Tafsir of Ta-Ha 20:42

"Go, you and your brother..."

"Al-wanā" (الونى): Languor, weakness, and negligence. It has been recited as taniyā (تنيا) with a kasra on the prefix letter for the sake of vowel harmony.

"...and do not slacken in My remembrance" (ولا تنيا في ذكري): Meaning: Do not forget Me, and let Me remain in your thoughts wherever you turn. Take My remembrance as wings with which you fly, drawing support and reinforcement from Me, believing that no affair can be accomplished for anyone except through My remembrance.

It is also possible that by "remembrance" (al-dhikr), He means the delivery of the Message. "Remembrance" applies to all acts of worship, and the delivery of the Message is the greatest and most noble of them; thus, it is worthy of being called "remembrance."

It is narrated that God Almighty revealed to Aaron, while he was in Egypt, to go and meet Moses. Others say he heard of his arrival, and others say he was inspired to do so.

"Speak to him with gentle speech" (فقولا له قولاً ليناً): It has been recited as layyanā (لينا) with the tashdid removed. "Gentle speech" is like His saying: "Would you like to purify yourself, and that I guide you to your Lord so that you may fear Him?" (An-Nazi'at: 18). This is because its outward form is one of inquiry and consultation, presenting that which contains great success.

It is said: Promise him youth that will not be followed by old age, a kingdom that will not be taken from him except by death, and that he will retain the pleasure of food, drink, and marriage until the moment of his death.

It is also said: Do not confront him with what he dislikes; be gentle in speech toward him, due to his right of having raised Moses, and because he possesses a status similar to that of a father.

It is also said: Address him by his kunya (patronymic). He was among those with three kunyas: Abu al-Abbas, Abu al-Walid, and Abu Murra.

"...and hope" (وترجيا): Meaning: Go forth with your hope and expectation. Engage in the matter as one who hopes and expects that his work will bear fruit and his efforts will not be in vain. Thus, he strives to the best of his ability and exerts his utmost effort.

The benefit of sending them to him, despite the knowledge that he will not believe, is to establish the proof and cut off any excuse: "And if We had destroyed them with a punishment before him, they would have said, 'Our Lord, why did You not send a messenger to us so that we could follow Your verses?'" (Taha: 134).

"...that he may remember" (لعله يتذكر): Meaning: That he may reflect and contemplate, then offer fairness from himself and submit to the truth.

"...or fear" (أو يخشى): That the matter might be as you describe, and his denial might drag him to destruction.

"They said, 'Our Lord, indeed we fear that he will hasten against us or that he will transgress.'"