Allah, the Exalted, informs of Fir`awn's disbelief, obstinance, transgression
and haughtiness against the truth in favor of falsehood. When he saw what he saw
of the magnificent miracle and the great sign, and he saw those whose help he
sought accept faith in the presence of all of the people, and he was absolutely
defeated, he began to behave arrogantly and cast accusations. He resorted to
using his esteemed honor and might against the magicians. He warned them and
threatened them saying,
[ءَامَنتُمْ
لَهُ]
(Believe you in him (Musa)) This means, "Do you have faith in him''
[قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ
لَكُمْ]
(before I give you permission) meaning, "I have not commanded you to do so,
by which you have rebelled against me.'' Then he said a statement that he, the
magicians and all creatures knew was a forgery and an utter lie.
[إِنَّهُ
لَكَبِيرُكُمُ الَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ السِّحْرَ]
(Verily, he is your chief who has taught you magic.) meaning "You all only
took your magic from Musa and you have made an agreement with him against me and
my subjects, that you would help him be victorious.'' Allah says in another
Ayah,
[إِنَّ هَـذَا
لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُواْ مِنْهَآ أَهْلَهَا
فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ]
(Surely, this is a plot which you have plotted in the city to drive out its
people, but you shall come to know.) [7:123] Then he began threatening them. He
said to them,
[فَلأُقَطِّعَنَّ
أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ مِّنْ خِلاَفٍ وَلأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِى جُذُوعِ
النَّخْلِ]
(So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will
surely crucify you on the trunks of date palms,) meaning, "I will certainly make
an example of you, I will kill you in a public execution.'' Ibn `Abbas said,
"Thus, he was the first person to ever do this (public execution,
crucifixion).'' This was reported by Ibn Abi Hatim. Concerning Allah's
statement,
[وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ
أَيُّنَآ أَشَدُّ عَذَاباً وَأَبْقَى]
(And you shall surely know which of us can give the severe and more lasting
torment.) This means, "You say that my people and I are astray and that you
(magicians), Musa and his people are following correct guidance, but you will
come to know who will be punished and remain punished.'' So when he attacked
with this and threatened them, their souls eased them because of their belief in
Allah, the Mighty and Sublime. They exclaimed,
[قَالُواْ لَن
نُّؤْثِرَكَ عَلَى مَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَـتِ]
(They said: "We prefer you not over what have come to us of the clear
signs...'') meaning, "We do not chose you over the guidance and conviction that
we have received. ''
[وَالَّذِى
فَطَرَنَا]
(and to Him (Allah) Who created us.) It could be that they were swearing, "By
He Who has created us.'' It also could be connected in meaning to the clear
signs mentioned before it. In this case it would mean, "We do not prefer you
over our Originator and Creator, Who produced us from a beginning that was
nothing. He created us from clay (or mud). Therefore, He alone deserves worship
and humility and you do not (Fir`awn)!''
[فَاقْضِ مَآ أَنتَ
قَاضٍ]
(So decree whatever you desire to decree,) "Do whatever you wish and whatever
your hands are able to achieve.''
[إِنَّمَا تَقْضِى
هَـذِهِ الْحَيَوةَ الدُّنْيَآ]
(for you can only decree (regarding) this life of the world.) meaning, "You
only have power in this world and it is a world that will come to an end.
Verily, we are hoping in the eternal abode.''
[إِنَّآ آمَنَّا
بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَـيَـنَا]
(Verily, we have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults,)
"Whatever evils that we did.'' It specifically means, `which we were forced to
do of magic, in order to oppose the sign of Allah and the miracle of His
Prophet.' Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn `Abbas said concerning Allah's
statement,
[وَمَآ أَكْرَهْتَنَا
عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ]
(and the magic to which you compelled us.) "Fir`awn took forty boys from the
Children of Israel and commanded that they be taught magic at Al-Farama. He
said, `Teach them knowledge that no one in the land knows.''' Ibn `Abbas then
said, "They were of those who believed in Musa and they were of those who said,
[آمَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا
لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَـيَـنَا وَمَآ أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ]
(We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the
magic to which you did compel us.)'' `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said the
same. Allah's statement,
[وَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ
وَأَبْقَى]
(And Allah is better as regards reward in comparison to your reward, and more
lasting.) means, "He is better for us than you.''
[وَأَبْقَى]
(and more lasting.) More lasting in reward than what you pro- mised us and
made us aspire to. It is apparent that Fir`awn (may Allah curse him) was bent
upon their punishment, and that what he did to them was a mercy from Allah for
them. This is why Ibn `Abbas and others of the Salaf said, "They woke up in that
morning as magicians, but they became witnesses of faith by the evening. ''
[إِنَّهُ مَن يَأْتِ
رَبَّهُ مُجْرِماً فَإِنَّ لَهُ جَهَنَّمَ لاَ يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلاَ يَحْيَى -
وَمَن يَأْتِهِ مُؤْمِناً قَدْ عَمِلَ الصَّـلِحَـتِ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمُ
الدَّرَجَـتُ الْعُلَى - جَنَّـتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَـرُ
خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَذلِكَ جَزَآءُ مَن تَزَكَّى ]
(74. Verily, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal, then surely, for him is
Hell, wherein he will neither die nor live.) (75. But whoever comes to Him as a
believer, and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks,) (76.
`Adn Gardens, under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, and such
is the reward of those who purify themselves.)
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