قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّى ٱصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِرِسَـٰلَـٰتِى وَبِكَلَـٰمِى فَخُذْ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ 144
Translations
[Allāh] said, "O Moses, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My words [to you]. So take what I have given you and be among the grateful."
Transliteration
Qala ya Musa inni istafaytuka 'ala an-nasi bi-risalati wa bi-kalam fahkudh ma atytuka wa kun min ash-shakirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses Musa (Moses) after his return from Mount Sinai, declaring that He has chosen him above all people through His messages and direct speech (Kalam Allah). This ayah emphasizes Musa's unique station as one of the five greatest messengers (Ulul-'Azm) who communicated directly with Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that 'istafaytuka' (chosen you) denotes exclusive selection for prophethood and closeness to Allah, while 'bi-kalam' refers to Allah speaking to Musa directly without intermediary—a distinction that elevated Musa's rank among the prophets.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the narrative of Musa's forty-day absence on Mount Sinai receiving the Torah (Tawrah). Upon his return, he discovers the Israelites have fashioned a golden calf in his absence. After his initial anger and reproach, Allah consoles him with this statement, reminding him of his chosen status and divine favor, contextualizing his responsibility and consoling his distress over his people's transgression.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said regarding the Messengers of Strong Will: 'Five messengers were given strong determination: Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, 'Isa, and I.' (Sahih Muslim 165). Additionally, Musa is mentioned in numerous hadiths as one of the closest to Allah, such as in the night journey (Isra') where he is encountered in the fifth heaven (Sunan an-Nasa'i).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that divine favor brings commensurate responsibility, and that true honor lies not in worldly prestige but in being chosen for service to Allah. Modern believers should recognize that whatever gifts or positions Allah grants require gratitude and faithful stewardship in fulfilling their purpose.
Related Ayahs
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَىٰهَا ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّى ۖ لَا يُجَلِّيهَا لِوَقْتِهَآ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ ثَقُلَتْ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا تَأْتِيكُمْ إِلَّا بَغْتَةً ۗ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِىٌّ عَنْهَا ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
They ask you, [O Muḥammad], about the Hour: when is its arrival? Say, "Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None will reveal its time except Him. It lays heavily upon the heavens and the earth. It will not come upon you except unexpectedly." They ask you as if you are familiar with it. Say, "Its knowledge is only with Allāh, but most of the people do not know."
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ ٱلْأُمِّىَّ ٱلَّذِى يَجِدُونَهُۥ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَٱلْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَىٰهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْخَبَـٰٓئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَٱلْأَغْلَـٰلَ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written [i.e., described] in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and prohibits them from what is wrong and makes lawful for them what is good and forbids them from what is evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَـٰٓئِفٌ مِّنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ تَذَكَّرُوا۟ فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُونَ
Indeed, those who fear Allāh - when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember [Him] and at once they have insight.
فَإِذَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْحَسَنَةُ قَالُوا۟ لَنَا هَـٰذِهِۦ ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَطَّيَّرُوا۟ بِمُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥٓ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّمَا طَـٰٓئِرُهُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
But when good [i.e., provision] came to them, they said, "This is ours [by right]." And if a bad [condition] struck them, they saw an evil omen in Moses and those with him. Unquestionably, their fortune is with Allāh, but most of them do not know.