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The Greatest Sign (al-Aya al-Kubra) الْآيَة الْكُبْرَى

In review — pending scholar verification

A Quranic phrase from Surah An-Naziʿat 79:20 — "Then he showed him the Greatest Sign" — referring to one of Musa's most extraordinary signs (variously identified as the staff-serpent or the radiant hand).

Overview

Al-Āyah al-Kubrā (Arabic: الْآيَة الْكُبْرَى; "the Greatest Sign") is the phrase used in Surah An-Nāziʿāt 79:20: "Then he showed him the Greatest Sign." Classical commentators (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr) identify the referent as one of Musa's most extraordinary signs given to confront Pharaoh — the dominant views being:

  1. The Staff transformed into a serpent.
  2. His hand emerging brilliantly white from his cloak.
  3. The combined display of these signs together.

Quranic references

  • Surah An-Nāziʿāt 79:20.
  • Surah Al-Israʾ 17:101 — "And We had given Musa nine clear signs."
  • Surah Ṭāhā 20:22 — "Bring your hand close to your side; it will come out white without disease — another sign."
  • Surah Al-Qaṣaṣ 28:32 — same.
  • Surah Ash-Shuʿarāʾ 26:32–33 — the staff and the hand together.

See also

References

  1. The Quran: Surahs Al-Israʾ 17:101; Ṭāhā 20:22; Ash-Shuʿarāʾ 26:32–33; Al-Qaṣaṣ 28:32; An-Nāziʿāt 79:20.
  2. Ibn Kathir, Tafsīr, on An-Nāziʿāt 79:20.
  3. al-Ṭabari, Jāmiʿ al-Bayān.