Taraweeh Reflection
Day 16: Juzz 16
The Story of Musa and the Magicians
According to Surah Taha (Chapter 20)
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1. Allah Calls Musa (20:9–24)
Allah begins:
هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰ
“Has the story of Musa come to you?”
Prophet Musa (Moses) sees a fire and approaches it. Allah calls him and declares:
إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي
“I am Allah — there is no deity except Me, so worship Me.”
Allah shows Musa his signs:
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ
قَالَ هِيَ عَصَايَ
“What is that in your right hand, O Musa?”
He said: “It is my staff.”
The staff becomes a serpent — a sign for Pharaoh.
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2. Musa’s Supplication (20:25–36)
Before facing Pharaoh, Musa makes one of the most famous prayers in the Qur’an:
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي
وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي
وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي
يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
“My Lord, expand my chest, ease my task, and untie the knot from my tongue so they may understand me.”
He asks that his brother Prophet Harun (Aaron) assist him.
Allah responds:
قَدْ أُوتِيتَ سُؤْلَكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ
“You have been granted your request, O Musa.”
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3. Command to Confront Pharaoh (20:42–48)
Allah sends Musa and Harun to Pharaoh (Fir‘awn):
اذْهَبَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ
“Go to Pharaoh; indeed he has transgressed.”
Yet Allah commands gentleness:
فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًا
“Speak to him with gentle speech.”
They deliver the message:
إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ
“We are messengers of your Lord.”
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4. The Debate with Pharaoh (20:49–64)
Pharaoh asks:
فَمَن رَّبُّكُمَا يَا مُوسَىٰ
“Who is your Lord, O Musa?”
Musa answers:
رَبُّنَا الَّذِي أَعْطَىٰ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلْقَهُ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ
“Our Lord is He who gave everything its form and then guided it.”
Pharaoh accuses Musa of sorcery and arranges a public contest.
The magicians gather and say:
إِنْ هَٰذَانِ لَسَاحِرَانِ
“These two are surely magicians.”
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5. The Contest Begins (20:65–69)
The magicians ask:
يَا مُوسَىٰ إِمَّا أَن تُلْقِيَ وَإِمَّا أَن نَّكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَلْقَىٰ
“O Musa, will you throw or shall we?”
They cast their ropes.
The Qur’an describes Musa’s reaction:
فَأَوْجَسَ فِي نَفْسِهِ خِيفَةً مُّوسَىٰ
“Musa felt fear within himself.”
Allah reassures him:
لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْأَعْلَىٰ
“Do not fear; you will be superior.”
Musa throws his staff:
تَلْقَفْ مَا صَنَعُوا
“It swallowed what they had produced.”
Their magic collapses.
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6. The Magicians Believe (20:70)
Immediately:
فَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سُجَّدًا
“The magicians fell down in prostration.”
They declare:
آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ هَارُونَ وَمُوسَىٰ
“We believe in the Lord of Harun and Musa.”
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7. Pharaoh’s Threat (20:71)
Pharaoh responds with rage:
لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَافٍ
“I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides.”
He threatens crucifixion.
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8. The Faith of the Magicians (20:72–76)
Their answer shows complete transformation:
لَن نُّؤْثِرَكَ عَلَىٰ مَا جَاءَنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ
“We will never prefer you over the clear signs that have come to us.”
They declare Pharaoh’s power temporary:
إِنَّمَا تَقْضِي هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا
“You can only judge concerning this worldly life.”
They pray for forgiveness and hope for Paradise.
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Central Message of Surah Taha
Surah Taha presents:
•A prophet who feels fear yet trusts Allah.
•Experts in falsehood recognizing truth instantly.
•Tyranny collapsing before sincere belief.
•Faith transforming hearts in a single moment.
The magicians begin the day serving Pharaoh — and end it as believers devoted to Allah.