وَلَمَّا سَكَتَ عَن مُّوسَى ٱلْغَضَبُ أَخَذَ ٱلْأَلْوَاحَ ۖ وَفِى نُسْخَتِهَا هُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِرَبِّهِمْ يَرْهَبُونَ 154
Translations
And when the anger subsided in Moses, he took up the tablets; and in their inscription was guidance and mercy for those who are fearful of their Lord.
Transliteration
Wa-lammā sakata 'an Mūsā al-ghaḍab akhatha al-alwāḥ; wa-fī nuskhatiha hudān wa-raḥmah li-lladhīna hum li-rabbihim yarhabūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
When Prophet Musa's (Moses) anger subsided after witnessing the Israelites' worship of the calf, he took up the Tablets of the Law, which contained guidance and mercy for those who fear their Lord. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this demonstrates how the Torah itself is a manifestation of divine guidance and compassion, and that its benefits are reserved for those who possess taqwa (God-consciousness and reverence). The ayah illustrates the connection between fearing Allah and receiving the full benefit of revelation.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative detailing the story of the Golden Calf incident, occurring during Musa's absence of forty nights on Mount Sinai to receive the Torah. The context shows the aftermath of his initial anger when discovering the Israelites' transgression, and his recovery of the divinely inscribed Tablets—emphasizing that despite the people's error, the scripture itself remains a source of guidance for the God-fearing.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said regarding the Torah: 'The most truthful word spoken by any poet is the statement of Labid: Verily, all things except Allah are perishable' (Sahih Bukhari 3839). Additionally, there are numerous hadiths emphasizing that revelation guides those with hearts inclined toward obedience.
Themes
Key Lesson
Just as the Tablets contained guidance and mercy for the God-fearing, the Quran and teachings of Islam offer spiritual nourishment only to those who approach them with sincere reverence and fear of Allah. Developing genuine taqwa is essential to benefit fully from divine guidance in our lives.
Related Ayahs
إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم ۚ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ ءَاخِذٌۢ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Indeed, I have relied upon Allāh, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that He holds it by its forelock [i.e., controls it]. Indeed, my Lord is on a path [that is] straight.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ وَأَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ أَمْثَـٰلَهُمْ
That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. Thus does Allāh present to the people their comparisons.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful.
۞ لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَىٰهُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ
Not upon you, [O Muḥammad], is [responsibility for] their guidance, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And whatever good you [believers] spend is for yourselves, and you do not spend except seeking the face [i.e., approval] of Allāh. And whatever you spend of good - it will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.