Al-Qur'an Surah Al-A'raf Verse 142

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And We made an appointment with Mūsā for thirty nights, then We supplemented them with another ten. So, the total period fixed by his Lord was forty nights. Mūsā said to his brother Hārūn, “Take my place among my people and keep things right, and do not follow the way of mischief makers.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

We appointed for Moses thirty nights then added another ten—completing his Lord’s term of forty nights. Moses commanded his brother Aaron, “Take my place among my people, do what is right, and do not follow the way of the corruptors.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

We appointed for Moses thirty nights, and completed it with ten more, whereby the term of forty nights set by Allah was fulfilled. Moses said to his brother Aaron, “Take my place among my people in my absence, keep things right, and do not follow the way of those who spread corruption.”

A. J. Arberry

And We appointed with Moses thirty nights and We completed them with ten, so the appointed time of his Lord was forty nights; and Moses said to his brother Aaron, 'Be my successor among my people, and put things right, and do not follow the way of the workers of corruption.'

Abdul Haleem

We appointed thirty nights for Moses, then added ten more: the term set by his Lord was completed in forty nights. Moses said to his brother Aaron, ‘Take my place among my people: act rightly and do not follow the way of those who spread corruption.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And We treated with Musa thirty nights, and We completed them with ten; so the appointment of his Lord was completed by forty nights. And Musa said unto his brother Harun: act thou in my place among my people, and rectify, and follow not the way of the corrupters.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We appointed for Moses thirty nights, and completed (the period) with ten (more); thus was completed the term (of communion) with his Lord, forty nights. And Moses had charged his brother Aaron (before he went up); "Act for me amongst my people; Do right, and follow not the way of those who do mischief."

Abul Ala Maududi

And We appointed for Moses thirty nights, to which We added ten, whereby the term of forty nights set by his Lord was fulfilled. And Moses said to Aaron, his brother: 'Take my place among my people, act righteously, and do not follow the path of those who create mischief.'

Ahmed Ali

We made an appointment of thirty nights with Moses (On Mount Sinai) to which We added ten more; so the term set by the Lord was completed in forty nights. Moses said to Aaron, his brother: "Deputise for me among my people. Dispose rightly, and do not follow the way of the authors of evil."

Ahmed Raza Khan

And We agreed with Moosa a covenant for thirty nights (of solitude) and completed it by adding ten to them, so the covenant of His Lord amounted to forty nights in full; and Moosa said to his brother Haroon, “Be my deputy over my people and make reform and do not allow the ways of the mischievous to enter.”

Ali Quli Qarai

We made an appointment with Moses for thirty nights, and completed them with ten [more]; thus the tryst of his Lord was completed in forty nights. And Moses said to Aaron, his brother, ‘Be my successor among my people, and set things right and do not follow the way of the agents of corruption.’

Ali Ünal

And (so that you would be favored with the Torah to order your affairs) We appointed with Moses thirty nights, to which We added ten, so he completed the term of forty nights set by His Lord (for him to spend in devotion). (Before leaving his people in order to come to Our Presence) Moses had said to his brother (Aaron): "Take my place among my people (act to reform them and set things right), and do not follow the way of those who provoke disorder and corruption."

Amatul Rahman Omar

And We made an appointment with Moses for thirty nights (and days to pray in solitude) which We supplemented with another ten (to rceive the Law) so that the period appointed by his Lord came to be full forty nights (and days). (When leaving) Moses said to his brother Aaron, `Act for me (taking my place) in my absence among my people and reform and manage (them) well and do not follow the way of those who create disorder.´

English Literal

And We promised Moses thirty nights, and We completed it with ten, so his Lord`s appointed time/appointed time or place completed forty nights, and Moses said to his brother Aaron, "Be my successor in my nation, and correct/repair/reconciliate and do not follow the corrupting`s way/path ."

Faridul Haque

And We agreed with Moosa a covenant for thirty nights (of solitude) and completed it by adding ten to them, so the covenant of His Lord amounted to forty nights in full; and Moosa said to his brother Haroon, "Be my deputy over my people and make reform and do not allow the ways of the mischievous to enter."

Hamid S. Aziz

And We appointed for Moses thirty nights (of solitude), and added ten (more), and he completed the time appointed by his Lord for forty nights. And Moses said unto his brother Aaron, "Act for me amongst my people, and do what is right, and follow not the path of the evildoers."

Hilali & Khan

And We appointed for Musa (Moses) thirty nights and added (to the period) ten (more), and he completed the term, appointed by his Lord, of forty nights. And Musa (Moses) said to his brother Harun (Aaron): "Replace me among my people, act in the Right Way (by ordering the people to obey Allah and to worship Him Alone) and follow not the way of the Mufsidun (mischief-makers)."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when We delivered you from Pharaoh’s people, who subjected you to severe torment, killing your sons and sparing your women. And therein was a great trial from your Lord.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And We appointed with Musa a time of thirty nights and completed them with ten (more), so the appointed time of his Lord was complete forty nights, and Musa said to his brother Haroun: Take my place among my people, and act well and do not follow the way of the mischief-makers.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when We did appoint for Moses thirty nights (of solitude), and added to them ten, and he completed the whole time appointed by his Lord of forty nights; and Moses said unto his brother, Aaron: Take my place among the people. Do right, and follow not the way of mischief-makers.

Muhammad Sarwar

We told Moses to stay with Us for thirty nights (in the mountains) but added ten nights more so his appointment with his Lord came to an end after forty nights. Moses had appointed his brother Aaron as his deputy among his people during his absence saying, "Try to reform them and do not follow the way of the evil-doers."

Qaribullah & Darwish

We appointed for Moses thirty nights, and We completed them with ten more; so that the appointment with his Lord took forty nights. Moses said to Aaron, his brother: 'Take my place among my nation. Do what is right and do not follow the path of the corrupt doers'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And We appointed for Musa thirty nights and added ten, and he completed the term, appointed by his Lord, of forty nights. And Musa said to his brother Harun: "Replace me among my people, act in the right way and follow not the way of the mischief-makers."

Wahiduddin Khan

We appointed thirty nights for Moses, then added ten more: the term set by his Lord was fulfilled in forty nights. Moses said to his brother Aaron, "Take my place among my people: act rightly and do not follow the way of those who spread corruption."

Talal Itani

And We appointed to Moses thirty nights, and completed them with ten; and thus the time appointed by his Lord was forty nights. And Moses said to his brother Aaron: “Take my place among my people, and be upright, and do not follow the way of the mischief-makers.”

Tafsir jalalayn

And We appointed (read wa-w`adn or wa-wa`adn) for Moses thirty nights, at the end of which We would speak to him, after he has fasted [during that period]; that was the month of Dh'l-Qa`da. He completed the fast. But when it came to an end, he disliked the [bad] odour of his mouth and so cleaned his teeth. God then commanded him [to fast for] another ten nights so that He may speak to him despite the odour in his mouth; as God says, and completed them with ten, nights of Dh'l-Hijja. Thus was the time appointed by his Lord concluded, the time at which God had promised him to speak to him, as forty (arba`na is a circumstantial qualifier) nights (laylatan is for specification); and Moses said to his brother Aaron, when he was departing to the Mount for the communion [with his Lord]; `Succeed me, be my deputy, over my people, and be righteous, [among them] with regard to their affair, and do not follow the way of the agents of corruption', by consenting with them to acts of disobedience.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Musa fasts and worships Allah for Forty Days

Allah reminds the Children of Israel of the guidance that He sent to them by speaking directly to Musa and revealing the Tawrah to him. In it, was their law and the details of their legislation.

وَوَاعَدْنَا مُوسَى ثَلَثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً

And We appointed for Musa thirty nights and added ten, and he completed the term, appointed by his Lord, of forty nights.

Allah stated here that He appointed thirty nights for Musa. The scholars of Tafsir said that Musa fasted this period, and when they ended, Musa cleaned his teeth with a twig. Allah commanded him to complete the term adding ten more days, making the total forty. When the appointed term finished, Musa was about to return to Mount Tur, as Allah said,

يبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ قَدْ أَنجَيْنَـكُمْ مِّنْ عَدُوِّكُمْ وَوَاعَدْنَـكُمْ جَانِبَ الطُّورِ الاٌّيْمَنَ

O Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and We made a covenant with you on the right side of the Mount. (20;80)

وَقَالَ مُوسَى لَاخِيهِ هَارُونَ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي

وَأَصْلِحْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ



And Musa said to his brother Harun;"Replace me among my people, act in the right way and follow not the way of the mischief-makers."

Musa left his brother Harun with the Children of Israel and commanded him to use wisdom and refrain from mischief.

This was only a reminder, for Harun was an honorable and noble Prophet who had grace and exalted standard with Allah, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him and the rest of the Prophets