Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 18

(Ayah 18) ➊ { قَالَ هِيَ عَصَايَ … :} In response, although it would have been sufficient to simply say, "This is my staff," Musa (peace be upon him) after stating this, also mentioned several of its benefits. One explanation is that Musa (peace be upon him) thought that it was obvious that he was holding a staff, and a question is not usually asked about something obvious, so he understood that Allah Almighty asked him this so that he could explain why he was holding the staff. Therefore, after saying, "This is my staff," he mentioned some of its benefits, but in the end, he kept it brief, thinking that if further clarification was needed, it would be asked. (Ibn Ashur) Another explanation given by the scholars of rhetoric is that, in the delight of conversing with Allah Almighty, Musa (peace be upon him) became carried away and his speech became lengthy. On one hand, the intensity of love demanded that the conversation be prolonged as much as possible, but on the other hand, etiquette prevented him from speaking too much. Therefore, after mentioning one personal need, "leaning on it," and one need for his goats, "shaking down leaves," he finally kept it brief by saying {’’وَ لِيَ فِيْهَا مَاٰرِبُ اُخْرٰى ‘‘}. This explanation is also excellent. It is also possible that Musa (peace be upon him) mentioned many other benefits of the staff, the essence of which Allah Almighty conveyed in His own words. In this case, the brevity would not be in the speech of Musa (peace be upon him), but in the speech of Allah Almighty. (And Allah knows best)

➋ { وَ اَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلٰى غَنَمِيْ … :} Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) has narrated from Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding the meaning of {’’هَشٌّ‘‘} that it means to shake a branch with the staff so that the leaves fall but the branch does not break. This word is also used in the sense of shaking down leaves by striking with the staff. {’’ وَ لِيَ فِيْهَا مَاٰرِبُ اُخْرٰى ‘‘ ’’مَأْرَبَةٌ‘‘} (with fatha, kasra, and damma on the ra) is the singular of مَآرِبُ (ma'arib), meaning 'hajat' (need), meaning the tasks for which there is a need. Jahiz wrote "Kitab al-Asa" about the benefits of the staff, in which he mentioned the advantages of the staff and many incidents of the Arabs. In it, it is written that Ibn al-A'rabi was asked, "What is meant by {’’ وَ لِيَ فِيْهَا مَاٰرِبُ اُخْرٰى‘‘}?" He replied: "I cannot mention all the needs of Musa (peace be upon him), but I will tell you a few things for which the staff is needed: the staff is kept for snakes, scorpions, wolves, enraged bulls, and animals that destroy crops. Elderly, weak, and sick people, those with amputated legs, and the lame use it for support; it serves as a substitute for a second leg. For the blind, it serves as a guide. It is useful for washermen, dyers, and those who stir the ashes of ovens and stoves. It is used for pounding lime and for threshing sesame, etc. It is useful for mail carriers and those who travel with rented animals, so that if the distance is long, they can leap with the help of the staff. It straightens the stoop of those afflicted with paralysis and controls the tremor of those with palsy. Shepherds keep it for their goats, and all riders keep it for their mounts. If there is a heavy load, it can be inserted and held with both hands. Sometimes two people hold one end each. If you wish, you can drive it into a wall and make it a peg, or plant it in an open space and make it a marker, or make it an umbrella. If you put a point on it, it becomes a spear; if you extend it further, it becomes a lance. The staff serves as a whip and as a weapon. By placing it on the shoulder, you can hang a bow, quiver, and a vessel for water or milk, etc. If the rope is short for drawing water from a well, you can use the staff along with it to draw water. You can spread a sheet over it to get shade and can confront wild animals with it, etc."

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

18. He said, "It is my staff [14]; I lean on it, and with it I beat down leaves for my goats, and I have other uses [15] for it as well."

[14]
The Delight of Divine Revelation:

The answer to Allah’s question was sufficiently complete with just “This is my staff,” but there was such delight in that voice that Musa ؑ wished to prolong those moments of pleasure. Therefore, he mentioned several other related things as well, so that he might enjoy the honor of conversing a little longer.
[15] For example, “I drive my goats with it, protect the flock, defend them from the attack of wild beasts, and pursue them,” and so on.