an appointment in Allah’s decree. Muhammad ibn Kab said: “You came at the precise time that I had decreed you would come.”

Abd al-Rahman ibn Kaysan said: At the age of forty, which is the age at which revelation is bestowed upon the prophets. This is the meaning stated by most commentators: at the time Allah had promised and decreed that he would receive revelation of the Message, namely, at forty years of age.

“And I have prepared you for Myself. (41) Go, you and your brother, with My signs, and do not slacken in My remembrance. (42) Go, both of you, to Pharaoh; indeed, he has transgressed. (43) And speak to him gently, that perhaps he may be reminded or fear Allah.” (44)

Allah Most High says, “And I have prepared you for Myself”: that is, I have chosen and selected you for My revelation and My Message, so that you may act in accordance with My will 12/a and My love. For his undertaking to convey the Message is an action in accordance with Allah’s will and love. (1)

Al-Zajjaj said: “I have chosen you for My command and made you the one who establishes My proof and conveys My address between Me and My creation. It is as though I Myself have established the proof against them through you and addressed them through you.”

“Go, you and your brother, with My signs”: with My proofs. Ibn Abbas said: This refers to the nine signs with which Moses was sent. “And do not slacken”: do not become weak. Al-Suddi said: Do not grow weary. Muhammad ibn Kab said: Do not fall short “in My remembrance.” “Go, both of you, to Pharaoh; indeed, he has transgressed.”

Abu Amr and the reciters of the Hijaz recited “for Myself, go” (linafsiya idhhab), “and in My remembrance, go, both of you” (wa dhikriya idhhaba), “indeed, my people have taken” (inna qawmiya ittakhadhu) (al-Furqan 30), and “after me, whose name is” (min badiya ismuhu) (al-Saff 6), pronouncing the final ya with a fathah in each instance. Abu Bakr agreed with them in the reading, “after me, whose name is,” while the remaining reciters pronounced it with a silent final ya.

“And speak to him gently”: that is, treat him courteously and be gentle with him. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Do not be harsh in your speech to him.”

Al-Suddi and Ikrimah said: Address him by his honorific patronymic, saying, “O Abu al-Abbas”; and it was also said, “O Abu al-Walid.”

Muqatil said: Gentle speech means: “Would you be willing to purify yourself, and let me guide you to your Lord so that you may fear Him?” (al-Naziat 18–19)

It was also said that they were commanded to speak gently in consideration of Pharaoh’s right of having raised Moses.