Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 142

(Ayah 142) {وَ وٰعَدْنَا مُوْسٰى ثَلٰثِيْنَ لَيْلَةً … :} After being saved from Pharaoh, when the Children of Israel reached the Sinai Peninsula, Allah Almighty summoned Musa (peace be upon him) to Mount Tur, so that the Book could be given to him. First, a period of thirty days was set, then an addition of ten days was made, so that during these forty days Musa (peace be upon him) would fast and remain engaged in worship and contemplation day and night. The reason for this seems to be that seclusion for thirty nights would develop a habit of worship and supplication, and after becoming familiar with the pleasure of supplication, adding ten more nights would not be burdensome for the temperament. Otherwise, in Allah Almighty’s knowledge, it was already forty nights, which were completed by adding ten more. (And Allah knows best.) In some narrations, it is mentioned that the addition of these ten days was because Musa (peace be upon him) used the miswak after fasting for thirty days, which removed the odor that was very beloved to Allah Almighty. However, there is no trace of this narration in the Qur’an or Hadith, nor is it supported by any authentic chain, and the miswak does not remove that odor, because it is actually caused by an empty stomach. Therefore, Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) has established a chapter regarding the desirability of miswak for the fasting person: [ بَابُ السِّوَاكِ الرَّطْبِ وَالْيَابِسِ لِلصَّائِمِ ] That is, the fasting person can use fresh or dry miswak. [ بخاری، الصوم، قبل ح : ۱۹۳۴ ]

When Musa (peace be upon him) completed this forty-day period, Allah Almighty spoke to him and granted him the tablets of the Torah. Musa (peace be upon him) understood the temperament of his people; although Harun (peace be upon him) had previously tried to reform them, his status was that of a helper and minister, while the real leader was Musa (peace be upon him). Now, for those days, Musa (peace be upon him) appointed him as his successor (deputy) and emphasized that he should continue to reform them and not follow the mischief-makers.

142. 1. After the drowning of Pharaoh and his army, there arose a need to give the Children of Israel a book for their guidance and direction. Thus, Allah Almighty called Musa (Moses) عليه السلام to Mount Tur for thirty nights, to which ten more nights were added, making it forty in total. When Musa عليه السلام departed, he appointed Harun (Aaron) عليه السلام, who was both his brother and a prophet, as his successor so that he could continue the work of guiding and reforming the Children of Israel and protect them from all kinds of corruption. This is what is mentioned in this verse.

142. 2. Harun عليه السلام was himself a prophet, and the work of reformation was included among his prophetic duties. Musa عليه السلام gave him these admonitions merely as a reminder and warning. Here, "miqat" means the appointed time.

142. And We made a promise to Musa for thirty nights [136], then completed it with ten more, so the appointed time of his Lord was fulfilled as forty nights in all. And (when leaving) Musa said to his brother Harun: "Be my deputy among my people, keep on reforming [137], and do not follow the way of those who spread corruption."

[136]
Forty Nights at the Foot of Mount Tur:

When the Children of Israel were freed from a life of slavery, they now needed a code or a Shariah. For this purpose, Allah Almighty called Musa (Moses) ؑ to Mount Sinai so that he may come to this blessed valley and worship Allah in solitude. For this, the minimum period was set as one month and the maximum as forty days. However, in Surah Al-Baqarah, only forty nights are mentioned. For this period, he was commanded to fast during the day and to spend day and night in worship, reflection, and contemplation of Allah, focusing his heart and mind, and thus developing within himself the capacity to receive the Shariah (the Tablets) revealed by Allah Almighty.

[137]
The Deputation of Sayyiduna Harun ؑ and the Calf-Worship of the People:

Musa ؑ had full experience of his people’s fickleness and weak faith, so before departing for Mount Sinai, he especially instructed his brother Sayyiduna Harun ؑ that if these people tried to create any mischief after him, he should keep striving to reform them and never listen to those who cause corruption. In other words, the leadership powers that Sayyiduna Musa ؑ possessed were delegated to Sayyiduna Harun ؑ in front of everyone. Sayyiduna Musa’s ؑ apprehension about his people turned out to be one hundred percent correct. After Musa ؑ left, these people soon began calf-worship. Sayyiduna Harun ؑ tried his utmost to explain to them, but these people were so stubborn that they gave no importance to Harun’s ؑ command. Then, upon the return of Sayyiduna Musa ؑ, the detailed conversation that took place between the two brothers is mentioned ahead.