Transliteration:( Inneee Ana Rabbuka fakhla' na'laika innaka bilwaadil muqaddasi Tuwaa )
12. This sound was coming from the tree. That tree was not Allah Almighty, but the reflection of His Speech. For example, the box of the radio does not speak, but it reflects the voice of the speaker. Likewise, those great saints engrossed in the meditation of Allah Almighty who said: "Anal Haq" (I am the Truth) ("Ya Subhani Ma Azamu Shaani") in a state of fervour, did not utter these words out of their own volition, but like this tree. they were the reflection of Someone's speech.Â
13. From this, emerge three issues:
1. We show respect to blessed and sacred jungles, like the jungles of Makkah and Madina Munawwarah, which are known as sacred territories.
2. To take off your shoes for the sake of respect is the way of the Prophets. Thus, it is appropriate to take off shoes before entering the mosque, even if it is free of any impurity.
3.The Holy Prophet has صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم been blessed on the night of Me'raaj with Divine Proclamation, but there is no proof anywhere that the Messenger of Allah Almighty was given the order to take صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم off his shoes.Â
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The tafsir of Surah Ta-Ha verse 12 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Taha ayat 11 which provides the complete commentary from verse 11 through 16.
(20:12) Verily I am your Lord! Take off your shoes.[7] You are in the sacred valley, Tuwa![8]
7. Probably, it is because of this that the Jews do not say their prayers with their shoes on. The Prophet (peace be upon him), however, removed this misunderstanding, saying: Act in contrast to the practice of the Jews who do not say their prayers with their shoes or leather socks on. (Abu Daud). It does not, however, mean that one must say his prayers with the shoes on, but it is merely to make it lawful to say prayers with shoes on. This is confirmed by another tradition, related by Abu Daud from Amar bin Aas, that he had seen the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying his prayer both with and without the shoes. There are other traditions also to this effect but it should also be kept in mind that there were no carpets, mats, etc. in the mosques in those days, not even in the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) Mosque. Therefore it would be improper to go with shoes on into the mosques of today which have carpets, mats, etc. However, one may say his prayer on grassy plots or open ground with shoes on.
8. In general, the commentators are of the opinion that Tuwa was the name of the valley, but according to some, it is the valley that had been made sacred for the time being.
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