Surah 20: Taha (Ta-Ha)
A Meccan surah centered on Moses and divine mercy.
Surah 20, titled Taha (Ta-Ha), opens with the isolated letters 'Ta, Ha' (Surah 20:1) and immediately establishes God's sovereignty: 'The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established' (Surah 20:5). The surah then recounts the story of Moses, beginning with the question 'And has the story of Moses reached you' (Surah 20:9), and proceeds through his divine selection, confrontation with Pharaoh, the miracle of the staff, the Exodus, and the incident of the golden calf.
Quick Facts
- Verses sampled
- 28
- First verse
- Surah 20:1
Lore & Background
The sampled passages focus heavily on the prophetic mission of Moses. God chooses Moses, saying 'And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed [to you]' (Surah 20:13), and instructs him regarding the staff: 'Seize it and fear not; We will return it to its former condition' (Surah 20:21). Moses prays for assistance, asking 'My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance]' (Surah 20:25) and 'appoint for me a minister from my family' (Surah 20:29). God reminds Moses of prior favor: 'And We had already conferred favor upon you another time' (Surah 20:37) and declares 'And I produced you for Myself' (Surah 20:41). Moses and Aaron express fear of Pharaoh: 'Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress' (Surah 20:45). Pharaoh challenges Moses: 'So who is the Lord of you two, O Moses' (Surah 20:49), and later accuses him: 'Have you come to us to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moses' (Surah 20:57). Moses warns the magicians: 'Woe to you! Do not invent a lie against Allah or He will exterminate you with a punishment' (Surah 20:61). The magicians throw their tricks, but Moses is told: 'throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have crafted' (Surah 20:69). The magicians then declare belief: 'Indeed, we have believed in our Lord' (Surah 20:73). God commands Moses: 'Travel by night with My servants and strike for them a dry path through the sea' (Surah 20:77). After the Exodus, God tests the people with the Samiri, who leads them astray (Surah 20:85). Moses confronts his people: 'Then have you disobeyed my order' (Surah 20:93), and punishes the Samiri: 'We will surely burn it and blow it into the sea with a blast' (Surah 20:97).
Reader's Guide
The sampled passages portray God as the Most Merciful, established above the Throne (Surah 20:5), who directly chooses and speaks to Moses (Surah 20:13). God provides for humanity, making the earth a bed and sending rain to produce plants (Surah 20:53). God's anger is a consequence of transgression (Surah 20:81), and He tests His servants, as with the Samiri's deception (Surah 20:85). Moses is depicted as a chosen prophet who prays for support (Surah 20:25-29), fears Pharaoh's reaction (Surah 20:45), and performs miracles by God's command (Surah 20:21, 20:69). He confronts Pharaoh (Surah 20:49, 20:57) and the magicians (Surah 20:61), leads the Israelites out of Egypt (Surah 20:77), and deals with the aftermath of idolatry (Surah 20:93, 20:97). Pharaoh is portrayed as a tyrant who accuses Moses of magic and threatens punishment (Surah 20:57, 20:45). The magicians initially oppose Moses but ultimately believe (Surah 20:73). The Samiri leads the people astray after Moses departs (Surah 20:85).
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