۞ وَوَٰعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَـٰثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَتْمَمْنَـٰهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَـٰتُ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ۚ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَـٰرُونَ ٱخْلُفْنِى فِى قَوْمِى وَأَصْلِحْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ 142
Translations
And We made an appointment with Moses for thirty nights and perfected them by [the addition of] ten; so the term of his Lord was completed as forty nights. And Moses said to his brother Aaron, "Take my place among my people, do right [by them], and do not follow the way of the corrupters."
Transliteration
Wa wa'adna Musa thalathina laylatan wa atammnahā bi'ashrin fatamma mīqātu rabbihī arba'īna laylatan wa qāla Mūsā li-akhīhi Hārūn ikhlufnī fī qawmī wa aslih wa lā tattabi' sabīla al-mufsidīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah promised Musa (Moses) a meeting after thirty nights, then completed it with ten more nights, making the total appointment forty nights—a period during which Musa would receive the Torah. Before ascending the mountain, Musa instructed his brother Hārūn (Aaron) to lead the people in his absence, maintain order, and avoid following the ways of the corruptors. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this forty-day period became a spiritual standard in Islamic tradition, and Musa's charge to Hārūn demonstrates the importance of delegating responsibility and maintaining justice during leadership transitions.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Musa's journey to Mount Sinai to receive the divine revelation (the Torah). It occurs within the broader context of Surah Al-A'raf, which recounts stories of prophets and their peoples, emphasizing obedience to Allah and the consequences of deviation. This specific passage follows Musa's selection by Allah and precedes the incident of the golden calf, providing crucial background to understand the trials of the Israelites.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), relating to Musa's trust in Hārūn as a family member and successor. Additionally, the hadith about the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) being better than a thousand months connects to the spiritual significance of these forty nights of divine revelation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us the importance of entrusting capable individuals with responsibility during our absence and the necessity of guiding them toward righteousness and away from corruption. It also reminds us that spiritual elevation requires dedicated time and preparation, and that leadership involves not only receiving divine guidance but also ensuring its proper implementation among those we serve.