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Ash-Shu'ara'

Surah 26 · 227 verses
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21

فَفَرَرۡتُ مِنكُمۡ لَمَّا خِفۡتُكُمۡ فَوَهَبَ لِى رَبِّى حُكۡمً۬ا وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ

So I fled from you when I feared you. Then my Lord granted me wisdom and prophethood and appointed me [as one] of the messengers.

Tafsir

The Qur'an and the Disbelievers turning away;

They could be compelled to believe if Allah so willed At the beginning of the explanation of Surat Al-Baqarah we discussed the letters which appear at the beginning of some Surahs. Allah's saying:

﴿ تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ ﴾

(These are the Ayat of the Book Mubin.) means, these are the verses of the Clear Qur'an, i.e. the clear and unambiguous Book which distinguishes between truth and falsehood, misguidance and guidance.

﴿ لَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌ۬ نَّفۡسَكَ ﴾

(It may be that you are going Bakhi` yourself,) means, destroy yourself -- because of your keenness that they should be guided and your grief for them.

﴿ أَلَّا يَكُونُواْ مُؤۡمِنِينَ ﴾

(that they do not become believers.) Here Allah is consoling His Messenger for the lack of faith of those among the disbelievers who do not believe in him. This is like the Ayat:

﴿ فَلَا تَذۡهَبۡ نَفۡسُكَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ حَسَرَٲتٍۚ ﴾

(So destroy not yourself in sorrow for them) (35:8).

﴿ فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌ۬ نَّفۡسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِمۡ إِن لَّمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ﴾

(Perhaps, you would Bakhi` yourself, over their footsteps, because they believe not in this narration) (18:6). Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Qatadah, `Atiyyah, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan and others said that:

﴿ لَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌ۬ نَّفۡسَكَ ﴾

(It may be that you are going Bakhi` yourself,) means, `kill yourself.' Then Allah says:

﴿ إِن نَّشَأۡ نُنَزِّلۡ عَلَيۡہِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ءَايَةً۬ فَظَلَّتۡ أَعۡنَـٰقُهُمۡ لَهَا خَـٰضِعِينَ ﴾

(If We will, We could send down to them from the heaven a sign, to which they would bend their necks in humility.) meaning, `if We so willed, We could send down a sign that would force them to believe, but We will not do that because We do not want anyone to believe except by choice.' Allah says:

﴿ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَأَمَنَ مَن فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ڪُلُّهُمۡ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ أَفَأَنتَ تُكۡرِهُ ٱلنَّاسَ حَتَّىٰ يَكُونُواْ مُؤۡمِنِينَ ﴾

(And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together. So, will you then compel mankind, until they become believers.) (10:99)

﴿ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ أُمَّةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬‌ۖ ﴾

(And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely, have made mankind one Ummah...) (11:118) But Allah's will has acted, His decree has come to pass, and His proof has been conveyed to mankind by mission of Messengers and the revelation of Books to them. Then Allah says:

﴿ وَمَا يَأۡتِيہِم مِّن ذِكۡرٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مُحۡدَثٍ إِلَّا كَانُواْ عَنۡهُ مُعۡرِضِينَ ﴾

(And never comes there unto them a Reminder as a recent revelation from the Most Gracious, but they turn away therefrom.) meaning, every time a Scripture comes from heaven to them, most of the people turn away from it. As Allah says:

﴿ وَمَآ أَڪۡثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَوۡ حَرَصۡتَ بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ ﴾

(And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly.) (12:103)

﴿ يَـٰحَسۡرَةً عَلَى ٱلۡعِبَادِ‌ۚ مَا يَأۡتِيهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ ﴾

(Alas for mankind! There never came a Messenger to them but they used to mock at him.) (36:30)

﴿ ثُمَّ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتۡرَا‌ۖ كُلَّ مَا جَآءَ أُمَّةً۬ رَّسُولُهَا كَذَّبُوهُ‌ۚ ﴾

(Then We sent Our Messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation their Messenger, they denied him...) (23:44). Allah says here:

﴿ فَقَدۡ كَذَّبُواْ فَسَيَأۡتِيہِمۡ أَنۢبَـٰٓؤُاْ مَا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ ﴾

(So, they have indeed denied, then the news of what they mocked at will come to them.) meaning, they denied the truth that came to them, so they will come to know the news of the consequences of this denial after a while.

﴿ وَسَيَعۡلَمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓاْ أَىَّ مُنقَلَبٍ۬ يَنقَلِبُونَ ﴾

(And those who do wrong will come to know by what overturning they will be overturned) (26:227). Then Allah tells those who dared to oppose His Messenger and disbelieve in His Book, that He is the Subduer, the Almighty, the All-Powerful, Who created the earth and caused every good kind of crop, fruit and animal to grow therein. Sufyan Ath-Thawri narrated from a man from Ash-Sha`bi that people are a product of the earth. So whoever enters Paradise is good and noble, and whoever enters Hell is base and vile.

﴿ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَةً۬‌ۖ ﴾

(Verily, in this is an Ayah,) meaning an evidence of the power of the Creator of all things. He spread out the earth and raised the canopy of the heavens, yet despite that the majority of people do not believe, rather they deny Him, His Messengers, and His Books, and they go against His commands doing the things He had prohibited. His saying:

﴿ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ﴾

(And verily your Lord, He is truly the All-Mighty,) means, the One Who has power over all things, to subdue and control them,

﴿ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴾

(the Most Merciful. ) means, towards His creation, for He does not hasten to punish the one who sins, but He gives him time to repent, and if he does not, then He seizes him with a mighty punishment. Abu Al-`Aliyah, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Ibn Ishaq said: "He is Almighty in His punishment of those who went against His commands and worshipped others besides Him.'' Sa`id bin Jubayr said: "He is Most Merciful towards those who repent to Him and turn to Him.''

﴿ وَإِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبُّكَ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱئۡتِ ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ‌ۚ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ • وَيَضِيقُ صَدۡرِى وَلَا يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِى فَأَرۡسِلۡ إِلَىٰ هَـٰرُونَ • وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ • قَالَ كَلَّا‌ۖ فَٱذۡهَبَا بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۖ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسۡتَمِعُونَ • فَأۡتِيَا فِرۡعَوۡنَ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ • أَنۡ أَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ • قَالَ أَلَمۡ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدً۬ا وَلَبِثۡتَ فِينَا مِنۡ عُمُرِكَ سِنِينَ • وَفَعَلۡتَ فَعۡلَتَكَ ٱلَّتِى فَعَلۡتَ وَأَنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ • قَالَ فَعَلۡتُهَآ إِذً۬ا وَأَنَا۟ مِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ • فَفَرَرۡتُ مِنكُمۡ لَمَّا خِفۡتُكُمۡ فَوَهَبَ لِى رَبِّى حُكۡمً۬ا وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ • وَتِلۡكَ نِعۡمَةٌ۬ تَمُنُّہَا عَلَىَّ أَنۡ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(10. And (remember) when your Lord called Musa (saying): "Go to the people who are wrongdoers.'') (11. "The people of Fira`wn. Will they not have Taqwa'') (12. He said: "My Lord! Verily, I fear that they will deny me,'') (13. "And my breast straitens, and my tongue expresses not well. So send for Harun.'') (14. "And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me. '') (15. (Allah) said: "Nay! Go you both with Our signs. Verily, We shall be with you, listening.'') (16. "And go both of you to Fira`wn, and say: `We are the Messengers of the Lord of Al-`Alamin,') (17. `So allow the Children of Israel to go with us.''') (18. (Fir`awn) said (to Musa): "Did we not bring you up among us as a child And you did dwell many years of your life with us.'') (19. "And you did your deed, which you did. While you were one of the ingrates.'') (20. Musa said: "I did it then, when I was in error.'') (21. "So, I fled from you when I feared you. But my Lord has granted me Hukm, and made me one of the Messengers.'') (22. "And this is the past favor with which you reproach me, -- that you have enslaved the Children of Israel.'')

22

وَتِلۡكَ نِعۡمَةٌ۬ تَمُنُّہَا عَلَىَّ أَنۡ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ

And is this a favor of which you remind me – that you have enslaved the Children of Israel?”

Tafsir

The Qur'an and the Disbelievers turning away;

They could be compelled to believe if Allah so willed At the beginning of the explanation of Surat Al-Baqarah we discussed the letters which appear at the beginning of some Surahs. Allah's saying:

﴿ تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ ﴾

(These are the Ayat of the Book Mubin.) means, these are the verses of the Clear Qur'an, i.e. the clear and unambiguous Book which distinguishes between truth and falsehood, misguidance and guidance.

﴿ لَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌ۬ نَّفۡسَكَ ﴾

(It may be that you are going Bakhi` yourself,) means, destroy yourself -- because of your keenness that they should be guided and your grief for them.

﴿ أَلَّا يَكُونُواْ مُؤۡمِنِينَ ﴾

(that they do not become believers.) Here Allah is consoling His Messenger for the lack of faith of those among the disbelievers who do not believe in him. This is like the Ayat:

﴿ فَلَا تَذۡهَبۡ نَفۡسُكَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ حَسَرَٲتٍۚ ﴾

(So destroy not yourself in sorrow for them) (35:8).

﴿ فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌ۬ نَّفۡسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِمۡ إِن لَّمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ﴾

(Perhaps, you would Bakhi` yourself, over their footsteps, because they believe not in this narration) (18:6). Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Qatadah, `Atiyyah, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan and others said that:

﴿ لَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌ۬ نَّفۡسَكَ ﴾

(It may be that you are going Bakhi` yourself,) means, `kill yourself.' Then Allah says:

﴿ إِن نَّشَأۡ نُنَزِّلۡ عَلَيۡہِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ءَايَةً۬ فَظَلَّتۡ أَعۡنَـٰقُهُمۡ لَهَا خَـٰضِعِينَ ﴾

(If We will, We could send down to them from the heaven a sign, to which they would bend their necks in humility.) meaning, `if We so willed, We could send down a sign that would force them to believe, but We will not do that because We do not want anyone to believe except by choice.' Allah says:

﴿ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَأَمَنَ مَن فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ڪُلُّهُمۡ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ أَفَأَنتَ تُكۡرِهُ ٱلنَّاسَ حَتَّىٰ يَكُونُواْ مُؤۡمِنِينَ ﴾

(And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together. So, will you then compel mankind, until they become believers.) (10:99)

﴿ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ أُمَّةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬‌ۖ ﴾

(And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely, have made mankind one Ummah...) (11:118) But Allah's will has acted, His decree has come to pass, and His proof has been conveyed to mankind by mission of Messengers and the revelation of Books to them. Then Allah says:

﴿ وَمَا يَأۡتِيہِم مِّن ذِكۡرٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مُحۡدَثٍ إِلَّا كَانُواْ عَنۡهُ مُعۡرِضِينَ ﴾

(And never comes there unto them a Reminder as a recent revelation from the Most Gracious, but they turn away therefrom.) meaning, every time a Scripture comes from heaven to them, most of the people turn away from it. As Allah says:

﴿ وَمَآ أَڪۡثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَوۡ حَرَصۡتَ بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ ﴾

(And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly.) (12:103)

﴿ يَـٰحَسۡرَةً عَلَى ٱلۡعِبَادِ‌ۚ مَا يَأۡتِيهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ ﴾

(Alas for mankind! There never came a Messenger to them but they used to mock at him.) (36:30)

﴿ ثُمَّ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتۡرَا‌ۖ كُلَّ مَا جَآءَ أُمَّةً۬ رَّسُولُهَا كَذَّبُوهُ‌ۚ ﴾

(Then We sent Our Messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation their Messenger, they denied him...) (23:44). Allah says here:

﴿ فَقَدۡ كَذَّبُواْ فَسَيَأۡتِيہِمۡ أَنۢبَـٰٓؤُاْ مَا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ ﴾

(So, they have indeed denied, then the news of what they mocked at will come to them.) meaning, they denied the truth that came to them, so they will come to know the news of the consequences of this denial after a while.

﴿ وَسَيَعۡلَمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓاْ أَىَّ مُنقَلَبٍ۬ يَنقَلِبُونَ ﴾

(And those who do wrong will come to know by what overturning they will be overturned) (26:227). Then Allah tells those who dared to oppose His Messenger and disbelieve in His Book, that He is the Subduer, the Almighty, the All-Powerful, Who created the earth and caused every good kind of crop, fruit and animal to grow therein. Sufyan Ath-Thawri narrated from a man from Ash-Sha`bi that people are a product of the earth. So whoever enters Paradise is good and noble, and whoever enters Hell is base and vile.

﴿ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَةً۬‌ۖ ﴾

(Verily, in this is an Ayah,) meaning an evidence of the power of the Creator of all things. He spread out the earth and raised the canopy of the heavens, yet despite that the majority of people do not believe, rather they deny Him, His Messengers, and His Books, and they go against His commands doing the things He had prohibited. His saying:

﴿ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ﴾

(And verily your Lord, He is truly the All-Mighty,) means, the One Who has power over all things, to subdue and control them,

﴿ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴾

(the Most Merciful. ) means, towards His creation, for He does not hasten to punish the one who sins, but He gives him time to repent, and if he does not, then He seizes him with a mighty punishment. Abu Al-`Aliyah, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Ibn Ishaq said: "He is Almighty in His punishment of those who went against His commands and worshipped others besides Him.'' Sa`id bin Jubayr said: "He is Most Merciful towards those who repent to Him and turn to Him.''

﴿ وَإِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبُّكَ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱئۡتِ ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ‌ۚ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ • وَيَضِيقُ صَدۡرِى وَلَا يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِى فَأَرۡسِلۡ إِلَىٰ هَـٰرُونَ • وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ • قَالَ كَلَّا‌ۖ فَٱذۡهَبَا بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۖ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسۡتَمِعُونَ • فَأۡتِيَا فِرۡعَوۡنَ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ • أَنۡ أَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ • قَالَ أَلَمۡ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدً۬ا وَلَبِثۡتَ فِينَا مِنۡ عُمُرِكَ سِنِينَ • وَفَعَلۡتَ فَعۡلَتَكَ ٱلَّتِى فَعَلۡتَ وَأَنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ • قَالَ فَعَلۡتُهَآ إِذً۬ا وَأَنَا۟ مِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ • فَفَرَرۡتُ مِنكُمۡ لَمَّا خِفۡتُكُمۡ فَوَهَبَ لِى رَبِّى حُكۡمً۬ا وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ • وَتِلۡكَ نِعۡمَةٌ۬ تَمُنُّہَا عَلَىَّ أَنۡ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(10. And (remember) when your Lord called Musa (saying): "Go to the people who are wrongdoers.'') (11. "The people of Fira`wn. Will they not have Taqwa'') (12. He said: "My Lord! Verily, I fear that they will deny me,'') (13. "And my breast straitens, and my tongue expresses not well. So send for Harun.'') (14. "And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me. '') (15. (Allah) said: "Nay! Go you both with Our signs. Verily, We shall be with you, listening.'') (16. "And go both of you to Fira`wn, and say: `We are the Messengers of the Lord of Al-`Alamin,') (17. `So allow the Children of Israel to go with us.''') (18. (Fir`awn) said (to Musa): "Did we not bring you up among us as a child And you did dwell many years of your life with us.'') (19. "And you did your deed, which you did. While you were one of the ingrates.'') (20. Musa said: "I did it then, when I was in error.'') (21. "So, I fled from you when I feared you. But my Lord has granted me Hukm, and made me one of the Messengers.'') (22. "And this is the past favor with which you reproach me, -- that you have enslaved the Children of Israel.'')

23

قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَمَا رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ

Said Pharaoh, “And what is the Lord of the worlds?”

Tafsir

Between Musa and Fir`awn

Allah tells us what He commanded His servant, son of `Imran and Messenger Musa (peace be upon him) who spoke with Him, to do, when He called him from the right side of the mountain, and conversed with him, and chose him, sent him, and commanded him to go to Fir`awn and his people. Allah says:

﴿ وَإِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبُّكَ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱئۡتِ ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ‌ۚ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ • وَيَضِيقُ صَدۡرِى وَلَا يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِى فَأَرۡسِلۡ إِلَىٰ هَـٰرُونَ • وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ ﴾

(And when your Lord called Musa: "Go to the people who are wrongdoers. The people of Fir`awn. Will they not have Taqwa'' He said: "My Lord! Verily, I fear that they will deny me, And my breast straitens, and my tongue expresses not well. So send for Harun. And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me.'') So, Musa asked Allah to remove these difficulties for him, as he said in Surah Ta Ha:

﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشۡرَحۡ لِى صَدۡرِى • وَيَسِّرۡ لِىٓ أَمۡرِى ﴾

(Musa said: "O my Lord! Open for me my chest. And ease my task for me.'') (20:25-26) until:

﴿ قَدۡ أُوتِيتَ سُؤۡلَكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ ﴾

(You are granted your request, O Musa!) (20:36)

﴿ وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ ﴾

(And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me.) because he had killed that Egyptian, which was the reason that he left the land of Egypt.

﴿ قَالَ كَلَّا‌ۖ ﴾

((Allah) said: "Nay!..'') Allah told him: do not be afraid of anything like that. This is like the Ayah,

﴿ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجۡعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا ﴾

(Allah said: "We will strengthen your arm through your brother, and give you both power) meaning, proof;

﴿ فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيۡكُمَا‌ۚ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكُمَا ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ ﴾

(so they shall not be able to harm you, with Our signs, you two as well as those who follow you will be the victors) (28:35),

﴿ فَٱذۡهَبَا بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۖ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسۡتَمِعُونَ ﴾

(Go you both with Our signs. Verily, We shall be with you, listening.) This is like the Ayah,

﴿ إِنَّنِى مَعَڪُمَآ أَسۡمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ ﴾

(I am with you both, hearing and seeing) (20:46). Meaning, `I will be with you by My protection, care, support and help.'

﴿ فَأۡتِيَا فِرۡعَوۡنَ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴾

(And go both of you to Fir`awn, and say: `We are the Messengers of the Lord of the all that exists.') This is like the Ayah,

﴿ إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ ﴾

(Verily, we are both Messengers of your Lord) (20:47). which means, `both of us have been sent to you,'

﴿ أَنۡ أَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(So allow the Children of Israel to go with us.) Meaning, `let them go, free them from your captivity, subjugation and torture, for they are the believing servants of Allah, devoted to Him, and with you they are in a position of humiliating torture.' When Musa said that to him, Fir`awn turned away and ignored him completely, regarding him with scorn and thinking little of him. Saying:

﴿ أَلَمۡ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدً۬ا ﴾

(Did we not bring you up among us as a child) meaning, we brought you up among us, in our home and on our bed, we nourished you and did favors for you for many years, and after all that you responded to our kindness in this manner: you killed one of our men and denied our favors to you.' So he said to him:

﴿ وَأَنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴾

(While you were one of the ingrates.) meaning, one of those who deny favors. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam, and was the view favored by Ibn Jarir.

﴿ قَالَ فَعَلۡتُهَآ إِذً۬ا ﴾

((Musa) said: "I did it then...'') meaning, at that time,

﴿ وَأَنَا۟ مِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴾

(when I was in error.) meaning, `before revelation was sent to me and before Allah made me a Prophet and sent me with this Message.'

﴿ فَفَرَرۡتُ مِنكُمۡ لَمَّا خِفۡتُكُمۡ فَوَهَبَ لِى رَبِّى حُكۡمً۬ا وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ﴾

(So, I fled from you when I feared you. But my Lord has granted me Hukm, and made me one of the Messengers.) means, `the first situation came to an end and another took its place. Now Allah has sent me to you, and if you obey Him, you will be safe, but if you oppose Him, you will be destroyed.' Then Musa said:

﴿ وَتِلۡكَ نِعۡمَةٌ۬ تَمُنُّہَا عَلَىَّ أَنۡ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(And this is the past favor with which you reproach me, -- that you have enslaved the Children of Israel.) meaning, `whatever favors you did in bringing me up are offset by the evil you did by enslaving the Children of Israel and using them to do your hard labor. Is there any comparison between your favors to one man among them and the evil you have done to all of them What you have mentioned about me is nothing compared to what you have done to them.'

﴿ قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَمَا رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ • قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ • قَالَ لِمَنۡ حَوۡلَهُ ۥۤ أَلَا تَسۡتَمِعُونَ • قَالَ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآٮِٕكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ • قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُرۡسِلَ إِلَيۡكُمۡ لَمَجۡنُونٌ۬ • قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ﴾

(23. Fir`awn said: "And what is the Lord of Al-`Alamin'') (24. (Musa) said: "The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty.'') (25. (Fir`awn) said to those around: "Do you not hear (what he says)'') (26. (Musa) said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!'') (27. (Fir`awn) said: "Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!'') (28. (Musa) said: "Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!'')

24

قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ

[Moses] said, “The Lord of the heavens and earth and that between them, if you should be convinced.”

Tafsir

Between Musa and Fir`awn

Allah tells us what He commanded His servant, son of `Imran and Messenger Musa (peace be upon him) who spoke with Him, to do, when He called him from the right side of the mountain, and conversed with him, and chose him, sent him, and commanded him to go to Fir`awn and his people. Allah says:

﴿ وَإِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبُّكَ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱئۡتِ ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ‌ۚ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ • وَيَضِيقُ صَدۡرِى وَلَا يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِى فَأَرۡسِلۡ إِلَىٰ هَـٰرُونَ • وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ ﴾

(And when your Lord called Musa: "Go to the people who are wrongdoers. The people of Fir`awn. Will they not have Taqwa'' He said: "My Lord! Verily, I fear that they will deny me, And my breast straitens, and my tongue expresses not well. So send for Harun. And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me.'') So, Musa asked Allah to remove these difficulties for him, as he said in Surah Ta Ha:

﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشۡرَحۡ لِى صَدۡرِى • وَيَسِّرۡ لِىٓ أَمۡرِى ﴾

(Musa said: "O my Lord! Open for me my chest. And ease my task for me.'') (20:25-26) until:

﴿ قَدۡ أُوتِيتَ سُؤۡلَكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ ﴾

(You are granted your request, O Musa!) (20:36)

﴿ وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ ﴾

(And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me.) because he had killed that Egyptian, which was the reason that he left the land of Egypt.

﴿ قَالَ كَلَّا‌ۖ ﴾

((Allah) said: "Nay!..'') Allah told him: do not be afraid of anything like that. This is like the Ayah,

﴿ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجۡعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا ﴾

(Allah said: "We will strengthen your arm through your brother, and give you both power) meaning, proof;

﴿ فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيۡكُمَا‌ۚ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكُمَا ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ ﴾

(so they shall not be able to harm you, with Our signs, you two as well as those who follow you will be the victors) (28:35),

﴿ فَٱذۡهَبَا بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۖ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسۡتَمِعُونَ ﴾

(Go you both with Our signs. Verily, We shall be with you, listening.) This is like the Ayah,

﴿ إِنَّنِى مَعَڪُمَآ أَسۡمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ ﴾

(I am with you both, hearing and seeing) (20:46). Meaning, `I will be with you by My protection, care, support and help.'

﴿ فَأۡتِيَا فِرۡعَوۡنَ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴾

(And go both of you to Fir`awn, and say: `We are the Messengers of the Lord of the all that exists.') This is like the Ayah,

﴿ إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ ﴾

(Verily, we are both Messengers of your Lord) (20:47). which means, `both of us have been sent to you,'

﴿ أَنۡ أَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(So allow the Children of Israel to go with us.) Meaning, `let them go, free them from your captivity, subjugation and torture, for they are the believing servants of Allah, devoted to Him, and with you they are in a position of humiliating torture.' When Musa said that to him, Fir`awn turned away and ignored him completely, regarding him with scorn and thinking little of him. Saying:

﴿ أَلَمۡ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدً۬ا ﴾

(Did we not bring you up among us as a child) meaning, we brought you up among us, in our home and on our bed, we nourished you and did favors for you for many years, and after all that you responded to our kindness in this manner: you killed one of our men and denied our favors to you.' So he said to him:

﴿ وَأَنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴾

(While you were one of the ingrates.) meaning, one of those who deny favors. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam, and was the view favored by Ibn Jarir.

﴿ قَالَ فَعَلۡتُهَآ إِذً۬ا ﴾

((Musa) said: "I did it then...'') meaning, at that time,

﴿ وَأَنَا۟ مِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴾

(when I was in error.) meaning, `before revelation was sent to me and before Allah made me a Prophet and sent me with this Message.'

﴿ فَفَرَرۡتُ مِنكُمۡ لَمَّا خِفۡتُكُمۡ فَوَهَبَ لِى رَبِّى حُكۡمً۬ا وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ﴾

(So, I fled from you when I feared you. But my Lord has granted me Hukm, and made me one of the Messengers.) means, `the first situation came to an end and another took its place. Now Allah has sent me to you, and if you obey Him, you will be safe, but if you oppose Him, you will be destroyed.' Then Musa said:

﴿ وَتِلۡكَ نِعۡمَةٌ۬ تَمُنُّہَا عَلَىَّ أَنۡ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(And this is the past favor with which you reproach me, -- that you have enslaved the Children of Israel.) meaning, `whatever favors you did in bringing me up are offset by the evil you did by enslaving the Children of Israel and using them to do your hard labor. Is there any comparison between your favors to one man among them and the evil you have done to all of them What you have mentioned about me is nothing compared to what you have done to them.'

﴿ قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَمَا رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ • قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ • قَالَ لِمَنۡ حَوۡلَهُ ۥۤ أَلَا تَسۡتَمِعُونَ • قَالَ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآٮِٕكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ • قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُرۡسِلَ إِلَيۡكُمۡ لَمَجۡنُونٌ۬ • قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ﴾

(23. Fir`awn said: "And what is the Lord of Al-`Alamin'') (24. (Musa) said: "The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty.'') (25. (Fir`awn) said to those around: "Do you not hear (what he says)'') (26. (Musa) said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!'') (27. (Fir`awn) said: "Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!'') (28. (Musa) said: "Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!'')

25

قَالَ لِمَنۡ حَوۡلَهُ ۥۤ أَلَا تَسۡتَمِعُونَ

[Pharaoh] said to those around him, “Do you not hear?”

Tafsir

Between Musa and Fir`awn

Allah tells us what He commanded His servant, son of `Imran and Messenger Musa (peace be upon him) who spoke with Him, to do, when He called him from the right side of the mountain, and conversed with him, and chose him, sent him, and commanded him to go to Fir`awn and his people. Allah says:

﴿ وَإِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبُّكَ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱئۡتِ ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ‌ۚ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ • وَيَضِيقُ صَدۡرِى وَلَا يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِى فَأَرۡسِلۡ إِلَىٰ هَـٰرُونَ • وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ ﴾

(And when your Lord called Musa: "Go to the people who are wrongdoers. The people of Fir`awn. Will they not have Taqwa'' He said: "My Lord! Verily, I fear that they will deny me, And my breast straitens, and my tongue expresses not well. So send for Harun. And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me.'') So, Musa asked Allah to remove these difficulties for him, as he said in Surah Ta Ha:

﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشۡرَحۡ لِى صَدۡرِى • وَيَسِّرۡ لِىٓ أَمۡرِى ﴾

(Musa said: "O my Lord! Open for me my chest. And ease my task for me.'') (20:25-26) until:

﴿ قَدۡ أُوتِيتَ سُؤۡلَكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ ﴾

(You are granted your request, O Musa!) (20:36)

﴿ وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ ﴾

(And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me.) because he had killed that Egyptian, which was the reason that he left the land of Egypt.

﴿ قَالَ كَلَّا‌ۖ ﴾

((Allah) said: "Nay!..'') Allah told him: do not be afraid of anything like that. This is like the Ayah,

﴿ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجۡعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا ﴾

(Allah said: "We will strengthen your arm through your brother, and give you both power) meaning, proof;

﴿ فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيۡكُمَا‌ۚ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكُمَا ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ ﴾

(so they shall not be able to harm you, with Our signs, you two as well as those who follow you will be the victors) (28:35),

﴿ فَٱذۡهَبَا بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۖ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسۡتَمِعُونَ ﴾

(Go you both with Our signs. Verily, We shall be with you, listening.) This is like the Ayah,

﴿ إِنَّنِى مَعَڪُمَآ أَسۡمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ ﴾

(I am with you both, hearing and seeing) (20:46). Meaning, `I will be with you by My protection, care, support and help.'

﴿ فَأۡتِيَا فِرۡعَوۡنَ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴾

(And go both of you to Fir`awn, and say: `We are the Messengers of the Lord of the all that exists.') This is like the Ayah,

﴿ إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ ﴾

(Verily, we are both Messengers of your Lord) (20:47). which means, `both of us have been sent to you,'

﴿ أَنۡ أَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(So allow the Children of Israel to go with us.) Meaning, `let them go, free them from your captivity, subjugation and torture, for they are the believing servants of Allah, devoted to Him, and with you they are in a position of humiliating torture.' When Musa said that to him, Fir`awn turned away and ignored him completely, regarding him with scorn and thinking little of him. Saying:

﴿ أَلَمۡ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدً۬ا ﴾

(Did we not bring you up among us as a child) meaning, we brought you up among us, in our home and on our bed, we nourished you and did favors for you for many years, and after all that you responded to our kindness in this manner: you killed one of our men and denied our favors to you.' So he said to him:

﴿ وَأَنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴾

(While you were one of the ingrates.) meaning, one of those who deny favors. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam, and was the view favored by Ibn Jarir.

﴿ قَالَ فَعَلۡتُهَآ إِذً۬ا ﴾

((Musa) said: "I did it then...'') meaning, at that time,

﴿ وَأَنَا۟ مِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴾

(when I was in error.) meaning, `before revelation was sent to me and before Allah made me a Prophet and sent me with this Message.'

﴿ فَفَرَرۡتُ مِنكُمۡ لَمَّا خِفۡتُكُمۡ فَوَهَبَ لِى رَبِّى حُكۡمً۬ا وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ﴾

(So, I fled from you when I feared you. But my Lord has granted me Hukm, and made me one of the Messengers.) means, `the first situation came to an end and another took its place. Now Allah has sent me to you, and if you obey Him, you will be safe, but if you oppose Him, you will be destroyed.' Then Musa said:

﴿ وَتِلۡكَ نِعۡمَةٌ۬ تَمُنُّہَا عَلَىَّ أَنۡ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(And this is the past favor with which you reproach me, -- that you have enslaved the Children of Israel.) meaning, `whatever favors you did in bringing me up are offset by the evil you did by enslaving the Children of Israel and using them to do your hard labor. Is there any comparison between your favors to one man among them and the evil you have done to all of them What you have mentioned about me is nothing compared to what you have done to them.'

﴿ قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَمَا رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ • قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ • قَالَ لِمَنۡ حَوۡلَهُ ۥۤ أَلَا تَسۡتَمِعُونَ • قَالَ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآٮِٕكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ • قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُرۡسِلَ إِلَيۡكُمۡ لَمَجۡنُونٌ۬ • قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ﴾

(23. Fir`awn said: "And what is the Lord of Al-`Alamin'') (24. (Musa) said: "The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty.'') (25. (Fir`awn) said to those around: "Do you not hear (what he says)'') (26. (Musa) said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!'') (27. (Fir`awn) said: "Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!'') (28. (Musa) said: "Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!'')

26

قَالَ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآٮِٕكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ

[Moses] said, “Your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers.”

Tafsir

Between Musa and Fir`awn

Allah tells us what He commanded His servant, son of `Imran and Messenger Musa (peace be upon him) who spoke with Him, to do, when He called him from the right side of the mountain, and conversed with him, and chose him, sent him, and commanded him to go to Fir`awn and his people. Allah says:

﴿ وَإِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبُّكَ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱئۡتِ ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ‌ۚ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ • وَيَضِيقُ صَدۡرِى وَلَا يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِى فَأَرۡسِلۡ إِلَىٰ هَـٰرُونَ • وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ ﴾

(And when your Lord called Musa: "Go to the people who are wrongdoers. The people of Fir`awn. Will they not have Taqwa'' He said: "My Lord! Verily, I fear that they will deny me, And my breast straitens, and my tongue expresses not well. So send for Harun. And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me.'') So, Musa asked Allah to remove these difficulties for him, as he said in Surah Ta Ha:

﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشۡرَحۡ لِى صَدۡرِى • وَيَسِّرۡ لِىٓ أَمۡرِى ﴾

(Musa said: "O my Lord! Open for me my chest. And ease my task for me.'') (20:25-26) until:

﴿ قَدۡ أُوتِيتَ سُؤۡلَكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ ﴾

(You are granted your request, O Musa!) (20:36)

﴿ وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ ﴾

(And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me.) because he had killed that Egyptian, which was the reason that he left the land of Egypt.

﴿ قَالَ كَلَّا‌ۖ ﴾

((Allah) said: "Nay!..'') Allah told him: do not be afraid of anything like that. This is like the Ayah,

﴿ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجۡعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا ﴾

(Allah said: "We will strengthen your arm through your brother, and give you both power) meaning, proof;

﴿ فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيۡكُمَا‌ۚ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكُمَا ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ ﴾

(so they shall not be able to harm you, with Our signs, you two as well as those who follow you will be the victors) (28:35),

﴿ فَٱذۡهَبَا بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۖ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسۡتَمِعُونَ ﴾

(Go you both with Our signs. Verily, We shall be with you, listening.) This is like the Ayah,

﴿ إِنَّنِى مَعَڪُمَآ أَسۡمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ ﴾

(I am with you both, hearing and seeing) (20:46). Meaning, `I will be with you by My protection, care, support and help.'

﴿ فَأۡتِيَا فِرۡعَوۡنَ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴾

(And go both of you to Fir`awn, and say: `We are the Messengers of the Lord of the all that exists.') This is like the Ayah,

﴿ إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ ﴾

(Verily, we are both Messengers of your Lord) (20:47). which means, `both of us have been sent to you,'

﴿ أَنۡ أَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(So allow the Children of Israel to go with us.) Meaning, `let them go, free them from your captivity, subjugation and torture, for they are the believing servants of Allah, devoted to Him, and with you they are in a position of humiliating torture.' When Musa said that to him, Fir`awn turned away and ignored him completely, regarding him with scorn and thinking little of him. Saying:

﴿ أَلَمۡ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدً۬ا ﴾

(Did we not bring you up among us as a child) meaning, we brought you up among us, in our home and on our bed, we nourished you and did favors for you for many years, and after all that you responded to our kindness in this manner: you killed one of our men and denied our favors to you.' So he said to him:

﴿ وَأَنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴾

(While you were one of the ingrates.) meaning, one of those who deny favors. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam, and was the view favored by Ibn Jarir.

﴿ قَالَ فَعَلۡتُهَآ إِذً۬ا ﴾

((Musa) said: "I did it then...'') meaning, at that time,

﴿ وَأَنَا۟ مِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴾

(when I was in error.) meaning, `before revelation was sent to me and before Allah made me a Prophet and sent me with this Message.'

﴿ فَفَرَرۡتُ مِنكُمۡ لَمَّا خِفۡتُكُمۡ فَوَهَبَ لِى رَبِّى حُكۡمً۬ا وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ﴾

(So, I fled from you when I feared you. But my Lord has granted me Hukm, and made me one of the Messengers.) means, `the first situation came to an end and another took its place. Now Allah has sent me to you, and if you obey Him, you will be safe, but if you oppose Him, you will be destroyed.' Then Musa said:

﴿ وَتِلۡكَ نِعۡمَةٌ۬ تَمُنُّہَا عَلَىَّ أَنۡ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(And this is the past favor with which you reproach me, -- that you have enslaved the Children of Israel.) meaning, `whatever favors you did in bringing me up are offset by the evil you did by enslaving the Children of Israel and using them to do your hard labor. Is there any comparison between your favors to one man among them and the evil you have done to all of them What you have mentioned about me is nothing compared to what you have done to them.'

﴿ قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَمَا رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ • قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ • قَالَ لِمَنۡ حَوۡلَهُ ۥۤ أَلَا تَسۡتَمِعُونَ • قَالَ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآٮِٕكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ • قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُرۡسِلَ إِلَيۡكُمۡ لَمَجۡنُونٌ۬ • قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ﴾

(23. Fir`awn said: "And what is the Lord of Al-`Alamin'') (24. (Musa) said: "The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty.'') (25. (Fir`awn) said to those around: "Do you not hear (what he says)'') (26. (Musa) said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!'') (27. (Fir`awn) said: "Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!'') (28. (Musa) said: "Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!'')

27

قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُرۡسِلَ إِلَيۡكُمۡ لَمَجۡنُونٌ۬

[Pharaoh] said, “Indeed, your ‘messenger’ who has been sent to you is mad.”

Tafsir

Between Musa and Fir`awn

Allah tells us what He commanded His servant, son of `Imran and Messenger Musa (peace be upon him) who spoke with Him, to do, when He called him from the right side of the mountain, and conversed with him, and chose him, sent him, and commanded him to go to Fir`awn and his people. Allah says:

﴿ وَإِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبُّكَ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱئۡتِ ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ‌ۚ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ • وَيَضِيقُ صَدۡرِى وَلَا يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِى فَأَرۡسِلۡ إِلَىٰ هَـٰرُونَ • وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ ﴾

(And when your Lord called Musa: "Go to the people who are wrongdoers. The people of Fir`awn. Will they not have Taqwa'' He said: "My Lord! Verily, I fear that they will deny me, And my breast straitens, and my tongue expresses not well. So send for Harun. And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me.'') So, Musa asked Allah to remove these difficulties for him, as he said in Surah Ta Ha:

﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشۡرَحۡ لِى صَدۡرِى • وَيَسِّرۡ لِىٓ أَمۡرِى ﴾

(Musa said: "O my Lord! Open for me my chest. And ease my task for me.'') (20:25-26) until:

﴿ قَدۡ أُوتِيتَ سُؤۡلَكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ ﴾

(You are granted your request, O Musa!) (20:36)

﴿ وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ ﴾

(And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me.) because he had killed that Egyptian, which was the reason that he left the land of Egypt.

﴿ قَالَ كَلَّا‌ۖ ﴾

((Allah) said: "Nay!..'') Allah told him: do not be afraid of anything like that. This is like the Ayah,

﴿ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجۡعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا ﴾

(Allah said: "We will strengthen your arm through your brother, and give you both power) meaning, proof;

﴿ فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيۡكُمَا‌ۚ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكُمَا ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ ﴾

(so they shall not be able to harm you, with Our signs, you two as well as those who follow you will be the victors) (28:35),

﴿ فَٱذۡهَبَا بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۖ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسۡتَمِعُونَ ﴾

(Go you both with Our signs. Verily, We shall be with you, listening.) This is like the Ayah,

﴿ إِنَّنِى مَعَڪُمَآ أَسۡمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ ﴾

(I am with you both, hearing and seeing) (20:46). Meaning, `I will be with you by My protection, care, support and help.'

﴿ فَأۡتِيَا فِرۡعَوۡنَ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴾

(And go both of you to Fir`awn, and say: `We are the Messengers of the Lord of the all that exists.') This is like the Ayah,

﴿ إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ ﴾

(Verily, we are both Messengers of your Lord) (20:47). which means, `both of us have been sent to you,'

﴿ أَنۡ أَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(So allow the Children of Israel to go with us.) Meaning, `let them go, free them from your captivity, subjugation and torture, for they are the believing servants of Allah, devoted to Him, and with you they are in a position of humiliating torture.' When Musa said that to him, Fir`awn turned away and ignored him completely, regarding him with scorn and thinking little of him. Saying:

﴿ أَلَمۡ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدً۬ا ﴾

(Did we not bring you up among us as a child) meaning, we brought you up among us, in our home and on our bed, we nourished you and did favors for you for many years, and after all that you responded to our kindness in this manner: you killed one of our men and denied our favors to you.' So he said to him:

﴿ وَأَنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴾

(While you were one of the ingrates.) meaning, one of those who deny favors. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam, and was the view favored by Ibn Jarir.

﴿ قَالَ فَعَلۡتُهَآ إِذً۬ا ﴾

((Musa) said: "I did it then...'') meaning, at that time,

﴿ وَأَنَا۟ مِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴾

(when I was in error.) meaning, `before revelation was sent to me and before Allah made me a Prophet and sent me with this Message.'

﴿ فَفَرَرۡتُ مِنكُمۡ لَمَّا خِفۡتُكُمۡ فَوَهَبَ لِى رَبِّى حُكۡمً۬ا وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ﴾

(So, I fled from you when I feared you. But my Lord has granted me Hukm, and made me one of the Messengers.) means, `the first situation came to an end and another took its place. Now Allah has sent me to you, and if you obey Him, you will be safe, but if you oppose Him, you will be destroyed.' Then Musa said:

﴿ وَتِلۡكَ نِعۡمَةٌ۬ تَمُنُّہَا عَلَىَّ أَنۡ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(And this is the past favor with which you reproach me, -- that you have enslaved the Children of Israel.) meaning, `whatever favors you did in bringing me up are offset by the evil you did by enslaving the Children of Israel and using them to do your hard labor. Is there any comparison between your favors to one man among them and the evil you have done to all of them What you have mentioned about me is nothing compared to what you have done to them.'

﴿ قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَمَا رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ • قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ • قَالَ لِمَنۡ حَوۡلَهُ ۥۤ أَلَا تَسۡتَمِعُونَ • قَالَ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآٮِٕكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ • قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُرۡسِلَ إِلَيۡكُمۡ لَمَجۡنُونٌ۬ • قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ﴾

(23. Fir`awn said: "And what is the Lord of Al-`Alamin'') (24. (Musa) said: "The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty.'') (25. (Fir`awn) said to those around: "Do you not hear (what he says)'') (26. (Musa) said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!'') (27. (Fir`awn) said: "Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!'') (28. (Musa) said: "Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!'')

28

قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ

[Moses] said, “Lord of the east and the west and that between them, if you were to reason.”

Tafsir

Between Musa and Fir`awn

Allah tells us what He commanded His servant, son of `Imran and Messenger Musa (peace be upon him) who spoke with Him, to do, when He called him from the right side of the mountain, and conversed with him, and chose him, sent him, and commanded him to go to Fir`awn and his people. Allah says:

﴿ وَإِذۡ نَادَىٰ رَبُّكَ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱئۡتِ ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ • قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ‌ۚ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ • قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ • وَيَضِيقُ صَدۡرِى وَلَا يَنطَلِقُ لِسَانِى فَأَرۡسِلۡ إِلَىٰ هَـٰرُونَ • وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ ﴾

(And when your Lord called Musa: "Go to the people who are wrongdoers. The people of Fir`awn. Will they not have Taqwa'' He said: "My Lord! Verily, I fear that they will deny me, And my breast straitens, and my tongue expresses not well. So send for Harun. And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me.'') So, Musa asked Allah to remove these difficulties for him, as he said in Surah Ta Ha:

﴿ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشۡرَحۡ لِى صَدۡرِى • وَيَسِّرۡ لِىٓ أَمۡرِى ﴾

(Musa said: "O my Lord! Open for me my chest. And ease my task for me.'') (20:25-26) until:

﴿ قَدۡ أُوتِيتَ سُؤۡلَكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ ﴾

(You are granted your request, O Musa!) (20:36)

﴿ وَلَهُمۡ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ۬ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقۡتُلُونِ ﴾

(And they have a charge of crime against me, and I fear they will kill me.) because he had killed that Egyptian, which was the reason that he left the land of Egypt.

﴿ قَالَ كَلَّا‌ۖ ﴾

((Allah) said: "Nay!..'') Allah told him: do not be afraid of anything like that. This is like the Ayah,

﴿ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجۡعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا ﴾

(Allah said: "We will strengthen your arm through your brother, and give you both power) meaning, proof;

﴿ فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيۡكُمَا‌ۚ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكُمَا ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ ﴾

(so they shall not be able to harm you, with Our signs, you two as well as those who follow you will be the victors) (28:35),

﴿ فَٱذۡهَبَا بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۖ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسۡتَمِعُونَ ﴾

(Go you both with Our signs. Verily, We shall be with you, listening.) This is like the Ayah,

﴿ إِنَّنِى مَعَڪُمَآ أَسۡمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ ﴾

(I am with you both, hearing and seeing) (20:46). Meaning, `I will be with you by My protection, care, support and help.'

﴿ فَأۡتِيَا فِرۡعَوۡنَ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴾

(And go both of you to Fir`awn, and say: `We are the Messengers of the Lord of the all that exists.') This is like the Ayah,

﴿ إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ ﴾

(Verily, we are both Messengers of your Lord) (20:47). which means, `both of us have been sent to you,'

﴿ أَنۡ أَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(So allow the Children of Israel to go with us.) Meaning, `let them go, free them from your captivity, subjugation and torture, for they are the believing servants of Allah, devoted to Him, and with you they are in a position of humiliating torture.' When Musa said that to him, Fir`awn turned away and ignored him completely, regarding him with scorn and thinking little of him. Saying:

﴿ أَلَمۡ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدً۬ا ﴾

(Did we not bring you up among us as a child) meaning, we brought you up among us, in our home and on our bed, we nourished you and did favors for you for many years, and after all that you responded to our kindness in this manner: you killed one of our men and denied our favors to you.' So he said to him:

﴿ وَأَنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴾

(While you were one of the ingrates.) meaning, one of those who deny favors. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam, and was the view favored by Ibn Jarir.

﴿ قَالَ فَعَلۡتُهَآ إِذً۬ا ﴾

((Musa) said: "I did it then...'') meaning, at that time,

﴿ وَأَنَا۟ مِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴾

(when I was in error.) meaning, `before revelation was sent to me and before Allah made me a Prophet and sent me with this Message.'

﴿ فَفَرَرۡتُ مِنكُمۡ لَمَّا خِفۡتُكُمۡ فَوَهَبَ لِى رَبِّى حُكۡمً۬ا وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ﴾

(So, I fled from you when I feared you. But my Lord has granted me Hukm, and made me one of the Messengers.) means, `the first situation came to an end and another took its place. Now Allah has sent me to you, and if you obey Him, you will be safe, but if you oppose Him, you will be destroyed.' Then Musa said:

﴿ وَتِلۡكَ نِعۡمَةٌ۬ تَمُنُّہَا عَلَىَّ أَنۡ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ﴾

(And this is the past favor with which you reproach me, -- that you have enslaved the Children of Israel.) meaning, `whatever favors you did in bringing me up are offset by the evil you did by enslaving the Children of Israel and using them to do your hard labor. Is there any comparison between your favors to one man among them and the evil you have done to all of them What you have mentioned about me is nothing compared to what you have done to them.'

﴿ قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَمَا رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ • قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ • قَالَ لِمَنۡ حَوۡلَهُ ۥۤ أَلَا تَسۡتَمِعُونَ • قَالَ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآٮِٕكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ • قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُرۡسِلَ إِلَيۡكُمۡ لَمَجۡنُونٌ۬ • قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ﴾

(23. Fir`awn said: "And what is the Lord of Al-`Alamin'') (24. (Musa) said: "The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty.'') (25. (Fir`awn) said to those around: "Do you not hear (what he says)'') (26. (Musa) said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!'') (27. (Fir`awn) said: "Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!'') (28. (Musa) said: "Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!'')

29

قَالَ لَٮِٕنِ ٱتَّخَذۡتَ إِلَـٰهًا غَيۡرِى لَأَجۡعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمَسۡجُونِينَ

[Pharaoh] said, “If you take a god other than me, I will surely place you among those imprisoned.”

Tafsir

Allah tells us about the disbelief, rebellion, oppression and denial of Fir`awn, as He says:

﴿ وَمَا رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴾

((Fir`awn said:) "And what is the Lord of the `Alamin'') This is because he used to say to his people:

﴿ مَا عَلِمۡتُ لَڪُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرِى ﴾

(I know not that you have a god other than me.) (28:28)

﴿ فَٱسۡتَخَفَّ قَوۡمَهُ ۥ فَأَطَاعُوهُ‌ۚ ﴾

(Thus he fooled his people, and they obeyed him.) (43:54) They used to deny the Creator, may He be glorified, and they believed that they had no other lord than Fir`awn. When Musa said to them: "I am the Messenger of the Lord of the worlds,'' Fir`awn said to him, "Who is this who you are claiming is the Lord of Al-`Alamin other than me'' This is how it was interpreted by the scholars of the Salaf and the Imams of later generations. As-Suddi said, "This Ayah is like the Ayah,

﴿ قَالَ فَمَن رَّبُّكُمَا يَـٰمُوسَىٰ • قَالَ رَبُّنَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَعۡطَىٰ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ خَلۡقَهُ ۥ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ ﴾

((Fir`awn) said: "Who then, O Musa, is the Lord of you two'' He said: "Our Lord is He Who gave to each thing its form and nature, then guided it aright.'') (20:49-50) Those among the philosophers and others who claimed that this was a question about the nature or substance (of Allah) are mistaken. Fir`awn did not believe in the Creator in the first place, so he was in no position to ask about the nature of the Creator; he denied that the Creator existed at all, as is apparent from the meaning, even though proof and evidence had been established against him. When Fir`awn asked him about the Lord of Al-`Alamin, Musa said:

﴿ قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ‌ۖ ﴾

((Musa) said: "The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them...'') meaning, the Creator, Sovereign and Controller of all that, their God Who has no partner or associate. He is the One Who has created all things. He knows the higher realms and the heavenly bodies that are in them, both those that are stationary and those that move and shine brightly. He knows the lower realms and what is in them; the oceans, continents, mountains, trees, animals, plants and fruits. He knows what is in between the two realms; the winds, birds, and whatever is in the air. All of them are servants to Him, submitting and humbling themselves before Him.

﴿ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ ﴾

(if you seek to be convinced with certainty.) means, if you have believing hearts and clear insight. At this, Fir`awn turned to the chiefs and leaders of his state around him, and said to them -- mockingly expressing his disbelief in Musa:

﴿ أَلَا تَسۡتَمِعُونَ ﴾

("Do you not hear'') meaning, `are you not amazed by what this man is claiming -- that you have another god other than me' Musa said to them:

﴿ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآٮِٕكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ﴾

(Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!) meaning, the One Who created you and your forefathers, those who came before Fir`awn and his time.

﴿ قَالَ ﴾

(He said) that is, Fir`awn said:

﴿ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُرۡسِلَ إِلَيۡكُمۡ لَمَجۡنُونٌ۬ ﴾

(Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!) meaning, there is no sense in his claim that there is any god other than me!'

﴿ قَالَ ﴾

((Musa) said) -- to those in whose hearts Fir`awn had planted doubts:

﴿ رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ﴾

(Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!) `He is the One Who made the east the place where the heavenly bodies rise, and made the west the place where they set; this is the system to which He has subjugated all the heavenly bodies, stationary and moving. If what Fir`awn claims is true, that he is your lord and your god, then let him turn things around so that the heavenly bodies set in the east and rise in the west.' This is similar to the Ayah,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى حَآجَّ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمَ فِى رَبِّهِۦۤ أَنۡ ءَاتَٮٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ إِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ رَبِّىَ ٱلَّذِى يُحۡىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا۟ أُحۡىِۦ وَأُمِيتُ‌ۖ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡتِى بِٱلشَّمۡسِ مِنَ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ فَأۡتِ بِہَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ ﴾

(who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord, because Allah had given him the kingdom When Ibrahim said: "My Lord is He Who gives life and causes death.'' He said, "I give life and cause death.'' Ibrahim said, "Verily, Allah brings the sun from the east. So cause it to rise from the west.'') (2:258) So when Fir`awn was defeated in debate, he resorted to the use of his force and power, believing that this would be effective in dealing with Musa (peace be upon him) so he said, as Allah tells us:

﴿ قَالَ لَٮِٕنِ ٱتَّخَذۡتَ إِلَـٰهًا غَيۡرِى لَأَجۡعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمَسۡجُونِينَ • قَالَ أَوَلَوۡ جِئۡتُكَ بِشَىۡءٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ • قَالَ فَأۡتِ بِهِۦۤ إِن ڪُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ • فَأَلۡقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ ثُعۡبَانٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ • وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ ۥ فَإِذَا هِىَ بَيۡضَآءُ لِلنَّـٰظِرِينَ • قَالَ لِلۡمَلَإِ حَوۡلَهُ ۥۤ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ۬ • يُرِيدُ أَن يُخۡرِجَكُم مِّنۡ أَرۡضِڪُم بِسِحۡرِهِۦ فَمَاذَا تَأۡمُرُونَ • قَالُوٓاْ أَرۡجِهۡ وَأَخَاهُ وَٱبۡعَثۡ فِى ٱلۡمَدَآٮِٕنِ حَـٰشِرِينَ • يَأۡتُوكَ بِڪُلِّ سَحَّارٍ عَلِيمٍ۬ ﴾

(29. He said: "If you choose a god other than me, I will certainly put you among the prisoners.'') (30. He said: "Even if I bring you something manifest'') (31. He said: "Bring it forth then, if you are of the truthful!'') (32. So he threw his stick, and behold, it was a serpent, manifest.) (33. And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to all beholders!) (34. He said to the chiefs around him: "Verily, this is indeed a well-versed sorcerer.'') (35. "He wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery: what is it then that you command'') (36. They said: "Put him off and his brother (for a while), and send callers to the cities;'') (37. "To bring up to you every well-versed sorcerer.'')

30

قَالَ أَوَلَوۡ جِئۡتُكَ بِشَىۡءٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬

[Moses] said, “Even if I brought you proof manifest?”

Tafsir

Allah tells us about the disbelief, rebellion, oppression and denial of Fir`awn, as He says:

﴿ وَمَا رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴾

((Fir`awn said:) "And what is the Lord of the `Alamin'') This is because he used to say to his people:

﴿ مَا عَلِمۡتُ لَڪُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرِى ﴾

(I know not that you have a god other than me.) (28:28)

﴿ فَٱسۡتَخَفَّ قَوۡمَهُ ۥ فَأَطَاعُوهُ‌ۚ ﴾

(Thus he fooled his people, and they obeyed him.) (43:54) They used to deny the Creator, may He be glorified, and they believed that they had no other lord than Fir`awn. When Musa said to them: "I am the Messenger of the Lord of the worlds,'' Fir`awn said to him, "Who is this who you are claiming is the Lord of Al-`Alamin other than me'' This is how it was interpreted by the scholars of the Salaf and the Imams of later generations. As-Suddi said, "This Ayah is like the Ayah,

﴿ قَالَ فَمَن رَّبُّكُمَا يَـٰمُوسَىٰ • قَالَ رَبُّنَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَعۡطَىٰ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ خَلۡقَهُ ۥ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ ﴾

((Fir`awn) said: "Who then, O Musa, is the Lord of you two'' He said: "Our Lord is He Who gave to each thing its form and nature, then guided it aright.'') (20:49-50) Those among the philosophers and others who claimed that this was a question about the nature or substance (of Allah) are mistaken. Fir`awn did not believe in the Creator in the first place, so he was in no position to ask about the nature of the Creator; he denied that the Creator existed at all, as is apparent from the meaning, even though proof and evidence had been established against him. When Fir`awn asked him about the Lord of Al-`Alamin, Musa said:

﴿ قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ‌ۖ ﴾

((Musa) said: "The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them...'') meaning, the Creator, Sovereign and Controller of all that, their God Who has no partner or associate. He is the One Who has created all things. He knows the higher realms and the heavenly bodies that are in them, both those that are stationary and those that move and shine brightly. He knows the lower realms and what is in them; the oceans, continents, mountains, trees, animals, plants and fruits. He knows what is in between the two realms; the winds, birds, and whatever is in the air. All of them are servants to Him, submitting and humbling themselves before Him.

﴿ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ ﴾

(if you seek to be convinced with certainty.) means, if you have believing hearts and clear insight. At this, Fir`awn turned to the chiefs and leaders of his state around him, and said to them -- mockingly expressing his disbelief in Musa:

﴿ أَلَا تَسۡتَمِعُونَ ﴾

("Do you not hear'') meaning, `are you not amazed by what this man is claiming -- that you have another god other than me' Musa said to them:

﴿ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآٮِٕكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ﴾

(Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!) meaning, the One Who created you and your forefathers, those who came before Fir`awn and his time.

﴿ قَالَ ﴾

(He said) that is, Fir`awn said:

﴿ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُرۡسِلَ إِلَيۡكُمۡ لَمَجۡنُونٌ۬ ﴾

(Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!) meaning, there is no sense in his claim that there is any god other than me!'

﴿ قَالَ ﴾

((Musa) said) -- to those in whose hearts Fir`awn had planted doubts:

﴿ رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَآ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ﴾

(Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!) `He is the One Who made the east the place where the heavenly bodies rise, and made the west the place where they set; this is the system to which He has subjugated all the heavenly bodies, stationary and moving. If what Fir`awn claims is true, that he is your lord and your god, then let him turn things around so that the heavenly bodies set in the east and rise in the west.' This is similar to the Ayah,

﴿ ٱلَّذِى حَآجَّ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمَ فِى رَبِّهِۦۤ أَنۡ ءَاتَٮٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ إِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ رَبِّىَ ٱلَّذِى يُحۡىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا۟ أُحۡىِۦ وَأُمِيتُ‌ۖ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡتِى بِٱلشَّمۡسِ مِنَ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ فَأۡتِ بِہَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ ﴾

(who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord, because Allah had given him the kingdom When Ibrahim said: "My Lord is He Who gives life and causes death.'' He said, "I give life and cause death.'' Ibrahim said, "Verily, Allah brings the sun from the east. So cause it to rise from the west.'') (2:258) So when Fir`awn was defeated in debate, he resorted to the use of his force and power, believing that this would be effective in dealing with Musa (peace be upon him) so he said, as Allah tells us:

﴿ قَالَ لَٮِٕنِ ٱتَّخَذۡتَ إِلَـٰهًا غَيۡرِى لَأَجۡعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمَسۡجُونِينَ • قَالَ أَوَلَوۡ جِئۡتُكَ بِشَىۡءٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ • قَالَ فَأۡتِ بِهِۦۤ إِن ڪُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ • فَأَلۡقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ ثُعۡبَانٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ • وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ ۥ فَإِذَا هِىَ بَيۡضَآءُ لِلنَّـٰظِرِينَ • قَالَ لِلۡمَلَإِ حَوۡلَهُ ۥۤ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ۬ • يُرِيدُ أَن يُخۡرِجَكُم مِّنۡ أَرۡضِڪُم بِسِحۡرِهِۦ فَمَاذَا تَأۡمُرُونَ • قَالُوٓاْ أَرۡجِهۡ وَأَخَاهُ وَٱبۡعَثۡ فِى ٱلۡمَدَآٮِٕنِ حَـٰشِرِينَ • يَأۡتُوكَ بِڪُلِّ سَحَّارٍ عَلِيمٍ۬ ﴾

(29. He said: "If you choose a god other than me, I will certainly put you among the prisoners.'') (30. He said: "Even if I bring you something manifest'') (31. He said: "Bring it forth then, if you are of the truthful!'') (32. So he threw his stick, and behold, it was a serpent, manifest.) (33. And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to all beholders!) (34. He said to the chiefs around him: "Verily, this is indeed a well-versed sorcerer.'') (35. "He wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery: what is it then that you command'') (36. They said: "Put him off and his brother (for a while), and send callers to the cities;'') (37. "To bring up to you every well-versed sorcerer.'')