Tabari

Tafseer of The Heights · Al-A'raaf · 7:142

۞ وَوَٰعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَٰثِينَ لَيْلَةًۭ وَأَتْمَمْنَٰهَا بِعَشْرٍۢ فَتَمَّ مِيقَٰتُ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةًۭ ۚ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَٰرُونَ ٱخْلُفْنِى فِى قَوْمِى وَأَصْلِحْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ

And We made an appointment with Moses for thirty nights and perfected them by [the addition of] ten; so the term of his Lord was completed as forty nights. And Moses said to his brother Aaron, "Take my place among my people, do right [by them], and do not follow the way of the corrupters."

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.

Tabari (1 passage)

  1. Full Dutch translation of Tabari's text

    The explanation of the saying of Allah: "And We appointed for Mūsā thirty nights and We completed them with ten, so that the appointed term of his Lord became forty nights."

    Abū Jaʿfar said: He, exalted be His remembrance, says: And We appointed for Mūsā, for Our confidential discourse, thirty nights. And it has been said: they were thirty nights of Dhū al-Qaʿda. "And We completed them with ten," He says: and We completed the thirty nights with ten nights, as a supplement up to forty nights.

    * * *

    And it has been said: the ten with which He completed those up to forty were the ten of Dhū al-Ḥijja.

    * Mention of those who said that:

    15062 — Ibn Wakīʿ related to us, saying: my father related to us, on the authority of Sufyān, on the authority of Layth, on the authority of Mujāhid: "And We appointed for Mūsā thirty nights and We completed them with ten," he said: Dhū al-Qaʿda and the ten of Dhū al-Ḥijja.

    15063 — ... he said: Jarīr related to us, on the authority of Layth, on the authority of Mujāhid: "And We appointed for Mūsā thirty nights and We completed them with ten," he said: Dhū al-Qaʿda and the ten of Dhū al-Ḥijja. On that they differed.

    15064 — Al-Muthannā related to me, saying: Abū Ḥudhayfa related to us, saying: Shibl related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: "And We appointed for Mūsā thirty nights," that is Dhū al-Qaʿda and ten of Dhū al-Ḥijja, and that is His saying: "so that the appointed term of his Lord became forty nights."

    15065 — Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to me, saying: al-Muʿtamir ibn Sulaymān related to us, on the authority of his father, he said: Ḥaḍramī asserted that the thirty which Mūsā's Lord had appointed for him were Dhū al-Qaʿda, and the ten of Dhū al-Ḥijja with which Allah completed the forty.

    15066 — Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, on the authority of Mujāhid: "And We appointed for Mūsā thirty nights," he said: Dhū al-Qaʿda. "And We completed them with ten," he said: the ten of Dhū al-Ḥijja. Ibn Jurayj said: Ibn ʿAbbās said the like of that.

    15067 — Al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz related to us, saying: Abū Saʿd related to us, saying: I heard Mujāhid say concerning His saying: "And We appointed for Mūsā thirty nights and We completed them with ten," he said: Dhū al-Qaʿda and the first ten of Dhū al-Ḥijja.

    15068 — ... he said: ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz related to us, saying: Isrāʾīl related to us, on the authority of Abū Isḥāq, on the authority of Masrūq: "And We completed them with ten," he said: the ten of the sacrificial feast (al-aḍḥā).

    * * *

    And as for His saying: "so that the appointed term of his Lord became forty nights," by it He means: thus the term which Allah had appointed for Mūsā was completed to forty nights, and reached it fully. As:—

    15069 — Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj: "so that the appointed term of his Lord was completed," he said: thus the appointed term of his Lord reached forty nights.

    * * *

    The explanation of the saying of Allah: "And Mūsā said to his brother Hārūn: 'Be my successor among my people and set things in order, and do not follow the way of those who spread corruption.'" (7:142)

    Abū Jaʿfar said: He, exalted be His remembrance, says: When the appointment with his Lord drew near, he said to his brother Hārūn: "Be my successor among my people," he says: be my deputy among them until I return.

    * * *

    Of this one says: "khalafahu yakhlufuhu khilāfatan" (he succeeded him, he succeeds him, in succession).

    * * *

    "And set things in order (wa-aṣliḥ)," he says: and bring them to order by urging them to obedience to Allah and His worship. As:—

    15070 — Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, he said: "And Mūsā said to his brother Hārūn: 'Be my successor among my people and set things in order,'" and it belonged to his setting things in order that he should not allow the calf to be worshipped.

    * * *

    And His saying: "and do not follow the way of those who spread corruption," he says: and do not tread the path of those who spread corruption on the earth, by disobedience to their Lord and by their aid to the wrongdoers in their disobedience to their Lord; but tread the path of those who obey their Lord.

    * * *

    And Allah's promise to Mūsā, peace be upon him, was after He had destroyed Firʿawn and had saved the Children of Israel from him, according to what the people of knowledge have said. As:—

    15071 — Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: al-Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, concerning His saying: "And We appointed for Mūsā thirty nights," the verse, he said: He says: that was after He had finished with Firʿawn and before the Ṭūr, when Allah had saved Mūsā, peace be upon him, from the sea and had drowned the people of Firʿawn, and he escaped to the good land. Allah caused the manna and the quails to descend upon them there, and his Lord commanded him that he should meet Him. When he desired the meeting with his Lord, he appointed Hārūn as successor over his people, and he promised them that he would come to them after thirty nights — an appointment from himself, without command of his Lord and without His fixing of it. He set out to meet his Lord. When thirty nights were completed, the enemy of Allah, al-Sāmirī, said: "Mūsā will not come to you, and nothing will set you in order but a god whom you worship!" Then Hārūn implored them and said: "Do not do that; wait out this night of yours and this day of yours; if he comes, then it is well, and if not, then do what seems good to you!" They said: "Well!" When they awoke the next morning and did not see Mūsā, al-Sāmirī repeated his words of the previous day. He (the transmitter) said: and Allah added the term after the term which He had fixed between them, namely ten, "so that the appointed term of his Lord became forty nights." Hārūn returned and implored them whether they would not also wait out that day of theirs; if he came, then it was well, and if not, then they would do what seemed good to them. After that al-Sāmirī repeated his words to them for the third time, and Hārūn returned and implored them to wait. When they did not see ... [here the report breaks off]

    15072 — Al-Qāsim said: al-Ḥusayn said: Ḥajjāj related to me, saying: Abū Bakr ibn ʿAbdallāh al-Hudhalī related to me, saying: al-Sāmirī went to Hārūn when Mūsā had departed, and said: "O prophet of Allah, on the day we departed from the Copts we borrowed much jewelry from their adornment, and the troops who are with you have hastened to sell and spend that jewelry, while it was only a loan from the people of Firʿawn — and they are no longer alive so that we might return it to them. We do not know, perhaps your brother, the prophet of Allah Mūsā, when he comes, will have an opinion about it: either he will make it into an offering which the fire consumes, or he will make it for the poor and not for the rich!" Hārūn said to him: "Excellent is what you have seen and what you have said!" Then he gave orders to a herald who called out: "Whoever has anything of the jewelry of the people of Firʿawn with him, let him bring it to us!" They brought it to him, and Hārūn said: "O Sāmirī, you have the most right to keep this treasure under your custody!" Then al-Sāmirī took it into safekeeping. This enemy of Allah, the corrupt one, was a goldsmith, and he forged from it a calf, a body. Then he cast into its interior a handful of earth from the track of the horse of Jibrīl, peace be upon him, which he had seen in the sea. Thereupon it began to low, but it lowed only a single time. And he said to the Children of Israel: "Mūsā has remained behind after the thirty nights only because he is seeking this!" هَذَا إِلَهُكُمْ وَإِلَهُ مُوسَى فَنَسِيَ (This is your god and the god of Mūsā, but he has forgotten) [Ṭā Hā: 88]. He says: that Mūsā, peace be upon him, has forgotten his Lord.

    Show original Arabic
    القول في تأويل قوله : وَوَاعَدْنَا مُوسَى ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً قال أبوجعفر: يقول تعالى ذكره: وواعدنا موسى لمناجاتنا ثلاثين ليلة. (18) وقيل: إنها ثلاثون ليلة من ذي القعدة. =(وأتممناها بعشر)، يقول: وأتممنا الثلاثين الليلة بعشر ليال تتمة أربعين ليلة. * * * وقيل: إن العشر التي أتمها به أربعين, عشر ذي الحجة. * ذكر من قال ذلك. 15062 - حدثنا ابن وكيع قال، حدثنا أبي, عن سفيان, عن ليث, عن مجاهد: (وواعدنا موسى ثلاثين ليلة وأتممناها بعشر)، قال: ذو القعدة، وعشر ذي الحجة. 15063 - ... قال، حدثنا جرير, عن ليث, عن مجاهد: (وواعدنا موسى ثلاثين ليلة وأتممناها بعشر)، قال: ذو القعدة، وعشر ذي الحجة. ففي ذلك اختلفوا. (19) 15064 - حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا أبو حذيفة قال، حدثنا شبل, عن ابن أبي نجيح, عن مجاهد: (وواعدنا موسى ثلاثين ليلة)، هو ذو القعدة، وعشر من ذي الحجة, فذلك قوله: (فتم ميقات ربه أربعين ليلة). 15065 - حدثني محمد بن عبد الأعلى قال، حدثنا المعتمر بن سليمان, عن أبيه قال: زعم حضرميٌّ أن الثلاثين التي كان واعدَ موسى ربه، كانت ذا القعدة، والعشرَ من ذي الحجة التي تمم الله بها الأربعين. 15066 - حدثنا القاسم قال، حدثنا الحسين قال، حدثني حجاج, عن ابن جريج, عن مجاهد: (وواعدنا موسى ثلاثين ليلة)، قال: ذو القعدة.(وأتممناها بعشر)، قال: عشر ذي الحجة = قال ابن جريج: قال ابن عباس مثله. 15067 - حدثني الحارث قال، حدثنا عبد العزيز قال، حدثنا أبو سعد قال، سمعت مجاهدًا يقول في قوله: (وواعدنا موسى ثلاثين ليلة وأتممناها بعشر)، قال: ذو القعدة, والعشر الأوَل من ذي الحجة. 15068 - ... قال: حدثنا عبد العزيز قال، حدثنا إسرائيل, عن أبي إسحاق, عن مسروق: (وأتممناها بعشر)، قال: عشر الأضحى. * * * وأما قوله: (فتم ميقات ربه أربعين ليلة)، فإنه يعني: فكمل الوقت الذي واعد الله موسى أربعين ليلة، (20) وبلغها. كما:- 15069 - حدثنا القاسم قال، حدثنا الحسين قال، حدثني حجاج , عن ابن جريج: (فتم ميقات ربه)، قال: فبلغ ميقات ربه أربعين ليلة. * * * القول في تأويل قوله : وَقَالَ مُوسَى لأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَأَصْلِحْ وَلا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ (142) قال أبو جعفر: يقول تعالى ذكره: لما مضى لموعد ربه قال لأخيه هارون: (اخلفني في قومي)، يقول: كن خليفتي فيهم إلى أن أرجع. * * * يقال منه: " خَلَفه يخْلُفه خِلافة ". (21) * * * (وأصلح)، يقول: وأصلحهم بحملك إياهم على طاعة الله وعبادته، كما:- 15070 - حدثنا القاسم قال، حدثنا الحسين قال، حدثني حجاج , عن ابن جريج قال: " وقال موسى لأخيه هارون اخلفني في قومي وأصلح "، وكان من إصلاحه أن لا يدع العجل يُعْبد. * * * وقوله: (ولا تتبع سبيل المفسدين)، يقول: ولا تسلك طريق الذين يفسدون في الأرض، بمعصيتهم ربهم, ومعونتهم أهل المعاصي على عصيانهم ربهم, ولكن اسلك سبيل المطيعين ربهم. (22) * * * وكانت مواعدة الله موسى عليه السلام بعد أن أهلك فرعون، ونجَّى منه بني إسرائيل، فيما قال أهل العلم, كما:- 15071 - حدثنا القاسم قال، حدثنا الحسين قال، حدثني الحجاج, عن ابن جريج قوله: وَوَاعَدْنَا مُوسَى ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً ، الآية، قال: يقول: إن ذلك بعد ما فرغ من فرعون وقبل الطور، لما نجى الله موسى عليه السلام من البحر وغرّق آل فرعون، وخلص إلى الأرض الطيبة, أنـزل الله عليهم فيها المنّ والسلوى، وأمره ربه أن يلقَاه, فلما أراد لقاء ربه، استخلف هارون على قومه, وواعدهم أن يأتيهم إلى ثلاثين ليلة، ميعادًا من قِبَله، من غير أمر ربه ولا ميعاده. فتوجه ليلقى ربه, فلما تمت ثلاثون ليلة، قال عدو الله السامريُّ: ليس يأتيكم موسى, وما يصلحكم إلا إله تعبدونه ! فناشدهم هارون وقال: لا تفعلوا، انظروا ليلتكم هذه ويومكم هذا, فإن جاء وإلا فعلتم ما بدا لكم ! فقالوا: نعم! فلما أصبحوا من غد ولم يروا موسى، عاد السامري لمثل قوله بالأمس. قال: وأحدث الله الأجل بعد الأجل الذي جعله بينهم عشرًا, (23) فتم ميقات ربه أربعين ليلة, فعاد هارون فناشدهم إلا ما نظروا يومهم ذلك أيضًا, فإن جاء وإلا فعلتم ما بدا لكم! ثم عاد السامري الثالثة لمثل قوله لهم, وعاد هارون فناشدهم أن ينتظروا، فلما لم يروا ... (24) 15072 - قال القاسم، قال الحسين، حدثني حجاج قال، حدثني أبو بكر بن عبد الله الهذليّ قال: قام السامري إلى هارون حين انطلق موسى فقال: يا نبي الله، إنا استعرنا يوم خرجنا من القبط حليًّا كثيرًا من زينتهم, وإن الجند الذين معك قد أسرعوا في الحلي يبيعونه وينفقونه, (25) وإنما كان عارية من آل فرعون، فليسوا بأحياء فنردّها عليهم, ولا ندري لعل أخاك نبيّ الله موسى إذا جاء يكون له فيها رأي, إما يقرّبها قربانا فتأكلها النار , وإما يجعلها للفقراء دون الأغنياء! فقال له هارون: نِعْمَ ما رأيت وما قلت ! فأمر مناديًا فنادى: من كان عنده شيء من حليّ آل فرعون فليأتنا به ! فأتوه به, فقال هارون: يا سامري أنت أحق من كانت عنده هذه الخزانة! فقبضها السامري, وكان عدو الله الخبيث صائغًا, فصاغ منه عجلا جسدًا, ثم قذف في جوفه تُرْبة من القبضة التي قبض من أثر فرس جبريل عليه السلام إذ رآه في البحر, فجعل يخور, ولم يخر إلا مرة واحدة, وقال لبني إسرائيل: إنما تخلف موسى بعد الثلاثين الليلة يلتمس هذا ! هَذَا إِلَهُكُمْ وَإِلَهُ مُوسَى فَنَسِيَ ، [طه: 88]. يقول: إن موسى عليه السلام نسي ربّه. ------------------- الهوامش : (18) انظر تفسير (( المواعدة )) فيما سلف 2 : 58 - 60 ، في نظيرة هذه الآية . (19) الأثر : 15063 - وضعت النقط ، لأنه اختصار أراد به أن صدر الإسناد هو صدر الإسناد الذي قبله ، وقد مضى مثل ذلك مرارًا ولم أشر إليه ، فآثرت منذ الآن ، أن أضع النقط تنبيهاً على ذلك ، فهو رواية سفيان بن وكيع ، عن جرير ، كما مضى مرارًا مثل هذا الإسناد . (20) انظر تفسير (( التمام )) فيما سلف 3 : 17 ، 18 / 4 : 7/ 12 : 62 . = وتفسير (( الميقات )) فيما سلف 3 : 553 - 555 . (21) انظر تفسير (( الخلافة )) فيما سلف 12 : 540 ، 541 تعليق : 1 ، والمراجع هناك . (22) انظر تفسير (( اتبع )) و (( الفساد )) فيما سلف من فهارس اللغة ( تبع ) ( فسد ) . (23) في المطبوعة : (( بينهم عشرا )) وفي المخطوطة غير منقوطة ، وهذا صوابها . (24) الأثر 15071 - هذا خبر لم يتم كما ترى ، ولم أجده في مكان آخر . وسبب ذلك أن قوله (( فلما لم يروه )) هو في المخطوطة في آخر الصفحة اليسرى ، ثم بدأ بعدها : (( قال القاسم )) ، فظاهر أن الناسخ عجل ، فأسقط من الخبر تمامه ، لما قلب الصفحة ، وبدأ الخبر التالي بعده . (25) (3) في المطبوعة : (( وإن الذين معك )) ، حذف (( الجند )) ، لأنها غير منقوطة ، فلم يحسن قراءتها .