Tafsir of Ash-Shu`ara' 26:12

"And my breast tightens and my tongue does not loosen..."

• Grammatical Analysis: The words yadiqu (tightens) and yantaliqu (loosens) are read in the nominative case (raf') because they are coordinated with the predicate of inna. They are read in the accusative case (nasb) because they are coordinated with the conjunctive clause (silat an) of an yakdhibuni.
• Semantic Difference: The nominative implies three distinct reasons for his state: fear of being called a liar, the tightening of his chest, and the inability of his tongue to loosen. The accusative implies that his fear is specifically tied to these three conditions.
• The Objection: If the fear is tied to these three, it includes the "inability of the tongue." But fear is an anxiety regarding a future event, whereas his speech impediment was already present. How can fear be tied to an existing condition?
• The Response: The fear is tied to their rejection and the resulting chest tightness. The speech impediment was an additional burden, and while his prayer removed the bulk of it, a slight remnant may have remained.
• Further Clarification: Even if the impediment was removed, he may not have possessed the extreme eloquence and rhetorical fluency of others—a quality Aaron possessed. He wished to be paired with him, as evidenced by: "And my brother Aaron is more eloquent than me in speech" (Al-Qasas: 34).
• On "Send for Aaron": This means: Send Gabriel to him, make him a prophet, support me with him, and strengthen my back through him. This is a concise expression, similar to the divine summary in: "Then We said, 'Go both of you to the people who denied Our signs,' and We destroyed them completely" (Al-Furqan: 36). Here, God mentions only the beginning (the warning) and the end (the destruction), implying the entire narrative of their rejection and the subsequent proof established against them.
• The Objection: How could Moses (peace be upon him) hesitate or offer excuses when commanded by God?
• The Response: He did not hesitate; he accepted and obeyed. He merely requested support from his brother to assist in fulfilling the command and delivering the message. Preparing the justification for requesting an assistant is not a refusal or a stalling tactic; rather, seeking help is proof of his commitment to the mission, not an evasion of it.

"And they have a charge against me, so I fear they will kill me."