Surah Taha Tafseer

إِنِّي أَنَا رَبُّكَ

Verily, I am your Lord!

meaning, `the One Who is talking to you and addressing you,'

فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ

So take off your shoes;

Ali bin Abi Talib, Abu Dharr, Abu Ayub and others of the Salaf said,

"They (his sandals) were from the skin of a donkey that was not slaughtered."

It has also been said that;

he was only commanded to remove his sandals due to respect for the blessed spot.

Concerning Allah's statement,

إِنَّكَ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى

you are in the sacred valley, Tuwa."

طُوًى

(Tuwa) Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn Abbas said,

"It is the name of the valley."

Others have said the same.

This is merely mentioned as something to give more explanation to the story. It has also been said that it is a figure of speech, which comes from the command to place his feet down.

It has also been said that it means `doubly sacred' and that Tuwa is something that has repetitious blessings.

However, the first opinion is most correct. It is similar to Allah's statement,

إِذْ نَادَاهُ رَبُّهُ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى

When his Lord called him in the sacred valley of Tuwa. (79:16)

Allah's statement