Ash-Shu'ara · Makki · ayah 36 of 227

Ash-Shu'ara 26:36

قَالُوٓا۟ أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَٱبْعَثْ فِى ٱلْمَدَآئِنِ حَـٰشِرِينَ

“They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers”

Saheeh International

Essence

The court does not advise killing Musa: delay him and his brother, they say, and scour the cities for magicians to beat him.

A reflection

Why they wanted a contest, not a killing

This counsel is given almost word for word in Al-Aʿraf (7:111), where its fuller treatment belongs. Here, one question: why delay at all?

Arjih means put him off, postpone him. One classical report says Pharaoh wanted to kill Musa and could not reach him. His nobles also warned him that a killing would only plant doubt in people's minds. Better to defeat him in front of everyone, so that no proof of his would stand.

Even tyranny wants to be seen winning the argument. A truth silenced by force tends to grow louder in people's memories. That is why the court reached for a stage, not a sword. Allah would turn that very stage into the day of Musa's proof.

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.