فَقُولَا لَهُۥ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًا لَّعَلَّهُۥ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰ 44
Translations
And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allāh]."
Transliteration
Faqūlā lahu qawlan layyinan laʿallahu yatadakkaru aw yakhshā
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands Musa and Harun to speak to Pharaoh with gentle, soft speech despite his arrogance and disbelief, hoping that he might remember the truth or fear Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this instruction demonstrates wisdom in da'wah (calling to Islam)—even when addressing the most hardened hearts, kind words may penetrate where harshness would only harden resistance further. This ayah exemplifies that the method of conveying the message is sometimes as important as the message itself.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Musa's mission to Pharaoh, occurring in the Meccan period when the Prophet Muhammad faced similar resistance to his message. The context emphasizes that even the most seemingly hopeless case (Pharaoh) deserves to be approached with mercy and gentleness, providing a model for believers facing rejection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad said: 'Gentleness is not found in anything except that it beautifies it, and it is not withdrawn from anything except that it defiles it' (Sahih Muslim 2594). Also relevant is the hadith emphasizing kind speech: 'A kind word is sadaqah (charity)' (Sahih Bukhari 2989).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that effective communication, especially in matters of faith, requires patience and gentleness rather than harshness, as even the most resistant hearts may be moved by kind words and good character. Modern believers should apply this principle in personal and religious discourse, remembering that how we deliver the message often determines whether it is received.
Related Ayahs
وَهَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰٓ
And has the story of Moses reached you? -
يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِى ٱلصُّورِ ۚ وَنَحْشُرُ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ زُرْقًا
The Day the Horn will be blown. And We will gather the criminals, that Day, blue-eyed.
وَلَقَدْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِى فَٱضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًا فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا لَّا تَخَـٰفُ دَرَكًا وَلَا تَخْشَىٰ
And We had inspired to Moses, "Travel by night with My servants and strike for them a dry path through the sea; you will not fear being overtaken [by Pharaoh] nor be afraid [of drowning]."
قَالَ فَٱذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ لَكَ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ أَن تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَّن تُخْلَفَهُۥ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِكَ ٱلَّذِى ظَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفًا ۖ لَّنُحَرِّقَنَّهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَنسِفَنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ نَسْفًا
[Moses] said, "Then go. And indeed, it is [decreed] for you in [this] life to say, 'No contact.' And indeed, you have an appointment [in the Hereafter] you will not fail to keep. And look at your 'god' to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and blow it [i.e., its ashes] into the sea with a blast.