Surah Ta Ha ( طه (سورة Ayat 87 to 93 Ayah 87 ( م ا أ خ ل فن ا م و ع د ك ب م لك ن ا و ل ك ن ا ح م لن ا أ و ز ار ا م ن ز ين ة ٱل ق و م ف ق ذ ف ن ه ا ف ك ذ ٲل ك أ لق ى ٱلس ام ر ى (ق ال وا (They said: "We broke not the promise to you, of our own will, but we were made to carry the weight of the ornaments of the [Fir'aun's (Pharaoh)] people, then we cast them (into the fire), and that was what As-Samiri suggested.") Firaoun is an example of an outer enemy; he s the peak in disbelief, similar to Abu Lahab, etc. Samiree is an example of a hypocrite, and those who followed him. The hypocrites give excuses to their mistakes and blame others; they don t see what they re doing is wrong. The most hateful word to Allah (swt) is when someone comes to you and tells you to have taqwa of Allah (swt) and you say mind your business. A believer will say we believe and we listened even if they didn t do anything wrong. They take it as a message from Allah (swt); they know it s not random. (They said: "We broke not the promise to you, of our own will,): when (ق ال وا م ا أ خ ل فن ا م و ع د ك ب م لك ن ا) Musa (as) asked Banu Israel did you betray me?, they said, we didn t break your promise. And notice they answered the question of breaking the promise, instead of the anger of Allah (swt), subhan Allah. But which is worse? To betray the messenger for not coming or to betray Allah (swt) by committing shirk? Notice how the hypocrite wants to be on the good side of the people; their concern is not Allah s anger, istaghfar Allah. They said we didn t have control of ourselves so that s why we did what we did. This shows a person can make things shorter by just accepting, but the one who knows he s doing wrong is prolonging it by giving excuses. What else did they say? (but we were made to carry the weight of the ornaments of the (و ل ك ن ا ح م لن ا أ و ز ار ا م ن ز ين ة ٱل ق و م ( [Fir'aun's (Pharaoh)] people,): they borrowed gold for a festival while in Egypt, since they left suddenly they were unable to return the gold. They called the gold which they didn t return as a sin they were carrying a burden ز ار ا).(أ و Anyone who hears this will think this is good that they re acknowledging this, but there s a greater sin they re committing which they re not acknowledging and this is shirk, subhan Allah. (then we cast them (into the fire),): Haroon (as) told them to throw away their gold inside a (ف ق ذ ف ن ه ا) hole, which was lit with fire. In another tafsir, it s said the gold was gathered and thrown in a hole and then they ll discuss what to do it after Musa (as) returns. ن ه ا) (ف ق ذ ف means to throw something with intensity, with hate. They threw it away because they hated this burden that s on them; they want to free themselves from it. But what did Samiree do? and (أ لق ى) (and that was what As-Samiri suggested."): notice for him it mentions (ف ك ذ ٲل ك أ لق ى ٱلس ام ر ى ( not (.(ق ذ ف (أ لق ى) means to throw with gentleness. What did As Samiree throw? This is the background of the story. After Firaoun drowned, Samiree noticed the people were in chaos and he was just observing the people. He said he saw something others didn t see. He said, I saw Jibreel on ق ال ب ص ر ت ب ما ( 96: a horse flying, and the hooves would come down and touch the land. Surah Ta Ha ر ٱلر س و ل ف ن ب ذت ه ا و ڪ ذ ٲل ك س و ل ت ل ى ن فس ى ((Samiri) said: I" saw what they saw (ل م ي ب ص ر وا ب ه ۦ ف ق ب ض ت ق ب ض ة م ن أ ث not, so I took a handful (of dust) from the (hoof) print of the messenger [Jibril's (Gabriel) horse] and threw it [into the fire in which were put the ornaments of the Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) people, or into the Page 1
calf]. Thus my inner-self suggested to me.") He said I m the only one who saw this and he took a handful of the traces left behind by Jibreel (as). And it s said that every time the hooves would touch the ground, a plant would grow, subhan Allah. So he assumed anything this trace touches makes it alive. He took these traces and saved it. When the people gathered the gold and melted it, he threw from these traces as well. Notice it s Banu Israel who mentioned As Samiree s name, they should support him, but rather they exposed him, subhan Allah. And this truly shows you there is no wali or supporter for the non-believer. Ayah 88 ( ف أ خ ر ج ل ه م ع ج ل ج س د ا ل ه ۥ خ و ار ف ق ال وا ه ذ ا إ ل ه ڪ م و إ ل ه م وس ى ف ن س ى ) (Then he took out (of the fire) for them (a statue of) a calf which seemed to low. They said: "This is your ilâh (god), and the ilâh (god) of Mûsa (Moses), but [Mûsa (Moses)] has forgotten (his god).'") (Then he took out (of the fire) for them (a statue of) a calf): the Samiree took (ف أ خ ر ج ل ه م ع ج ل ج س د ا) out from this fire of gold and traces a statue of a calf. And notice ( (ل ه م for them is mentioned first before the ( ل (ع ج calf because it s in line with their desires. The real name of As Samiree is actually Musa, but Samiree is the land he s from which is Samaraa in Iraq. There they would worship calves and when he went to Egypt, he showed Banu Israel that he s a Muslim with them, but he had the love of idols in his heart. He saw the people were interested in idols and he had it in him as well so he saw it as an opportunity to bring it forth. From a bigger picture, the hypocrites bring out what s in you to cause mischief. For example if you re jealous, the hypocrite wants to make you even more jealous, subhan Allah. He made a statue of a calf and that s why it s haram in Islam to have statues and pictures of people and animals because it will lead to shirk. As Samiree had the talent to design and make a full body of a calf. (which seemed to low.): this statue also made a sound. Children s toys speak, the phone (ل ه ۥ خ و ار ( speaks, but do you worship it? Subhan Alalh. Where did the sound come from, it s said because of the trace he threw. And their idol is made of stolen gold, subhan Allah. When they threw their gold, it was a burden they hated to bear, but now they love it, and it s an awhh moment, an ilah for them, subhan Allah. What made them to quickly love it? Because they have a sickness in their heart and something came in line with their desire so they immediately connected to it and this is fitna the person indulges in it. They were doing itikaf to the calf, which means admiring it and being devoted to it day and night, why? Because it s tangible. Admiration is dangerous because it leads to itikaf you think about it day and night, it overpowers the mind, and this leads to shirk. When we hear this story, we have to see what calf do we have in our life? And notice Allah (swt) mentioned it s a calf, something so low and not worth it. When someone goes into admiration and shirk, it makes them see opposites, to see right as wrong and wrong as right. What did they say? (They said: "This is your ilâh (god), and the ilâh (god) of Mûsa (ف ق ال وا ه ذ ا إ ل ه ڪ م و إ ل ه م وس ى ف ن س ى ( (Moses), but [Mûsa (Moses)] has forgotten (his god).'"): they said this calf is Allah (swt), this is your god, istaghfar Allah. They said Musa (as) made a mistake of going to meet Allah (swt); that he s lost and misled. They said Allah (swt) came to us, istaghfar Allah. We seek refuge with Allah (swt) from shirk. Musa s struggle with Firaoun is over, but not with Banu Israel. Similarly with the Prophet Page 2
he overcame the disbelievers of Quraish but they hypocrites are there until the end because,(ﷺ) they re within. Ayah 89 ي ر و ن أ ل ي ر ج ع إ ل ي ه م ق و ل و ل ي م ل ك ل ه م ض ر ا و ل ن ف ع ا) (أ ف ل (Did they not see that it could not return them a word (for answer), and that it had no power either to harm them or to do them good?) (Did they not see that): do they not see what this cow is, what are the characteristics of (أ ف ل ي ر و ن ( this cow? (it could not return them a word (for answer),): It can t reply back to you. If you (أ ل ي ر ج ع إ ل ي ه م ق و ل ( speak to him, it can t answer you, but it makes a sound, subhan Allah. It shows those who worship idols are worshipping something that can t speak. But Allah (swt) spoke to Musa (as), Allah (swt) speaks to us through the Quran. So how can you worship something that doesn t answer you back? Even humans can answer back, but they can t immediately. When you make dua a, Allah (swt) immediately responds to you. People say I ll get back to you tomorrow or later, and sometimes they و إ ذ ا س أ ل ك ع ب اد ى ع ن ى ف إ ن ى ق ر يب أ ج يب د ع و ة ٱلد ا ع إ ذ ا د ع ا ن ( :186 never get back to you. Surah Al Baqarah Me, concerning (ﷺ (And when My slaves ask you O) Muhammad ) ف ل ي س ت ج يب وا ل ى و ل ي ؤ م ن وا ب ى ل ع ل ه م ي ر ش د و ن then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright) (and that it had no power either to harm them or to do them good?): this (و ل ي م ل ك ل ه م ض را و ل ن ف ع ا) calf can t benefit you or harm you, and this is true for anything besides Allah (swt). People attach to something because they think it can benefit them or harm them. The people attached to Firaoun and made him an ilah out of fear of harm. Here Banu Israel are attaching to the calf thinking it can benefit them. Only Allah (swt) is ( الضار (النافع The One Who causes benefit and the One Who causes harm., and any harm upon us from Allah (swt) is good and perfect. The end of Firaoun was in the sea and similarly this calf was later thrown into the sea as well, subhan Allah. Islam is about ( اله اال هللا (ال so you need to tell them about everything besides Allah (swt) first then Allah (swt). That s why the characteristics of the idol are mentioned first. Ayah 90 ( و ل ق د ق ال ل ه م ه ر ون م ن ق ب ل ي ق و م إ ن م ا ف ت نت م ب ه ۦ و إ ن ر ب ك م ٱلر ح م ن ف تت ب ع ون ى و أ ط يع و ا أ م ر ى ) (And Hârûn (Aaron) indeed had said to them beforehand: "O my people! You are being tried in this, and verily, your Lord is (Allâh) the Most Gracious, so follow me and obey my order.") (as) (And Hârûn (Aaron) indeed had said to them beforehand:): Haroon (و ل ق د ق ال ل ه م ه ر ون م ن ق ب ل ( didn t accept what they did, but notice Allah (swt) told us what Musa (as) told them after taking the calf, and now Allah (swt) is telling us what Haroon (as) said before all of this took place, subhan Allah. In Surah Ta Ha it s not about the chronological order but the importance of the advice. This shows when you make a mistake, someone will come to advise you, but if you don t listen, then someone stronger will come to advise you, subhan Allah. Allah s nurturing us all the time. messengers ("O my people! You are being tried in this,): Banu Israel had two (ي ق و م إ ن م ا ف ت نت م ب ه ۦ ( one who is firm and one who is gentle, so Banu Israel has no excuse. The worship of the calf Page 3
happened while Haroon (as) was there, and not with Musa (as), subhan Allah. Similar to in school, when it s a strict teacher, the students don t do anything, but when it s a soft teacher they take advantage. It s not about who s firm and who s gentle, but the principle of listening to either one. It s said that Banu Israel even wanted to kill Haroon (as), subhan Allah. Haroon (as) told them, O my people, you have been tested with this calf and you have indulged and been absorbed into this test. How did he know they re being tested? Because he doesn t have the sickness of theirs. The one who doesn t have the sickness can recognize the sickness, that s why we need advice from someone not sick /someone neutral. Imagine someone who s sick being advised by someone sick as well. Someone jealous advising someone else who s jealous, it would just be worse. Rahman, (and verily, your Lord is (Allâh) the Most Gracious,): and your Rabb is Ar (و إ ن ر ب ك م ٱلر ح م ن ( he didn t say your ilah. They have a problem with their ruboobiyah, they re worshipping something rather than Allah (swt). The One Who s showing you your mistake is Ar Rahman, He s showing you you re mistake now while you re alive before you go to the hellfire. Which is more merciful? To not be advised and remain on the mistake, or be advised? Subhan Allah. Haroon (as) told them your Rabb is Ar Rahman and then Musa (as) told them about Allah s anger, subhan Allah. Allah (swt) nurtures us gently first, but if you re not being nurtured with it then the nurturing will come harsher from someone else. Allah (swt) knows what nurturing is suitable for each person. For the magicians, the nurturing came firmly, woe to you. (so follow me): he told them to follow him because Musa (as) told him to be in charge. He s (ف تت ب ع ون ى) following the advice of Musa (as). And notice he said to follow me after you know Who is you Rabb, your Reformer first. He s not calling them to himself. It can also mean to follow me to go to follow Musa (as) and meet Allah (swt). (and obey my order."): and obey my command because he s the leader. We need to (و أ ط يع و ا أ م ر ى) listen and obey the leader. In life we need a leader because it s a safeguard for society, that s why a person should not protest or demonstrate because it causes instability. And this is applicable to all levels of leaders, leader in the house, in the school, etc. Even Musa (as) did not rebel against Firaoun. People need reminders because they forgets so Haroon (as) reminded them that he is to be followed and obeyed. When someone comes to advise you, it s not random, accept it and be patient even if you didn t do anything wrong. It s about overcoming your ego. You might be accused of something you don t have but it s a purification for hypocrisy. You can t just be quiet but inside your heart you re boiling and thinking mind your business. Taqwa is in the heart. Ayah 91 ( ل ن ن ب ر ح ع ل ي ه ع ك ف ين ح ت ى ي ر ج ع إ ل ي ن ا م وس ى (ق ال وا (They said: "We will not stop worshipping it (i.e. the calf), until Mûsa (Moses) returns to us.") (They said: "We will not stop worshipping it (i.e. the calf),): they said we (ق ال وا ل ن ن ب ر ح ع ل ي ه ع ك ف ين ( will not leave our calf ( ر ح,(ن ب they won t leave their ilah. What is their state? Making itikaf, they re sitting there by it, not leaving it, and worshipping it. They re so devoted to it that they probably never did this for their mother or father. This is the meaning of ilah, you are on standby for it. Look at your life, you re on standby for what? Subhan Allah. Page 4
(until Mûsa (Moses) returns to us."): they re associating repentance until (ح ت ى ي ر ج ع إ ل ي ن ا م وس ى ( someone comes. Similar to those who say I ll repent after I do hajj, I ll repent when Ramadan comes or when I m a certain age. We shouldn t postpone the repentance. When opportunities of goodness come to a person and he doesn t take it, then when it comes again, it s turned away from him. One of the hypocrites said if Allah (swt) gives me wealth then I will give charity, rather he became occupied with his wealth and when the Prophet (ﷺ) told him to give zakat, he refused to give. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) passed away and when the hypocrite tried to give zakat at the time of Abu Bakr (ra), it was not accepted from him. And neither under the leadership of Umar bin Al Khattab (ra) or Uthaman bin Affan (ra). Then this man died, subhan Allah. Ayah 92 ( ي ه ر ون م ا م ن ع ك إ ذ ر أ ي ت ه م ض ل و ا (ق ال ([Mûsa (Moses)] said: "O Hârûn (Aaron)! What prevented you when you saw them going astray;) ([Mûsa (Moses)] said: "O Hârûn (Aaron)!): when Musa (as) returned, he spoke to (ق ال ي ه ر ون ( Haroon (as) first, then Banu Israel, then As Samiree. Musa (as) pulled Haroon s head and beard when he saw this. Recall that Musa (as) asked Allah (swt) to make Haroon (as) his support, and you can pull your brother s head and beard, but not someone else s. If there s no close relation between the one in charge and his deputy then there would be takaluf and hesitating when telling each other about doing a mistake. (What prevented you when you saw them going astray;): what stopped you (م ا م ن ع ك إ ذ ر أ ي ت ه م ض ل و ا ( when you saw them worshipping a calf, and this shows when something goes wrong, you go to the one in charge first. Ayah 93 ( أ ل ت ت ب ع ن أ ف ع ي أ م ر ى ) ("That you followed me not (according to my advice to you)? Have you then disobeyed my order?") ("That you followed me not (according to my advice to you)?): why didn t you come to me (أ ل ت ت ب ع ن ) and tell me if you couldn t be in control. But Musa (as) is away and Haroon (as) couldn t leave in such a situation. Sometimes you leave the children when the babysitter and something happens, and you say why didn t you come and tell me, but she can t leave them. This shows everyone is focused on their duties. (as), (Have you then disobeyed my order?"): Musa (as) continued to say to Haroon (أ ف ع ي أ م ر ى) did you disobey my commands? May Allah (swt) protect us from all shirk and purify our hearts from all sicknesses. Ameen. Page 5