Ibn Kathir on the Great Lesson and Wisdom of Speaking Mildly to Pharaoh
By Abu Amina Elias for FaithinAllah.org
Ibn Kathir writes in his commentary on Surah TaHa:
Concerning Allah’s statement:
اذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِـَايَـتِى
Go you and your brother with My verses (20:43)
This means with My proofs, evidences and miracles.
وَلاَ تَنِيَا فِى ذِكْرِى
And do not, you both, slacken and become weak in My remembrance.
Ali bin Abi Talhah related from Ibn Abbas that he said, “This means do not be slow.” Mujahid reported that Ibn Abbas said, “This means do not be weak.” The meaning here is that they should not slacken in the remembrance of Allah. Rather, they both should remember Allah during their meeting with Pharaoh so that the remembrance of Allah can be an aid for them against him. The remembrance of Allah would be their strength and their power that would defeat him.
Allah’s statement:
اذْهَبَآ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَى
Go both of you to Pharaoh. Verily, he has transgressed.
This means that he has rebelled and become haughty and insolent against Allah and he has disobeyed Him.
فَقُولاَ لَهُ قَوْلاً لَّيِّناً لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى
Speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allah)
This verse contains a great lesson. Even though Pharaoh was the most insolent and arrogant of people and Moses was the friend of Allah among His creation at that time, Moses was still commanded to speak to Pharaoh with mildness and softness. Therefore, their invitation to him was with gentle, soft and easy speech that is used by one who is a close friend. This is so that the message may have more effect on the souls, and so it would have deeper and more beneficial results. This is as Allah, the Exalted, says:
ادْعُ إِلِى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَـدِلْهُم بِالَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. (16:125)
Concerning Allah’s statement:
لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى
Perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allah)
This means that perhaps he will recant from that which he is in of misguidance and destruction:
أَوْ يَخْشَى
Or he will fear
Meaning that he will become obedient due to fear of Allah. This is as Allah says:
لِّمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَذَّكَّرَ أَوْ أَرَادَ شُكُوراً
For such who desires to remember or desires to show his gratitude. (25:62)
Thus, to remember means to recant from that which is dangerous, and fear means to attain obedience.
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
Category: Wisdom الحكمة
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