(24–36) “Go to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed * He said, ‘My Lord, expand my breast for me * and ease my task for me * and untie a knot from my tongue * so that they may understand my speech * and appoint for me a minister from my family * Aaron, my brother * strengthen me through him * and let him share in my task * so that we may glorify You often * and remember You often * You have always been watchful over us.’ He said, ‘You have been granted your request, O Moses.’”

After Allah had revealed to Moses, made him a prophet, and shown him the manifest signs, He sent him to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, saying, “Go to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed.” That is, he had rebelled and exceeded all bounds in disbelief, corruption, arrogance upon the earth, and oppression of the weak, to the point that he claimed lordship and divinity—may Allah disgrace him. His transgression was grounds for his destruction. Yet, by Allah’s mercy, wisdom, and justice, He does not punish anyone until the proof has been established through the Messengers.

Moses, peace be upon him, then realized that he had assumed an immense burden: he had been sent to this obstinate tyrant, whom no one in Egypt could challenge, while Moses, peace be upon him, was alone, after what had happened concerning the killing. Nevertheless, he obeyed his Lord’s command, received it with a willing heart and full acceptance, and asked Him for aid and for the means that [are] (1) essential to carrying out the call fully. He said, “My Lord, expand my breast for me.” That is, broaden it and make it spacious so that I may endure verbal and physical harm without my heart becoming troubled or my breast constricted. When a person’s breast is constricted, he is not suited to guide people and call them to the truth.

Allah said to His Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“It was by mercy from Allah that you were gentle with them. Had you been harsh and hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you.”

People may well accept the truth when they are met with gentleness, patience, and an open heart.

“And ease my task for me.” That is: Make easy for me every undertaking I pursue and every path I follow in Your cause, and lighten the hardships that lie ahead of me. Part of easing the caller’s task is enabling him to approach every matter through its proper avenue, address each person in a manner suited to him, and call him by the most direct means leading him to accept what is said.

“And untie a knot from my tongue * so that they may understand my speech.” There was a heaviness in his tongue because of which people could scarcely understand his speech, as the commentators stated and as Allah relates him saying, “My brother Aaron is more eloquent in speech than I am.” He therefore asked Allah to untie a knot from his tongue so that they might understand what he said, thereby fully achieving the intended purpose of addressing them, engaging with them, and explaining the meanings.

“And appoint for me a minister from my family.” That is, an assistant who would aid, support, and help him against those to whom he had been sent. He asked that this assistant be from his family because this was an act of kindness, and a person’s relatives are most deserving of his kindness. He then specified whom he meant, saying, “Aaron, my brother * strengthen me through him.” That is: Strengthen me through him and brace my back with him. Allah said, “We shall strengthen your arm through your brother and grant you both authority.”

“And let him share in my task.” That is, in prophethood, by making him a prophet and messenger just as You have made me one.

He then mentioned the benefit of this, saying, “So that we may glorify You often * and remember You often.” Moses, peace be upon him, knew that all worship and the entire religion revolve around the remembrance of Allah. He therefore asked Allah to place his brother alongside him so that they might support one another and cooperate in righteousness and piety, and thus remember Allah abundantly through glorifying Him, declaring His oneness, and other forms of worship.

“You have always been watchful over us.” You know our condition, weakness, inability, and need for You in every matter. You know us better than we know ourselves and are more merciful to us. Therefore, favor us with what we have asked and answer our prayer to You.

Allah then said, “You have been granted your request, O Moses.” That is, you have been given everything you requested. We shall expand your breast, ease your task, untie a knot from your tongue so that they may understand your speech, and strengthen your arm through your brother Aaron: “We shall grant you both authority, so they will not reach you. Through Our signs, you and those who follow you will prevail.”

This request of Moses, peace be upon him, demonstrates the completeness of his knowledge of Allah, his sound judgment and understanding of affairs, and his perfect sincerity. A caller to Allah who guides people—especially when those being called are obstinate, arrogant, and tyrannical—needs patience, an open heart, and complete forbearance in the face of whatever harm befalls him. He also needs an eloquent tongue by which he can express what he desires and intends. Indeed, eloquence and clarity are among the most indispensable qualities for one in this position because of the frequent exchanges and efforts at persuasion. He needs to present the truth in all its beauty, to the best of his ability, so that souls will love it, and to expose the ugliness and repulsiveness of falsehood so that they will recoil from it.

Along with this, his task must also be made easy for him so that he approaches matters through their proper doors, calls to the way of Allah with wisdom and good instruction, and debates in the best manner, dealing with each person according to his condition. The completion of all this is for a person possessing these qualities to have assistants and ministers who help him achieve his objective, for when voices multiply, they inevitably have an effect. Moses, peace be upon him, therefore requested all these things and was granted them.

If you examine the condition of the prophets sent to humankind, you will find them possessing these qualities according to their respective circumstances—especially their Seal and the best of them, Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He reached the highest pinnacle of every perfect quality. He possessed openness of heart, ease in his task, eloquence of speech, excellence of expression and exposition, and supporters in upholding the truth from among the Companions and those who came after them, to a degree possessed by no one else.