(42–46) “Go, you and your brother, with My signs, and do not slacken in remembering Me. * Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed all bounds. * Speak to him gently, so that he may perhaps take heed or become fearful. * They said, ‘Our Lord, we fear that he may hasten to punish us or transgress even further.’ * He said, ‘Do not be afraid. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.’”
After Allah reminded Moses of the religious and worldly blessings He had bestowed upon him, He said to him, “Go, you and your brother”—Aaron—“with My signs,” meaning the signs from Me that demonstrate the truth and its beauty, and falsehood and its ugliness, such as the hand and the staff, among the nine signs sent to Pharaoh and his chiefs. “And do not slacken in remembering Me,” meaning: do not flag or grow weary in constantly remembering Me. Rather, persevere in it and adhere to it, as you both pledged when you said, “So that we may glorify You much and remember You much.” Remembering Allah assists one in every affair, making it easier and lightening its burden.
“Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed all bounds,” meaning that he exceeded all limits in his disbelief, tyranny, injustice, and aggression.
“Speak to him gently,” meaning with words that are easy and gracious, showing kindness, gentleness, and courtesy, without obscenity, arrogance, harsh speech, or rough conduct. “So that he may perhaps,” because of these gentle words, “take heed” of what would benefit him and pursue it, “or become fearful” of what would harm him and thus abandon it. Gentle speech encourages such a response, whereas harsh speech repels people from the one who uses it.
The gentle speech is explained in His words: “Say, ‘Would you be willing to purify yourself, and let me guide you to your Lord, so that you may fear Him?’” Anyone who reflects upon these words will readily recognize their graciousness, ease, and freedom from anything repellent. Moses used the expression “Would you be willing,” which conveys an offer and an invitation to consider—something from which no one would recoil. He invited Pharaoh to purify and cleanse himself of defilements, foremost among which is polytheism, and every sound mind accepts purification from it. He did not say, “I shall purify you,” but rather, “purify yourself”—by your own choice. He then invited him to the way of his Lord, who had nurtured him and bestowed upon him blessings both outward and inward, which ought to be met with gratitude and acknowledgment. Thus he said, “And let me guide you to your Lord, so that you may fear Him.” When Pharaoh did not accept these gentle words, whose beauty captivates hearts, it became clear that no reminder would avail him. Allah therefore seized him with the might of the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
“They said, ‘Our Lord, we fear that he may hasten to punish us,’” meaning that he might quickly inflict punishment and harm upon them before they could deliver Allah’s messages to him and establish the proof against him, “or transgress even further,” meaning that he might rebel against the truth and act tyrannically through his kingdom, authority, soldiers, and supporters.
“He said, ‘Do not be afraid’” that he would hasten to harm you. “Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.” That is, you are under My protection and care. I hear what you both say and see all your circumstances, so do not fear him. Their fear therefore vanished, and their hearts became tranquil through their Lord’s promise.