020-TA HA
ṬĀ HĀ
Ṭā Hā
Ṭā Hā is a Makkan sūrah, with the possible exception of vv. 130–31, which some consider to be Madinan, although the context of these two verses indicates that they are most likely Makkan. This sūrah was revealed after Sūrah 19, Maryam, and figures prominently in the famous conversion account of the second Caliph, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (d. 23/644). Shortly before becoming Muslim, ʿUmar was intent on killing the Prophet. He encountered a Companion, who was concealing the fact that he was a Muslim, and ʿUmar told him of his plan. In order to divert ʿUmar, the Companion told him to first settle affairs with his own household, as ʿUmar’s sister and her husband had also accepted Islam. They were reciting the Quran when ʿUmar came to their home to confront them. The parchment from which they were reading, but which they hid when ʿUmar entered, contained some or all of Ṭā Hā. ʿUmar told them that he had heard them and insisted on seeing what they had been reciting. After a brief confrontation, they relented and gave him the parchment. Upon reading it, ʿUmar had a change of heart, resolved to become Muslim, and went to the Prophet to profess his faith (Ibn Hishām, al-Sīrah alnabawiyyah [Beirut, 1999], 1:272). The Prophet is reported to have said concerning this sūrah (along with Sūrahs 2 and 3) that God’s Supreme Name (al-ism al-aʿẓam) is to be found in it.
The sūrah begins with a consolation to the Prophet and speaks of God’s all-encompassing knowledge and His Most Beautiful Names. It then segues into a lengthy account of the story of Moses (vv. 9–97) that recounts many details of his life, including his encounter with God and the charge of his mission to Pharaoh, the Israelites’ escape from Egypt, and the false god that the Israelites worshipped when Moses went to Mt. Sinai. Next, the sūrah transitions to discuss several aspects concerning the end of time and the Last Day, and then recounts the story of Adam’s creation, temptation, banishment, and forgiveness (vv. 115–24). It then encourages the Prophet to be steadfast in the face of the Makkans’ insults, recounting the Makkans’ disingenuous request for a sign to be sent to the Prophet from God; and concludes with a threat to the Makkans, telling them to wait for the inevitable end, when they shall come to know who is upon the sound path and is rightly guided.
(source: “The Study Quran” a new translation and commentary by Seyyed Hossein Nasr)
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John Doe
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