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,
[ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَى
قَدَرٍ يمُوسَى]
(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,
[ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَى
قَدَرٍ يمُوسَى]
(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,
[وَاصْطَنَعْتُكَ
لِنَفْسِى ]
(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,
«الْتَقَى آدَمُ
وَمُوسَى فَقَالَ مُوسَى: أَنْتَ الَّذِي أَشْقَيْتَ النَّاسَ وَأَخْرَجْتَهُمْ
مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ، فَقَالَ آدَمُ: وَأَنْتَ الَّذِي اصْطَفَاكَ اللهُ بِرِسَالَتِهِ
وَاصْطَفَاكَ لِنَفْسِهِ، وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ التَّوْرَاةَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قَالَ:
فَوَجَدْتَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عَلَيَّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَنِي؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، فَحَجَّ
آدَمُ مُوسَى»
(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,
[اذْهَبْ أَنتَ
وَأَخُوكَ بِـَايَـتِى]
(Go you and your brother with My Ayat,) This means with My proofs, evidences
and miracles.
[وَلاَ تَنِيَا فِى
ذِكْرِى]
(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;
[اذْهَبَآ إِلَى
فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَى ]
(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.
[فَقُولاَ لَهُ
قَوْلاً لَّيِّناً لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى ]
(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,
[ادْعُ إِلِى سَبِيلِ
رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَـدِلْهُم بِالَّتِى هِىَ
أَحْسَنُ]
(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,
[لَّعَلَّهُ
يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى]
(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,
[أَوْ
يَخْشَى]
(or he will fear) meaning that he will become obedient due to fear of Allah.
This is as Allah says,
[لِّمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن
يَذَّكَّرَ أَوْ أَرَادَ شُكُوراً]
(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.
[قَالاَ رَبَّنَآ
إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَآ أَوْ أَن يَطْغَى - قَالَ لاَ تَخَافَآ
إِنَّنِى مَعَكُمَآ أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَى - فَأْتِيَاهُ فَقُولاَ إِنَّا رَسُولاَ
رَبِّكَ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ وَلاَ تُعَذِّبْهُمْ قَدْ جِئْنَـكَ
بِـَايَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَالسَّلَـمُ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى - إِنَّا قَدْ
أُوحِىَ إِلَيْنَآ أَنَّ الْعَذَابَ عَلَى مَن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى ]
(45. Both of them said: "Our Lord! Verily, we fear lest he should hasten to
punish us or lest he should transgress.'') (46. He (Allah) said: "Fear not,
verily, I am with you both, hearing and seeing.'') (47. "So go you both to him,
and say: 'Verily, we are both Messengers of your Lord, so let the Children of
Israel go with us, and torment them not; indeed, we have come with a sign from
your Lord! And peace will be upon him who follows the guidance!'') (48. `Truly,
it has been revealed to us that the torment will be for him who denies, and
turns away.`'')