Surah Ta-Ha Ayat 40 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 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.
“Behold! thy sister goeth forth and saith, ‘shall I show you one who will nurse and rear the (child)?’ So We brought thee back to thy mother, that her eye might be cooled and she should not grieve. Then thou didst slay a man, but We saved thee from trouble, and We tried thee in various ways. Then didst thou tarry a number of years with the people of Midian. Then didst thou come hither as ordained, O Moses!
Recall, when your sister went along, saying: ‘Shall I direct you to one who will take charge of him?’ Thus We brought you back to your mother so that her heart might be gladdened and she might not grieve. Moses, recall when you slew a person. We delivered you from distress and made you go through several trials. Then you stayed for several years among the people of Midian, and now you have come at the right moment as ordained.
“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)!
When thy sister went and said: Shall I show you one who will nurse him? and we restored thee to thy mother that her eyes might be refreshed and might not sorrow. And thou didst kill a man and We delivered thee from great distress, and tried thee with a heavy trial. And thou didst tarry years among the folk of Midian. Then camest thou (hither) by (My) providence, O Moses,
As your sister walked about, (and) so said, ‘”Shall I indicate to you one to sponsor him?”’ So We returned you to your mother so that she might comfort her eye (Literally: that her eye might settle down) and might not grieve. And you killed a self, (i.e., a person) yet We safely delivered you out of suffering, and We tempted you with many temptations. Then you lingered years among the population of Madyan. Thereafter you came (here), according to a determined (estimate), O Mûsa.
Your sister went out, saying, “I will tell you someone who will nurse him,” then We returned you to your mother so that she could rejoice and not grieve. Later you killed a man, but We saved you from distress and tried you with other tests. You stayed among the people of Midian for years, then you came here as I ordained.
(یاد کر) جبکہ تیری بہن چل رہی تھی اور کہہ رہی تھی کہ اگر تم کہو تو میں اسے بتا دوں جو اس کی نگہبانی کرے، اس تدبیر سے ہم نے تجھے پھر تیری ماں کے پاس پہنچایا کہ اس کی آنکھیں ٹھنڈی رہیں اور وه غمگین نہ ہو۔ اور تو نے ایک شخص کو مار ڈاﻻ تھا اس پر بھی ہم نے تجھے غم سے بچا لیا، غرض ہم نے تجھے اچھی طرح آزما لیا۔ پھر تو کئی سال تک مدین کے لوگوں میں ٹھہرا رہا، پھر تقدیر الٰہی کے مطابق اے موسیٰ! تو آیا
Quran 20 Verse 40 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Ta-Ha ayat 40, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(20:40) Recall, when your sister went along, saying: ‘Shall I direct you to one who will take charge of him?’ Thus We brought you back to your mother so that her heart might be gladdened and she might not grieve. Moses, recall when you slew a person. We delivered you from distress and made you go through several trials. Then you stayed for several years among the people of Midian, and now you have come at the right moment as ordained.
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
Ibn-Kathir
40. “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. Then you came here according to the fixed term which I ordained (for you), O Musa! 41. And I have chosen you for Myself. 42. Go you and your brother with My Ayat, and do not, you both, slacken and become weak in My remembrance. 43. Go both of you to Fir`awn, verily, he has transgressed. 44. And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allah).
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,
(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,
(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,
(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,
(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,
(Go you and your brother with My Ayat,) This means with My proofs, evidences and miracles.
(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;
(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.
(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,
(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,
(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,
(or he will fear) meaning that he will become obedient due to fear of Allah. This is as Allah says,
(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.
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