In the name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent
‘Then your sister went forth and said (to Pharaoh’s people): “Shall I direct you to one who might take care of him?” Thus did We restore you to your mother, so that her mind might be set at ease and that she might not grieve.
‘And (when you came of age,) you killed a man; but We saved you from all grief, although We tested you with various trials.
‘You then stayed for years among the people of Madyan; and now you have come here, Moses, as ordained (by Me); for I have chosen you for Myself.
‘Go forth, then, you and your brother, with My signs, and never slacken in remembering Me. Go forth, both of you, to Pharaoh; for he has transgressed all bounds of equity! But speak to him mildly, so that he may yet take heed, or may be filled with apprehension.’
(Ta Ha: 20: 40-44)
COMMENTARY BY SAYYID QUTB
We referred at the end of our last article of commentary on the story of Moses, as related in this Surah, to the great event leading to young Moses’s escape from Pharaoh’s tyranny who ordered the killing of all Israelite children as they were born. It was God’s will accomplished in spite of Pharaoh and all that he was able to do. Not only so, but God willed that the escape should be made against all the odds.
Thus, on God’s orders Moses was thrown in the Nile by his mother, and was then picked up by people in Pharaoh’s household. It was there, under Pharaoh’s own care and protection that he was reared. Not only so, but his own mother was called in to give suckle to the newly born child.
Thus, the protection of the little infant was in his placing him in Pharaoh’s own private quarters, without anyone to guard or help him.
The Qur’anic text reminds Moses of some of the favors God has shown him in order to strengthen his resolve in carrying out his mission. The next favor mentioned here is his escape after killing a man: “And you killed a man; but We saved you from all grief, although We tested you with various trials. You then stayed for years among the people of Madyan; and now you have come here, Moses, as ordained (by Me); for I have chosen you for Myself.”
The event of killing a man took place after Moses was a young man, having grown up in Pharaoh’s palace. He went into the town market one day and found two people quarreling, one Israelite and the other Egyptian. The Israelite appealed to him for help, and he gave the Egyptian a strong push, but he immediately fell down and was killed. Moses did not intend to kill the man, but simply to push him away.
When he saw him dead, he was full of grief. It is good to remember here that Moses was brought up under God’s own care, right from his early childhood. Hence, it was only natural that he was filled with remorse, blaming himself for over-reaction. God reminds him here of His favor, as He directed him to seek forgiveness, which alleviated his sorrow.
However, God did not let him simply get away without a lesson to learn and benefit from in his future task. Hence, He set him the test of fearing the consequences of his offense and setting to flight.
The test took then another form, forcing him to flee the land where he was born and brought up, departing alone without friend or companion. Moreover, having been brought up in the palace of the greatest ruler of the time, enjoying every comfort and luxury, he was now in need of earning his living. Thus, he had to serve others, and to work as a shepherd.
At the appointed time, when he attained maturity, after passing the tests to which he was subjected, and when circumstances in Egypt were most suitable, with the Israelites having been subjected to much oppression, Moses was brought in from Madyan. He might have thought that he chose to come at that time, but the fact was that stated in the Qur’anic verse: “Now you have come here, Moses, as ordained (by Me).” So his coming back was at the time God had determined as most suitable.
“I have chosen you for Myself.” Thus, Moses was trained and prepared so as to be completely devoted to God’s message and serving His cause. He was purged of all the temptations of the worldly life, so as to be purely dedicated to the task God has appointed for him. All that had passed in his life was part of his training to fulfill the mission that was about to be entrusted to him.
Here God tells him that neither himself, nor his family, nor anyone else had any claim on his time or services. He is chosen by God for whatever God wanted him to do.
Having put this very clear to Moses, God gives him his first instructions: “Go forth, then, you and your brother, with My signs, and never slacken in remembering Me. Go forth, both of you, to Pharaoh; for he has transgressed all bounds of equity! But speak to him mildly, so that he may yet take heed, or may be filled with apprehension.”
Moses is told to go with his brother Aaron, equipped with the signs God has given them. He has seen two of these in the transformation affecting his staff and his hand. They are told not to slacken in remembering God, for such remembrance is the best equipment and support you may have. Moses is reminded that God had protected him from Pharaoh and his wickedness even when he was a helpless child, thrown in the Nile. Nothing of that hardship caused him any harm. Now that he had his training, he might approach his task with ease and reassurance, trusting to God’s care.
As Moses is directed to go to Pharaoh, he is told that Pharaoh has transgressed all bounds and resorted to tyranny and oppression. Nevertheless, his instruction is that he and his brother were to “speak to him mildly.” Mild and gentle words which do not trigger a hardening of attitude or a reaction of insolence and arrogance, which is commonly adopted by tyrants, may yet reawaken Pharaoh’s heart and alert him to the consequences of tyranny.
Thus, Moses and Aaron were to go about their task, hoping that Pharaoh might take heed, and never despairing of his reform and positive response to God’s guidance. An advocate of faith who gives up on people and thinks that they would never respond positively to his message cannot deliver it in the proper way it should be delivered. Nor would he be able to hold on to it in the face of rejection and denial.
God certainly knew how Pharaoh would respond, but taking the necessary measures in preaching God’s message is necessary. God takes people to account after they act, although He is aware of their actions before they are made. His knowledge of future events is the same as His knowledge of the present and the past.
What was Moses’s reaction to the mission outlined to him? This we will learn next week, God willing.
