Tafsir & Commentary
Ta-Ha (طه) · Meccan
قَالَ لَا تَخَافَآ ۖ إِنَّنِى مَعَكُمَآ أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ46
20:46
Translation — Sahih International
[Allāh] said, "Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.
Transliteration
Qala la takhafa innani maʿakuma asmaʿu wa-ara
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah reassures Musa and Harun not to fear Pharaoh, declaring His omnipresence with them—He hears all and sees all. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this as Allah's affirmation of divine protection and support during their mission to Pharaoh, emphasizing that no action or word escapes His knowledge. This divine assurance became the foundation of their courage to confront one of history's most powerful tyrants.
Revelation Context (Asbab al-Nuzul)
This ayah occurs within the account of Musa's call to prophethood at Mount Sinai (Surah Taha, verses 9-36). When Musa expressed fear about his stammering tongue and worry about Pharaoh's response, Allah provided this divine consolation. The context shows Allah preparing Musa psychologically and spiritually before sending him to deliver the message to Pharaoh.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (Hadith of Jibrail) relates to divine awareness: 'Allah is watching you' emphasizes constant divine observation. Also relevant is the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah about trusting in Allah's protection when undertaking righteous tasks.
Themes
Key Lessons
Believers facing overwhelming challenges should remember that Allah's awareness and support transcend all obstacles—we are never truly alone in our struggles. This ayah teaches that true courage comes not from human strength, but from the certainty of divine presence and knowledge of our circumstances.