Surah Ta Ha (Ta Ha) 20 : 48

Overview (Verses 45 - 48)

How to Confront a Tyrant
 
So far we have discussed what Moses was told when God addressed him directly alone in the desert. The sūrah then takes us across time and place, covering an indeterminable period of time and distance, to show us both Moses and Aaron expressing their concerns to their Lord about their forthcoming confrontation with Pharaoh. They feared most that he might be quick to punish and harm them severely when they called on him to believe in God. They said: ‘Our Lord! We fear lest he hasten with insolence or tyranny against us.’ Answered He: ‘Have no fear. I shall be with you. I hear all and see all. Go, then, you two to him and say, “We are the emissaries of your Lord. Let the Children of Israel go with us, and oppress them no more. We have now come to you with a message from your Lord. Peace to all who follow [God’s] guidance. It has been revealed to us that the suffering shall befall those who deny the truth and turn away from it.”‘ (Verses 45-48) For certain, Aaron was not with Moses when his Lord first spoke to him, favouring him with a long interactive discourse, clarifying all necessary issues and allowing him to ask questions and giving him the answers he needed. The fact that now both Moses and Aaron make the reply together, saying, “We fear lest he hasten with insolence or tyranny against us”. This, then, suggests that this statement was made at a later time. This is part of the Qur’ānic method of skipping over time and place, leaving gaps in the scenes and events of a story, which are gathered and understood as one reads on. Thus, the Qur’ān concentrates on events, actions and attitudes which inspire the reader and listener.
 
So, some time after Moses left the place where he received God’s long address, close to Mount Sinai, he met with his brother, Aaron. The latter also received God’s revelation commanding him to be with his brother and that together they should address Pharaoh. Hence, the two together express their concerns to their Lord: “We fear lest he hasten with insolence or tyranny against us.” (Verse 45) They feared Pharaoh’s impulsive reaction, which might be too strong, and they feared his tyranny, which was much more profound than mere physical harm. In his power, Pharaoh could be expected to resort to either of these or to both of them.
 
At this point they receive God’s decisive answer which leaves no room for fear or worry: “Answered He: Have no fear. I shall be with you. I hear all and see all.” (Verse 46) Thus, God Almighty who has power over all creatures and who creates the universe and all creatures in it, using nothing more than His will to bring them into existence, tells them that He is with them. This should have been sufficient, but God adds to this what increases their certainty of help. This is evidenced by the fact that He hears all and sees all. What could Pharaoh do against the power of the Almighty, whether in a precipitate reaction or a well considered one?
 
Coupled with this reassurance Moses and Aaron are given guidance on the form of address they should make to Pharaoh and on how to argue their case: “Go, then, you two to him and say, ‘We are the emissaries of your Lord. Let the Children of Israel go with us, and oppress them no more. We have now come to you with a message from your Lord. Peace to all who follow [God’s] guidance. It has been revealed to us that the suffering shall befall those who deny the truth and turn away from it.’” (Verses 47-48)
 
Thus they should start by stating the foundation of their message: “We are the emissaries of your Lord.” (Verse 47) This would give him right from the first moment the understanding that it is God who is his and all people’s Lord. He is not the Lord of Moses and Aaron, or the Children of Israel alone. It was a superstition of the days of pagan ignorance that each group of people, or each tribe, had its own deity or deities. Moreover, it was commonly held during some periods of history that Pharaoh was a deity, of godly descent, and as such, he was to be worshipped.
 
When the basic element of their message was thus outlined, Moses and Aaron explained their immediate concern: “Let the Children of Israel go with us, and oppress them no more.” (Verse 47) This was the limit of their message to Pharaoh, to save the Children of Israel and bring them back to their monotheistic faith. They would then lead them to the blessed land which God had assigned to them for settlement, up to the time when they would sink into corruption and be destroyed in consequence.
 
They further showed Pharaoh a sign to prove that they were telling the truth when they said that they were messengers from his Lord: “We have now come to you with a message from your Lord.” (Verse 47) They follow this with an element of encouragement, hoping that he might respond: “Peace to all who follow [God’s] guidance.” (Verse 47) It might be that when he had listened to this that he would respond to the greeting of peace and accept God’s guidance.
 
They then add an element of implicit warning, in order not to stir his arrogance and hostility: “It has been revealed to us that the suffering shall befall those who deny the truth and turn away from it.” (Verse 48) It might be that he would decide not to include himself among those who deny the truth and turn away from it.
 
We see here how God gave Moses and Aaron reassurance and showed them the way to follow. He indeed outlined their course for them so that they would approach their task with peace, reassurance and clear guidance.
 
At this point the curtains are drawn, only to rise again when we see Moses and Aaron in confrontation with the tyrant.