Surah 20: Taha (Ta-Ha)

Lore & Background

The sampled passages focus heavily on the prophetic mission of Moses. God chooses Moses, saying 'And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed [to you]' (Surah 20:13), and instructs him regarding the staff: 'Seize it and fear not; We will return it to its former condition' (Surah 20:21). Moses prays for assistance, asking 'My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance]' (Surah 20:25) and 'appoint for me a minister from my family' (Surah 20:29). God reminds Moses of prior favor: 'And We had already conferred favor upon you another time' (Surah 20:37) and declares 'And I produced you for Myself' (Surah 20:41). Moses and Aaron express fear of Pharaoh: 'Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress' (Surah 20:45). Pharaoh challenges Moses: 'So who is the Lord of you two, O Moses' (Surah 20:49), and later accuses him: 'Have you come to us to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moses' (Surah 20:57). Moses warns the magicians: 'Woe to you! Do not invent a lie against Allah or He will exterminate you with a punishment' (Surah 20:61). The magicians throw their tricks, but Moses is told: 'throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have crafted' (Surah 20:69). The magicians then declare belief: 'Indeed, we have believed in our Lord' (Surah 20:73). God commands Moses: 'Travel by night with My servants and strike for them a dry path through the sea' (Surah 20:77). After the Exodus, God tests the people with the Samiri, who leads them astray (Surah 20:85). Moses confronts his people: 'Then have you disobeyed my order' (Surah 20:93), and punishes the Samiri: 'We will surely burn it and blow it into the sea with a blast' (Surah 20:97).

Reader's Guide

The sampled passages portray God as the Most Merciful, established above the Throne (Surah 20:5), who directly chooses and speaks to Moses (Surah 20:13). God provides for humanity, making the earth a bed and sending rain to produce plants (Surah 20:53). God's anger is a consequence of transgression (Surah 20:81), and He tests His servants, as with the Samiri's deception (Surah 20:85). Moses is depicted as a chosen prophet who prays for support (Surah 20:25-29), fears Pharaoh's reaction (Surah 20:45), and performs miracles by God's command (Surah 20:21, 20:69). He confronts Pharaoh (Surah 20:49, 20:57) and the magicians (Surah 20:61), leads the Israelites out of Egypt (Surah 20:77), and deals with the aftermath of idolatry (Surah 20:93, 20:97). Pharaoh is portrayed as a tyrant who accuses Moses of magic and threatens punishment (Surah 20:57, 20:45). The magicians initially oppose Moses but ultimately believe (Surah 20:73). The Samiri leads the people astray after Moses departs (Surah 20:85).

Did You Know?

• The surah opens with the isolated letters 'Ta, Ha' (Surah 20:1), which are not explained in the sampled passages.
• God reminds Moses of a prior favor: 'And We had already conferred favor upon you another time' (Surah 20:37), referring to events before his prophethood.
• The Samiri is the figure who led the Israelites astray after Moses departed (Surah 20:85), and his golden calf is burned and scattered into the sea (Surah 20:97).
• The magicians who opposed Moses ultimately declare belief, saying 'Allah is better and more enduring' (Surah 20:73).