Ta Ha — Verse 17
20:17 · Ta Ha
Verse display
وَمَا تِلۡكَ بِیَمِینِكَ یَـٰمُوسَىٰ ١٧
wamā til'ka biyamīnika yāmūs
Ta Ha / Ta Ha (20:17)
Connections 3 multi-source 3 commentators
Multi-source connections cited by 2+ commentators
By commentator who cites how many verses on this ayah
-
Al-Qushairi Tafsir 3 verses 6 mentions total
-
Kashani Tafsir 3 verses 6 mentions total
-
Kashf Al-Asrar Tafsir 3 verses
Note: these connections are extracted from numeric S:A references inside the commentary text and are therefore biased toward mufassirun who use that notation. Prose-style references (e.g. "Surat al-Baqarah verse 30") will be added later, which should surface additional multi-source consensus.
‘Moses, what is that in your right hand?’
wamā til'ka biyamīnika yāmūs
Get a Print Copy
Support the Author
As an Amazon Associate, ParallelQuran earns from qualifying purchases.
Qur'an Tools
Tafsir Commentary
The Stick of Musa turned into a Snake
This was a proof from Allah for Musa and a great miracle. This was something that broke through the boundaries of what is considered normal, thus, it was a brilliant evidence that none but Allah could do. It was also a proof that no one could come with the likes of this (from mankind) except a Prophet who was sent (by Allah). Concerning Allah's statement,
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يمُوسَى
(And what is that in your right hand, O Musa) Some of the scholars of Tafsir have said, "He (Allah) only said this to him in order to draw his attention to it." It has also been said, "He only said this to him in order to affirm for him what was in his hand. In other words, that which is in your right hand is a stick that you are familiar with. You will see what We are about to do to it now."
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يمُوسَى
(And what is that in your right hand, O Musa) This is an interrogative phrase for the purpose of affirmation.
قَالَ هِىَ عَصَاىَ أَتَوَكَّؤُا عَلَيْهَا
(He said: "This is my stick, whereon I lean...") I lean on it while I am walking.
وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَى غَنَمِى
(and wherewith I beat down branches for my sheep,) This means, `I use it to shake the branches of trees so that the leaves will fall for my sheep to eat them. ' `Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Qasim reported from Imam Malik that he said, "It is when a man places his staff into a branch and shakes it so that its leaves and fruit will fall without breaking the stick. It is not the same as striking or beating." Maymun bin Mahran also said the same. Concerning his statement,
وَلِىَ فِيهَا مَأَرِبُ أُخْرَى
(and wherein I find other uses.) This means other benefits, services and needs besides this. Some of the scholars took upon themselves the burden of mentioning many of these obscure uses. Concerning Allah's statement,
قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يمُوسَى
((Allah) said: "Cast it down, O Musa!") "Throw down this stick that is in your right hand, O Musa."
فَأَلْقَـهَا فَإِذَا هِىَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَى
(He cast it down, and behold! It was a snake, moving quickly.) This means that the stick changed into a huge snake, like a long python, and it moved with rapid movements. It moved as if it were the fastest type of small snake. Yet, it was in the form of the largest snake, while still having the fastest of movements.
تَسْعَى
(moving quickly.) moving restlessly. Concerning Allah's statement,
سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيَرتَهَا الاٍّولَى
(We shall return it to its former state. ) the form that it was in, as you recognized it before.
And what is that that happens to be in your right hand O Moses?’ the interrogative is meant as an affirmative but it is expressed as an interrogative in order that the miracle to be manifested in it be shown as consequent upon it.
What is that in thy right hand, O Moses? When Moses heard the address, “Surely I am thy Lord,” the ruling power of awe began to attack and he fell into bewilderment and confoundedness. Because of the force of that awe, ease did not remain in its place. His body was not able to bear it with patience, and his heart was not able to busy itself with intellect. The Lord of the Worlds attended to his heart with the call of gentleness; He began speaking about his staff. He said, “What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?” He said, “It is my staff” [20:18]. The command came, “Throw it down, O Moses! [20:19]. Throw down this staff concerning which you say that it is your staff.” Moses threw it down and it became a snake. When he saw that the snake aimed to come after him, he was frightened and fled. The call came, “Take it, and fear not! [20:21]. O Moses, pick up the snake and do not fear. This is that very staff of which you spoke, claiming it was your staff. O Moses, what do you have to do with making claims? The men of the road make no claims and ascribe nothing to themselves.” It was the attribute of Moses' own being and the traces of his claim that turned toward him in that Presence, for the claims of mortal nature were still staining his innate disposition. The stain appeared with the claim my staff, so it was said to him, “O Moses, there is still something of ego- ism in you.” It was a mercy from the Real to Moses that He said, “What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?,” for the claim appeared from his makeup, and when he was made aware of it, he left the claim behind and shook the dust from the cloak of his sinlessness.
What is that in thy right hand, O Moses? When Moses heard the address, “Surely I am thy Lord,” the ruling power of awe began to attack and he fell into bewilderment and confoundedness. Because of the force of that awe, ease did not remain in its place. His body was not able to bear it with patience, and his heart was not able to busy itself with intellect. The Lord of the Worlds attended to his heart with the call of gentleness; He began speaking about his staff. He said, “What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?” He said, “It is my staff” [20:18]. The command came, “Throw it down, O Moses! [20:19]. Throw down this staff concerning which you say that it is your staff.” Moses threw it down and it became a snake. When he saw that the snake aimed to come after him, he was frightened and fled. The call came, “Take it, and fear not! [20:21]. O Moses, pick up the snake and do not fear. This is that very staff of which you spoke, claiming it was your staff. O Moses, what do you have to do with making claims? The men of the road make no claims and ascribe nothing to themselves.” It was the attribute of Moses' own being and the traces of his claim that turned toward him in that Presence, for the claims of mortal nature were still staining his innate disposition. The stain appeared with the claim my staff, so it was said to him, “O Moses, there is still something of ego- ism in you.” It was a mercy from the Real to Moses that He said, “What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?,” for the claim appeared from his makeup, and when he was made aware of it, he left the claim behind and shook the dust from the cloak of his sinlessness.
What is that in thy right hand, O Moses? When Moses heard the address, “Surely I am thy Lord,” the ruling power of awe began to attack and he fell into bewilderment and confoundedness. Because of the force of that awe, ease did not remain in its place. His body was not able to bear it with patience, and his heart was not able to busy itself with intellect. The Lord of the Worlds attended to his heart with the call of gentleness; He began speaking about his staff. He said, “What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?” He said, “It is my staff” [20:18]. The command came, “Throw it down, O Moses! [20:19]. Throw down this staff concerning which you say that it is your staff.” Moses threw it down and it became a snake. When he saw that the snake aimed to come after him, he was frightened and fled. The call came, “Take it, and fear not! [20:21]. O Moses, pick up the snake and do not fear. This is that very staff of which you spoke, claiming it was your staff. O Moses, what do you have to do with making claims? The men of the road make no claims and ascribe nothing to themselves.” It was the attribute of Moses' own being and the traces of his claim that turned toward him in that Presence, for the claims of mortal nature were still staining his innate disposition. The stain appeared with the claim my staff, so it was said to him, “O Moses, there is still something of ego- ism in you.” It was a mercy from the Real to Moses that He said, “What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?,” for the claim appeared from his makeup, and when he was made aware of it, he left the claim behind and shook the dust from the cloak of his sinlessness.
What is that in thy right hand, O Moses? When Moses heard the address, “Surely I am thy Lord,” the ruling power of awe began to attack and he fell into bewilderment and confoundedness. Because of the force of that awe, ease did not remain in its place. His body was not able to bear it with patience, and his heart was not able to busy itself with intellect. The Lord of the Worlds attended to his heart with the call of gentleness; He began speaking about his staff. He said, “What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?” He said, “It is my staff” [20:18]. The command came, “Throw it down, O Moses! [20:19]. Throw down this staff concerning which you say that it is your staff.” Moses threw it down and it became a snake. When he saw that the snake aimed to come after him, he was frightened and fled. The call came, “Take it, and fear not! [20:21]. O Moses, pick up the snake and do not fear. This is that very staff of which you spoke, claiming it was your staff. O Moses, what do you have to do with making claims? The men of the road make no claims and ascribe nothing to themselves.” It was the attribute of Moses' own being and the traces of his claim that turned toward him in that Presence, for the claims of mortal nature were still staining his innate disposition. The stain appeared with the claim my staff, so it was said to him, “O Moses, there is still something of ego- ism in you.” It was a mercy from the Real to Moses that He said, “What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?,” for the claim appeared from his makeup, and when he was made aware of it, he left the claim behind and shook the dust from the cloak of his sinlessness.
What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?When Moses heard the address, �Surely I am thy Lord,� the ruling power of awe began to attack and he fell into bewilderment and confoundedness. Because of the force of that awe, ease did not remain in its place. His body was not able to bear it with patience, and his heart was not able to busy itself with intellect. The Lord of the Worlds attended to his heart with the call of gentleness; He began speaking about his staff. He said, �What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?�He said, �It is my staff� [20:18].The command came, �Throw it down, O Moses! [20:19]. Throw down this staff concerning which you say that it is your staff.�Moses threw it down and it became a snake. When he saw that the snake aimed to come after him, he was frightened and fled. The call came, �Take it, and fear not! [20:21]. O Moses, pick up the snake and do not fear. This is that very staff of which you spoke, claiming it was your staff. O Moses, what do you have to do with making claims? The men of the road make no claims and ascribe nothing to themselves.�It was the attribute of Moses' own being and the traces of his claim that turned toward him in that Presence, for the claims of mortal nature were still staining his innate disposition. The stain appeared with the claim my staff, so it was said to him, �O Moses, there is still something of ego- ism in you.� It was a mercy from the Real to Moses that He said, �What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?,� for the claim appeared from his makeup, and when he was made aware of it, he left the claim behind and shook the dust from the cloak of his sinlessness.
وما هذه التي في يمينك يا موسى؟
هذا برهان من الله تعالى لموسى عليه السلام ومعجزة عظيمة وخرق للعادة باهر دل على أنه لا يقدر على مثل هذا إلا الله عز وجل وأنه لا يأتي به إلا نبي مرسل وقوله وما تلك بيمينك يا موسى قال بعض المفسرين إنما قال له ذلك على سبيل الإيناس له وقيل إنما قال له ذلك على وجه التقرير أي أما هذه التي في يمينك عصاك التي تعرفها فسترى ما نصنع بها الآن "وما تلك بيمنك يا موسى" استفهام تقرير.
ثم بين - سبحانه - بعض التوجيهات والأوامر التى وجهها - عز وجل - إلى نبيه موسى - عليه السلام - كما حكى ما التمسه موسى من خالقه - تعالى - فقال : ( وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ . . . ) .الاستفهام فى قوله - تعالى - : ( وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ ياموسى ) للتقرير ، لأن الله - تعالى - عالم بما فى يمين موسى ، فالمقصود من هذا السؤال اعتراف موسى وإقراره بأن ما في يده إنما هى عصا فيزداد بعد ذلك يقينه بقدرة الله - تعالى - عندما يرى العصا التى بيمينه قد انقلبت حية تسعى .قال صاحب الكشاف : إنما سأله - سبحانه - ليريه عظم ما يخترعه - عز وعلا - فى الخشبة اليابسة من قلبها حية نضاضة - أى تحرك لسانه فى فمها - ، وليقرر فى نفسه المباينة البعيدة بين المقلوب عنه ، والمقلوب إليه ، وينبهه على قدرته الباهرة . ونظيره أن يريك الزراد زبرة من حديد - أى قطعة من حديد - ويقول لك : ما هى؟ فتقول : زبرة حديد . ثم يريك بعد أيام لبوسا مسردا فيقول لك : هى تلك الزبرة صيرتها إلى ما ترى من عجيب الصنعة ، وأنيق السرد . . .والآية الكريمة : شروع فى بيان ما كلف الله - تعالى - به عبده موسى - عليه السلام - من الأمور المتعلقة بالخلق ، إثر حكاية ما أمر - سبحانه - به موسى من إخلاص العبادة له ، والإيمان بالساعة وما فيها من حساب وثواب وعقاب .
القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَى (17)يقول تعالى ذكره: وما هذه التي في يمينك يا موسى؟ فالباء في قوله (بِيَمِينكَ) من صلة تلك، والعرب تصل تلك وهذه كما تصل الذي، ومنه قول يزيد بن مفرع:عَــدسْ مــا لِعَبَّـادٍ عَلَيْـكِ إمـارَةٌأمِنْــتِ وَهَــذَا تَحْــملِينَ طَلِيــقُ (11)كأنه قال: والذي تحملين طليق.ولعل قائلا أن يقول: وما وجه استخبار الله موسى عما في يده؟ ألم يكن عالما بأن الذي في يده عصا؟ قيل له: إن ذلك على غير الذي ذهبت إليه، وإنما قال ذلك عزّ ذكره له إذا أراد أن يحوّلها حية تسعى، وهي خشبة، فنبهه عليها، وقرّره بأنها خشبة يتوكأ عليها، ويهشّ بها على غنمه، ليعرّفه قُدرته على ما يشاء، وعظم سلطانه، ونفاذ أمره فيما أحبّ بتحويله إياها حيَّة تسعى، إذا أراد ذلك به ليجعل ذلك لموسى آية مع سائر آياته إلى فرعون وقومه.-----------------------الهوامش :(11) البيت لزيد بن مفرغ الحميري ، يخاطب بغلته حين هرب من عبيد الله بن زياد وأخيه عباد ، وكان ابن مفرغ يهجوهما إذا تأخر عليه العطاء ، وله قصة مشهورة . وعدس : زجر للبغل ، أو اسم له . ويروى نجوت في مكان : أمنت ( اللسان : عدس ) . وهذا : اسم إشارة ، وقد وصل بجملة تحملين ، فصار من الأسماء الموصولة في قول بعض النحويين . هذا : مبتدأ وجملة تحملين : صلة ؛ وطليق : خبر المبتدأ . أي والذي تحملينه طليق ، ليس لأحد عليه سلطان .
قوله عز وجل : ( وما تلك بيمينك يا موسى ) سؤال تقرير ، والحكمة في هذا السؤال : تنبيهه وتوقيفه على أنها عصا حتى إذا قلبها حية علم أنه معجزة عظيمة . وهذا على عادة العرب ، يقول الرجل لغيره : هل تعرف هذا؟ وهو لا يشك أنه يعرفه ، ويريد أن ينضم إقراره بلسانه إلى معرفته بقلبه .
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَى (17) بقية ما نودي به موسى . والجملة معطوفة على الجمل قبلها انتقالاً إلى محاورة أراد الله منها أن يُري موسى كيفية الاستدلال على المرسَل إليهم بالمعجزة العظيمة ، وهي انقلاب العصا حيّة تأكل الحيات التي يظهرونها .وإبراز انقلاب العصَا حيّةً في خلال المحاورة لقصد تثبيت موسى ، ودفع الشكّ عن أن يتطرقه لو أمره بذلك دون تجربة لأنّ مشاهدَ الخوارق تسارع بالنفس بادىء ذي بدء إلى تأويلها وتُدخل عليها الشك في إمكان استتار المعتاد بساتر خفي أو تخييل ، فلذلك ابتدىء بسؤاله عما بيده ليوقن أنه ممسك بعصاه حتى إذا انقلبت حيّة لم يشك في أنّ تلك الحيّة هي التي كانت عصاه . فالاستفهام مستعمل في تحقيق حقيقة المسؤول عنه .والقصد من ذلك زيادة اطمئنان قلبه بأنه في مقام الاصطفاء ، وأن الكلام الذي سمعه كلام من قبل الله بدون واسطة متكلّم معتاد ولا في صورة المعتاد ، كما دلّ عليه قوله بعد ذلك { لنريك من آياتنا الكبرى } [ طه : 23 ].فظاهر الاستفهام أنه سؤال عن شيء أشير إليه . وبُنيت الإشارة بالظرف المستقر وهو قوله { بِيَمِينِكَ } ، ووقع الظرف حالاً من اسم الإشارة ، أي ما تلك حال كونها بيمينك؟ .ففي هذا إيماء إلى أن السؤال عن أمر غريب في شأنها ، ولذلك أجاب موسى عن هذا الاستفهام ببيان ماهية المسؤول عنه جرياً على الظاهر ، وببيان بعض منافعها استقصاء لمراد السائل أن يكون قد سأل عن وجه اتخاذه العصا بيده لأنّ شأن الواضحات أن لا يسأل عنها إلاّ والسائل يريد من سؤاله أمراً غير ظاهر ، ولذلك لما قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في خطبة حجّة الوداع : «أيُّ يوم هذا؟» سكت النّاس وظنوا أنه سيسميه بغير اسمه . وفي رواية أنهم قالوا : «الله ورسوله أعلم ، فقال : أليس يوم الجمعة؟ . . . » إلى آخره .فابتدأ موسى ببيان الماهية بأسلوب يؤذن بانكشاف حقيقة المسؤول عنه ، وتوقع أن السؤال عنه توسل لتطلب بيان وراءه .
لما بين الله لموسى أصل الإيمان، أراد أن يبين له ويريه من آياته ما يطمئن به قلبه، وتقر به عينه، ويقوي إيمانه، بتأييد الله له على عدوه فقال: { وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَى } هذا، مع علمه تعالى، ولكن لزيادة الاهتمام في هذا الموضع، أخرج الكلام بطريق الاستفهام .
قوله : وما تلك بيمينك يا موسى قال هي عصاي أتوكأ عليها وأهش بها على غنمي ولي فيها مآرب أخرىقوله تعالى : وما تلك بيمينك قيل : كان هذا الخطاب من الله تعالى لموسى وحيا ؛ لأنه قال : فاستمع لما يوحى ولا بد للنبي في نفسه من معجزة يعلم بها صحة نبوة نفسه ، فأراه في العصا وفي نفسه ما أراه لذلك . ويجوز أن يكون ما أراه في الشجرة آية كافية له في نفسه ، ثم تكون اليد والعصا زيادة توكيد ، وبرهانا يلقى به قومه . واختلف في ما في قوله وما تلك فقال الزجاج والفراء : هي اسم ناقص وصلت ب ( يمينك ) أي ما التي بيمينك ؟ وقال أيضا : تلك بمعنى هذه ؛ ولو قال : ما ذلك لجاز ؛ أي ما ذلك الشيء : ومقصود السؤال تقرير الأمر حتى يقول موسى : هي عصاي ؛ ليثبت الحجة عليه بعد ما اعترف ، وإلا فقد علم الله ما هي في الأزل . وقال ابن الجوهري وفي بعض الآثار أن الله تعالى عتب على موسى إضافة العصا إلى نفسه في ذلك الموطن ، فقيل له : ألقها لترى منها العجب فتعلم أنه لا ملك عليها ولا تنضاف إليك . وقرأ ابن أبي إسحاق ( عصي ) على لغة هذيل ؛ ومثله ( يا بشرى ) و ( محيي ) وقد تقدم . وقرأ الحسن ( عصاي ) بكسر الياء لالتقاء الساكنين . ومثل هذا قراءة حمزة ( وما أنتم بمصرخي ) . وعن ابن أبي إسحاق سكون الياء .في هذه الآية دليل على جواب السؤال بأكثر مما سئل ؛ لأنه لما قال وما تلك بيمينك يا موسى ذكر معاني أربعة وهي إضافة العصا إليه ، وكان حقه أن يقول عصا ؛ والتوكؤ ؛ والهش ، والمآرب المطلقة . فذكر موسى من منافع عصاه عظمها وجمهورها وأجمل سائر ذلك . وفي الحديث سئل النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - عن ماء البحر فقال : هو الطهور ماؤه الحل ميتته . وسألته امرأة عن الصغير حين رفعته إليه فقالت : ألهذا حج ؟ قال : نعم ولك أجر . ومثله في الحديث كثير .
The question ‘What do you have in your right hand?’ was meant to awaken Moses’s awareness. Its purpose was to impress afresh on his mind that his stick was but a stick, so that the next moment when, due to a miracle of God, it changed into a snake, he should be fully aware of its significance. Moses’ stick being changed into a snake was a miracle of transformation. But it must be borne in mind that all the things we see on earth are actually in a process of transformation. An acorn planted in soil and watered will one day grow into a mighty oak tree. Vapour condenses and turns into water, and water, when boiled, will turn into steam. Some of these processes are rapid and others are slow. Some are so slow—like the growth of a tree—that they are imperceptible to the human eye. The slower the process, the less strange it seems, because its slowness gives us time to familiarise ourselves with the phenomenon. When Moses’ stick took the shape of a snake, it happened in an instant, and so seemed very strange and startling. The fact is that whatever there is in this world, or whatever the events, all are ‘miracles’ of God, be it the emerging of a sapling from the earth or a stick becoming a snake. ‘Extraordinary’ miracles are shown through prophets to make man take notice of the everyday miracles wrought by God.
Commentary
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ The question: "What is in your right hand, 0 Musa"? - 20:17 marks the beginning of the special favour which Allah Ta` ala showed towards Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) in order to dispel the fear created by the unusual sights that he had seen and the Divine Word that he had heard. The style in which Allah Ta` ala addressed him was friendly, inquiring from him what he held in his hand. Besides there was a subtle purpose in the question, namely to make him aware that what he held in his hand was a staff made of wood and nothing more. And when he had satisfied himself again that it was indeed a wooden staff, then the miracle of turning it into a serpent was revealed, thus precluding any doubt in his mind that in the darkness of the night he might have picked up a serpent instead of his staff.
(And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?