Tafsir of Al-A'raf 7:144

Al-A'raf (The Heights): Verse 144

Translation and Exegesis (Based on Mafatih al-Ghayb by Fakhr al-Din al-Razi)

Know that when Moses (peace be upon him) requested the vision [of God] and God prevented him from it, God enumerated the great bounties He had bestowed upon him. He commanded him to occupy himself with thanking God for these favors, as if to say: "Even though I have prevented you from the vision, I have granted you such and such great blessings. Therefore, do not let your heart be troubled by the denial of the vision. Look instead at the other types of blessings by which I have singled you out, and occupy yourself with thanking Me for them."

The purpose here is to console Moses (peace be upon him) regarding the denial of the vision. This also indicates that the vision [of God] is permissible in principle for God, for if it were inherently impossible, there would be no need to mention this consolation.

1. { وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ } (And We wrote for him in the tablets...)

The text continues the enumeration of God's favors upon Moses.

2. { مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَوْعِظَةً وَتَفْصِيلًا لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ } (of everything, admonition and a detailed explanation of everything.)

• { اصْطَفَيْتُكَ } (I have chosen you): This means "I have selected you as the elite among people." Ibn Abbas said it means, "I have favored you over people."
• { بِرِسَالَاتِي وَبِكَلَامِي } (with My messages and with My speech): After mentioning his selection, God specified the means by which this selection was achieved.
  • Recitation Note: Ibn Kathir and Nafi' read it as { birisālati } (singular message), while the rest read { birisālātī } (plural messages). The singular reading is permissible because the message (Risālah) functions like a verbal noun (Maṣdar), which can be used in the singular even when referring to multiple instances.
  • Why "over mankind" ({ عَلَى النَّاسِ }) and not "over creation" ({ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ })? Because angels also hear God's speech without an intermediary, just as Moses heard it.

Addressing a Potential Objection:

• Objection: How was he chosen over mankind by His messages and speech, when many others shared in the prophethood (i.e., received messages)?
• Response: God clarified that He singled Moses out from among mankind by combining both elements: receiving the message and hearing the speech directly (without an intermediary). This combination was not granted to others.
• The Reason for Superiority: The direct hearing of the speech was a cause for greater honor based on common understanding, because one who hears the word of a great King directly, without a veil or intermediary, holds a higher status than one who hears it through a representative.

3. { فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍ } (So take it with firmness...)

After mentioning these two great types of blessings (the direct speech and the messages), God said: { فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍ وَكُنْ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ } (So take it with firmness and be among the grateful).

• Meaning: Take hold of this immense blessing, and do not let your heart narrow due to being prevented from the vision. Instead, occupy yourself with thanking God for attaining this great favor.
• Fulfilling Gratitude: Occupying oneself with gratitude is achieved by fulfilling its requirements in both knowledge and action.

And God knows best.