Surah Ta-Ha 20:77
سُورَةُ طه · Meccan · Verse 77 of 135
وَلَقَدْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِى فَٱضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًۭا فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ يَبَسًۭا لَّا تَخَٰفُ دَرَكًۭا وَلَا تَخْشَىٰ
Translation
We revealed to Moses, ‘Go out at night with My servants and strike a dry path for them across the sea. Have no fear of being overtaken and do not be dismayed.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
The Quranic verse, Surah 20:77, opens a dramatic chapter in the story of Prophet Musa (Moses) and his people. It’s Allah's direct address to Musa, guiding him through a pivotal moment of deliverance. Approaching this verse with humility and openness allows us to hear the precision and reassurance embedded in Allah's words.
A Weighty Command
The verse begins with the emphatic وَلَقَدْ أَوْحَيْنَا (Wa laqad awhayna), meaning "And We surely revealed." The opening "wa laqad" isn't just a simple "and," but a powerful affirmation, signaling a momentous divine message. As Ibn Ashur notes, it intentionally shifts the narrative, indicating a new, crucial phase in Musa's mission after earlier events like the encounter with the sorcerers. It draws our attention to the gravity of what is about to be revealed.
The command to Musa is أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِى (an asri bi'ibadi), "that you set out at night with My servants." The word أسْرِ (asri) specifically refers to traveling at night. Al-Razi explains the wisdom in this: it allows the gathering of the Children of Israel (Bani Israel) discreetly, preventing immediate discovery and pursuit by Pharaoh's forces, and protecting the fleeing people from seeing their pursuers and panicking. The phrase بِعِبَادِى (bi'ibadi) – "with My servants" – adds a profound layer. By calling them "My servants," Allah confers immense honor upon them, liberating them from Pharaoh's oppressive rule and affirming their true servitude to Him alone, a point highlighted by Ibn Ashur.
A Path of Wonder
Musa is then instructed: فَٱضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًۭا فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ يَبَسًۭا (fa-drib lahum tareeqan fil-bahri yabasan), "then strike for them a dry path in the sea." The word فَٱضْرِبْ (fa-drib) here, as explained by al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi, means "to make" or "to create" for them, not just a physical strike with his staff (which is implied to cause the creation). It’s about establishing this path.
The most striking word here is يَبَسًۭا (yabasan), meaning "dry." Scholars like al-Zamakhshari and Mahmud Safi discuss its profound use. While it can mean "dryness" as a noun, here it functions as an intense adjective, almost a hyperbole, meaning "very dry," or "solid dry." It implies a path so dry that there is no mud, no dampness, no hint of the water that once was there. This isn't merely a wet or slightly damp passage, but firm, solid ground, making the journey safe and secure. It underscores the miraculous nature of the path Allah would create.
Divine Reassurance
The final part of the verse offers crucial reassurance: لَّا تَخَافُ دَرَكًۭا وَلَا تَخْشَىٰ (la takhafu darakan wa la takhsha), "you will not fear pursuit, nor will you dread." The majority reading of تَخَافُ (takhaf) in the indicative mood means "you will not fear," making it a powerful promise from Allah to Musa, rather than just a command to avoid fear. It means: "Your safety is guaranteed, so you *will not* experience fear." Ibn Ashur observes that this promise is made to Musa, as the leader, so his assuredness would inspire his people.
دَرَكًۭا (darakan) means "pursuit" or "being overtaken," specifically by Pharaoh and his army. Then comes وَلَا تَخْشَىٰ (wa la takhsha). The word تَخْشَىٰ (takhsha) denotes a deeper, more intense fear or dread than تَخَافُ (takhaf). The object of this intense fear is notably left unsaid, implying a comprehensive reassurance against *any* form of dread. Scholars like al-Jalalayn and Ibn Ashur interpret this as a promise against the fear of drowning in the sea itself, or indeed, any other unforeseen danger. Allah's command to Musa is thus a complete package of divine protection: against the enemy's pursuit and against the perils of the sea.
This meticulous choice of words, from the emphatic opening to the nuanced distinction between types of fear, reveals Allah's intimate knowledge of Musa's situation and His perfect plan. It is a testament to the Quran's linguistic precision, painting a vivid picture of divine intervention and steadfast reassurance.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn
Worldly Mirror
The Divine Command
This profound verse (ayah) from Surah Taha begins with Allah's powerful command to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him): "And We certainly inspired Musa, 'Depart with My servants by night and strike for them a dry path through the sea. You will not fear being overtaken, nor will you fear drowning.'" (20:77). Here, Allah is speaking directly to Musa, giving him precise instructions and profound reassurance for the miraculous exodus of Bani Israel (the Children of Israel) from Egypt. The plain meaning, as explained by al-Muyassar, is for Musa to leave at night with Allah's servants, to make a dry path in the sea for them, and to have no fear of Pharaoh's pursuit or of drowning.
A Leader's Trust
Imagine Musa, burdened by the immense responsibility of leading an oppressed people to freedom, with the formidable power of Pharaoh behind him and the vast, unknown sea before him. Allah's words are a direct address to his heart. The command to "strike for them a dry path in the sea" (فَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًا فِي الْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا) implies a seemingly impossible task, yet Allah immediately follows it with "لا تَخَافُ دَرَكًا وَلا تَخْشَى" (You will not fear being overtaken, nor will you fear drowning). This isn't just an instruction; it's a divine promise and a deep spiritual diagnosis. It tells Musa, and through him, us, that true safety lies in obeying Allah's command and trusting His omnipotence, not in worldly calculations. Ibn al-Jawzi notes that Musa's companions feared being overtaken by Pharaoh and drowning in the sea, and this verse directly addresses those profound anxieties, reassuring Musa.
From Oppression to Liberation
This verse also mirrors outward to the community (ummah) level. Allah refers to Bani Israel as "بِعِبَادِي" (My servants), as Wahba al-Zuhayli points out, which signifies Allah's divine care for them and implicitly condemns Pharaoh's tyranny and their enslavement. Sayyid Qutb eloquently highlights that Allah’s decisive aid came not when Bani Israel were merely suffering in slavery, but when "their hearts became strong with faith, and faith entered their hearts well." This emphasizes that external liberation often follows internal conviction. When a community decides to stand for truth, even if they appear weak in worldly terms, Allah's power intervenes. Tazkirul Quran beautifully captures this, noting how the same sea became a path of salvation for the faithful and a pit of destruction for the enemies of God, stressing that reliance should be on Allah's signs, not on powerful but ultimately weak human leaders.
The Mirror for Us
For us today, this ayah serves as a worldly mirror. On a personal level, it invites us to examine our own fears when faced with overwhelming challenges. Do we trust Allah's promises even when the path ahead seems impossible and threats loom behind? On a societal level, it reminds us that true change and liberation, whether from injustice, societal ills, or personal struggles, begins with an unwavering commitment to truth and a deep reliance on Allah. When our hearts are firm in faith and we act upon Allah's commands, Allah opens paths where none seemed to exist.
Sources: Ibn al-Jawzi (Zad al-Masir), Israr Ahmad (Bayan ul Quran), al-Munir (Wahba al-Zuhayli), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Tazkirul Quran
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Ta-Ha 20:77 is discussed in 2 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Ta-Ha 20:77 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.