Tafsir Surah Al-A'raf ayah 108 | Learn Quran Tafsir

"Story of Prophet Musa, upon him be Peace, and Fir`awn

Allah said,

ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَا مِن بَعۡدِهِم

Then after them We sent,

after the Messengers whom We mentioned, such as Nuh, Hud, Salih Lut and Shu`ayb (may Allah's peace and blessings be on them and the rest of Allah's Prophets), We sent,

مُّوسَى بِأيَاتِنَا

Musa with Our signs,

proofs and clear evidences,

إِلَى فِرۡعَوۡنَ

to Fir`awn,

who was ruler of Egypt during the time of Musa,

وَمَلَيِهِ

and his chiefs,

the people of Fir`awn,

فَظَلَمُواۡ بِهَا

but they wrongfully rejected them,

they denied and disbelieved in the signs, out of injustice and stubbornness on their part.

Allah said about them in another Ayah,

وَجَحَدُواۡ بِهَا وَاسۡتَيۡقَنَتۡهَأ أَنفُسُهُمۡ ظُلۡماً وَعُلُوّاً فَانۡظُرۡ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ الۡمُفۡسِدِينَ

And they belied them (those Ayat) wrongfully and arrogantly, though they were themselves convinced thereof. So see what was the end of the evildoers. (27:14)

The Ayah says, `those who hindered from the path of Allah and belied in His Messengers, look how We punished them, We caused them to drown, all of them, while Musa and his people were watching.' Public drowning added disgrace to the punishment that Fir`awn and his people suffered, while adding comfort to the hearts of Allah's party, Musa and those people who believed in him.

فَانظُرۡ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الۡمُفۡسِدِينَ

So see how was the end of the mischief-makers!

Allah mentions a debate that took place between Musa and Fir`awn, and Musa's refuting Fir`awn with the unequivocal proof and clear miracles, in the presence of Fir`awn and his people, the Copts of Egypt.

Allah said,

وَقَالَ مُوسَى يَا فِرۡعَوۡنُ إِنِّي رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الۡعَالَمِينَ

And Musa said:""O Fir`awn! Verily, I am a Messenger from the Lord of all that exists"".

meaning Musa said, `the one Who sent me is the Creator, Lord and King of all things,

حَقِيقٌ عَلَى أَن لاَّ أَقُولَ عَلَى اللّهِ إِلاَّ الۡحَقَّ

""Proper it is for me that I say nothing concerning Allah but the truth.""

`It is incumbent and a duty for me to convey only the Truth from Him, because of what I know of His might and power.'

قَدۡ جِيۡتُكُم بِبَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ

""Indeed I have come unto you from your Lord with a clear proof.""

`I brought unequivocal evidence that Allah gave me to prove that I am conveying the truth to you,'

فَأَرۡسِلۡ مَعِيَ بَنِي إِسۡرَايِيلَ

""So let the Children of Israel depart along with me.""

means, release them from your slavery and subjugation. Let them worship your Lord and their Lord. They are from the offspring of an honorable Prophet, Israel, who is Yaqub son of Ishaq son of Ibrahim, the Khalil (intimate friend) of Allah.

قَالَ إِن كُنتَ جِيۡتَ بِأيَةٍ فَأۡتِ بِهَا إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

(Fir`awn) said:""If you have come with a sign, show it forth, if you are one of those who tell the truth.""

Fir`awn said, `I will not believe in what you have said nor entertain your request'. Therefore, he said, `if you have proof, then produce it for us to see, so that we know if your claim is true.

Allah tells;

فَأَلۡقَى عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعۡبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ

Then (Musa) threw his staff and behold! it was a (Thu`ban) serpent, manifest!

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas commented on Allah's statement,

ثُعۡبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ

(a (Thu`ban) serpent, manifest),

refers to ""The male snake.""

As-Suddi and Ad-Dahhak said similarly.

A report from Ibn Abbas said, ""(

فَأَلۡقَى عَصَاهُ

Then (Musa) threw his staff), and it turned into a huge snake that opened its mouth and rushed towards Fir`awn. When Fir`awn ﷺ the snake rushing towards him, he jumped from his throne and cried to Musa for help, so that Musa would remove the snake from his way. Musa did that.""

As-Suddi commented,

فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعۡبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ

(and behold! It was a (Thu`ban) serpent, manifest!),

""This (Thu`ban) refers to male snakes. The snake opened its mouth and headed towards Fir`awn to swallow him, placing its lower jaw on the ground and its upper jaw reaching the (top of the) wall of the palace. When Fir`awn ﷺ the snake, he was frightened, so he jumped and wet himself and he never wet himself before this incident. He cried, `O Musa! Take it away and I will believe in you and release the Children of Israel to you.'

So Musa, peace be on him, took it, and it became a staff again.""

وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ بَيۡضَاء لِلنَّاظِرِينَ

And he drew out his hand, and behold! it was white (with radiance) for the beholders.

Musa took his hand out of his cloak after he inserted his hand in it and it was shining, not because of leprosy or sickness.

Allah said in another Ayah,

وَأَدۡخِلۡ يَدَكَ فِى جَيۡبِكَ تَخۡرُجۡ بَيۡضَأءَ مِنۡ غَيۡرِ سُوءٍ

And put your hand into your bosom, it will come forth white without hurt. (27:12)

Ibn Abbas said,

""without hurt', means, `not because of leprosy'. Musa inserted his hand again in his sleeve and it returned back to its normal color.""

Mujahid and several others said similarly

Fir`awn's People say that Musa is a Magician!

Allah tells;

قَالَ الۡمَلُ مِن قَوۡمِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّ هَـذَا لَسَاحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

يُرِيدُ أَن يُخۡرِجَكُم مِّنۡ أَرۡضِكُمۡ فَمَاذَا تَأۡمُرُونَ

The chiefs of the people of Fir`awn said:""This is indeed a well-versed sorcerer.""

""He wants to get you out of your land, so what do you advise?""

The chiefs and noblemen of the people of Fir`awn agreed with Fir`awn's statement about Musa. After Fir`awn felt safe and returned to his throne, he said to the chiefs of his people,

إِنَّ هَـذَا لَسَاحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

(This is indeed a well-versed sorcerer) and they agreed.

They held counsel to decide what they should do about Musa. They conspired to extinguish the light that he brought and bring down his word. They plotted to portray Musa as a liar and fake. They feared that he might lure people to his side by his magic, they claimed, and thus prevail over them and drive them away from their land. What they feared occurred, just as Allah said,

وَنُرِىَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـمَـنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنۡهُمۡ مَّا كَانُواۡ يَحۡذَرونَ

And We let Fir`awn and Haman and their hosts receive from them that which they feared. (28:6)

After they conferred about Musa, they agreed on a plot, as Allah said about them.

Allah tells;

قَالُواۡ أَرۡجِهۡ وَأَخَاهُ

They said:""Put him and his brother off (for a time),

Ibn Abbas commented,

أَرۡجِهۡ

(""Put him off""),

means, ""delay him (for a time).""

وَأَرۡسِلۡ فِي الۡمَدَايِنِ

""and send to the cities,""

areas and provinces of your kingdom -- O Fir`awn,

حَاشِرِينَ

""to collect.""

to gather magicians from various lands.

يَأۡتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَاحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ

""That they bring to you all well-versed sorcerers.""

At this time, magic was the trade of the day and it was widespread and popular. They had the idea that what Musa brought was a type of magic similar to the magic that the sorcerers of their time practiced. Because of this incorrect assumption, they brought all the magicians in order to defeat the miracles that he showed them.

Allah said about Fir`awn,

لَنَأۡتِيَنَّكَ بِسِحۡرٍ مِّثۡلِهِ فَاجۡعَلۡ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكَ مَوۡعِداً لاَّ نُخۡلِفُهُ نَحۡنُ وَلَا أَنتَ مَكَاناً سُوًى

قَالَ مَوۡعِدُكُمۡ يَوۡمُ الزِّينَةِ وَأَن يُحۡشَرَ النَّاسُ ضُحًى

فَتَوَلَّى فِرۡعَوۡنُ فَجَمَعَ كَيۡدَهُ ثُمَّ أَتَى

Then verily, we can produce magic the like thereof; so appoint a meeting between us and you, which neither we nor you shall fail to keep, in an open place where both shall have a just and equal chance.""

(Musa) said:""Your appointed meeting is the day of the festival, and let the people assemble when the sun has risen (forenoon).""

So Fir`awn withdrew, devised his plot and then came back. (20:58-60)"

Al-A'raf: 108

Ayah

Translation

Tafsir

Al-A'raf: 108