Tafseer of Taa-Haa · Taa-Haa · 20:44
And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]."
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the words of Allah the Exalted: فَقُولا لَهُ قَوْلا لَيِّنًا لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى (20:44)
(Speak to him with gentle words, that he may perhaps remember or fear.)
Allah the Exalted says to Mūsā and Hārūn: speak to Pharaoh with gentle words. It is reported that the gentle word which Allah commanded them to speak was that they should address him by his honorific title (kunyā).
Jaʿfar, the grandson of Isḥāq ibn Yūsuf al-Azraq, related to me, saying: Saʿīd ibn Muḥammad al-Thaqafī related to us, saying: ʿAlī ibn Ṣāliḥ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī, concerning فَقُولا لَهُ قَوْلا لَيِّنًا : he said: address him by his honorific title.
His word لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى (20:44): there was disagreement over the meaning of the word "laʿallahu" (perhaps) in this place. Some said: its meaning here is that of the interrogative particle, as though they understood the sentence as: speak to him with gentle words and see whether he will remember and return, or fear Allah and thereby curb his insolence.
Those who said this are mentioned below:
ʿAlī related to me, saying: ʿAbd Allāh related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to us, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى : he said: whether he will remember or fear.
Others said: the meaning of "laʿalla" here is "in order that" (kay). They explained the meaning of the sentence as: اذْهَبَا إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَى (go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed all bounds) — summon him and admonish him in order that he may remember or fear, just as one says: do your work in order that you may receive your reward — with the meaning of: so as to receive your reward — and: finish your work, in order that we may go to lunch, with the meaning of: so as to go to lunch, or: until we go to lunch. Both interpretations have a sound basis and a correct direction.
