Surah Ta Ha (Ta Ha) 20 : 40

Explanatory Note

Not only was Moses taken care of, but his mother could not be left at home worrying about her child. The two were soon reunited. “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.” (Verse 40) That was part of God’s design. He prevented the little baby from taking just any woman’s breast. No wet nurse would breast-feed him. Pharaoh and his wife, who had adopted the baby cast to them by the river, were searching for a wet nurse, and this became well known. On instructions from her mother, Moses’ sister went to them saying that she knew the best woman to take care of the baby. [All this is described in detail in Sūrah 28.] She brought them the baby’s own mother and he took her breast immediately. Thus, God’s design for mother and child was accomplished, for the mother had done as she was told, throwing her baby into a wooden chest in the Nile. This action brought the baby to the enemy who was killing all Israelite children. Thus, the safety of this child was accomplished by giving him to his enemies to remain with them, with no other support or guardianship.

(20:40) is the longest Ayat of this Surah with 33 words,

إِذْ تَمْشِي أُخْتُكَ فَتَقُولُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن يَكْفُلُهُ ۖ فَرَجَعْنَاكَ إِلَىٰ أُمِّكَ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ ۚ وَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا فَنَجَّيْنَاكَ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَفَتَنَّاكَ فُتُونًا ۚ فَلَبِثْتَ سِنِينَ فِي أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَىٰ قَدَرٍ يَا مُوسَىٰ "[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." (20:40)