Go to Firʿawn

Now hold your breath for the next thing. This is a short conversation between Allah and Mūsā. Mūsā has only just been confronted with the responsibility; Allah (swt) is handing Mūsā the responsibility of prophethood. But what was the first command Allah (swt) gave Mūsā? Go to Firʿawn — immediately. Mūsā has just received the message, right now, and in this conversation between him and Allah, Allah (swt) is already handing him the challenging mission of going and facing Firʿawn.

Go to Firʿawn, for he has transgressed. This is a very, very heavy order — a qawl thaqīl; this is heavy. Mūsā ran out of Egypt for ten years because of his fear of Firʿawn. He wants to visit his family, his mother, his relatives and his home country, and he had not gone there because of his fear of Firʿawn. And now Allah (swt) is telling him not simply to go into Egypt, but to go to Firʿawn and tell him to follow him.

But Mūsā — Allah (swt) chose him. He chose him because of his strength and his īmān. Allah (swt) yajtabī: He chooses, out of His creation, the best for this mission of prophethood. So Mūsā did not reject the command of Allah. But he asked Allah for help, because this is not an easy thing to do.