Ta-Ha (طه)

Surah Ta-Ha was revealed in Makkah before the hijrah of the Prophet (ﷺ) to Medina. It is the 20th surah in the Quran, has a total of 135 verses, 8 Rukus, and can be found in juz 16. Surah Ta-Ha was sent down after a long break of almost 6 months when the Prophet (ﷺ) was anxiously waiting for a revelation. Surah Taha was revealed when the Prophet (ﷺ) faced backlash from the disbelievers. They mocked and slandered our beloved Prophet (ﷺ). For almost six months, there was no revelation by Allah to His Prophet (ﷺ). This made Prophet (ﷺ) worried and sad as he was eagerly waiting for Allah to send down His message. After six months of no revelation, Allah revealed this surah to comfort the Prophet (ﷺ) and to assure him that Allah is with him and will never leave him alone. 

In Surah Ta-Ha, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) assured the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) that he did not withhold the Quran to cause the Prophet distress. Instead, the temporary discontinuation in the divine revelation was to admonish those who fear Allah. In this surah, Allah recounted the life of Prophet Musa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and all the struggles he faced in the path of Allah and was granted victory over the Pharoah. Allah assured His beloved last Messenger (ﷺ) that He would support him in the same way, overcoming all the challenges and hardships, and will surely grant him success over the enemies. 

Shaan e Nazool (Historical Background)

Surah Ta’ha was revealed during the early phases of Prophet Muhammad’s صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ life in Mecca, after his Prophethood. It is believed that the period of its revelation is almost the same as that of Surah Maryam. It is also reported that it was revealed immediately after the first Muslim migration, known as Hijrat-e-Habshah.

Although no specific event or occasion is associated with its revelation, the purpose, theme, and subject of this surah are similar to the majority of earlier Meccan Surahs, where the emphasis is given on Tawhid (Oneness of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ), the Prophethood, the life after death, and the Day of Judgment. It was the most difficult and disturbing time for the Prophet, as the Quraysh had turned deadly against him. Their persecutions had started to increase with every passing day. Instead of paying heed to the Message of Islam, they had been rejecting it, with one argument or the other. This Surah was revealed as an encouragement and consolation for the Prophet.

It starts with a clear Message for the Prophet that the Quran is not sent down to put you in some trouble; your duty is just to convey the Message. A considerable part of this Surah narrates the story of the Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. His struggle and efforts are mentioned in this Surah in detail. It is specifically narrated how he won the argument and practically defeated the team of magicians of Pharaoh with the Will and Command of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. Eventually, the Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ successfully brought his nation (Bani Israel) out of the territory of Pharaoh. It is mentioned in this Surah that all this was made to happen only with the Divine Assistance, as Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ Help always comes for the believers.

So, the purpose and historical context of this Surah were to encourage and console the Prophet Muhammad during the difficult times he was facing, in the form of persecution and rejection by the disbelievers. It was also addressed to the Quraysh, admonishing them and emphasizing the core Islamic beliefs of Tawhid, Prophethood, and the Day of Resurrection.     

Makki or Madni Surah

Surah Ta’ha is a Makki Surah, most probably revealed immediately after the first Muslim migration to Habshah.

Place in the Quran

It is the 20^th Surah of the Quran, placed in the 16^th Juzz (Para). It comes after Surah Maryam and before Surah Al-Anbiya. It is the 45^th Surah in the order of revelation, but in the sequence of recitation, it falls at number 20.

• Number of Verses: Surah Ta’ha has 135 verses.
• Number of Ruku (Sections): Surah Ta’ha has 8 Rukus (sections).

Significance of Surah Ta’ha

This surah holds a unique significance. At a particular stage, during the most difficult phase of his Prophethood, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ prayed to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ to turn either Abu Jahl or Umar towards Islam. By that time, Hazrat Umar رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ had not yet accepted Islam, whereas his sister Fatima and her husband Said Ibn Zaid had already embraced Islam. The next day, the Prophet, Umar, who was still a disbeliever, ventured to kill the Prophet. While on his way, someone told him that before doing so, he should know that his sister Fatima had also converted to Islam along with her husband.

So, Umar reached her sister's house when she was reciting some verses of the Quran. On query, she told her that these were the Quranic verses. Umar asked her to show him what she was reading. She asked him to first purify himself, which he did. When Hazrat Umar رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ read the verses, he was highly impressed and straightaway went to the Prophet and embraced Islam. The verses, his sister showed him, were from the Surah Ta-Ha. Hence, this Surah holds this very special significance in the earlier history of Islam, which brought Hazrat Umar رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ towards Islam.

Apart from that, Surah Ta-Ha is also significant in Islamic teaching in many other ways, some of which are as follows:

• This surah is known to have been revealed to provide spiritual and moral support to the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ and his followers, during a time when the persecution and rejection by Quraysh were increasing day by day. This Surah emphasized the importance of patience and firm belief in Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. It also ensured that the Divine Support would certainly come, as happened with the previous Prophets and their people.
• The story of the Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, which is narrated in this Surah in detail, establishes that the difficult phases also came in the way of the previous Prophets, but with the Assistance, Will and Command of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, the final victory always belonged to those who believed and remained steadfast on their faith. The purpose of narrating this story was to reassure the Prophet and his followers that they would eventually turn out to be victorious over the forces of falsehood and oppression.
• The Surah also tells that worship is not only the physical display, it belongs to the inner of a believer; worship and faith must come from the core of their heart and soul.

Themes and Subject Matter of Surah Ta-Ha (طه)

Surah Ta-Ha was revealed before the migration period, when Muslims were fewer and used to pray in a confined place. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) begins the surah beautifully by comforting Muhammad (ﷺ), saying, “We have not sent down the Quran to you that you should be burdened, but as admonition for him who fears…”

A great part of the surah is dedicated to the story of Hazrat Musa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), the miracles Allah granted him to defeat the Pharaoh and spread the words of Allah. Allah says to His Prophet (ﷺ), “Has the story of Moses come to you?” and explains how Musa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) saw a fire when he was with his family, he made them stay and moved towards the fire alone, which was actually from Allah. 

Upon reaching there, Musa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) had a conversation with his Lord and was granted Prophethood. This surah goes in depth about all the struggles faced by Musa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) as he became a Prophet and how he faced much more than all the other Prophets. All these struggles and hardships were closely related to the life of the Prophet (ﷺ), and it was discussed in the surah to comfort and assure Rasool Allah (ﷺ) how challenges come in the life of Prophets and how Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) makes His Prophets succeed against His enemies. 

By the end of Surah, Allah mentions the Day of Qiyamah and the story of Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and Hawwa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). Allah tells how Iblis persuaded them over materialistic things and will continue to do so to the next generations until the Hour arrives. The surah was revealed to assure His Prophet (ﷺ) that the message of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is ultimate and will succeed. Allah has always helped His Prophets and given them success over others who stood against them, and he will also do the same with Muhammad (ﷺ). His (ﷺ) job is to spread the words of Allah, and it is only Allah alone who can grant people Hidayah. 

Allah says in Surah Qasas:

“You cannot guide anyone you like: God guides whosoever He please. He knows best who will come to guidance.” (Quran 28:56)

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Ta-Ha (طه)

Surah Ta-Ha was revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) when he (ﷺ) was facing hardships in spreading the words of Allah. It was a time when the Mushriks of Makkah were creating trouble for the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Sahaba to spread Islam, torturing them with verbal and even physical abuse. It is one of the early Surahs revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ). It is narrated by Abdullah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ):

“The Surahs of Bani Israel, Al-Kahf, Mariyam, Taha and Al-Anbiya are amongst my first earnings and my old property, and (in fact) they are my old property.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari 4994, Book 66, Hadith 16)

Revelation of Surah Ta-Ha gave Rasool Allah (ﷺ) the strength to stand firm in his path, as Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) assured His Prophet (ﷺ), He will never leave him alone. Allah states the points that whoever is patient, trusts Allah, and submits to Allah will always be victorious. In a Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), Rasool Allah (ﷺ) said:

“A thousand years before creating the heavens and the earth, God recited Ta-Ha and Ya-Sin, and when the angels heard the recitation, they said, ‘Happy are people to whom this comes down, happy are the minds which carry this, and happy are the tongues which utter this.” (Mishkat al-Misbah 2148, Book 8, Hadith 39)

The beautiful and heart-changing words of Surah Ta-Ha led Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) to choose the path of Allah even after hating Islam since the beginning. When Muslims were being abused in Makkah, Hazrat Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was among the people who stood against the religion and the Prophet (ﷺ). The hate was so great that once he set out with a sword towards the Prophet (ﷺ), but on his way, he met a friend who said: Why don’t you take care of your family first and set them right? The man was referring to Umar’s sister and brother-in-law, who recently converted to Islam but kept it hidden from Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). 

When Umar entered his sister’s house and attacked her, she insisted he listen to the Quran and see why they accepted the religion of peace. She recited the beautiful verses of Surah Ta-Ha from the beginning, which led Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) to weep. He straight away went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and embraced Islam. According to Khabbab (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), it was only a day earlier that the Prophet (ﷺ) prayer to Allah to strengthen Islam with either Umar or Abu Jahl and Allah answered his prayers by filling the heart of Umar with eternal love for Islam and the beloved Prophet (ﷺ).

Listen to the Recitation of Surah Ta’ha by Renowned Qaris

If a person feels it is difficult to correctly read the Quranic verses, the best way is to listen to the recitation by an authentic Qari (reciter). Correct recitation of the Quran, including Surah Ta-Ha, with Tajweed, is critically important, as even a minor error in pronouncing a word may change its meaning. More importantly, incorrect pronunciation of the Quranic words might be a wrong practice, which is not acceptable in Islam. Similarly, the correct pronunciation might be somewhat difficult for a non-Arabic-speaking person. To overcome all these difficulties, listening to the recitation by an authentic Qari is very helpful. Above that, sometimes, you may just like to listen to the Quran instead of reading it yourself.

To facilitate you, we at MuslimandQuran have uploaded recitations of the Quran by the renowned reciters (Qaris). You can select a Qari per your preference to listen to and learn the correct recitation of the Quran. You only need to download the MuslimandQuran mobile app to listen to any Surah of the Quran, including Surah Ta’ha.

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Surah Ta’ha PDF

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