The chronology of this Sura has some significance: It has some relation to the spiritual lessons which it teaches.
It was used with great effect in that remarkable scene which resulted in Hadhrat Umar's conversion, and which took place about the seventh year before the Hijrat.
The scene is described with dramatic details by Ibn Hisham. Umar had previously been one of the greatest enemies and persecutors of Islam. Like his bloodthirsty kinsmen the Quraish, he meditated slaying the Prophet, when it was suggested to him that there were near relations of his that had embraced Islam. His sister, Fatima, and her husband, Said, were Muslims, but in those days of persecution they had kept their faith secret. When Umar went to their house, he heard them reciting this Sura from a written copy they had. For a while they concealed the copy. Umar attacked his sister and her husband, but they bore the attack with exemplary patience, and declared their faith. Umar was so struck with their sincerity and fortitude that he asked to see the leaf from which they had been reading. It was given to him: His soul was touched, and he not only came into the Faith but became one of its strongest supporters and champions.
The leaf contained some portion of this Sura, perhaps the introductory portion. The mystic letters Ta Ha are prefixed to this Sura. What do they mean? The earliest tradition is that they denote a dialectical interjection meaning "O man!" If so, the title is particularly appropriate in two ways. (1) It was a direct and personal address to a man in a high state of excitement, tempted by his temper to do grievous wrong, but called by Allah's Grace, as by a personal appeal, to face the realities, for Allah knew his inmost secret thoughts (Sura 20, verse 7): The revelation was sent by Allah Most Gracious, out of His Grace and Mercy (Sura 20 verse 5). (2) It takes up the story from the last Sura, of man as a spiritual being and illustrates it in further details. It tells the story of Moses in the crisis of his life when he received Allah's Commission and in his personal relations with his mother, and how he came to be brought up in the Pharaoh's house, to learn all the wisdom of the Egyptians, for use in Allah's service, and in his personal relations with Pharaoh, whom we take to be his adoptive father (Sura 28 verse 9). It further tells the story of a fallen soul who misled the Israelites into idolatry, and recalls how man's archenemy, Satan, caused his fall. Prayer and praise are necessary to man to cure his spiritual blindness and enable him to appreciate Allah's revelation.
Summary.-The revelation of Allah (the Koran) is not an occasion of distress, but is a gift of mercy from Allah Most Gracious. (Verses 1 to 8 and commentary C.142).
How Moses was first chosen, and led to his mission to Pharaoh with his brother Aaron. (Verses 9 to 36 and commentary C.143).
How the mother of Moses was directed to cast the infant Moses into the river, to be brought up in Pharaoh's house under Allah's own supervision, in order to preach to Pharaoh and declare Allah's glory. (Verses 37 to 76 and commentary C.144).
How Moses was directed to lead his people and Quell their rebellious spirit, and how that spirit was stirred up by Samiri. (Verses 77 to 104 and commentary C.145).
On the Day of Judgment personal responsibility will be enforced, and Allah's Truth acknowledged: Man should guard against Adam's enemy, Satan, and should renounce vanities, purify himself with prayer and praise, and await the call to Allah. (Verses 105 to 135 and commentary C.146).
C.142-(Verses 1 to 8)-Allah's revelation is not an occasion for man's distress: It is a Message to show that Allah All-Knowing sits on the throne of Mercy and guides all affairs. There is no god but He: To Him belong all the most beautiful Names.
20:1 SURA 20. Ta Ha. (Mystic Letters, T. H.). In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Ta Ha.
20:2 We have not sent down the Koran to thee to be (an occasion) for thy distress,
20:3 But only as an admonition to those who fear (Allah), --
20:4 A revelation from Him Who created the earth and the heavens on high.
20:5 (Allah) Most Gracious is firmly established on the throne (of authority).
20:6 To Him belongs what is in the heavens and on earth, and all between them, and all beneath the soil.
20:7 If thou pronounce the word aloud, (it is no matter): For verily He knoweth what is secret and what is yet more hidden.
20:8 Allah! There is no Allah but He! To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names.
C.143-(Verses 9 to 36)-The story of how Moses was chosen and told of his mission, has a high mystic meaning. He was true to his family and solicitous for their welfare. Encamped in the desert, he saw a fire far off. Approaching, he found it was holy ground. Allah did reveal Himself to him, so that he saw life in things lifeless, and light in his glorified Hand, that shone white with light divine. Armed with these Signs he was told to go forth on his mission. But he thought of his brother Aaron, and prayed that Allah might join him in his mission, and his prayer was granted.
20:9 Has the story of Moses reached thee?
20:10 Behold, he saw a fire: So he said to his family, "Tarry ye, I perceive a fire; perhaps I can bring you some burning brand therefrom, or find some guidance at the fire."
20:11 But when he came to the fire, a voice was heard: "O Moses!
20:12 "Verily I am thy Lord! Therefore (in My presence) put off thy shoes: Thou art in the sacred valley Tuwa.
20:13 "I have chosen thee: Listen, then, to the inspiration (sent to thee).
20:14 "Verily, I am Allah: There is no god but I: So serve thou Me (only), and establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise.
20:15 "Verily, the Hour is coming -- my design is to keep it hidden -- for every soul to receive its reward by the measure of its Endeavor.
20:16 "Therefore let not such as believe not therein but follow their own lusts, divert thee therefrom, lest thou perish!"...
20:17 "And what is that in thy right hand, O Moses?"
20:18 He said, "It is my rod: On it I lean; with it I beat down fodder for my flocks; and in it I find other uses."
20:19 (Allah) said, "Throw it, O Moses!"
20:20 He threw it, and behold! it was a snake, active in motion.
20:21 (Allah) said, "Seize it, and fear not: We shall return it at once to its former condition"...
20:22 "Now draw thy hand close to thy side: It shall come forth white (and shining), without harm (or stain). -- As another Sign, --
20:23 "In order that We may show thee (two) of Our Greater Signs.
20:24 "Go thou to Pharaoh, for he has indeed transgressed all bounds."
20:25 Section 2. (Moses) said: "O my Lord! Expand me my breast;
20:26 "Ease my task for me;
20:27 "And remove the impediment from my speech,
20:28 "So they may understand what I say:
20:29 "And give me a Minister from my family,
20:30 "Aaron, my brother;
20:31 "Add to my strength through him,
20:32 "And make him share my task:
20:33 "That we may celebrate thy praise without stint,
20:34 "And remember Thee without stint:
20:35 "For Thou art He that (ever) regardeth us."
20:36 (Allah) said: "Granted is thy prayer, O Moses!"
C.144-(Verses 37 to 76)-From his birth was Moses prepared for his task. His mother received guidance, so that Allah's purpose might be fulfilled. Moses was brought up in Pharaoh's palace and trained in all the learning of Egypt. Yet he drank the love of his people in his mother's milk. Adventures and trials he had, including his stay with the Midianites -- until he was called to his double mission: To preach to Pharaoh and the egyptians, and to free his own people. So he and Aaron went to Pharaoh, who rejected Allah and His Signs, but appointed a trial of strength between his magicians and Moses. Moses won; and the Truth of Allah was accepted by some Egyptians, but not by Pharaoh.
20:37 "And indeed We conferred a favor on thee another time (before).
20:38 "Behold! We sent to thy mother, by inspiration, the message:
20:39 "Throw (the child) into the chest, and throw (the chest) into the river: The river will cast him up on the bank, and he will be taken up by one who is an enemy to Me and an enemy to him': But I cast (the garment of) love over thee from
Me: And (this) in order that thou mayest be reared under Mine eye.
20:40 "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!
20:41 "And I have prepared thee for Myself (for service)"...
20:42 "Go, thou and thy brother, with My Signs, and slacken not, either of you, in keeping Me in remembrance.
20:43 "Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has indeed transgressed all bounds;
20:44 "But speak to him mildly; perchance he may take warning or fear (Allah)."
20:45 They (Moses and Aaron) said: "Our Lord! We fear lest he hasten with insolence against us, or lest he transgress all bounds."
20:46 He said: "Fear not: For I am with you: I hear and see (everything).
20:47 "So go ye both to him, and say, Verily we are apostles sent by thy Lord: Send forth, therefore, the Children of Israel with us, and afflict them not: With a Sign, indeed, have we come from thy Lord! And Peace to all who follow guidance!
20:48 "Verily it has been revealed to us that the Penalty (awaits) those who reject and turn away."
20:49 (When this message was delivered), (Pharaoh) said: "Who, then ) Moses, is the Lord of you two?"
20:50 He said: "Our Lord is He Who gave to each (created) thing its form and nature, and further, gave (it) guidance."
20:51 (Pharaoh) said: "What then is the condition of previous generations?"
20:52 He replied: "The knowledge of that is with my Lord, duly recorded: My Lord never errs, nor forgets, --
20:53 "He Who has made for you the earth like a carpet spread out; has enabled you to go about therein by roads (and channels); and has sent down water from the sky." With it have We produced divers pairs of plants each separate from the others.
20:54 Eat (for yourselves) and pasture your cattle: Verily, in this are Signs for men endued with understanding.
20:55 Section 3. From the (earth) did We create you, and into it shall We return you, and from it shall We bring you out once again.
20:56 And We showed Pharaoh all Our Signs, but he did reject and refuse.
20:57 He said: "Hast thou come to drive us out of our land with magic, O Moses?
20:58 "But we can surely produce magic to match thine! So make a tryst between us and thee, which we shall not fail to keep -- neither we nor thou -- in a place where both shall have even chances."
20:59 Moses said: "Your tryst is the Day of the Festival, and let the people be assembled when the sun is well up."
20:60 So Pharaoh withdrew: he concerted his plan, and then came (back).
20:61 Moses said to him: "Woe to you! Forge not ye a lie against Allah, lest He destroy you (at once) utterly by chastisement: The forger must suffer frustration!"
20:62 So they disputed, one with another, over their affair, but they kept their talk secret.
20:63 They said: "These two are certainly (expert) magicians: Their object is to drive you out from your land with their magic, and to do away with your most cherished institutions.
20:64 "Therefore concert you plan, and then assemble in (serried) ranks: He wins (all along) today who gains the upper hand."
20:65 They said: "O Moses! Whether wilt thou that thou throw (first) or that we be the first to throw?"
20:66 He said: "Nay, throw ye first!" Then behold their ropes and their rods -- so it seemed to him on account of their magic -- began to be in lively motion!
20:67 So Moses conceived in his mind a (sort of) fear.
20:68 We said" "Fear not! For thou hast indeed the upper hand:
20:69 "Throw that which is in thy right hand: Quickly will it swallow up that which they have faked. What they have faked is but a magician's trick: And the magician thrives not, (no matter) where he goes."
20:70 So the magicians were thrown down to prostration: They said, "We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses".
20:71 (Pharaoh) said: "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Surely this must be your leader, Who has taught you magic! Be sure I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will have you crucified on trunks of palm trees: So shall ye know for certain, which of us can give the more severe and the more lasting Punishment!"
20:72 They said: "Never shall we regard thee as more than the Clear Signs that have come to us, or than Him Who created us! So decree whatever thou desires to decree: For thou canst only decree (touching) the life of this world.
20:73 "For us, we have believed in our Lord: May He forgive us our faults, and the magic to which thou didst compel
us: For Allah is Best and Most Abiding."
20:74 Verily he who comes to his Lord as a sinner (at Judgment), -- for him is Hell: Therein shall he neither die nor live.
20:75 But such as come to Him as Believers who have worked righteous deeds, -- for them are ranks exalted, --
20:76 Gardens of Eternity, beneath which flow rivers: They will dwell therein for aye: Such is the reward of those who purify themselves (from evil).
C.145-(Verses 77 to 104)-The people of Israel were rescued from bondage and led on their way to the Promised Land. Allah's Grace gave them light and guidance, but they rebelled under the leadership of one called the Samiri: He melted the gold of their jewels and made an idol -- a calf for their worship -- a thing without life or power. Moses destroyed the idol, and cursed the man who led the people astray.
20:77 Section 4. We sent an inspiration to Moses: "Travel by night with My servants, and strike a dry path for them through the sea, without fear of being overtaken (by Pharaoh) and without (any other) fear."
20:78 Then Pharaoh pursued them with his forces, but the waters completely overwhelmed them and covered them up.
20:79 Pharaoh led his people astray instead of leading them aright.
20:80 O ye Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and We made a covenant with you on the right side of Mount (Sinai), and We sent down to you Manna and quails:
20:81 (Saying): "Eat of the good things We have provided for your sustenance, but commit no excess therein, lest My Wrath should justly descend on you: And those on whom descends My Wrath do perish indeed!
20:82 "But without doubt, I am (also) He that forgives again and again, to those who repent, believe, and do right, -- who, in fine, are ready to receive true guidance."
20:83 (When Moses was up on the Mount, Allah said:) "What made thee hasten in advance of thy people, O Moses?"
20:84 He replied: "Behold, they are close on my footsteps: I hastened to Thee, O my Lord, to please Thee."
20:85 (Allah) said: "We have tested thy people in thy absence: The Samiri has led them astray."
20:86 So Moses returned to his people in a state of indignation and sorrow. He said: "O my people! Did not your Lord make a handsome promise to you? Did then the promise seem to you long (in coming)? Or did ye desire that Wrath should descend from your Lord on you, and so ye broke your promise to me?"
20:87 The said: "We broke not the promise to thee, as far as lay in our power: But we were made to carry the weight of the ornaments of the (whole) people, and we threw them (into the fire), and that was what the Samiri suggested.
20:88 "Then he brought out (of the fire) before the (people) the image of a calf: It seemed to low: So they said: 'This is your god, and the god of Moses, but (Moses) has forgotten!'"
20:89 Could they not see that it could not return them a word (for answer), and that it had no power either to harm them or to do them good?
20:90 Section 5. Aaron had already, before this said to them: "O my people! Ye are being tested in this: For verily your Lord is (Allah) Most Gracious: So follow me and obey my command."
20:91 They had said: "We will not abandon this cult, but we will devote ourselves to it until Moses returns to us."
20:92 (Moses) said: "O Aaron! What kept thee back, when thou sawest them going wrong,
20:93 "From following me? Didst thou then disobey my order?"
20:94 (Aaron) replied: "O son of my mother! Seize (me) not by my beard nor by (the hair of) my head! Truly I feared lest thou shouldst say, 'Thou hast caused a division among the Children of Israel, and thou didst not respect my word!'"
20:95 (Moses) said: "What then is thy case, O Samiri?"
20:96 He replied: "I saw what they saw not: So I took a handful (of dust) from the footprint of the Apostle, and threw it (into the calf): Thus did my soul suggest to me."
20:97 (Moses) said: "Get thee gone! But thy (punishment) in this life will be that thou wilt say, 'Touch me not'; and moreover (for a future penalty) thou hast a promise that will not fail: Now look at thy god, of whom thou hast become a devoted worshipper: We will certainly (melt) it in a blazing fire and scatter it broadcast in the sea!"
20:98 But the Allah of you all is Allah: There is no god but
He: All things He comprehends in His knowledge.
20:99 Thus do We relate to thee some stories of what happened before: For We have sent thee a Message from Our own Presence.
20:100 If any do turn away therefrom, verily they will bear a burden on the Day of Judgment;
20:101 They will abide in this (state): and grievous will the burden be to them on that Day, --
20:102 The Day when the Trumpet will be sounded: That Day We shall gather the sinful, blear-eyed (with terror).
20:103 In whispers will they consult each other: "Ye tarried not longer than ten (Days);"
20:104 We know best what they will say, when their leader most eminent in Conduct will say: "Ye tarried not longer than a day!
C.146-(Verses 105 to 135)-Such is the lure of Evil: But high and low will be levelled on the Day of Judgment, before the Eternal, the Gracious, the King, the Truth, who sends the Koran to teach and to warn. Will man remember how Adam's archenemy, Satan, caused his fall, and will he yet be blind to the Signs of Allah? Nay, -- but let not Evil make you impatient: The Prize of the Hereafter is better than aught of the glitter of this life: Wait in Faith, and the End will show the triumph of Truth, Goodness, and Righteousness.
20:105 Section 6. They ask thee concerning the Mountains: say, "My Lord will uproot them and scatter them as dust;
20:106 "He will leave them as plains smooth and level;
20:107 "Nothing crooked or curved wily thou see in their place."
20:108 On that Day will they follow the Caller (straight): No crookedness (can they show) him: All sounds shall humble themselves in the Presence of (Allah) Most Gracious: Nothing shalt thou hear but the tramp of their feet (as they march).
20:109 On that Day shall no intercession avail except for those for whom permission has been granted by (Allah) Most Gracious and whose word is acceptable to Him.
20:110 He knows what (appears to His creatures as) before or after or behind them: But they shall not compass it with their knowledge.
20:111 (All) faces shall be humbled before (Him) -- the Living, the Self-Subsisting, Eternal: Hopeless indeed will be the man that carries iniquity (on his back).
20:112 But he who works deeds of righteousness, and has faith, will have no fear of harm nor of any curtailment (of what is due).
20:113 Thus have We sent this down -- an Arabic Koran -- and explained therein in detail some of the warnings, in order that they may cause their remembrance (of Him).
20:114 High above all is Allah, the King, the Truth! Be not in haste with the Koran before its revelation to thee is completed, but say, "O my Lord! Advance me in Knowledge."
20:115 We had already, beforehand, taken the covenant of Adam but he forgot: And We found, on his part, no firm resolve.
20:116 Section 7. When We said to the angels, "Prostrate yourselves to Adam", they prostrated themselves, but not Iblis: He refused.
20:117 Then We said: "O Adam! Verily, this is an enemy to thee and thy wife: So let him not get you both out of the Garden so that thou art landed in misery.
20:118 "There is therein (enough provision) for thee not to go hungry nor to go naked,
20:119 "Nor to suffer from thirst, nor from the sun's heat."
20:120 But Satan whispered evil to him: He said, "O Adam! Shall I lead thee to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never decays?"
20:121 In the result, they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: They began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, and allow himself to be seduced.
20:122 But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him and gave him guidance.
20:123 He said: "Get ye down, both of you, -- all together, from the Garden, with enmity one to another: But if, as is sure, there comes to you guidance from Me, whosoever follows My guidance, will not lose his way, nor fall into misery.
20:124 "But whosoever turns away from My Message, verily for him is a life narrowed down, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment."
20:125 He will say: "O my Lord! Why hast Thou raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)?"
20:126 (Allah) will say: "Thus didst thou, when Our Signs came unto thee, disregard them: So wilt thou , this day, be disregarded."
20:127 And thus do We recompense him who transgresses beyond bounds and believes not in the Signs of his Lord: And the Penalty of the Hereafter is far more grievous and more enduring.
20:128 Is it not a warning to such men (to call to mind) how many generations before them We destroyed, in whose haunts they (now) move? Verily, in this are Signs for men endued with understanding.
20:129 Section 8. Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from thy Lord, (their punishment) must necessarily have come: but there is a term appointed (for respite).
20:130 Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate (constantly) the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun, and before its setting; Yea, celebrate them for part of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day: That thou mayest have (spiritual) joy.
20:131 Nor strain thine eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them, the splendor of the life of this world, through which We test them: But the provision of thy Lord is better and more enduring.
20:132 Enjoin prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not to provide sustenance: We provide it for thee. But the (fruit of) the Hereafter is for Righteousness.
20:133 They say: "Why does he not bring us a Sign from his Lord?" Has not a Clear Sign come to them of all that was in the former Books of revelation?
20:134 And if We had inflicted on them a penalty before this, they would have said: "Our Lord! If only Thou hadst sent us an apostle, we should certainly have followed Thy Signs before we were humbled and put to shame."
20:135 Say: "Each one (of us) is waiting: Wait ye, therefore, and soon shall ye know who it is that is on the straight and even way, and who it is that has received guidance."
