Surah Ta Ha (Ta Ha) 20 : 14

Overview (Verses 9 - 16)

An Address from On High
 
Have you learnt the story of Moses? When he saw a fire, he said to his family: ‘Wait here! I perceive a fire. Perhaps I can bring you a lighted torch, or find some guidance at the fire.’” (Verses 9-10) The Prophet is asked a rhetorical question about whether or not he had heard of Moses’ history and how it reflects God’s grace and the guidance He provides for those whom He chooses as His messengers.
 
Here we see Moses (peace be upon him) on the road between Madyan and Egypt, close to Mount Sinai, returning with his wife after he had completed the term he had agreed with the Prophet Shu`ayb. This agreement meant that Shu`ayb would give him one of his two daughters in marriage in return for eight or ten years during which he would be his assistant. He most probably spent ten years before he felt that he could leave with his wife to return to the country where he grew up. There the Children of Israel, Moses’ people, lived in subjugation.
 
Why is he returning to Egypt having fled there after killing an Egyptian whom he found quarrelling with an Israelite? He had after all found safe refuge with Shu`ayb, his father-in-law. So why would he leave that place of security and return to Egypt? Here we see human homesickness as the tool used by God to bring Moses to the place where he was to play an important role. Thus is life. We are motivated by feelings, passions, aspirations, hopes and memories, but all these are merely the outward causes of the desired result. They are what we see on the surface, but below them is the will that no sight can see. It is God’s will, and He is the Almighty who accomplishes everything He wants.
 
Thus we see Moses on his way back to Egypt, losing his way in the desert, accompanied only by his wife, and perhaps a servant. He loses his way in the darkness of the night in the open desert. We sense this from the way he says to his companions: “Wait here! I perceive a fire. Perhaps I can bring you a lighted torch, or find some guidance at the fire.” (Verse 10) People living in the desert normally lit their fires o high ground so that those travelling at night could see it, find their way or come over to it where they would find a welcome and hospitality, as well as directions to continue their journey.
 
Moses saw the fire as he was walking through the desert and he was warmed by hope. He moved towards it in order to fetch a firebrand, as night in the desert is normally cold. He also felt he might find some guidance as to which direction to travel in. He went there to bring back a torch, but was in for a great surprise. For he found the fire that warms souls and spirits, and provides guidance for the greatest journey of all: But when he came close to it, a voice called out to him: Moses, I am your Lord! Take off your sandals, for you are in the sacred valley of Ţuwā. Know that I have chosen you. Listen, then, to what is being revealed. Indeed, I alone am God; there is no deity other than Me. So, worship Me alone, and establish regular prayer to celebrate My praise. Although I have chosen to keep it hidden, the Last Hour is bound to come, so that every soul may be rewarded in accordance with what it strove for. Hence, let not anyone who does not believe in its coming and follows only his own desires turn your thoughts from it, lest you perish.’ (Verses 11-16)
 
This is an awe-inspiring scene. We shudder as we imagine Moses alone in the open desert, engulfed in the complete darkness and silence of the night, making his way towards the fire by the side of the mountain. Then suddenly, the whole universe echoes the great address: “Moses, I am your Lord! Take off your sandals, for you are in the sacred valley of Ţuwā. Know that I have chosen you. Listen, then, to what is being revealed.” (Verses 12-13)
 
That small, insignificant particle that is a human being is here faced with that great majesty which no human can envisage. Compared with such majesty, the heavens and earth shrink into insignificance. Nevertheless, that human being received a divine address from on high. How? We only say: by God’s grace! How else? At that moment, all humanity, represented by Moses (peace be upon him), is elevated.
 
It is sufficient for a human being to receive this grace for one moment. Humanity as a whole is honoured by simply having the ability to sustain such a communication in some way. Yet how does it occur? We do not know. It is not the function of the human mind to judge. All that we can do is to look on in admiration and believe what we see.
 
“When he came close to it, a voice called out to him: Moses.” (Verse 11) The calling out is expressed in the original Arabic text in the passive voice with no reference to who or what made the address. In English we say, ‘a voice called out’. We cannot define the source of this address, its direction, form or nature; nor can we be sure how Moses heard or received it. There was simply an address of a certain nature and it was received accordingly. We accept that this has taken place, without asking how, because that is part of the way in which God accomplishes His business. “Moses, I am your Lord! Take off your sandals, for you are in the sacred valley of Ţuwā.” (Verse 12) You are in the presence of God Almighty, so take off your shoes. You must not step with your shoes in the valley over which God’s presence is made. “Know that I have chosen you.” (Verse 13) What honour is granted to the man chosen directly by God. Moses is, after all, merely one servant among the great multitude living on a planet that is no more than a small particle in a much larger group. Yet this group is merely a small particle in the great universe. This universe came into existence when God willed it to exist. We can thus imagine the great care God has taken of man.
 
When this announcement of God’s honour, reflected in God’s selection of Moses as His messenger is made, he is asked to prepare for what is coming by taking off his sandals. Then he is told to be ready to learn: “Listen, then, to what is being revealed.” (Verse 13)
 
This brief revelation sums up three crucial aspects of the divine faith: belief in God’s oneness, addressing all worship to Him alone, and belief in the Last Hour. These are the foundation of God’s message that remained the same throughout human history: “Indeed, I alone am God; there is no deity other than Me. So, worship Me alone, and establish regular prayer to celebrate My praise. Although I have chosen to keep it hidden, the Last Hour is bound to come, so that every soul may be rewarded in accordance with what it strove for. Hence, let not anyone who does not believe in its coming and follows only his own desires turn your thoughts from it, lest you perish.” (Verses 14-16)
 
God’s oneness is the cornerstone of faith. In His address to Moses, God emphasizes it in different forms: first in a statement bearing a strong emphasis, “Indeed, I alone am God.” (Verse 14) Then Godhead is clearly stated as applicable to no one else: “There is no deity other than Me.” (Verse 14) When Godhead is thus established, worship follows. Worship means that every activity should aim to please God. Singled out among all human activity is prayer: “Establish regular prayer to celebrate My praise.” (Verse 14) Prayer is the most complete and perfect of all types of worship celebrating God’s praise. In fact its sole purpose is such. It discards everything else. Thus in prayer we are prepared for contact with God.
 
The Last Hour is the time appointed for administering rewards, in all justice and fairness. People think of this time and make sure that they keep it in mind. They move on in life, looking with watchful eyes, fearing to slip. God makes it clear that this Last Hour is certain to come: “Although I have chosen to keep it hidden, the Last Hour is bound to come.” (Verse 15) What people know about this Last Hour is limited to the information God has given them. This is all that they need to know, as determined by divine wisdom. That something should remain unknown is essential in human life. For we need to have something unknown to aspire towards. With human nature as it is, if everything were clearly exposed, activity would cease and life would become sterile. In fact, we continuously seek the unknown: we watch carefully, entertain hopes and aspirations, experiment and learn, and uncover what we can of our own potentials and those of the universe around us. We contemplate God’s signs all around us. We invent and produce new things. When we think of the Last Hour, whose timing remains unknown, we do not lose sight of it. Since we do not know its timing, we remain conscious of it, ready for its arrival. Needless to say, this applies only to those of us who preserve our sound human nature. Those who distort it however are bound to fall and fail: “Let not anyone who does not believe in its coming and follows only his own desires turn your thoughts from it, lest you perish.” (Verse 16)
 
Indeed, pursuing one’s desire is the cause of denying the Last Hour. Sound human nature believes that humanity cannot attain its super status during this present life, where justice is not seen to be done. There must then be another life where man attains perfection and absolute justice is carried out.