سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 142
۞ وَوَٰعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَـٰثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَتْمَمْنَـٰهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَـٰتُ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ۚ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَـٰرُونَ ٱخْلُفْنِى فِى قَوْمِى وَأَصْلِحْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿142﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We appointed for Mûsâ (Moses) thirty nights and added (to the period) ten (more), and he completed the term, appointed by his Lord, of forty nights. And Mûsâ (Moses) said to his brother Hârûn (Aaron): "Replace me among my people, act in the Right Way (by ordering the people to obey Allâh and to worship Him Alone) and follow not the way of the Mufsidûn (mischief-makers)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَوَٰعَدْنَا
wawāʿadnā
And We appointed
مُوسَىٰ
mūsā
(for) Musa
ثَلَـٰثِينَ
thalāthīna
thirty
لَيْلَةًۭ
laylatan
nights
وَأَتْمَمْنَـٰهَا
wa-atmamnāhā
and We completed them
بِعَشْرٍۢ
biʿashrin
with ten (more)
فَتَمَّ
fatamma
so was completed
مِيقَـٰتُ
mīqātu
(the) set term
رَبِّهِۦٓ
rabbihi
(of) his Lord
أَرْبَعِينَ
arbaʿīna
(of) forty
لَيْلَةًۭ ۚ
laylatan
night(s)
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And said
مُوسَىٰ
mūsā
Musa
لِأَخِيهِ
li-akhīhi
to his brother
هَـٰرُونَ
hārūna
Harun
ٱخْلُفْنِى
ukh'luf'nī
Take my place
فِى
fī
in
قَوْمِى
qawmī
my people
وَأَصْلِحْ
wa-aṣliḥ
and do right
وَلَا
walā
and (do) not
تَتَّبِعْ
tattabiʿ
follow
سَبِيلَ
sabīla
(the) way
ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
l-muf'sidīna
(of) the corrupters
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(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.
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.
