Surah TaHa — A Meccan Revelation
Taken From Haqaiqul-Furqan Volume 4 Page 33, 2024 Edition
بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ
In the Name of Allāh, the Gracious, the Merciful
We begin reading this Surah in the name of Allāh, the Being who is described by all praiseworthy attributes and is free from every defect, the One who shows mercy without effort being asked, and who also bestows great reward for effort exerted.
The Muqaṭṭaʿāt (Abbreviated Letters): طٰہٰ
طٰہٰ
Translation: O man who is eager (and strives) in righteous deeds.
Commentary:طٰہٰ
In the Arabic language, Ṭāhā is used for a person upon whom a strong urge (dhun) for some matter has taken hold.
In Arabic literature, much is found concerning the beauty and grace of beloveds, the display of one’s own perfection, the strength of one’s company, and the destruction of the enemy. In the Book of Allāh the Exalted, however, what is mentioned is the greatness of Allāh, the might (jabarūt) of Allāh, and the wonders of Allāh’s Power. (Badr, Vol. 10, No. 43, dated 24 August 1911, p. 4)
For the believer, consolation is a great necessity, and in matters of consolation, there is nothing greater than a living example. The noble Companions and the Holy Prophet(sa) were surrounded by enemies on every side. It is in this very condition that the account of Hazrat Mūsā(as) is being narrated to them — how he remained safe from his enemies, and how, in the end, he became victorious and triumphant. In this rukūʿ, mention is made of the support given to the preacher (wāʿiẓ).
Ṭāhā — one upon whom the urge for some task has taken such firm hold that he is determined it must come to pass and that he must succeed in it. If, however, one is unsuccessful, the term used is taha. (Ḍamīma Akhbār Badr Qādiān, Vol. 9, No. 30, dated 19 May 1910, p. 166)
In this Surah there is a confirmation (taʾyīd) of the acceptance of supplication.
Ṭāhā — O great man, O eager one! (Tashḥīdh al-Adhhān, Vol. 8, No. 9, September 1913, p. 466)
The Purpose of the Quran’s Revelation and the Majesty of Allāh
مَاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡقُرۡاٰنَ لِتَشۡقٰۤی۔اِلَّا تَذۡکِرَۃً لِّمَنۡ یَّخۡشٰی۔ تَنۡزِیۡلًا مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقَ الۡاَرۡضَ وَالسَّمٰوٰتِ الۡعُلٰی۔ اَلرَّحۡمٰنُ عَلَی الۡعَرۡشِ اسۡتَوٰی ۔
Translation: “We have not sent down this Quran upon you that you should be put to hardship and fail; rather, it is a reminder and an admonition for him who fears. It has been sent down from Him who created the earth and the high heavens. The Gracious God is firmly established on the Throne (of His sovereignty).”
Commentary:
لِتَشۡقٰی — Meaning that you and your companions will end up unsuccessful. That shall not be so.
تَذۡکِرَۃً — One who recalls to mind; an admonition. It reminds (a person) of that which is already present in (his) nature.
عَلَی الۡعَرۡشِ اسۡتَوٰی — He stands firm upon the throne of His sovereignty, free of every defect.
(Ḍamīma Akhbār Badr Qādiān, Vol. 9, No. 30, dated 19 May 1910, p. 166)
The Meanings of اسۡتَوٰی
اِعْتَدَلَ -اِسْتَوَى — (meaning, there is no defect in His sovereignty.)
بَلَغَ اَشُدَّهُ — (He has reached the (height of) perfection.)
عَلٰی — (He is exalted above all.)
ظَهَرَ — (He is dominant.)
اِسْتَقَرَّ — (There is no instability in His kingship.)
اِنْتَهَىٰ — (He is unique in His attributes.)
(Tashḥīdh al-Adhhān, Vol. 8, No. 9, September 1913, pp. 466–467)
Allāh’s Knowledge of the Hidden and the More Hidden
وَاِنۡ تَجۡہَرۡ بِالۡقَوۡلِ فَاِنَّہٗ یَعۡلَمُ السِّرَّ وَاَخۡفٰی۔اَللّٰہُ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ ؕ لَہُ الۡاَسۡمَآءُ الۡحُسۡنٰی ۔
Translation: And if you speak (your word) aloud, then what, for surely He knows the hidden secrets and the manifest, all of them. Allāh is the Holy Being besides whom there is no true god — only He is the true God; to Him belong all the most beautiful names.
Commentary:
Sirr (السِّرَّ) is that which is within us at this present moment, and akhfā (اَخْفَىٰ) is that which, in circumstances yet to come, may become the intentions of a person — that which even the person himself does not yet know. (Ḍamīma Akhbār Badr Qādiān, Vol. 9, No. 30, dated 19 May 1910, p. 166)
Allāh’s Knowledge Encompasses Even Future Thoughts
Allāh the Exalted knows the secrets of hearts; and furthermore, even a thought which is going to enter my heart, for example, one year hence — He knows even that. Yaʿlamu al-sirra wa akhfā (یَعۡلَمُ السِّرَّ وَاَخۡفٰی).
Allāh’s “Names,” Not “Attributes”
(لَہُ الۡاَسۡمَآءُ الۡحُسۡنٰی) — Nowhere in the Quran does the word ṣifāt (attributes) appear in reference to Allāh. He has used the word asmāʾ (names) only.
(Badr, Vol. 10, No. 43, dated 24 August 1911, p. 4)