Al-Qur'an Surah Taha Verse 44

Mufti Taqi Usmani

So speak to him in soft words. May be, he accepts the advice or fears (Allah)”.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Speak to him gently, so perhaps he may be mindful ˹of Me˺ or fearful ˹of My punishment˺.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

But speak to him gently, so that he may take heed or fear Allah.”

A. J. Arberry

yet speak gently to him, that haply he may be mindful, or perchance fear.'

Abdul Haleem

Speak to him gently so that he may take heed, or show respect.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Then say to him a gentle saying; haply he may be admonished or he may fear.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"But speak to him mildly; perchance he may take warning or fear (Allah)."

Abul Ala Maududi

and speak to him gently, perhaps he may take heed or fear (Allah)."

Ahmed Ali

Speak to him gently. He may possibly take heed or may come to have fear."

Ahmed Raza Khan

“And speak to him courteously, that perhaps he may ponder or have some fear.”

Ali Quli Qarai

Speak to him in a soft manner; maybe he will take admonition or fear.’

Ali Ünal

"But speak to him with gentle words, so that he might reflect and be mindful or feel some awe (of me, and behave with humility)."

Amatul Rahman Omar

`But speak to him a gentle speech, may be he pays heed and fears (the consequences).´

English Literal

So you (B) say to him a lenient/flexible saying/opinion and belief, maybe/perhaps he mentions/remembers, or fears.

Faridul Haque

"And speak to him courteously, that perhaps he may ponder or have some fear."

Hamid S. Aziz

"Go you both to Pharaoh. Verily, he is outrageous (transgresses beyond bounds).

Hilali & Khan

"And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear Allah."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Go both of you to Pharaoh, surely he is inordinate;

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Then speak to him a gentle word haply he may mind or fear.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And speak unto him a gentle word, that peradventure he may heed or fear.

Muhammad Sarwar

Both of you must speak with him in a gentle manner so that perhaps he may come to himself or have fear (of God)."

Qaribullah & Darwish

Speak to him with gentle words; perhaps he will ponder or fear'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allah).

Wahiduddin Khan

But speak gently to him; perhaps he may yet take heed or even feel afraid."

Talal Itani

But speak to him nicely. Perhaps he will remember, or have some fear.”

Tafsir jalalayn

And speak to him gentle words, for him to renounce such [claims], that perhaps he may be mindful, be admonished, or fear', God and so repent -- the `hope' [for Pharaoh's repentance] is [expressed] from their perspective, for God knows that he was not going to repent.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allah).

This Ayah contains a great lesson. Even though Fir`awn was the most insolent and arrogant of people and Musa was the friend of Allah among His creation at that time, Musa was still commanded to speak to Fir`awn with mildness and softness. Therefore, their invitation to him was with gentle, soft and easy speech that is used by one who is a close friend. This is so that the message may have more effect on the souls, and so it would have deeper and more beneficial results.

This is as Allah, the Exalted, says,

ادْعُ إِلِى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَـدِلْهُم بِالَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ

Invite (mankind) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. (16;125)

Concerning Allah's statement,

لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى


perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allah).

This means that perhaps he will recant from that which he is in of misguidance and destruction,

أَوْ يَخْشَى
(or he will fear), meaning that he will become obedient due to fear of Allah.

This is as Allah says,

لِّمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَذَّكَّرَ أَوْ أَرَادَ شُكُوراً

For such who desires to remember or desires to show his gratitude. (25;62)

Thus, to remember means to recant from that which is dangerous, and fear means to attain obedience