قَالَ يَبْنَؤُمَّ لَا تَأْخُذْ بِلِحْيَتِى وَلَا بِرَأْسِىٓ ۖ إِنِّى خَشِيتُ أَن تَقُولَ فَرَّقْتَ بَيْنَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَلَمْ تَرْقُبْ قَوْلِى 94
Translations
[Aaron] said, "O son of my mother, do not seize [me] by my beard or by my head. Indeed, I feared that you would say, 'You caused division among the Children of Israel, and you did not observe [or await] my word.'"
Transliteration
Qala ya umma la ta'khudh bilihyati wa la birassi inni khashitu an taqula faraqta bayna bani Isra'ila wa lam tarqub qawli
Tafsir (Explanation)
Musa (peace be upon him) pleads with his mother Amina not to seize his beard or head, explaining that he feared she would say he had caused discord among the Children of Israel and failed to heed her command to stay home. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this reflects Musa's deep respect and obedience to his mother, even in a moment of urgency, and his concern that his prolonged absence might be misconstrued. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this verse illustrates the Islamic principle of honoring parents (birr al-walidayn) as a fundamental obligation that should not be abandoned even under pressing circumstances.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Musa's return to Egypt after his encounter with Allah at Mount Sinai. The broader context (20:18-98) describes Musa's journey back to his people carrying the Torah, his discovery of their worship of the golden calf, and his response. Musa's gentle words to his mother reflect the situational context of urgent circumstances requiring him to leave, yet his commitment to familial respect remains paramount.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah and to be ungrateful to parents' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, 'May he be humbled, may he be humbled, may he be humbled' - when asked who, the Prophet replied 'the one whose parents or one of them reach old age during his lifetime, and he does not enter Paradise' (Sahih Muslim 2551).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that respect for parents is a sacred duty that must be upheld even in moments of crisis or urgency, demonstrating that true strength lies in balancing worldly responsibilities with spiritual obligations to family. It serves as a timeless reminder that Prophet Musa, despite his monumental mission, never compromised his honor toward his mother, setting an exemplary standard for all believers.