The Duration of Moses' Appointment with Allah the Almighty

16-2-2025 | IslamWeb

Question:

As-salamu alaikum In surah al-baqarah allah says,"And ?remember? when We appointed forty nights for Moses, then you worshipped the calf in his absence, acting wrongfully.In surah al-araf Allah says,"We appointed for Moses thirty nights then added another ten—completing his Lord’s term of forty nights"I didn't get how many nights did he appointed him at first.Jazakallah Khairan
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and  Messenger. 

Allah appointed Moses to talk to Allah for thirty nights in private, and after that He added another ten nights, as it is clear from the verse in Surah Al-A’raf. As for Surah Al-Baqarah, it mentioned the number that Moses spent in that appointment, in general, without detail, so Allah, the Almighty, said: {And [remember] when We appointed for Moses forty nights.} [Quran 02:51] Thus, the total number was mentioned in Surah Al-A’raf after being mentioned in detail, and the Almighty, says: {...Whereby the term of forty nights set by his Lord was fulfilled.} [Quran 07:142]

Ibn ‘Atiyyah may Allaah have mercy upon him said in his interpretation of the Quran: “Allah the Almighty told Moses (may Allaah exalth his mention) to prepare for his talk to Him in private for thirty nights, then He increased the period after that by ten nights. It was mentioned that Moses (peace be upon him) informed the Children of Israel of his absence for thirty nights. When Allah increased it by ten nights during his absence without the Children of Israel knowing, they felt apprehensive about the increase of days on what he told them, so As-Samiri (the Samaritan) said to them: ‘Moses has perished and will not return’. He led them astray with the calf and they followed him. All of this was stated by Ibn Jurayj.” [End quote].

So, it is thirty nights at first, then Allah Almighty completed them with ten more. So, the total number is forty nights.

Allah Knows best.

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