ٱذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى وَلَا تَنِيَا فِى ذِكْرِى 42
Translations
Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance.
Transliteration
Idhhab anta wa-akhuka bi-ayati wa-la taniya fi dhikri
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) to go to Pharaoh carrying Allah's signs and miracles, while being steadfast in remembrance of Allah and not becoming negligent or weary in His remembrance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'tania' (تَنِيَا) means to slacken, weaken, or be remiss, instructing the two brothers to maintain constant vigilance in their mission and unwavering devotion to Allah's remembrance despite the hardships they would face from Pharaoh's rejection and hostility.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Ta-Ha, a Meccan surah revealed during a period when the Prophet Muhammad faced intense opposition. The surah recounts the story of Musa and Harun's mission to Pharaoh, using it as a parallel comfort to the Prophet and believers facing persecution. This specific verse comes as Allah directly commissions Musa and Harun to their prophetic mission, establishing the framework for their confrontation with Pharaoh.
Related Hadiths
The concept of steadfastness in remembrance of Allah relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said, 'The best of supplications is asking for forgiveness, and the best of deeds is remembrance of Allah.' Additionally, Tirmidhi records a hadith encouraging constant remembrance (dhikr) as a means of maintaining spiritual vigilance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that when undertaking righteous missions or facing spiritual struggles, maintaining constant remembrance of Allah and vigilance against spiritual negligence is essential for success. It reminds us that partnership in faith (symbolized by Musa and Harun) combined with unwavering devotion to Allah empowers us to overcome opposition and challenges in fulfilling our divine purpose.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ لَن نَّبْرَحَ عَلَيْهِ عَـٰكِفِينَ حَتَّىٰ يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ
They said, "We will never cease being devoted to it [i.e., the calf] until Moses returns to us."
فَرَجَعَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ غَضْبَـٰنَ أَسِفًا ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ أَلَمْ يَعِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ وَعْدًا حَسَنًا ۚ أَفَطَالَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْعَهْدُ أَمْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن يَحِلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غَضَبٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُم مَّوْعِدِى
So Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved. He said, "O my people, did your Lord not make you a good promise? Then, was the time [of its fulfillment] too long for you, or did you wish that wrath from your Lord descend upon you, so you broke your promise [of obedience] to me?"
وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَكَانَ لِزَامًا وَأَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى
And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, it [i.e., punishment] would have been an obligation [due immediately], and [if not for] a specified term [decreed].
نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ إِذْ يَقُولُ أَمْثَلُهُمْ طَرِيقَةً إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلَّا يَوْمًا
We are most knowing of what they say when the best of them in manner [i.e., wisdom or speech] will say, "You remained not but one day."