Surah Ta-Ha 20:93
ﱿ ﲀ ﲁ ﲂ ﲃ
From following me? Then have you disobeyed my order?"
Tafsir of Ta-Ha 20:93
Tafsir
Ruh al-Ma'ani
Verse range: 20:93
{ أَلَّا تَتَّبِعَنِ } (Meaning: "That you did not follow me," upon the premise that the *lā* [in *allā*] is an expletive, as in the words of the Exalted: *"What prevented you that you did not prostrate?"* [al-A'raf: 12]. It is the second object of the verb *mana'aka* [prevented you], and *idh* [when] is connected to *mana'aka*. It is also said that it is connected to *tattabi'ani* [follow me], but this is rejected on the grounds that what follows *an-lā* cannot govern what precedes it. It has been answered that adverbial expressions allow for a latitude not permitted in others, and also that the preceding verb, when the following clause is treated as its second object, is considered to be effectively placed before it—though this is as you see.
The meaning is: What prevented you, upon seeing their misguidance, from following me and proceeding as I proceeded in showing anger for the sake of Allah the Exalted, and in fighting those who disbelieved in Him? This has been narrated from Muqatil. Others said: [it refers to] in reform and correction, but the outward appearance of the apology does not support this. Abu Hayyan considered it most probable that the meaning is: What prevented you from joining me at Mount Tur with those who believed from the Children of Israel? This has been narrated from Ibn Abbas—may Allah the Exalted be pleased with them both.
Musa (peace be upon him) perceived that Harun’s separation from them and his departure from their midst, after those verbal admonitions, was a greater deterrent to them than merely limiting himself to admonitions; for that [departure] is more indicative of anger and more severe in disapproval, especially since he (peace be upon him) was their leader and beloved to them, and Musa knew this. The departure of a beloved leader out of aversion to a matter weighs very heavily upon the soul and necessitates the abandonment of that detested act which caused his departure. This is manifest and beyond doubt to anyone who is fair-minded. Thus, the argument that if Harun’s (peace be upon him) admonitions did not deter them from what they were doing, then his departure would be even less likely to deter them, does not refute what we have mentioned. There is no need for the excuse that they, knowing he would join [Musa] and inform him of the incident, would fear Musa’s return and therefore desist, for it is said: "He is far from accepting [this excuse]," and how could it be otherwise when they explicitly stated that they would remain devoted to it until his return?
Ali ibn Isa said: The lā is not an expletive, and the meaning is: "What caused you to not follow?" for to prevent someone from something necessitates causing them to do the opposite.)