Surah Taha, Ayah 13

The First Revelation to Musa

Allah, the Exalted, says,

فَلَمَّآ أَتَاهَا

(And when he came to it,) This is referring to the fire when he approached it.

نُودِىَ يمُوسَى

(He was called by name: "O Musa!") In another Ayah it says,

نُودِىَ مِن شَاطِىءِ الْوَادِى الأَيْمَنِ فِى الْبُقْعَةِ الْمُبَارَكَةِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ أَن يمُوسَى إِنِّى أَنَا اللَّهُ

(He was called from the right side of the valley, in the blessed place, from the tree: "O Musa! Verily, I am Allah.")28:30 However, here Allah says,

إِنِّى أَنَاْ رَبُّكَ

(Verily, I am your Lord!) meaning, `the One Who is talking to you and addressing you,'

فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ

(So take off your shoes;) `Ali bin Abi Talib, Abu Dharr, Abu Ayyub and others of the Salaf said, "They (his sandals) were from the skin of a donkey that was not slaughtered." It has also been said that he was only commanded to remove his sandals due to respect for the blessed spot. Concerning Allah's statement,

How to conduct oneself when the Qur'an is being recited

فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَىٰ (So listen to what is revealed - 20:13). Sayyidna Wahb Ibn Munabbih has said that the correct behavior while listening to the recitation of the Qur'an is, that one sits still, refrains from any unnecessary movement in a way that no organ of his body is involved in any other work, keeps eyes down - concentrates the mind towards understanding its meaning. The person who listens to the Holy Qur'an in this respectful manner is rewarded by Allah Ta` ala with a better understanding of His word.

Moses was born in Egypt. There, by some mischance, a Copt got killed by him. Thereafter, he left Egypt and went to Madyan. After he had spent many years there and was married, he decided to return to Egypt, taking along with him his wife and his flock of sheep. In the course of this journey, Moses passed through the Tur valley situated in the south of the Sinai peninsula. When night fell, he was unable to make out the way in the darkness. Moreover, it was winter time and the weather was bitterly cold. But soon he saw some far-off fire burning. Moses immediately set off in that direction to obtain some burning brands to keep them warm and also in the hopes of finding someone of whom he could ask the way.