Moses’ commitments

Moses was chosen from among the Children of Israel to free them from the oppression of Pharaoh. Before they left Egypt, they were told to keep a low profile and use their homes as their base to uphold their commitments. Again the word Sol-laa-ta is used for commitments.

We inspired Moses and his brother, “Let your people confine themselves to their homes in Egypt, and let them consider their homes their base, and let them uphold their commitments (Sol-laa-ta)¹, and give the good news to the believers.” (10:87)

Moses and those who believe with him were committed to spread the good news to the people – which was their Sol-laa. After they were saved from Egypt, Moses and his people were told to continue to fulfil the covenants by upholding their commitments and to keep them pure. We see the same words used in this context: Sol-laa-ta and zakaa:

Wa-iz aqodz-na misha qor bani-Israela la-ta’budu-na ilal-lah wa-bil-walidai-ni ih-sanan wa-zil-qurba, wal yatama, wal-masakini, wa-qulu-lin-nas husnan, wa-aqimus-Sol-laa-ta wa-atu-zakaa’-ta. (2:83)

And We made a covenant with the Children of Israel: you shall not serve any other than God. And be charitable to your parents and your relatives and the orphans and the poor. And speak to people amicably, and uphold the commitments and keep them pure (Sol-laa-ta-wa-atu-zakaa). (2:83)

The Children of Israel were to serve God by honouring their parents and relatives and the orphans and the poor and speaking amicably to people. These were their commitments. God was not telling them to pray ritually and to pay tithes.

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1 A good example Sol-laa does not mean ritual prayer. Moses were reminded with the same word Sol-laa a few times – In this verse he and his people were told to keep a low profile in their homes and continue to commit themselves to pass the good news from God.