Listen to audio files which summarizes the chapter…

https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/d5e545d2-351c-4225-97ef-0df8c6569169/audio

Recitation with translation

https://quran.com/taha

Historic background and Perspective of revelation

# The Acceptance of Islam by Hazrat Umar: A Historical Event

The time of its revelation is close to the time of Surah Maryam. It is possible that it was revealed during the time of the migration to Abyssinia or shortly after. However, it is certain that it was revealed before Hazrat Umar accepted Islam. The most famous and well-documented account of his acceptance of Islam is as follows:

When Hazrat Umar set out with the intention to kill the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), a person met him on the way and said, “First, take care of your own house. Your sister and brother-in-law have already embraced this new religion.” Upon hearing this, Hazrat Umar went straight to his sister’s house. There, his sister Fatimah bint Khattab and her husband, Sa’id bin Zayd, were sitting with Hazrat Khabab bin Aratt, who was teaching them from a written page. As soon as Hazrat Umar arrived, his sister quickly hid the page, but he had already heard the sound of its movement. He first questioned them, then began to beat his brother-in-law. When his sister tried to intervene, he struck her as well, causing her head to bleed. Finally, both his sister and brother-in-law declared, “We have accepted Islam. Do whatever you wish.”

Seeing his sister’s blood, Hazrat Umar felt remorseful and said, “Alright, show me what you were reading.” His sister first made him promise not to destroy it, then said, “You cannot touch this sacred page until you purify yourself.” Hazrat Umar performed the purification and then took the page to read. It contained the same Surah. As he read, he exclaimed, “What a beautiful message!” At that moment, Hazrat Khabab, who had been hiding, came out and said, “By Allah, I hope that Allah will use you to spread the message of His Prophet. Just yesterday, I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say, ‘O Allah, strengthen Islam with either Abu Hakam bin Hisham (Abu Jahl) or Umar bin Khattab.’ So, O Umar, turn to Allah, turn to Allah.”

This incident marked the complete transformation of Hazrat Umar. Shortly after, he went with Hazrat Khabab to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and accepted Islam. This event occurred a little while after the migration to Abyssinia.

The introduction to Surah Taha begins with the statement that the Quran was not revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for no reason. It was not meant to bring you trouble or hardship. You are not required to extract water from stone or to convince the disbelievers. Instead, it serves as a reminder for those who fear God and wish to seek refuge in Him. 

This is the divine message from the owner of the heavens and the earth, and God s sovereignty who  has the total control of it. These two truths remain steadfast, whether someone believes or not. 

Following this introduction, a story about Prophet Musa (Moses) is presented. It appears as a narrative, but it does not directly reference the circumstances of the time. However, when this story is recounted, it seems to address the people of Makkah in a way that is not merely based on its content but also on its underlying message. 

Before discussing these points, it is important to understand the context of the significant presence of Jews in Arabia and the intellectual and cultural influence they had on the Arabs. Additionally, the impact of the Roman and Abyssinian empires contributed to the general acceptance of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) as a prophet of God among the Arabs. 

Now, let us examine the points that are subtly conveyed to the people of Makkah through this narrative. 

1. Allah does not appoint someone as a prophet by gathering a crowd through noise, clamor, and fanfare, and then declaring that this person is a prophet. Prophethood is granted in a manner similar to how it was given to Prophet Musa. Why, then, do you find it strange that Muhammad has come forth as a prophet without any announcement from the heavens or the earth, and without angels proclaiming his message? Such announcements were made for previous prophets, but they are not the case here. 
2. This design addresses all the matters related to the mutual struggles of Musa and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Following this, a brief message has been conveyed that this Quran is a reminder and guidance sent to you in your own language for understanding. If you listen to it and learn from it, you will benefit yourself; if you do not, you will ultimately face the consequences.
3. The second point that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is presenting today is the concept of monotheism, which is the same message that Allah Almighty conveyed to Moses (peace be upon him) when he was appointed to the Prophethood. Just as today, Muhammad (peace be upon him) was made the bearer of the invitation to truth, standing alone against the might of the Quraysh without any resources or army, similarly, Moses (peace be upon him) was also entrusted with the monumental task of confronting the tyrant Pharaoh and urging him to abandon his rebellion. No army was sent with him either. Allah’s ways are indeed remarkable; He calls a traveler on his way from Midian to Egypt and commands him to confront the greatest tyrant ruler of his time. Despite this, he was not provided with any soldiers or cavalry for this monumental task.
4. Moreover, the objections, accusations, and tactics of oppression that the people of the Quraysh are using against Muhammad (peace be upon him) are reminiscent of the very same strategies that Pharaoh employed against the followers of Islam. Look at how Pharaoh ultimately failed in all his schemes, and in the end, who triumphed? It was the Messenger of Allah, without any army or resources, who prevailed. In this context, Muslims have also been given a profound reassurance that they should not be disheartened by their lack of resources or the might of the Quraysh. The work that is backed by the hand of God will ultimately prevail.
5. Alongside this, the example of the sorcerers of Egypt has also been presented to Muslims. When the truth was revealed to them, they embraced it without hesitation, and the fear of Pharaoh’s retaliation did not deter them from their faith. 
6. Finally, the history of the Children of Israel is presented as a lesson, illustrating how the creation of idols and deities occurs in a most absurd manner. The prophets of God have never tolerated such heinous acts. Therefore, today, we oppose this polytheism and idol worship, as it is not a new phenomenon in the history of idol worship.

Then, the story of Adam (peace be upon him) is mentioned to illustrate that the path you are following is, in fact, the path of Satan. Occasionally succumbing to Satan’s temptations is a temporary weakness that a person can hardly avoid. However, the correct approach for a person is to acknowledge their mistakes clearly, just as Adam did, repent, and then return to the worship of God. 

Failing to recognize one’s mistakes and continuing in arrogance will only lead to self-inflicted harm, and no one else will bear the consequences. In the end, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Muslims are advised not to rush or act hastily regarding those who deny the truth. God’s wisdom is that He does not immediately punish anyone for their disbelief and denial; rather, He grants them ample time. Therefore, do not be anxious; endure the excesses of these people and continue to advise them with patience. 

In this context, the importance of prayer has been emphasized so that qualities such as patience, endurance, humility, contentment, and accountability are instilled, which are essential for the call to the truth.