these practical advantages, alluded to in His words, “and for other purposes besides,”—and from that same verse one further learns the duty to show mercy to animals, to treat them kindly, and to work for the removal of anything harmful to them.
• Another lesson: the Almighty’s command, “And establish the prayer for My remembrance” (Taha 14), teaches that the servant was created to remember his Lord; his rectitude and ultimate success depend on that remembrance. The very purpose of performing the prayer is to realize this supreme objective. Were it not for the prayers that recur for the believers day and night—reminding them of Allah through the recitation of the Quran, praising Him, supplicating Him, and humbling themselves before Him, which is the essence of remembrance—they would surely drift into heedlessness.
Just as creation was brought into being for remembrance, and every act of worship is itself a form of remembering Allah, so too does remembrance help the servant carry out acts of obedience, however taxing they may be; it eases his stance before tyrants and lightens the burden of calling others to Allah. Concerning this episode He said, “so that we may glorify You abundantly, and remember You abundantly” (Taha 33–34), and, “Go, you and your brother, with My signs, and do not slacken in remembering Me” (Taha 42).
• A further point: Moses’s kindness toward his brother Aaron, peace be upon them both. He asked his Lord to make Aaron a prophet alongside him and to assist him in the work of righteousness, saying, “Appoint for me a minister from my family—Aaron, my brother—strengthen my back through him, and make him share in my task” (Taha 29–32).
• Another lesson: eloquence and clarity of speech are invaluable for teaching and for carrying the call to Allah. For this reason Moses asked his Lord to “loosen the knot from my tongue so that they may understand my speech.” A speech impediment is no defect so long as the meaning is conveyed. Out of perfect courtesy toward his Lord, Moses did not ask for the complete removal of the impediment, but only for what would achieve the intended goal.