Musa and his arm

Prophet Moses in Surah Alqasas asks God for his brother Aaron's companionship in his journey as his speech was more eloquent:

وَأَخِي هَارُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّي لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِيَ رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِي إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ

"And my brother Harun (Aaron) he is more eloquent in speech than me so send him with me as an aid to support me. Verily! I fear that they will disbelieve."

قال سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ  وَنَجْعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلْطَانًا فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيْكُمَا بِآيَاتِنَا أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكُمَا الْغَالِبُونَ

God said: "We will strengthen your arm through your brother, and give you both power, so they shall not be able to harm you, with Our evidences you two as well as those who follow you will be the victors."

The reason Moses asked for Harun was to assist him in his speech, and God granted him his wish. Yet look closely at the verse. It says  سَنشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ, which literally means "we will strengthen your ARM through your brother". God didn't mention his speech being strengthened, but rather his arm. Interesting right? Why specifically his arm?

Think about what God ordered Moses to do while facing Pharoah and his people. In times of hardship, Moses was commanded by God to do several things:

In Surah Taha:

قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يَا مُوسَىٰ

God said: "Throw it(your stick) down, O Musa!"

فَأَلْقَاهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَىٰ

He threw it down, and behold! It was a snake, moving quickly.

Then shortly in the same Surah:

وَاضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَىٰ جَنَاحِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ آيَةً أُخْرَىٰ

"And press your (right) hand to your (left) side, it will come forth white (and shining), without any flaws as another sign

In Surah Alshu'ara:

فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنِ اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْبَحْرَ فَانفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَالطَّوْدِ الْعَظِيمِ

Then We inspired Musa: "Strike the sea with your stick." And it parted, and each separate part (of that sea water) became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain.

What do all these commands have in common? They all required Moses to use his hand/arm to physically do something. Throw your stick at the magicians and it will become a snake. Put your hand in your side and bring it out and it will shine, as a miracle. Throw the stick at the sea and it will split, making a pathway for you to cross. 

Moses went through many situations with the Pharoah, yet the famous stories we know are ones that ask him to use his arm or hand to do something. Who knew using an arm to strike a sea can save an entire people?! God did. And He hinted that to Musa from the very beginning when He told him "we will strengthen your arm". Because after Musa's reliance on God, it was his arm that was his tool to defeat Pharoah and the oppressors, and bring victory to the believers.

It is these small details in the Quran that make delving into it worth every second. May God help us open up our eyes and hearts while reading His noble book.