ٱذْهَبَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ 43
Translations
Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.
Transliteration
Idhhaba ila Fir'awna innahu tagha
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) to go to Pharaoh and deliver the divine message, despite his tyranny and arrogance. The word 'tagha' (طغىٰ) means he has transgressed all bounds and exceeded limits in his rebellion against Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah demonstrates the divine command to convey the message of tawhid (monotheism) even to the most oppressive rulers, emphasizing the duty of prophets to call all people to Allah regardless of their station or disposition.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Musa's commissioning as a prophet (20:9-36). After Allah revealed Himself to Musa at Mount Tur through the burning bush, He appointed both Musa and his brother Harun as messengers with the specific mission to confront Pharaoh and liberate the Children of Israel from Egyptian bondage.
Related Hadiths
The Qur'an itself references this mission extensively (7:103-137, 26:10-68). A related hadith in Sahih Bukhari describes the qualities needed by those who call others to Allah, emphasizing wisdom and patience—attributes essential for Musa's difficult task of approaching Pharaoh.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that spreading the message of truth is a sacred duty that cannot be abandoned due to the hardness or power of those who reject it; we are commanded to deliver the message wisely and truthfully, while leaving the outcome to Allah, just as Musa was sent to Pharaoh despite knowing his resistance.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَا يَخَافُ ظُلْمًا وَلَا هَضْمًا
But he who does of righteous deeds while he is a believer - he will neither fear injustice nor deprivation.
فَأَجْمِعُوا۟ كَيْدَكُمْ ثُمَّ ٱئْتُوا۟ صَفًّا ۚ وَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْيَوْمَ مَنِ ٱسْتَعْلَىٰ
So resolve upon your plan and then come [forward] in line. And he has succeeded today who overcomes."
وَلَوْ أَنَّآ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهُم بِعَذَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لَوْلَآ أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولًا فَنَتَّبِعَ ءَايَـٰتِكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن نَّذِلَّ وَنَخْزَىٰ
And if We had destroyed them with a punishment before him, they would have said, "Our Lord, why did You not send to us a messenger so we could have followed Your verses [i.e., teachings] before we were humiliated and disgraced?"
أَلَّا تَتَّبِعَنِ ۖ أَفَعَصَيْتَ أَمْرِى
From following me? Then have you disobeyed my order?"