وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْأَلْوَاحِ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مَّوْعِظَةً وَتَفْصِيلًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍ وَأْمُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُوا۟ بِأَحْسَنِهَا ۚ سَأُو۟رِيكُمْ دَارَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ 145
Translations
And We wrote for him on the tablets [something] of all things - instruction and explanation for all things, [saying], "Take them with determination and order your people to take the best of it. I will show you the home of the defiantly disobedient."
Transliteration
Wa katabna lahu fil-alwahi min kulli shay'in maw'izatan wa tafsilан li-kulli shay'in fa-khuzha bi-quwwatin wa'mur qawmaka ya'khuzoo bi-ahsaniha sa-oorikum dara al-fasiqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commanded Musa (Moses) to take the Tablets with strength and guide his people to adopt the best of its teachings. The Tablets contained comprehensive guidance, moral instruction (maw'izah), and detailed explanation (tafsil) of all matters of law and faith. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this ayah demonstrates the completeness of the divine law given to Musa, and the command to take it 'with strength' suggests both firm resolve and careful handling, while instructing others toward the best path reflects the responsibility of leadership in conveying divine wisdom.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the narrative of Musa receiving the Tablets after his forty-day retreat on Mount Sinai (Ayah 142). The context follows Allah's command to Musa regarding the divine guidance inscribed upon the Tablets, which served as the foundation of the Shariah for the Children of Israel. This is part of the larger Meccan surah that establishes the continuity of divine guidance through the prophets.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said regarding the importance of taking knowledge firmly: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, in Muslim the Prophet emphasized leadership responsibility: 'All of you are shepherds and each of you is responsible for his flock' (Sahih Muslim 1829).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that receiving divine guidance is not merely a passive reception but requires active commitment ('take it with strength') and a responsibility to guide others toward the best understanding and practice. For modern believers, this emphasizes that true knowledge of religion must be coupled with firm conviction and the sincere effort to share its wisdom with others in the most excellent manner.
Related Ayahs
وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَـٰلِحًا ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً ۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And to the Thamūd [We sent] their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. This is the she-camel of Allāh [sent] to you as a sign. So leave her to eat within Allāh's land and do not touch her with harm, lest there seize you a painful punishment.
قَدِ ٱفْتَرَيْنَا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا إِنْ عُدْنَا فِى مِلَّتِكُم بَعْدَ إِذْ نَجَّىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ مِنْهَا ۚ وَمَا يَكُونُ لَنَآ أَن نَّعُودَ فِيهَآ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا ۚ وَسِعَ رَبُّنَا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا ۚ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا ٱفْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْفَـٰتِحِينَ
We would have invented against Allāh a lie if we returned to your religion after Allāh had saved us from it. And it is not for us to return to it except that Allāh, our Lord, should will. Our Lord has encompassed all things in knowledge. Upon Allāh we have relied. Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth, and You are the best of those who give decision."
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِم مُّوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِۦ فَظَلَمُوا۟ بِهَا ۖ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
Then We sent after them Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his establishment, but they were unjust toward them. So see how was the end of the corrupters.
قَالَ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنظَرِينَ
[Allāh] said, "Indeed, you are of those reprieved."