View source for Day of Adornment in verse 59 of Surah Taha

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What is meant by "Yawm al-Zinah" (Day of Adornment) in verse 59 of Surah Taha?
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[[File:Image 2021-08-09 09-30-03.png|thumb|An image of Sham al-Nessim, one of the ancient Egyptian festivals, which some consider to be the same as "Yawm al-Zinah."]]
{{Portal|Quran}}

Yawm al-Zinah (Day of Adornment) in verse 59 of Surah Taha refers to a festival day in ancient Egypt when Prophet Moses (AS) defeated the magicians of Pharaoh through the miracle of his staff turning into a serpent. There is disagreement about the exact date and occasion of this day. Ibn Iyas, an Egyptian historian (d. 908 AH), considered Yawm al-Zinah to be the first day of the Egyptian year.

== Verse and Translation ==
{{Quran large|قَالَ مَوْعِدُكُمْ يَوْمُ الزِّينَةِ وَأَنْ يُحْشَرَ النَّاسُ ضُحًی
| Surah = Taha
| Verse = 59
| Translation = Moses said, "Your appointment is on the Day of Adornment, and let the people assemble at mid-morning."
}}

== Explanation and Interpretation of the Verse ==
The verse in question is part of a series of verses that narrate the story of Prophet Moses (AS) and Pharaoh. According to these verses, Allah commanded Prophet Moses (AS) to go to Pharaoh to guide him. Moses performed miracles before Pharaoh, but the arrogant and stubborn Pharaoh accused Moses of trying to drive them out of their land with his magic: "O Moses, have you come to drive us out of our land with your magic?" <ref>Surah Taha, verses 57–42.</ref> He then added, "Do not think we cannot bring magic like yours; we will surely bring you magic like it: {{Quran|فَلَنَأْتِيَنَّكَ بِسِحْرٍ مِثْلِهِ|Surah=Taha|Verse=58}}." To show his determination, Pharaoh said, "Set a date between us and you, which neither we nor you will fail to keep, in a place where we are all equal: {{Quran|فَاجْعَلْ بَيْنَنا وَ بَيْنَكَ مَوْعِداً لا نُخْلِفُهُ نَحْنُ وَ لا أَنْتَ مَكاناً سُوىً|Surah=Taha|Verse=58}}."

Prophet Moses (AS), without losing his composure or fearing Pharaoh's threats, firmly replied, "I am ready. Let us set the date now. Our appointment is on the Day of Adornment, provided that all the people gather in the morning: {{Quran|قالَ مَوْعِدُكُمْ يَوْمُ الزِّينَةِ وَ أَنْ يُحْشَرَ النَّاسُ ضُحًى|Surah=Taha|Verse=59}}."

The term Yawm al-Zinah (Day of Adornment) undoubtedly refers to a festival day, though its exact nature cannot be determined. What is important is that people would take a break from their work and be ready to participate in such an event.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Tafsir Nemooneh|year=1374|last=Makarem Shirazi|first=Nasser|publisher=Tehran, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah|volume=13|pages=227–231}}</ref>

== The Egyptian Festival Day ==
According to some commentators, Yawm al-Zinah in verse 59 of Surah Taha was a festival day for the Egyptians. There is disagreement about the occasion of this day and what people did on it. Some possibilities include it being a day of adornment, the New Year's Day, a market day, or the tenth day of the month. On this day, people would gather in one place,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Mafatih al-Ghayb|year=1420|last=Fakhr al-Din al-Razi|first=Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Umar|publisher=Beirut, Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi|volume=22|page=64}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Jami' al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran|year=1412|last=Tabari|first=Abu Ja'far Muhammad|publisher=Beirut, Dar al-Ma'rifah|volume=16|page=135}}</ref> and they would take a break from their work.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Tafsir Nemooneh|year=1374|last=Makarem Shirazi|first=Nasser|publisher=Tehran, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah|volume=13|page=231}}</ref>

Yawm al-Zinah was well-known among the people of Egypt,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Al-Durr al-Manthur fi Tafsir al-Ma'thur|year=1404|last=Suyuti|first=Abd al-Rahman|publisher=Qom, Mar'ashi Najafi Library|volume=4|page=303}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Tafsir al-Safi|year=1415|last=Fayd Kashani|first=Mulla Muhsin|publisher=Tehran, Sadr Publications|volume=3|page=310}}</ref> and the verse indicates that people would adorn themselves and decorate the markets on this day.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Al-Tibyan fi Tafsir al-Quran|last=Tusi|first=Muhammad ibn Hasan|publisher=Beirut, Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi|volume=7|page=181}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Translation of Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Quran|year=1374|last=Tabatabai|first=Seyyed Muhammad Husayn|publisher=Qom, Islamic Publications Office|volume=14|page=240}}</ref> According to Ibn Iyas, the Egyptian historian (d. 908 AH), it was customary for the ancient Egyptians to consider Yawm al-Zinah as the first day of their new year.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Nuzhat al-Umm fi al-Aja'ib wa al-Hikam|year=1995|last=Ibn Iyas|first=Muhammad|publisher=Cairo, Maktabat al-Madbouli|page=245}}</ref>

==References==
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