قَالَ كَلَّا ۖ فَٱذْهَبَا بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ ۖ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسْتَمِعُونَ 15
Translations
[Allāh] said, "No. Go both of you with Our signs; indeed, We are with you, listening.
Transliteration
Qala kalla fādhhabā bi-āyātinā innā maʿakum mustamʿūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah reassures Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) by rejecting their fear and commanding them to go forth with His signs to Pharaoh, promising His divine support and vigilant listening to their situation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that 'Kalla' (nay/no) refutes their hesitation, while 'we are with you listening' denotes Allah's complete awareness and protection of the messengers' mission, encouraging them to proceed with confidence despite the grave dangers ahead.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Musa's commissioning as a prophet in Surah Ash-Shu'ara. Musa expressed fear about his speech impediment and concern about Pharaoh's potential response (26:13-14), and this ayah represents Allah's direct response, reassuring him that despite his doubts, he should proceed with his divine message. The context reflects the early challenges faced by messengers when confronting tyrannical rulers.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Surah Ta-Ha (20:25-36) contains related traditions in which Musa expresses similar concerns and receives similar reassurance. The theme of Allah's listening and support is reinforced in hadith collections discussing answered supplications, such as in Sahih Muslim and Jami' at-Tirmidhi regarding divine proximity to those on righteous missions.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that when facing daunting challenges in fulfilling their obligations to Allah, divine support and listening presence transcend human limitations and fears—encouraging reliance on God's promise rather than despair over personal shortcomings. The lesson applies to anyone undertaking a righteous mission despite feelings of inadequacy.