[20].Surah Taha [Tâ-Hâ]: Ayat 79-81

Ayat 79. And Firaun (Pharaoh) led his people astray, and he did not guide them.

Ayat 80. O Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and We made a covenant with you on the right side of the Mount, and We sent down to you Al-Manna and quails,

Ayat 81. (Saying) eat of the Taiyibat (good lawful things) wherewith We have provided you, and commit no oppression therein, lest My Anger should justly descend on you. And he on whom My Anger descends, he is indeed perished.

[Tafseer] Pharaoh led his people astray instead of leading them aright It is the duty of kings and leaders to give the right lead to their people. Instead of that, the evil ones among them lead them astray, and are the cause of the whole of a people perishing. O ye Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and We made a Covenant with you on the right side of Mount (Sinai), and We sent down to you Manna and quails: Right side, towards the end. The Arabian side of Sinai (Jabal Musa) was the place where Moses first received his commission before going to Egypt , and also where he received the Law after the Exodus from Egypt. (Saying): "Eat of the good things We have provided for your sustenance, but commit no excess therein, lest My Wrath should justly descend on you: and those on whom descends My Wrath do perish indeed! and 7:160.1 should like to construe this not only literally but also metaphorically-'Allah has looked after you and saved you. He has given you ethical and spiritual guidance. Enjoy the fruits of all this, but do not become puffed up and rebellious (another meaning in the root Tagha): otherwise the Wrath of Allah is sure to descend on you.' This gives the keynote to Moser's constant tussle with his own people, and introduces immediate y afterwards the incident of the golden calf.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said,"If anyone calls others to follow right guidance, his reward will be equivalent to those who follow him (in righteousness) without their reward being diminished in any respect, and if anyone invites others to follow error, the sin, will be equivalent to that of the people who follow him (in sinfulness) without their sins being diminished in any respect".

[Muslim Book 06, Chapter 34, Hadith # 6470] 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Taha Ayat 79."led his people astray, and he did not guide them" Invitation' and `Call' stand to mean here that someone induces others to virtue or seduces to sin by means of his speech or action. We come to know from this Hadith that one who becomes a medium for either of them is given a reward or punishment respectively by Allah (SWT). 

[20].Surah Taha [Tâ-Hâ]: Ayat 77-78

Ayat 77. And indeed We inspired Mûsa (Moses) (saying): "Travel by night with Ibadi (My slaves) and strike a dry path for them in the sea, fearing neither to be overtaken [by Firaun (Pharaoh)] nor being afraid (of drowning in the sea)."

Ayat 78. Then Firaun (Pharaoh) pursued them with his hosts, but the sea-water completely overwhelmed them and covered them up. 

[Tafseer] Time passes and at last Moses is commanded to leave Egypt with his people by night. They were cross the Red Sea into the Sinai Peninsula . They were told to have no fear of Pharaoh or of the sea or of t he unknown desert country of Sinai into which they were going. They crossed dry-shod, while Pharaoh, who came in pursuit with his troops, was overwhelmed by the sea. He and his men all perished. There is no emphasis on this episode here. But the emphasis is laid on the hard task which Moses had with his own people after he had delivered them from the Egyptian bondage. Then Pharaoh pursued them with his forces, but the waters completely overwhelmed them and covered them up.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) observed Saum (fasting) on the day of `Ashura' and commanded us to fast on this day.  [Al-Bukhari Hadith # 2004] 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Taha Ayat 78."Then Firaun (Pharaoh) pursued them with his hosts, but the sea-water completely overwhelmed them and covered them up" Ashura' 10th of Muharram. In another Hadith, it is stated that when the Prophet (PBUH) emigrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah, he saw that the Jews were fasting on this day. He asked them why they did this on that day, and they told him that they did it for the reason that Allah granted Prophet Musa emancipation from Pharaoh on this day, and so they observed Saum in token of their joy. On this, he (PBUH) said that in this happiness of Prophet Musa, Muslims have a greater right to observe Saum than the Jews. Consequently, he also observed Saum on 10th of Muharram. Then, he said that if he lived the following year, he would observe Saum on 9th of Muharram also so that they would make themselves different from the Jews. According to another Hadith, he (PBUH) ordained the Muslims to observe Saum on `Ashura' and in addition one more Saum on 9th or 11th of Muharram in opposition to the Jews.

  

[20].Surah Taha [Tâ-Hâ]: Ayat 74-76

Ayat 74. Verily! Whoever comes to his Lord as a Mujrim (criminal, polytheist, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah and His Messengers, sinner, etc.), then surely, for him is Hell, therein he will neither die nor live.

Ayat 75. But whoever comes to Him (Allah) as a believer (in the Oneness of Allah, etc.), and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks (in the Hereafter),

Ayat 76. 'Adn (Edn) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever: such is the reward of those who purify themselves [(by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds) which Allah has forbidden and by doing all that which Allah has ordained)].

[Tafseer] The verses 20:74-76 are best construed as comments on the story of the converted Egyptians who had "purified themselves (from evil)". But some construe them as a continuation of their speech. But such as come to Him as Believers who have worked righteous deeds,- for them are ranks exalted,- Gardens of Eternity, beneath which flow rivers: they will dwell therein for aye: such is the reward of those who purify themselves (from evil). As the Egyptian magicians had done when they confessed the One True God.   

Hazrat Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said, "Allah, the Rubb of honour and glory, will say to the inhabitants of Jannah: `O inhabitants of Jannah!' They will respond: `Here we are! At Your service, O our Rubb. All good is in Your Hand!' He will ask them: `Are you pleased?' They will reply: `Why should we not be pleased, O Rubb, when You have given us what You have not given to any of Your creatures?' Allah will say: `Shall I not give you something better than that?' They will ask: `O Rubb! What can be better than that?' Allah will say: `I shall bestow My Pleasure upon you and I shall never be displeased with you.'''

[Al-Bukhari Book 08,Chapter 76, Hadith # 557] 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Taha Ayat 76."Paradise (everlasting Gardens), under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever:" The declaration about Allah being pleased with the dwellers of Jannah will certainly be the greatest of the boons and rewards of Jannah.

[20].Surah Taha [Tâ-Hâ]: Ayat 72-73

Ayat 72. They said: "We prefer you not over the clear signs that have come to us, and to Him (Allah) Who created us. So decree whatever you desire to decree, for you can only decree (regarding) this life of the world.

Ayat 73. "Verily! We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the magic to which you did compel us. And Allah is better as regards reward in comparison to your [Firaun's (Pharaoh)] reward, and more lasting (as regards punishment in comparison to your punishment)." 

[Tafseer] Clear Signs: the miracles, the personality of the Messengers of Allah, the logic of events as they unfolded themselves, and the light of inner conviction in their own conscience. There are, in addition, the Signs and Proofs of Allah in nature, which are referred to in many places, Thus was the first part of the mission of Moses—that to the Egyptians—fulfilled. The magic, mummery, and deceptions which pertained to Egyptian Pagan religion became a creed, a State article of faith, to which all citizens were compelled to bow, and to which its priests were compelled actively to practise. And Pharaoh was at the head of the whole system—the high priest or the supreme god. With justice, therefore, do the converted magicians lay the blame on Pharaoh, effectively negativing Pharaoh's disingenuous charge that they had been in league with Moses. These falsehoods and deceptions—combined in many cases with horrid cruelties, open and secret— we common to many Pagan systems.   

Hazrat Uthman bin `Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said, "He who recites three times every morning and evening: `Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma`as-mihi shai'un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama'i, wa Huwas-Sami`ul-`Alim (In the Name of Allah with Whose Name there is protection against every kind of harm in the earth or in the heaven, and He is the All-Hearing and All-Knowing),' nothing will harm him.''

[Abu Dawud Hadith # 5088 and At-Tirmidhi Hadith # 3388].

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Taha Ayat 73.""Verily! We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults" The prayer cited in this Hadith means that "I seek the Protection of Allah by means of which one can save himself from every vice, whether it is an animal or man, a jinn or Satan because He is Aware of everyone's condition and Capable of hearing everybody's petition. He who comes in His Protection none can harm him, except that which He wills.''