَّهُ (He was called from the right side of the valley, in the blessed place, from the tree: "O Musa! Verily, I am Allah.")28:30 However, here Allah says, إِنِّى أَنَاْ رَبُّكَ (Verily, I am your Lord!) meaning, `the One Who is talking to you and addressing you,' فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ (So take off your shoes;) `Ali bin Abi Talib, Abu Dharr, Abu Ayyub and others of the Salaf said, "They (his sandals) were from the skin of a donkey that was not slaughtered." It has also been said that he was only commanded to remove his sandals due to respect for the blessed spot. Concerning Allah's statement, طُوًى (Tuwa) `Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn `Abbas said, "It is the name of the valley." Others have said the same. This is merely mentioned as something to give more explanation to the story. It has also been said that it is a figure of speech, which comes from the command to place his feet down. It has also been said that it means `doubly sacred' and that Tuwa is something that has repetitious blessings. However, the first opinion is most correct. It is similar to Allah's statement, إِذْ نَادَاهُ رَبُّهُ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى (When his Lord called him in the sacred valley of Tuwa.) 79:16 Allah's statement, وَأَنَا اخْتَرْتُكَ (And I have chosen you.) is similar to His statement, إِنْى اصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِرِسَـلَـتِي وَبِكَلَـمِي (I have chosen you above men by My Messages, and by My speaking (to you).) 7:144 This means over all human beings of that time. It has also been said that Allah said, "O Musa, do you know why I chose to speak to you directly out of all of the people" Musa said, "No." Allah then said, "Because I have not made anyone humble himself as much as you have humbled yourself. " Concerning Allah's statement, فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَى (So listen to that which will be revealed.) "Now listen to what I say to you and what I reveal to you." إِنَّنِى أَنَا اللَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلا أَنَاْ (Verily, I am Allah! There is no God but Me,) This is the first obligation upon all responsible people of age, that they know that there is no God worthy of worship except Allah alone, Who has no partners. Concerning Allah's statement, فَاعْبُدْنِى (so worship Me,) This means, "Single Me out alone for worship, and establish My worship without associating anything with Me." وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَوةَ لِذِكْرِى (and perform Salah for My remembrance.) It has been said that this means, "Pray in order to remember Me." It has also been said that it means, "And establish the prayer whenever you remember Me." There is a supporting evidence for this second statement in a Hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad from Anas, who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِذَا رَقَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ أَوْ غَفَلَ عَنْهَا، فَلْيُصَلِّهَا إِذَا ذَكَرَهَا، فَإِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالى قَالَ: وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَوةَ لِذِكْرِى (Whenever one of you sleeps past the prayer, or he forgets to pray, then let him pray when he remembers it. For verily, Allah said, (And perform Salah for My remembrance.)) In the Two Sahihs it is reported from Anas that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «مَنْ نَامَ عَنْ صَلَاةٍ أَوْ نَسِيَهَا فَكَفَّارَتُهَا أَنْ يُصَلِّيَهَا إِذَا ذَكَرَهَا، لَا كَفَّارَةَةَلهَا إِلَّا ذَلِك» (Whoever slept past the prayer, or forgot it, then his expiation is that he prays it when he remembers it. There is no expiation for it other than that.) Concerning Allah's statement, إِنَّ السَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ (Verily, the Hour is coming) This means that it is established and there is no avoiding it. It will be and it is inevitable. Concerning Allah's statement, أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا (I am almost hiding it) Ad-Dahhak related from Ibn `Abbas that he used to recite it as, "I almost kept it hidden -- from myself." Ibn `Abbas then would say, "Because nothing is ever hidden from Allah's Self." `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا (I am almost hiding it.) "This means that no one knows its appointed time except Me (Allah)." Allah also said, ثَقُلَتْ فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ لاَ تَأْتِيكُمْ إِلاَّ بَغْتَةً (Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you except all of a sudden.) 7:187 This means that its knowledge weighs heavily upon the dwellers of the heavens and the earth. Concerning Allah's statement, لِتُجْزَى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا تَسْعَى (that every person may be rewarded for that which he strives.) "I will establish it and it is inevitable. I will certainly reward every person who does something, according to what he did." فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْراً يَرَهُ - وَمَن يَعْـمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرّاً يَرَهُ (So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom shall see it.) 99:7-8 إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ (You are only being requited for what you used to do.) 52:16 Allah said, فَلاَ يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَن لاَّ يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا (Therefore, let not divert you the one who believes not therein,) The address here is directed towards all individuals who are responsible (and capable of taking heed to this message). This means, "Do not follow the way of the person who does not believe in the Hour (Day of Judgement) and he only pursues his desires in this worldly life. He disobeys his Lord and only follows his desires. Whoever behaves like these people, then verily he has failed and lost. فَتَرْدَى (lest you perish.) This means that you will be destroyed and ruined. وَمَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّى (And what will his wealth avail him when he goes down (in destruction)) 92:11 وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يمُوسَى - قَالَ هِىَ عَصَاىَ أَتَوَكَّؤُا عَلَيْهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَى غَنَمِى وَلِىَ فِيهَا مَأَرِبُ أُخْرَى

And I Myself have chosen you from among all of your people so listen to what is being revealed to you from Me.

وإني اخترتك يا موسى لرسالتي، فاستمع لما يوحى إليك مني.

وقوله"وأنا اخترتك " كقوله إني اصطفيتك على الناس برسالاتي وبكلامي" أي على جميع الناس من الموجودين في زمانه وقد قيل إن الله تعالى قال يا موسى أتدري لم خصصتك بالتكليم من بين الناس ؟ قال لا قال لأني لم يتواضع إلي أحد تواضعك وقوله فاستمع لما يوحى أي استمع الآن ما أقول لك وأوحيه إليك.

( وَأَنَا اخترتك ) أى : اصطفيتك من بين أفراد قومك لحمل رسالتى ، وتبليغ دعوتى ( فاستمع لِمَا يوحى ) إليك منى ، ونفذ ما آمرك به .

القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : وَأَنَا اخْتَرْتُكَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَى (13)اختلفت القرّاء في قراءة ذلك، فقرأته عامة القرّاء الذين قرءوا " وأنَّا " بتشديد النون، و (أنا) بفتح الألف من " أنا " ردّا على: نودي يا موسى، كأن معنى الكلام عندهم: نودي يا موسى إني أنا ربك، وأنا اخترتك، وبهذه القراءة قرأ ذلك عامَّة قرّاء الكوفة. وأما عامة قرّاء المدينة والبصرة وبعض أهل الكوفة فقرءوه: (وأنا اخْتَرْتُكَ) بتخفيف النون على وجه الخبر من الله عن نفسه أنه اختاره.قال أبو جعفر: والصواب من القول في ذلك عندي أن يقال: إنهما قراءتان قد قرأ بكل واحدة منهما قرّاء أهل العلم بالقرآن، مع اتفاق معنييهما، فبأيتهما قرأ القارئ فمصيب الصواب فيه، وتأويل الكلام: نودي أنَّا اخترناك. فاجتبيناك لرسالتنا إلى من نرسلك إليه ( فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَى ) يقول: فاستمع لوحينا الذي نوحيه إليك وعه، واعمل به.

( وأنا اخترتك ) اصطفيتك برسالاتي ، قرأ حمزة : " وأنا " مشددة النون ، " اخترناك " على التعظيم . ( فاستمع لما يوحى ) إليك :

وَأَنَا اخْتَرْتُكَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَى (13)والمراد : ما يوحى إليه حينئذ من الكلام ، وأما ما يوحى إليه في مستقبل الأيام فكونه مأموراً باستماعه معلوم بالأحْرى .وقرأ حمزة وحده { وأنّا اخترناك بضميري التعظيم .واللام في لِمَا يُوحَى } للتقوية في تعدية فعل «استمع» إلى مفعوله ، فيجوز أن تتعلق باخْتَرْتُكَ ، أي اخترتك للوحي فاستمع ، معترضاً بين الفعل والمتعلّق به . ويجوز أن يضمّن استمع معنى أصْغغِ .

{ وَأَنَا اخْتَرْتُكَ } أي: تخيرتك واصطفيتك من الناس، وهذه أكبر نعمة ومنة أنعم الله بها عليه، تقتضي من الشكر ما يليق بها، ولهذا قال: { فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَى } أي: ألق سمعك للذي أوحي إليك، فإنه حقيق بذلك، لأنه أصل الدين ومبدأه، وعماد الدعوة الإسلامية.

قوله تعالى : وأنا اخترتك أي اصطفيتك للرسالة . وقرأ أهل المدينة وأبو عمرو وعاصم والكسائي ( وأنا اخترتك ) . وقرأ حمزة ( وأنا اخترناك ) . والمعنى واحد إلا أن وأنا اخترتك هاهنا أولى من جهتين : إحداهما أنها أشبه بالخط ، والثانية أنها أولى بنسق الكلام ؛ لقوله - عز وجل - : يا موسى إني أنا ربك فاخلع نعليك وعلى هذا النسق جرت المخاطبة ؛ قاله النحاس .قوله تعالى : فاستمع لما يوحى فيه مسألة واحدة : قال ابن عطية : وحدثني أبي - رحمه الله - قال : سمعت أبا الفضل الجوهري رحمه الله تعالى يقول : لما قيل لموسى صلوات الله وسلامه عليه : فاستمع لما يوحى وقف على حجر ، واستند إلى حجر ، ووضع يمينه على شماله ، وألقى ذقنه على صدره ، ووقف يستمع ، وكان كل لباسه صوفا .قلت : حسن الاستماع كما يجب قد مدح الله عليه فقال : الذين يستمعون القول فيتبعون أحسنه أولئك الذين هداهم الله وذم على خلاف هذا الوصف فقال : نحن أعلم بما يستمعون به الآية . فمدح المنصت لاستماع كلامه مع حضور العقل ، وأمر عباده بذلك أدبا لهم ، فقال : وإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا له وأنصتوا لعلكم ترحمون وقال هاهنا : فاستمع لما يوحى لأن بذلك ينال الفهم عن الله تعالى . روي عن وهب بن منبه أنه قال : من أدب الاستماع سكون الجوارح وغض البصر ، والإصغاء بالسمع ، وحضور العقل ، والعزم على العمل ، وذلك هو الاستماع كما يحب الله تعالى ؛ وهو أن يكف العبد جوارحه ، ولا يشغلها . فيشتغل قلبه عما يسمع ، ويغض طرفه فلا يلهو قلبه بما يرى ، ويحصر عقله فلا يحدث نفسه بشيء سوى ما يستمع إليه ، ويعزم على أن يفهم فيعمل بما يفهم . وقال سفيان بن عيينة أول العلم الاستماع ، ثم الفهم ، ثم الحفظ ، ثم العمل ، ثم النشر ؛ فإذا استمع العبد [ ص: 97 ] إلى كتاب الله تعالى وسنة نبيه - عليه الصلاة والسلام - بنية صادقة على ما يحب الله أفهمه كما يحب ، وجعل له في قلبه نورا .

The fire seen by Moses was not an ordinary fire, but the glowing manifestation of God’s glory. Therefore, when he reached there, he was made to realise the importance of the audience he was having. He was asked to remove his shoes in order that, in all humility, he should be fully attentive. Then came the voice informing him that he was in the presence of God and that He (God) had chosen him as His messenger. At that time, the instructions given to Moses were the same as were always given to all God’s prophets, namely, to hold worthy of worship the one and only God, to pray to Him alone and to remember Him on all occasions. Then, Moses was informed of the fact that the present world was a world of trial, and that for a certain period God had kept the realities hidden in the realms of the unseen. On the Day of Judgement, this curtain would be torn asunder. Thereafter, the second phase of man’s life would start, when everybody would be judged according to his deeds in the present world. When emotions and desires get the better of a man, he becomes unmindful of the Hereafter and starts pursuing the ways of this world. To justify his misdeeds, he masks the true nature of the course of his action in beautiful and charming words. Others are impressed. On hearing this, they too become forgetful of the Hereafter. Under these circumstances, a man of faith needs to be extremely watchful about his own attitude and actions. He needs to save himself from being influenced by those who are unmindful of God and forgetful of the Hereafter.

How to conduct oneself when the Qur'an is being recited فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَىٰ (So listen to what is revealed - 20:13). Sayyidna Wahb Ibn Munabbih has said that the correct behavior while listening to the recitation of the Qur'an is, that one sits still, refrains from any unnecessary movement in a way that no organ of his body is involved in any other work, keeps eyes down - concentrates the mind towards understanding its meaning. The person who listens to the Holy Qur'an in this respectful manner is rewarded by Allah Ta` ala with a better understanding of His word.

(And I have chosen thee) to carry the message to Pharaoh, (so hearken unto that which is inspired) so act upon that which you have been commanded.