"Hal ataaka hadeethu Moosaa," meaning, ‘Have you heard of his news?’ "Idh naadaa rabbahu …" meaning, ‘He spoke to him, calling out.’ "Bil-waadil-muqaddas …" meaning ‘Purified.’ "Tuwaa," and that is the name of the valley in the correct saying, as has preceded in Soorah Taa Haa (aayahs 9 onwards).

As-Sa’dee said, "’Hal ataaka hadeethu Moosaa,’ this is a question about a very great matter, which had certainly occurred. Meaning, ‘Has the news reached you of when his Lord called him in the purified valley of Tuwaa, which is the place where Allaah spoke to him, and blessed him with Messengership and sent him with Revelation, and chose him."

Ash-Shawkaanee said, "The sentence, ‘Hal ataaka hadeethu Moosaa,’ comes as a consolation for Allaah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, for the denail of his people and that the same will befall those who were before them and were stronger than them."

Idhhab ilaa Fir’awna innhu Taghaa

• At-Tabaree said, "He, the Most High, says, "Moosaa wsa called to by his Lord, ‘Go to Pharoah, he has transgressed and gone beyond limits in his transgression and haughty rejection of his Lord."

• As-Sadee said, "I.e., and so forbid him from his transgression, his shrik and his disobedience, with a mild word, and a gentle form of address."

At-Tabaree said, "He says, ‘And say to him, ‘Would you purify yourself from the pollution of shirk, and believe in your Lord?’’ Ibn Zayd said, "Would you accept Islaam." He said, "And at-Tazakkee (purification of onesself) wherever it occurs in the Qur‘aan means Islaam." He then recited Taa Haa (20), aayah: 76, ’Abasa (80), aayah 3 and 7."

Ibn Katheer said, "Meaning, ‘Say to him, ‘Would you accept to follow a way and a path through which you will become purified, and accept Islaam and be obedient.’’"

As-Sa’dee said, "Meaning, ‘Would you accept a praiseworthy attribute, a fine quality, which people of wisdom strive to attain and that is that you purify yourself from the pollution of kufr and transgression, and turn to eemaan and righteous action."

Ibn al-Qayyim said in At-Tibyaan fee Aqsaamil-Qur‘aan (pp. 132-141), "In this address there are a number of examples of gentleness in address and mildness in speech:

Firstly: The speech was presented in the form of an offer, and not given in the form of a command and a binding demand. It is like the saying of Ibraaheem to his noble guests, "Will you not eat?" (Soorah adh-Dhaariyaat, 17) and he did not say, "Eat!"

Secondly: His saying, "Ilaa an-Tazakkaa" that you should purify yourself, and it means: growth, purification, blessing and increase. So he presented to him a matter which every person with intellect would accept, and no one except an ignorant fool would reject this.

Thirdly: His saying, "Tazakkaa" that you should purify yourself, and he did not say, "I will purify you." So he attributed the purification to him and this is the way in which the sovereigns are addressed.

Fourthly: His saying, "Wa Ahdiyaka" meaning, "I should be a guide for you and one in front of you to show you the way." So he attributed the state of guiding to himself and the purification to the one he was speaking to you. Meaning, "I will be a guide showing you the way so that you can purify yourself." So it is just as you would say to a man, "Would you like that I should show you a treasure, so you may take from it what you wish?" And this is better than saying, "I will give you."

Fifthly: His saying, "Ilaa rabbikaa" "To your Lord," since this necessitates acceptance of what it indicates, which is that he calls him and connects him to his Lord, and his Originator and his Creator Who brought him into existence, and Who bestowed His blessings upon him, as an unborn foetus, and as a child, and as a grown man, and He granted kingship to him. So it is a type of address containing an appeal and an imperative requirement. Just as you would say to one who abandoned obedience to his master, "Will you not obey your master and your owner?" And as you would say to a boy, "Will you not obey your father who has brought you up?"