Transliteration:( Wa waa'adnaa Moosaa salaaseena lailatanw wa at mamnaahaa bi'ashrim fatamma meeqaatu Rabbihee arba'eena lailah; wa qaala Moosaa liakheehi Haaroonakh lufnee fee qawmee wa aslih wa laa tattabi' sabeelal mufsideen )
And We made Musa a promise of thirty nights and (303) completed adding ten more in them. So the promise of his Lord was completed with forty nights (304). And Musa said to his brother Harun: "Be my vicegerent among my people and (305) do right and follow not the way of mischief-makers" (306).
The initial 30-night promise made to Musa (peace be upon him) was later extended by 10 more nights, making it a 40-night spiritual retreat. From this, the practice of ‘chilla’ or 40-day seclusion among saints is derived. Even the Holy Prophet ﷺ spent six months in seclusion in the Cave of Hira before revelation. The verse mentions nights specifically, indicating the special spiritual rank of night worship over day.
Musa (peace be upon him) fasted for 30 days, but upon sensing an odor from his mouth, he used the miswaak before appearing before Allah. Allah then told him that the smell of a fasting person’s mouth is dearer than musk, and ordered him to fast 10 more days, completing 40. This also shows that Musa's extra fasts were specific to him, and miswaak does not invalidate fasting for others.
Before ascending Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, Musa appointed Harun (peace be upon him) as his temporary deputy, just as the Holy Prophet ﷺ appointed Ali (RA) during his absence before certain battles. This does not imply a permanent succession, as Harun passed away before Musa, and his vicegerency was limited to that period of absence.
Musa advised Harun not to follow the rebellious among the Israelites but instead to strive for reform and righteousness. Though Harun was a Prophet in his own right, he served as minister under Musa’s leadership. Despite his guidance, some people turned to idol worship during Musa’s absence. In contrast, the Holy Prophet ﷺ declared: “Allah is the successor over my Ummah,” and by this divine protection, Muslims remain steadfast in Islam—a blessing affirmed by generations of scholars and saints.
142. And We appointed for Musa thirty nights and added ten, and he completed the term, appointed by his Lord, of forty nights. And Musa said to his brother Harun: “Replace me among my people, act in the right way and follow not the way of the mischief-makers.”
Allah reminds the Children of Israel of the guidance that He sent to them by speaking directly to Musa and revealing the Tawrah to him. In it, was their law and the details of their legislation. Allah stated here that He appointed thirty nights for Musa. The scholars of Tafsir said that Musa fasted this period, and when they ended, Musa cleaned his teeth with a twig. Allah commanded him to complete the term adding ten more days, making the total forty. When the appointed term finished, Musa was about to return to Mount Tur, as Allah said,
(O Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and We made a covenant with you on the right side of the Mount) ﴿20:80﴾. Musa left his brother Harun with the Children of Israel and commanded him to use wisdom and refrain from mischief. This was only a reminder, for Harun was an honorable and noble Prophet who had grace and exalted standard with Allah, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him and the rest of the Prophets.
(7:142) And We appointed for Moses thirty nights, to which We added ten, whereby the term of forty nights set by his Lord was fulfilled.[99] And Moses said to Aaron, his brother: ‘Take my place among my people, act righteously, and do not follow the path of those who create mischief.’[100]
99. After the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt which marks, on the one hand, the end of the constraints of slavery and on the other, the beginning of their life as an independent nation, Moses was summoned by God to Mount Sinai in order that he might receive the Law for Israel. He was initially summoned for a period of forty days so that he might single-mindedly devote himself to worshipping, fasting, meditation and reflection and thus develop the ability to receive the revelation which was to put a very heavy burden upon him.
In compliance with God’s command, Moses left the Israelites at the place now known as the Wadi al-Shaykh which lies between Nabi Salih and Mount Sinai. The place where the Israelites had camped is presently called
Maydan al-Rahah. At one end of the valley is a hillock where, according to local tradition, the Prophet Salih pitched his tent after his migration from the land of Thamud. A mosque built as a monument to the Prophet Salih still adorns the landscape. Mount Harun is located at the other end of the valley where, again, according to local tradition, the Prophet Harun (Aaron) stayed after his exasperation with the Israelites because of their cow-worship. The top of the towering Mount Sinai, standing 7,359 feet high, is mostly enveloped by clouds. The cave to which Moses retired for forty days to devote himself to worship and meditation is situated at the top of the mountain, and still attracts many pilgrims. Close to the cave are a mosque and a church. Moreover, a monastery built in the Justinian period stands even today at the foot of the mountain. (See Tafhim al-Qur’an, (al-Naml 27: nn. 9-10).
100. Although Aaron was senior to Moses in age by three years, he was placed under the direction of the Prophet Moses and was required to assist him in connection with his mission, As explained elsewhere in the Qur’an, Aaron was not assigned independent prophethood; he was rather appointed a Prophet by God in response to Moses’ prayer that he be appointed as his assistant. See (Ta Ha 20: 29-31 – Ed.)
[400]- i.e., keep their affairs in order.
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