NAME: طه, Ta-Ha.
Name taken from Verse 1 where there is a mention of the word “Ta-Ha”.
١ طه
1 Ta, Ha.
But It does not mean that this name is the actual topic discussed in the whole Surah. It is just a reference and mark/symbol to distinguish this Surah from others as is with most other Surahs of Quran. While there are diversified topics discussed in these Surahs.
ENGLISH NAME: Ta-Ha.
CHAPTER NUMBER: 20
SURAH TA HA TOTAL VERSES: 135
SURAH TAHA TOTAL WORDS: 1,353
TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 809
TOTAL LETTERS: 5,399
REVELATION PERIOD:
Meccan, Approx. 615 – 617 AD.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
God, Muhammad, Moses, Pharaoh, Moses Mother, Moses Sister, Magicians, Aaron, Samiri, Golden Calf, Adam, Angels, Satan.
SURAH TA HA MAIN TOPICS:
Story Of Moses, Fire and God Speaks, God’s Favors on Moses and Miracles Given, Magicians and Moses, Pharaoh Party Drowned, Moses Appointment with God and Samiri Made a Golden Calf for worship, Last Day Scene and Terror, Mention of Adam Satan and Garden, Signs & warnings in Destruction of Past Generations.
SURAH TA HA KEY VERSES:
١٢ إِنِّي أَنَا رَبُّكَ فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى
12 Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa.
٢٥ قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي
25 [Moses] said, “My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance]
٢٦ وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي
26 And ease for me my task
٢٧ وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي
27 And untie the knot from my tongue
٢٨ يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
28 That they may understand my speech.
١٠٢ يَوْمَ يُنْفَخُ فِي الصُّورِ ۚ وَنَحْشُرُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ زُرْقًا
102 The Day the Horn will be blown. And We will gather the criminals, that Day, blue-eyed.
١٠٣ يَتَخَافَتُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِنْ لَبِثْتُمْ إِلَّا عَشْرًا
103 They will murmur among themselves, “You remained not but ten [days in the world].”
١٢٤ وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْ ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ
124 And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.”
SUMMARY OF TOPICS
1-7(Muhammad We Have Not Sent Down to You the qur’an That You Be Distressed, Quran Is Only a Reminder for Those Who Fear), 9-22(Story Of Moses, Saw Fire, When He Came to It, He Was Called, “O Moses I Am Ur Lord Takeoff Shoes Verse12, Indeed the Hour Is Coming – I Almost Conceal It Verse15, Two Miracles Given to Moses), 24(God Commanded Moses Go to Pharaoh He Has Transgressed.), 25-28(Moses Pray: Expand my Chest Loose Knot of my Tongue and Appoint for Me a Minister From my Family), 38-41(Wahi/ Revelation on Moses Mother To Cast Moses Into the Chest and Cast It Into the River Verse39, Mention of Moses Sister, God Tried Moses With Trials Until He Reached at the Decreed Time/Level, O Moses I Have Produced You for Myself Verse41), 49-55(Dialogue Between Moses & Pharaoh), 56-60(Pharaoh Denied all Signs, Magic Challenge Appointment on the Day of the Festival When the People Assemble at Mid-Morning), 66(Moses Felt Fear Of Magic), 69-73(Moses Threw his Staff, Magicians Prostrated and Believed in Lord of Moses and Aaron, Pharaoh Anger), 77-78( Sea Parted, Pharaoh Party Drowned), 83-88(Moses Dialogues With God, God Said to Moses I Put Your Folk in Trial, Samiri Misled Them All, Moses Returned in Anger, Golden Calf Verse88), 93-94 ( Moses Question Aaron You Disobeyed my Order?, Aaron Reply: I Feared That You Would Say, ‘You Caused Division Among the Children of Israel) 95-97 (Moses Question to Samiri, Samiri Reply: “I Saw What They Did Not See, So I Took a Handful [of Dust] From the Track of the Messenger and Threw It, and Thus Did my Soul Entice Me.”, Moses Said Samiri I Decreed for You a Social Boycott, Touch Me Not), 102-110(Last Day Trumpet/Sur, God Will Gather the Criminals That Day Blue-Eyed, They Will Think They Stayed in the World for Ten Days, Best of Them in Manner Will Say You Stayed Maximum by One Day, all Will Follow a Summoner, That Day, no Intercession Will Benefit Except What God Wills), 113-115(the qur’an Is Sent in Arabic To Teach and To Remind, O Muhammad Do Not Hasten With the qur’an Before its Revelation Is Completed to You, Adam Covenant and Forgetfulness), 117-121(Adam, Angels, Satan, No Hunger Thirst Sun in Garden,Adam Eve Ate From the Tree and Became Naked Verse121), 123(God Said: Go Down From Here All of You), 124(Whoever Turns Away From God’s Remembrance, He Will Be Resurrected as Blind), 128-135(Warning, How Many Generation We Destroyed Before Them as They Walk Among Their Dwellings? Indeed in That Are Signs for Those of Intelligence, Do Not Resent and Long What Others Possess in Worldly Benefits, Rather Seek God’s Pleasure if You Want To Attain the Blessed End)
SURAH TAHA BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACK GROUND
This Surah has 135 verses divided into 8 Rukus/Sections. This Surah was revealed in Mecca same time as of Surah Maryam almost six to seven years before Prophet Muhammad’s migration to Yathrib (Madina). This was the time when the opposition of Meccans turned from verbal accusations and abuse to physical and socio-economic torture and bans. This is the time when many Muslims migrated to nearby country of Abyssinia.
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: One who recites Surah Taha, will be given the reward on Day of Judgment as of the emigrants and the helpers(Ansars).
Abu Hurairah reported Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “A thousand years before creating the Heavens and the Earth Allah Subhan Taala recited Taha and Yasin. And when the angels heard the recitation they said, ‘Glad tidings for those people to whom this comes down, good news for those hearts which carry this and good news for those tongues which utter this.”
Traditions tell that the recitation of this Surah by Umar’s sister led to his conversion to Islam. Umar was appointed by a group of Meccans to kill the Prophet. He set out towards the Prophet with a sword in hand. On his way he met a friend who said “Why don’t you take care of your own family first and set them right?” Means that Umar’s own sister has accepted Islam. Umar went straight to his sister Fatimah’s house where he heard the voice of his brother in law, Saeed bin Zaid, reciting the Quran. Umar started attacking beating him. His sister came to save her husband, but Umar also struck her fiercely, Fatimah said “O Umar, you can do what you wish, but you cannot change our hearts away from Islam.” Hearing these words, Umar became more violent and slapped his sister so hard that she fell to the ground bleeding. When his anger came down he asked his sister to give him what she was reciting.
Umar began to read: Ta. Ha. We have not Sent down on thee the Quran that thou shouldst be distressed. But only as an admonition unto him who feareth. A down sent from Him who Created the earth and the heavens high. The Compassionate on the Throne is established. Umar started weeping and said what an excellent thing, surely this is the word of God. On listening this Khabbab came out from inside and said “O, Umar Glad tidings for you. Yesterday Muhammad prayed to God, to give strength to Islam with either Umar or Abu Jahl, whom God likes. It looks like that his prayer has been answered in your favor.
Umar then went straight to the house of the Prophet to accept Islam. Upon hearing that, the Prophet and his Companions shouted “Allahu Akbar” so loudly that it could be heard at the Kabah.
The theme of the Surah is to assure Prophet Muhammad and his followers that the message of the Quran will ultimately succeed. The story of Prophet Moses mentioned in detail. To show that the fundamental truths in all revealed religions are identical and same were taught to Prophet Moses at the time of his appointment. Then it is mentioned how the enemies of Islam are opposing it and what will be the consequences of this opposition for them. At the end of the Surah, Meccans have been warned and admonished that the Quran has been sent down in your tongue for your own good. If you listen to it and follow its instructions, you will be doing so for your own good. And in case of rejection, you will face an evil end.
