Prophet Mūsā: Part 2 — The Calling and the Magicians Who Believed
Section 17 of 36 · Lives of the Prophets
Speak to Him Gently
And Allah (swt) told Mūsā now to go to Firʿawn — go with your brother to Firʿawn. And Allah (swt) gave him advice:
ٱذْهَبَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ فَقُولَا لَهُۥ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًا لَّعَلَّهُۥ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰ
“Go, both of you, to Pharaoh; he has indeed transgressed all limits. So speak to him in soft words. May be, he accepts the advice or fears (Allah)”.” (20:43–44)
Allah (swt) says: go, both of you, to Firʿawn; verily, he has transgressed. And what is the advice? Allah (swt) said: and speak to him mildly — qawlan layyinā. Layyin means soft and mild. What is the wisdom behind that? Allah (swt) says: laʿallahū yatadhakkaru aw yakhshā — perhaps he may accept admonition, or fear Allah. If you speak to someone mildly and softly, there is a possibility that he will fear Allah and remember. If you speak to them roughly, most likely they will not. So Allah (swt) is teaching Mūsā the manners of daʿwah. It has to be done in a soft manner; it has to be done in a mild way. That is how daʿwah should be done.