SURAH (20) TAA  HAA  (AYA 1 to 10)

Sura (20) TAA HAA Aya 1 to 135 verses in 8 Sections

(Revealed in Makka)

SECTION 1

Moses commissioned with Apostleship

Apostle Muhammad told not to distress himself – the Qur’an, Reminder to the pious ones – God knows everything, be it open or hidden and hears every word spoken aloud or secretly; Moses commissioned with apostleship and commanded to proceed towards Pharaoh who had transgressed.

طه {20:1}

[Q20:1] Taa-Haa
[Q20:1] Ta Ha.

[Q20:1] Taa Haa.

According to Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq: Ta Ha is one of the names of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

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(20:1) Ta Ha

مَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقَىٰ {20:2}

[Q20:2] Maaa anzalnaa 'alaikal Qur-aana litashqaaa, 
[Q20:2] We have not revealed the Qur’an to you that you may be unsuccessful.

[Q20:2] Kami tidak menurunkan Al-Quran kepadamu (wahai Muhammad) supaya engkau menanggung kesusahan. 

ACCORDING TO THE HOLY IMAMS (AMONG THE AHLUL BAYT) THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) USED TO WORSHIP ALLAH (SWT) THROUGH PRAYERS EVERY NIGHT, ALMOST ALL THE NIGHT, FOR TEN YEARS. Refer to surah Muzzammil also. THEN ALLAH (SWT) sent down this verse to console him and his devout followers when the attitude of the disbelievers and the slow progress of the divine mission cast a gloom upon them. They prayed day and night for the triumph of the religion of ALLAH (SWT).

ä  It was asked that when he was the Divinely purified, sinless and an infallible one, where was the necessity of his being so much prayerful. The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) replied: ‘Should I not be the grateful servant of the Lord?’

IN FACTS ALL THE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE PIETY WHICH THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) AND HIS AHLUL BAYT PRACTICED IN THEIR GODLY LIVES, WAS TO SET UP PERFECT MODELS OF THE PURE AND UNCORRUPTED HUMAN LIFE ON EARTH FOR THE GUIDANCE OF MANKIND. Whatever the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) preached and prescribed for his followers i.e., the Muslims, he himself put it into practice in his daily life.

The Command of the Lord to moderate the prayers is as well a directive to us to avoid onesidedness of straining one’s self in any one way of supplicating to ALLAH (SWT) not attending to the other duties prescribed in the practical life.

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(20:2) We have not sent down the Qur'an to you to put you in distress.

إِلَّا تَذْكِرَةً لِمَنْ يَخْشَىٰ {20:3:}

[Q20:3] Illaa tazkiratal limany yakshaa, 
[Q20:3] Nay, it is a reminder to him who fears:

[Q20:3] Hanya untuk menjadi peringatan bagi orang-orang yang takut melanggar perintah ALLAH (SwT) 

This verse should be understood in the light of verse 2:2 of al Baqarah and verse 3:138 of Ali Imran. THE QUR’AN IS A GUIDANCE TO THOSE WHO SAFEGUARD THEMSELVES AGAINST EVIL WITH FULL AWARENESS OF ALLAH (SWT)'S LAWS, BUT it is a plain statement to ordinary human beings. THUS SINCERE FAITH AND PIETY IS THE PRE-REQUISITE TO BE BENEFITED BY THE QUR’AN--- in other words, a disbeliever or an impious one, instead of being guided aright by Qur’an, might the reverse effect.

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(20:3) This is an Admonition for every such person who fears (God). *1

*1 This verse makes plain the meaning of the previous one. The object of the Revelation of the Qur'an is riot to make the Holy Prophet do something impossible and to put him to unnecessary distress by demanding from him to imbue the hearts of the obdurate people with Faith, but to admonish those people who have fear of Allah. Therefore the Holy Prophet should not waste his efforts on those people who have no fear of God left in them, and who do not bother at all about what is Truth and what is falsehood. 

تَنْزِيلًا مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ وَالسَّمَاوَاتِ الْعُلَى {20:4}

[Q20:4] Tanzeelam mimman khalaqal arda was samaawaatil 'ulaa. 
[Q20:4] A revelation from Him Who created the earth and the high heavens.

[Q20:4] (Al-Quran) diturunkan dari (Tuhan) yang menciptakan bumi dan langit yang tinggi. 

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(20:4) This has been sent down by that Being, Who has created the earth and the high heavens.

الرَّحْمَٰنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىٰ {20:5}

[Q20:5] Ar-Rahmaanu 'alal 'Arshis tawaa. 
[Q20:5] The Beneficent ALLAH (SWT) is firm in power.

[Q20:5] Iaitu (ALLAH (SwT)) Ar-Rahman, yang bersemayam di atas Arasy. 

Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:255 and Yunus 10:3.

ARSH is the symbol of authority of the almighty, all-wise and eternal sovereign. ISTAWA means the perfect and complete hold and sway over all that which has been created by al hayy al qayyum creator. The whole universe is encompassed by the arsh (the divine authority). THE DIVINE ATTENTION IS UNIVERSAL AND EQUITABLE EVERYWHERE -IN THE HEAVENS, ON THE EARTH AND IN BETWEEN THEM, NEVER MORE OR LESS.

He who created the universe and owns it is mentioned here as AR RAHMAN, the beneficent, the most gracious, BECAUSE His mercy and grace encompasses all that which have been created by Him. Refer to the introduction of al Fatihah and commentary of al Fatihah 1:1.

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(20:5) The Merciful is sitting on the throne of the Kingdom. (of the universe) *2

*2 That is, "After creating the universe, He is ruling over it and conducting all the affairs of its management." 

 لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ الثَّرَىٰ {20:6}

[Q20:6] Lahoo maa fis samaawaati wa maa fil ardi wa maa bainahumaa wa maa tahtassaraa. 
[Q20:6] His is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth and what is between them two and what is beneath the ground.

[Q20:6] Dialah jua yang memiliki segala yang ada di langit dan yang ada di bumi serta yang ada di antara keduanya dan juga yang ada di bawah tanah basah di perut bumi.

Refer to the commentary of verses 5 and 6 of this surah.

‘Tahtuth-Tahra’--- beneath or under, i.e., whatever in the lower-most chamber below the surface of the earth--- or taking in the sense of the relativity of the direction--- it will mean, ALLAH (SWT)’S ALONE IS EVERYTHING, BE THAT IN THE HIGHEST OR IN THE LOWEST DIRECTION OR THE PLACE OF THE UNIVERSE.

This to negate or to refute the false notions of the polytheists who assign the various regions of the earth and the heavens to different imaginary deities to rule the places holding sway over destinies of the beings therein.

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(20:6) He is the Owner of all that which is in the heavens and the earth and all that which is between them and under the soil.

وَإِنْ تَجْهَرْ بِالْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى {20:7}

[Q20:7] Wa in tajhar bilqawli fainnahoo ya'lamus sirra wa akhfaa. 
[Q20:7] And if you utter the saying aloud, then surely He knows the secret, and what is yet more hidden.

[Q20:7] Dan jika engkau menyaringkan suara dengan doa permohonanmu, (maka yang demikian tidaklah perlu), kerana sesungguhnya ALLAH (SwT) mengetahui segala rahsia dan segala yang tersembunyi. 

AS HIS AUTHORITY ENCOMPASSES THE WHOLE UNIVERSE NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM ALLAH (SWT), be that a loud voice or a whisper. His knowledge is all-pervading. He knows innermost thoughts and hidden motives, be they sincere or insincere….. *the love and the harted, *faith and disbelief, all are equally manifest to Him.

HENCE IT IS SAID THAT WITH ALLAH (SWT) THE ACTIONS OF MAN ARE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THE INTENTION BEHIND THEM.

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(20:7) Whether you utter your supplication in a loud voice (it makes no difference) for He hears not only what is said in a low voice but also what is kept most secret. *3

*3 That 'is, "You need not complain to Allah in a loud voice against the persecution from which you and your companions are suffering and the mischievous machinations your enemies are devising to defeat you for Allah is fully aware of all those things, and He hears even the complaints you cherish in your hearts."

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ {20:8}

[Q20:8] Allaahu laaa ilaaha illaa Huwa lahul Asmaaa'ul Husnaa. 
[Q20:8] ALLAH (SWT) -- there is no ALLAH (SWT) but He; His are the very best names.

[Q20:8] ALLAH (SwT)! Tiada Tuhan yang berhak disembah melainkan Dia, bagiNyalah segala nama yang baik. 

It is natural phenomenon that unless the plate is clean, free from every kind of impression no desired figure can ever have a distinctive impression on it. UNLESS THE MIND OR THE HEART IS **thoroughly clean, **free from belief of any degree or nature in false deities or falsehood, THE CORRECT FAITH IN ALLAH (SWT) AND TRUTH CAN NEVER TAKE ITS PLACE THEREIN. HENCE washing the mind of every kind of false conceptions is the first requisite,

¥  THE FOREMOST ESSENTIAL STEP TOWARDS FAITH IN ALLAH (SWT) AND THIS ACT IS CALLED ‘TABARRA’ AND EMBRACING THE TRUTH THEREAFTER IS ‘TAWALLAH’. THESE TWO CONDITIONS ARE THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE PRACTICE OF THE ISLAM-ORIGINAL INDENTIFIED BY THE TERM ‘SHIAISM’.

For the Beautiful Names of ALLAH (SWT) see verse 17:110.

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(20:8) He is Allah: there is no god but He; all the excellent names are for Him. *4

*4 That is, "He possesses all the excellent attributes and characteristics." 

وَهَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰ {20:9}

[Q20:9] Wa hal ataaka hadeesu Moosa
[Q20:9] And has the story of Musa come to you?

[Q20:9] Dan sudahkah sampai kepadamu (wahai Muhammad) perihal Nabi Musa?

These verses narrate the events relating to Musa, Harun, Firawn and the children of Israil some of which have already been stated in the commentary of al Baqarah 2:49 to 61; Araf 7:103 to 156; Yunus 10:75 to 97 and Bani Israil 17:101 to 103

°          When Musa grew up, he left the palace of Firawn and went to Sinai Peninsula. He married the daughter of the prophet Shu-ayb, and was now travelling with his family. The night was cool in the open desert. He saw a fire and went to bring an ember from it for his wife and two sons.

°          When he approached it ALLAH (SWT) called him "O Musa" in order to give him heart and confidence, and announced: "I am your Lord, so take off your shoes." Tuwa literally means "a thing twice done", or "twice blessed". As a proper noun it is the name of the valley below Mount Sinai. The command "to take off the shoes" is interpreted 1. As a mark of humility for self and respect for ALLAH (SWT), or 2. To renounce the thought of family, SO AS to be present before the Lord in utter devotedness and concentration of heart and mind.

According to almost all the Sunni commentators the renunciation of self and family implied in this verse is tabarra, enacted as an article of faith by Shi-ahs. Exodus 3: 2 to 5 also relates this event.

°          Musa was chosen as a prophet and a messenger of ALLAH (SWT) to whom Tawrat was revealed. He was commanded to worship ALLAH (SWT) alone, because there is no ALLAH (SWT) save He, and establish prayer (salat) for His remembrance. It was made clear to him that the hour of reckoning would certainly come to pass, but its exact time was kept hidden in order that every individual may be recompensed according to that which he or she has strived for in this world. "No one who carries a burden shall bear the burden of another" says verse 17:15 of Bani Israil.

IT MUST BE NOTED THAT THROUGHOUT THE QUR’AN MOSTLY ADDRESS HAS BEEN MADE TO al nas, the people, THROUGH THE PROPHETS OR MESSENGERS, BECAUSE THE PROPHETS WERE SENT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DEEDS. THEREFORE it was not Musa but the people who are commanded not to be misled by those who follow their own vain desires and lusts in verse 16.

µ  Then the miracle of the transformation of the rod, Musa used to carry with him, into a serpent was shown to Musa by ALLAH (SWT).

µ  The second miracle given to him was the "white and shining hand". His hand was glorified, and it shone as with a divine light. Refer to Exodus 4: 1 to 9 for the above-noted miracles.

Musa, having been prepared, was commanded to go to Firawn, Rameses II, who had transgressed all bounds. Then Musa requested his Lord to appoint for him another person like him to strengthen his back and assist him in his task. Refer to the commentary of Maryam 19:53 and Ali Imran 3:52 and 53 for parallelism between Musa and Harun and Muhammad and Ali.

The task before the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) was much more difficult and hazardous. **Musa had to face one Firawn BUT the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) had to deal with a great many Firawns; every tribal chief of the Quraysh was more dangerous than the Firawn of Musa. **Musa asked for Harun AND the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) asked for Ali.

      ALLAH (SWT) accepted the prayers of both of them. Refer to Exodus 4: 10, 13 to 16 for the appointment of Harun as the spokesman of Musa by the Lord.

v  The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said:

"O Ali, you are to me as Harun was to Musa, but there is no prophethood after me."

(Refer to the commentary of Baqarah 2:51 and Maryam 19:53).

The following is a traditionally transmitted invocation by the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad):

"O ALLAH (SWT) , my brother Musa begged You saying: 'O my Lord, delight my heart and make my task easy and undo the knot in my tongue so that they may understand my talk and appoint from among my kinsmen Harun, my brother, as my wazir and strengthen my back with him and make him participate in my mission.' You inspired him: 'We shall soon strengthen your arm with your brother and make you both dominant.' O ALLAH (SWT), I am Your servant and Your messenger Muhammad. I beg You to delight my heart and make my task easy and appoint from among my kinsmen Ali, my brother, as my wazir." It is reported that in response to this prayer verse 5:55 of al Ma-idah was revealed. Refer to its commentary. Abu Is-haq al Thalabi has recorded the above prayer in his Tafsir Kabir while commenting on the verse occurring in al Ma-idah. Al Balakhi in his Yanabi has copied the same version from Ahmad bin Hanbal's Musnad.

PLEASE ALSO REFER TO verses 94:1 to 6 of al Inshirah which make it known that the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad)'s prayer was accepted by ALLAH (SWT), and in verse 7 of this surah He commands the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) to establish his successorship.

PLEASE REFER TO the commentary of to know that the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) had appointed Ali as his successor on the first day he made public his mission in the assembly of the "near relatives"; and refer to the commentary of al Ma-idah 5:67 to know that the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), under the command of ALLAH (SWT), appointed Ali as the guardian, master and commander of all believing men and believing women, as his successor.

°          In verse 38 of this surah awhayna means "We inspired". When Firawn was told by his courtiers that a boy would soon be born to an Israelite woman who would cause his downfall and destroy his kingdom, he ordered Israelite male children to be killed when they were born.

°          So, as soon as Musa was born, ALLAH (SWT) inspired his mother to put her child into a chest and send the chest floating down the Nile. It flowed on into a stream that passed through Firawn's garden. It was picked up by Firawn's wife Asiya. Firawn was an enemy to ALLAH (SWT) and an enemy to Musa, BUT ALLAH (SWT) made Musa so comely, attractive and loveable as to be adopted by Firawn and Asiya. Refer to Exodus 2: 3 to 9 for these events.

°          After the child was floated on the water, the anxious mother sent Musa's sister to follow the chest from the bank and see where and by whom it was picked up. When it was picked by Firawn's family and they seemed to love the child, she appeared before them and promised to bring a good wet-nurse for the child. That was exactly what they wanted. Like that ALLAH (SWT)'s providence looked after Musa in bringing his mother to him, and nourishing him on his mother's milk, and thus the mother's heart was also comforted.

°          Years passed. Musa grew up. He saw the Egyptian oppression under which the Bani Israel laboured. One day He saw an Egyptian smiting an Israelite with impunity. There and then, he smote the Egyptian. He did not intend to kill him, but the Egyptian died of his blow.

°          After this Musa went to the Sinai Peninsula and married the daughter of prophet Shu-ayb. After many years spent in grazing his father-in-laws' flocks, one day he came to the valley of Tuwa and the incident of fire took place.

°          He was addressed by ALLAH (SWT) and was chosen to be His messenger. He was granted his request that his brother should be his wazir. Then ALLAH (SWT) commanded them both to go to Firawn because he had transgressed all bounds.

"Speak to him a gentle word (mildly), haply he may take warning or fear (ALLAH (SWT) )" is an everlasting lesson for mankind that before taking the final step to correct even a transgressor like Firawn kind exhortation in soft spoken words is the best course.

°          In the first place their mission was to preach the word of ALLAH (SWT) to Firawn and the Egyptians so that they might be shown the right path (ALLAH (SWT), in His infinite mercy, always offers peace even to the most hardened sinners) and then stop the oppression inflicted upon the Bani Israil.

°          Firawn refused to accept the Lord of Musa and Harun (who gave to each created thing its form and nature, and further gave it guidance) as his Lord because he preferred the idols worshipped by his ancestors. Musa enumerated all the bounties of the beneficent Lord given to man in this world, BUT Firawn belied them and refused to believe even when the signs (the miracles of transformation of the rod into a serpent and his "white shining hand") were shown to him.

PLEASE REFER TO the commentary of Baqarah 2:49 and 50, 57, 63; Araf 7:103 to 137,160 and Yunus 10:75 to 92 for *the miracle of the rod and the magicians, *the children of Israil, *crossing the sea; *making of a covenant on mount Sinai and commentary of Hud 11:96 to 99.

When Umer bin Abdawud, a Firawn of his times, at the time of the battle of Khandaq, challenged the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) to send some one from the party of his "ALLAH (SWT)" as an answer to his might, the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) sent Ali as the sign of ALLAH (SWT) to overcome the arrogant infidel. See commentary of al Baqarah 2:214 and 251.

·         Ali ibne Abi Talib says in Nahj al Balagha that the fear mentioned in verse 67 felt by Musa was not the fear of the serpents, nor was Musa afraid of the harm that could occur to him BUT he was apprehensive of the possible confusion that could mislead the people. Verses 70 and 71 indicate that miracles are real whereas sorcery is unreal and lasts a few moments only.

THE SINNERS WILL ABIDE IN HELL FOR EVER. They will in vain desire cessation of consciousness to escape the unending and unbearable torment, BUT there will be no release from the conscious "living through" of the torture. Escape from existence will not be possible, and living will be worse than loss of life.

THE LIFE IN PARADISE will be a continuous conscious existence amid bliss and grace provided by the Lord of the worlds. ALLAH (SWT) forgives the sinners again and again if they repent, believe and make amends and do good deeds. IN CONTRAST to this condition of earning divine forgiveness which generates good, peace and harmony among the people, there is the Christian theory of unconditional redemption of all sinners by prophet Isa when he paid the price of all sins committed and to be committed by all  the human beings. Instead of putting an end to evil and sin this theory gives licence to people to spread corruption in the world as and when they deem necessary to fulfil their selfish desires.

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(20:9) And has the history of Moses reached you?

إِذْ رَأَىٰ نَارًا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ امْكُثُوا إِنِّي آنَسْتُ نَارًا لَعَلِّي آتِيكُمْ مِنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى النَّارِ هُدًى {20:10}

[Q20:10] Iz ra aa naaran faqaala li alhlihim kusooo inneee aanastu naaral la'alleee aateekum minhaa biqabasin aw ajidu 'alan naari hudaa. 
[Q20:10] When he saw fire, he said to his family: Stop, for surely I see a fire, haply I may bring to you therefrom a live coal or find a guidance at the fire.

[Q20:10] Ketika dia melihat api, lalu berkatalah dia kepada isterinya: Berhentilah! Sesungguhnya aku ada melihat api semoga aku dapat membawa kepada kamu satu cucuhan daripadanya atau aku dapat di tempat api itu: Penunjuk jalan. 

THE EXPERIENCES OF MOSES (MUSA) have been referred to in many places in the Holy Qur’an and the various references are to the appropriateness of each occasion-- See 2:49-61, 7:103-162, 17:101-103, 20:9-24, 20:25-36, 20:47-98.

°          These verse refer to the occasion when Moses after ten years of marriage with the Lady Safoora the daughter of prophet Shu’aib, started to his mother’s place AND

°          During the journey in a wilderness, his wife delivered a son and there was no protection or sufficient provision against the chill of the night in the open desert.

[1] There he saw a great tree on fire with the column of the light radiating from it towards heaven, BUT the freshness of the tree was not at all affected. [2] He also heard voices the glorification of ALLAH (SWT). Moses got struck with the fear and fell unconscious.

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(20:10) When he saw a fires *5 he said to his family, "Wait a bit, I have seen a fire: it may be that I bring a burning brand for you, or find guidance (to the way) at the fire." *6

*5 This happened when Prophet Moses was returning to Egypt after passing several years in exile in Midian, along with his wife whom he had married there. According to the early part of his history, which has been related in Surah XXVIII (A!-Qasas), an Egyptian had been killed by Prophet Moses; so he had to leave Egypt in order to escape arrest and had taken refuge in Midian. 
*6 It appears that this happened during a night of winter, when Prophet Moses was passing through the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula. When he saw a fire at a distance, he went towards it in the hope that he might get some of it to keep his wife and children warm during the night, or at least get some guidance concerning the direction of his journey. But instead of this it was his good fortune that he found the guidance to the Right Way.