قَالَ مَوْعِدُكُمْ يَوْمُ ٱلزِّينَةِ وَأَن يُحْشَرَ ٱلنَّاسُ ضُحًى 59
Translations
[Moses] said, "Your appointment is on the day of the festival when the people assemble at mid-morning."
Transliteration
Qala maw'idukum yawm al-zeenahah wa-an yuhshara al-naasu dhuha
Tafsir (Explanation)
Musa (Moses) tells Pharaoh that their appointed meeting will be on the Day of Adornment (a festival day when the Egyptians dressed in their finest), with the people gathered in the forenoon. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that this was Musa's strategic response to Pharaoh's challenge—he chose a public, crowded time to demonstrate the truth of Allah's message, ensuring maximum witnesses to the miraculous contest between his staff and the magicians' illusions. This appointment reflected Musa's wisdom in choosing a time and place where the falsehood of Pharaoh's sorcery would be most evident to the masses.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Pharaoh's confrontation with Musa, where Pharaoh challenges Musa to a magical contest. The broader context of Surah Taha emphasizes Allah's sovereignty and the eventual triumph of truth over falsehood. This specific incident (the gathering at Youm al-Zeenahah) is mentioned to show Musa's wisdom and confidence in Allah's support.
Related Hadiths
While no direct hadith specifically cites this ayah, the theme of Allah's support for His messengers against false powers is reinforced in various hadith collections. A related concept appears in traditions about the challenge between Musa and the magicians of Egypt, found in Sahih al-Bukhari regarding the staff turning into a serpent.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that confronting falsehood and injustice should be done with wisdom and strategic thinking, choosing contexts where truth can manifest clearly. It also demonstrates that trust in Allah enables His servants to face powerful opponents without fear, knowing that ultimate victory belongs to those on the path of truth.
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."
ٱذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى وَلَا تَنِيَا فِى ذِكْرِى
Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance.
قَالَ فَٱذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ لَكَ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ أَن تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَّن تُخْلَفَهُۥ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِكَ ٱلَّذِى ظَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفًا ۖ لَّنُحَرِّقَنَّهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَنسِفَنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ نَسْفًا
[Moses] said, "Then go. And indeed, it is [decreed] for you in [this] life to say, 'No contact.' And indeed, you have an appointment [in the Hereafter] you will not fail to keep. And look at your 'god' to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and blow it [i.e., its ashes] into the sea with a blast.
فَتَوَلَّىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ فَجَمَعَ كَيْدَهُۥ ثُمَّ أَتَىٰ
So Pharaoh went away, put together his plan, and then came [to Moses].