An-Nazi'at · Makki · ayah 15 of 46

An-Nazi'at 79:15

هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰٓ

“Has there reached you the story of Moses? -”

Saheeh International

Essence

Straight after the mockery, Allah turns to His Messenger with a question that opens a story: when people laugh at you, remember who went before.

A reflection

A story for someone who has just been mocked

A young woman's first business has just failed. She spent two years and her savings on it, and on the last day she sits in the empty unit feeling like a fool. Her phone buzzes. It is a message from an older woman she once met at a conference, who has built three companies. 'Heard the news. Let me buy you a coffee and tell you about my first one.' She does not offer advice. She offers a story.

That is exactly the move this ayah makes. The previous ayat ended with the deniers mocking the resurrection as a losing return. The sources say this mockery weighed on the Prophet ﷺ. So Allah turns to him, not with an argument, but with a question that opens a story. 'Has the story of Musa reached you?'

One scholar explains the purpose plainly. Musa bore enormous hardship in calling Pharaoh. His story would console the Prophet ﷺ in his own. Another adds that the story carries a warning for the deniers too. Pharaoh was far stronger than they were, and look what became of him.

There is deep wisdom in consolation by story. When someone is hurting, arguments rarely reach them. Statistics do not help. What helps is knowing that someone else stood where they stand, felt what they feel, and came through. A story says: you are not the first, and you are not alone.

The Quran does this again and again. When the Prophet ﷺ was rejected, he was told of Nuh. When he was plotted against, he was told of Yusuf. 'All that We relate to you of the stories of the messengers is to make your heart firm' (11:120).

Perhaps you are being mocked for your faith right now, at work, online or at home. This ayah is addressed to you as much as anyone. Open the story of Musa in the Quran and read it slowly. You are in good company.

And if you know someone who is struggling, try the older woman's approach. Do not lecture. Say, 'Let me tell you about someone.'

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.