Taha · Makki · ayah 43 of 135

Taha 20:43

ٱذْهَبَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ

“Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Almost word for word the command of 79:17, with one change that answers Musa's prayer: go, both of you.

A reflection

The same command, now in the dual

This command is met almost word for word at 79:17, and its full treatment lives there. That entry explores the tyrant who overflowed his limits, and the courage to go to the source. What is different here is one letter. There, and earlier in this surah (20:24), the verb is singular: idhhab, go. Here it is dual: idhhabā, go, the two of you.

The commentators noticed the change and offered several reasons. One says Allah first addressed Musa alone, to honour him, then repeated the command for emphasis. Another says the repetition makes clear that it was not enough for one of them to go. A third distinguishes the two: the previous ayah sent them to people in general, while this one names the destination, Pharaoh himself.

They also asked how Harun could be addressed when he was in Egypt, not at the bush. One commentator gives three possibilities. Musa was addressed as the leader, with Harun included. Or the command came after the brothers had met. Or, in one early copy, the words that follow are spoken by Musa on behalf of both. The ayah leaves the scene unstated. What it makes unmistakable is the pair.

The full entry has 2 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.