Surah 40. Ghafir

And Pharaoh said: "Leave it to me to slay Moses-and let him invoke his [alleged] sustainer!¹⁸ Behold, I fear lest he cause you to change your religion, or lest he cause corruption to prevail in the land!"

  - Mohammad Asad

My interpolation of the word "alleged", is necessitated by the obvious sarcasm of Pharaoh's remark.

Finally Fir'on said: "Let me kill Musa; and let him invoke his Rabb! I fear that he may change your religion or that he may cause mischief to appear in the land."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And Pharaoh said, 'Let me kill Moses, and let him call upon his Lord! I truly fear that he may change your traditions or cause mischief in the land.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And Pharaoh said: Suffer me to kill Moses, and let him cry unto his Lord. Lo! I fear that he will alter your religion or that he will cause confusion in the land.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Said Pharaoh: "Leave me to slay Moses; and let him Call on his Lord! What I fear is lest he should change your religion or lest he should cause mischief to appear in the land!" ^{4393 4394}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is an episode that occurs when Moses, invested with his mission, confronts Pharaoh in his Court and preaches to him: see xx. 49 and following verses; also xx. 57, 63.

Some of Pharaoh's people did afterwards give up the worship of Pharaoh and of the Egyptian gods and believed "in the Lord of Aaron and Moses" and in fact suffered martyrdom for the Faith of Unity: xx. 70-73.

But Moses said: "With [Him who is] my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer have I indeed found refuge from everyone who, immersed in false pride, will not believe in [the coming of] the Day of Reckoning!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Musa said: "I have indeed taken refuge in my Rabb and your Rabb from every arrogant one who does not believes in the Day of Reckoning."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Moses replied, 'I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant person who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Moses said: Lo! I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every scorner who believeth not in a Day of Reckoning.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Moses said: "I have indeed called upon my Lord and your Lord (for protection) from every arrogant one who believes not in the Day of Account!" ⁴³⁹⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The whole point of the Gospel of Unity which Moses preached was that the God of Moses and the God of Pharaoh, of Israel and Egypt, the Lord of all the Worlds, was One,-Allah, the only True God. See xx. 49-50 and notes 2572 and 2573.

At that, a believing man of Pharaoh's family, who [until then] had concealed his faith,¹⁹ exclaimed: "Would you slay a man because he says, God is my Sustainer- seeing, withal, that he has brought you all evidence of this truth from your Sustainer? Now if he be a liar, his lie will fall back on him; but if he is a man of truth, something [of the punishment] whereof he warns you is bound to befall you: for, verily, God would not grace with His guidance one who has wasted his own self by Iying [about Him].²⁰

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. the parable of the believer in {36:20-27} and, in particular, the corresponding note 15.

Lit., "a liar". As regards my rendering of musaf as "one who wastes [or "has wasted"] his own self", see note [21] on the last sentence of 10:12 . Thus, the anonymous believer spoken of here argues that the message brought by Moses is so convincing that, by itself, it is a proof of his not being "one who wastes his own self" - i.e., destroys himself spiritually-by a spurious claim to divine inspiration.

At this, a believer from among the relatives of Fir'on, who had kept his faith hidden, said: "Will you kill a man merely because he says: `My Rabb is Allah, specially when he has brought you clear signs from your Rabb? If he is lying, may his lie be on his head; but if he is speaking the truth, then some of the dreadful things he is threatening you with may very well fall on you. Surely Allah does not guide the one who is a lying transgressor.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

A believing man from Pharaoh's people, who was hiding his faith, argued, 'Will you kill a man¹ 'only' for saying: 'My Lord is Allah,' while he has in fact come to you with clear proofs from your Lord? If he is a liar, it will be to his own loss. But if he is truthful, then you will be afflicted with some of what he is threatening you with. Surely Allah does not guide whoever is a transgressor, a total liar.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., Moses (ﷺ).

And a believing man of Pharaoh's family, who hid his faith, said: Would ye kill a man because he saith: My Lord is Allah, and hath brought you clear proofs from your Lord? If he is lying, then his lie is upon him; and if he is truthful then some of that wherewith he threateneth you will strike you. Lo! Allah guideth not one who is a prodigal, a liar.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

A believer a man from among the people of Pharaoh who had concealed his faith said: "Will ye slay a man because he says `My Lord is Allah'? When he has indeed come to you with Clear (Signs) from your Lord? And if he be a liar on him is (the sin of) his lie: but if he is telling the Truth then will fall on you something of the (calamity) of which he warns you: truly Allah guides not one who transgresses and lies! ^{4396 4397 4398}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There is nothing to justify the identification of this man with the man mentioned in xxviii. 20, who warned Moses long before Moses had received his mission. On the contrary, in this passage, the man is evidently speaking after Moses had received his mission, preached to Pharaoh, and got a certain amount of success, for which Pharaoh and his people were trying, to seek his life. Moses had evidently already brought his Clear Signs.

A commonsense view is put before them by an Egyptian who loves his own people and does not wish them to perish in sin. "Will you kill this man for calling on Allah? Have you not seen his character and behaviour? Do you not see the 'Clear Signs' about him that bespeak his credentials? Suppose for a moment that he is a liar and pretender: he will suffer for his falsehood, but why should you turn against Allah? But suppose that he is really inspired by Allah to tell you the truth and warn you against evil, what will be your fate when Allah's Wrath descends? For it must descend if he is a true Messenger sent by Allah."

This is with reference to the "Clear signs". 'They are Signs of Allah's guidance, for Allah would never guide a man who exceeds the bounds of truth and tells you lies! Such a man is bound to be found out!'

"O my people! Yours is the dominion today, [and] most eminent are you on earth: but who will rescue us from God's punishment, once it befalls us?" Said Pharaoh: "I but want to make you see what I see myself;²¹ and I would never make you follow any path but that of rectitude!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Thus alluding to the reasons underlying his intention to kill Moses, expressed in verse {26}.

O my people! You are the rulers and are dominant in the land today: but who will help us against the scourge of Allah, should it befall us?" Fir'on said: "I am pointing out to you only what I see and I am guiding you only towards the right way."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O my people! Authority belongs to you today, reigning supreme in the land. But who would help us against the torment of Allah, if it were to befall us?' Pharaoh assured 'his people', 'I am telling you only what I believe, and I am leading you only to the way of guidance.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

O my people! Yours is the kingdom today, ye being uppermost in the land. But who would save us from the wrath of Allah should it reach us? Pharaoh said: I do but show you what I think, and I do but guide you to wise policy.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"O my people! yours is the dominion this day: ye have the upper hand in the land: but who will help us from the Punishment of Allah should it befall us?" Pharaoh said: "I but point out to you that which I see (myself); nor do I guide you but to the Path of Right!" ^{4399 4400}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

'Do not be puffed up with arrogance because the power is in your hands at present! Do you deserve it? Will it last? If you are sinning and drawing upon yourselves Allah's Punishment, is there anything that can shield you from it?'

Pharaoh's egotism and arrogance come out. 'I can see and understand everything. As I see things, so do I direct you. The Path which I see must be right, and you must follow it.'

Thereupon exclaimed he who had attained to faith: "O my people! Verily, I fear for you the like of what one day befell those others who were leagued together [against God's truth]-

  - Mohammad Asad

Then the person who was a true believer said: "O my people! In fact I fear for you the day of disaster like of what befell prior people,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And the man who believed cautioned, 'O my people! I truly fear for you the doom of 'earlier' enemy forces-

  - Mustafa Khattab

And he who believed said: O my people! Lo! I fear for you a fate like that of the factions (of old);

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then said the man who believed: "O my People! truly I do fear for you something like the Day (of disaster) of the Confederates (in sin)! ^{4401 4402}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

He appeals to past history. "Have you not heard of people who lived before you?-like the generations of Noah, the 'Ad, the Thamud, and many more-who held together in sin against Allah's Preachers, but were wiped out for their sins?"

Cf. xxxviii. 11-13, and n. 4158, also xi. 5, and n. 4361.

the like of what happened to Noah's people, and to [the tribes of] 'Ad and Thamud and those who came after them! And, withal. God does not will any wrong for His creatures²²

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., those sinners were not wronged by what befell them in this world: they had deserved it. The next two verses refer to the Day of Judgment.

such as the people of Nuh, `Ad and Thamud and those who came after them, and Allah does not intend to wrong His servants.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

like the fate of the people of Noah, 'Ȃd, Thamûd, and those after them. For Allah would never will to wrong 'His' servants.

  - Mustafa Khattab

A plight like that of Noah's folk, and Aad and Thamud, and those after them, and Allah willeth no injustice for (His) slaves.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"Something like the fate of the people of Noah the `Ad and the Thamud and those who came after them: but Allah never wishes injustice to His Servants. ⁴⁴⁰³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

'All these disasters happened in history, and they will happen again to you if you do not give up evil. Do not for a moment think that Allah is unjust. It is you who are deliberately preparing the disasters by your conduct.'

"And, O my people, I fear for you [the coming of] that Day of [Judgment-the Day when you will be] calling unto one another [in distress]

  - Mohammad Asad

And O my People! I fear for you the Day of wailing,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O my people! I truly fear for you the Day all will be crying out 'to each other'-

  - Mustafa Khattab

And, O my people! Lo! I fear for a Day of Summoning,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"And O my People! I fear for you a Day when there will be mutual calling (and wailing) ⁴⁴⁰⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This Day may refer to the Day of Judgment, of which three features are here referred to. (1) People may wail and call to each other, but no one can help another: each one will have his own judgment to face; (2) the wicked will then be driven to Hell from the Judgment-Seat; and (3) there will be no one to help, guide, or intercede, because the grace and guidance of Allah had already been rejected. But the words are perfectly general, and are applicable to all stages at which the Wrath of Allah is manifest.

the Day when you will [wish to] turn your backs and flee, having none to defend you against God: for he whom God lets go astray can never find any guide.²³

  - Mohammad Asad

See note [152] on 7:186 and note [4] on 14:4 .

when you will turn your backs and flee, when there will be none to protect you from Allah. The one to whom Allah lets go astray, shall have none to guide him.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

the Day you will 'try in vain to' turn your backs and run away, with no one to protect you from Allah. And whoever Allah leaves to stray will be left with no guide.

  - Mustafa Khattab

A day when ye will turn to flee, having no preserver from Allah: and he whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

A day when ye shall turn your backs and flee: no defender shall ye have from Allah: any whom Allah leaves to stray there is none to guide...

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"And [remember:] it was to you that Joseph came aforetime with all evidence of the truth; but you never ceased to throw doubt on all [the messages] that he brought you - so much so that when he died, you said, 'Never will God send any apostle [even] after him !²⁴ "In this way God lets go astray such as waste their own selves by throwing suspicion [on His revelations]

  - Mohammad Asad

Thus not only refusing to acknowledge Joseph's prophethood, but also denying the possibility of any prophet being sent by God (Zamakhshari). It would seem that Joseph had been accepted in Egypt as a prophet only by the ruling class, the Hyksos, who were of Arab origin; spoke a language closely related to Hebrew (cf. surah {12}, note [44]), and were, therefore, emotionally and culturally predisposed towards the spirit of Joseph's mission, while the rest of the population was and remained hostile to the faith preached by him.

Do you remember that long time before this, Yusuf came to you with clear signs, but you ever remained in doubt concerning to what he brought; and when he died you said: 'After him, Allah will never send another Rasool.' Thus Allah confounds the ones who are the doubting transgressors,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Joseph already came to you¹ earlier with clear proofs, yet you never ceased to doubt what he came to you with. When he died you said, 'Allah will never send a messenger after him.' This is how Allah leaves every transgressor and doubter to stray-

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Meaning, your ancestors, because Joseph (ﷺ) died over 400 hundred years before Moses (ﷺ).

And verily Joseph brought you of old clear proofs, yet ye ceased not to be in doubt concerning what be brought you till, when he died, he said: Allah will not send any messenger after him. Thus Allah deceiveth him who is a prodigal, a doubter.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"And to you there came Joseph in times gone by with Clear Signs but ye ceased not to doubt of the (mission) for which he had come: at length when he died ye said: `No apostle will Allah send after him.' Thus doth Allah leave to stray such as transgress and live in doubt ^{4405 4406}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

So far he has been speaking of general religious tradition. Now, as an Egyptian, addressing Egyptians, he refers to the mission of Joseph in Egypt, for which see the whole of Sura xii. Joseph was not born in Egypt, nor was he an Egyptian. With what wonderful incidents he came into Egypt! What difficulties did he not surmount among his own brothers first, and in the Egyptian family which afterwards adopted him! How injustice, spite, and forgetfullness on the part of others, yet wove a spell round him and made him a ruler and saviour of Egypt in times of famine! How he preached to prisoners in prison, the wife of 'Aziz in her household, to the Egyptian ladies in their banquet, and to the Court of Pharaoh generally. The Egyptians profited by the material gains which came to them through him, but as a nation remained sceptical of his spiritual truths for many generations after him.

The interval between Joseph and Moses was about one to three centuries, a very short period for the memory of a learned nation like the Egyptians. And yet they as a nation ignored his spiritual work, and afterwards even persecuted Israel in Egypt until Moses delivered them. They actually saw the benefits conferred by Joseph, but did not realise that Allah's Kingdom works continuously even though men ignore it.

such as would call God's messages in question without having any evidence therefo:²⁵ [a sin] exceedingly loathsome in the sight of God and of those who have attained to faith. It is in this way that God sets a seal on every arrogant, self-exalting heart"²⁶

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "without any authority [or "evidence"] having come to them": i.e., without having any cogent evidence that would support their "denial" of the fact of revelation. - The verb jadala primarily denotes "he argued"; followed by the particle fi ("with regard to" or "about") it has the meaning of "contesting" the truth of something, or "calling it in question".

Lit., "on the heart of every arrogant, self-exalting [person]". For an explanation of God's "sealing" an inveterate sinner's heart. see note [7] on 2:7 .

who dispute the revelations of Allah having no authority vouchsafed to them. Such an attitude is disgusting in the sight of Allah and of the believers. Thus Allah seals up the heart of every arrogant transgressor."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

those who dispute Allah's signs with no proof given to them. How despicable is that for Allah and the believers! This is how Allah seals the heart of every arrogant tyrant.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Those who wrangle concerning the revelations of Allah without any warrant that hath come unto them, it is greatly hateful in the sight of Allah and in the sight of those who believe. Thus doth Allah print on every arrogant, disdainful heart.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"(Such) as dispute about the Signs of Allah without any authority that hath reached them. Grievous and odious (is such conduct) in the sight of Allah and of the Believers. Thus doth Allah seal up every heart of arrogant and obstinate transgressors." ⁴⁴⁰⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See the last note. The arrogant transgressors having closed their hearts to the Message of Allah and to every appeal made to them, it followed by Allah's Law that their hearts were sealed up to any fresh influences for good. Cf. vii. 100; also ii. 7, and n. 31.

But Pharaoh said: "O Haman! Build me a lofty tower, that haply I may attain to the [right] means

  - Mohammad Asad

After hearing this, Fir'on said: "O Haman! Build me a high tower that I may attain the means of access,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Pharaoh ordered, 'O Haman! Build me a high tower so I may reach the pathways

  - Mustafa Khattab

And Pharaoh said: O Haman! Build for me a tower that haply I may reach the roads,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Pharaoh said: "O Haman! Build me a lofty palace that I may attain the ways and means ⁴⁴⁰⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxviii. 38, and n. 3371. There are two points to be noted here. (1) Pharaoh, in the arrogance of his materialism, thinks of the Kingdom of Heaven like a kingdom on earth; he thinks of spiritual things in terms of palaces and ladders: notice that the word asbab (ways and means) is emphasised by repetition (2) His sarcasm turns Moses and Allah to ridicule, and he frankly states that 'for his part he thinks Moses is a liar', though other men less lofty than he (Pharaoh) may he deceived by the Clear Signs of Moses.

the means of approach to the heavens - and that [thus] I may have a look at the god of Moses:²⁷ for, behold, I am indeed certain that he is a liar!" And thus, goodly seemed unto Pharaoh the evil of his own doings, and so he was barred from the path [of truth]: and Pharaoh's guile did not lead to aught but ruin.

  - Mohammad Asad

See surah {28}, notes [6] and [37].

an access to the heavens, so that I may see the God of Musa, I am convinced that he is lying." Thus Fir'on was seduced by his foul deeds and he turned away from the Right Way. The schemes of Fir'on led him to nothing but destruction.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

leading up to the heavens and look for the God of Moses, although I am sure he is a liar.'¹ And so Pharaoh's evil deeds were made so appealing to him that he was hindered from the 'Right' Way. But the plotting of Pharaoh was only in vain.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 See 28:38.

The roads of the heavens, and may look upon the God of Moses, though verily I think him a liar. Thus was the evil that he did made fair seeming unto Pharaoh, and he was debarred from the (right) way. The plot of Pharaoh ended but in ruin.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"The ways and means of (reaching) the heavens and that I may mount up to the Allah of Moses; but as far as I am concerned I think (Moses) is a liar!" Thus was made alluring in Pharaoh's eyes the evil of his deeds and he was hindered from the Path; and the plot of Pharaoh led to nothing but perdition (for him). ^{4409 4410}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Pharaoh's speech shows how his own egotism and haughty arrogance brought him to this pass, that even the evil which he did seemed alluring in his own eyes! His heart was indeed sealed, and his arrogance prevented him from seeing the right path. (With the Kufi Qiraat I read sudda in the passive voice).

Pharaoh had plotted to slay Moses (xi. 26) and to kill the Children of Israel (xl. 25). The plot recoiled on his own head and on the head of his people who joined in the plot; for they were all drowned in the Red Sea.

Still, the man who had attained to faith went on: "O my people! Follow me: I shall guide you onto the path of rectitude!

  - Mohammad Asad

The man who was true believer, said: "O my people! Follow me, I shall guide you to the Right Way.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And the man who believed urged, 'O my people! Follow me, 'and' I will lead you to the Way of Guidance.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And he who believed said: O my people! Follow me. I will show you the way of right conduct.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

The man who believed said further: "O my People! follow me: I will lead you to the Path of Right. ⁴⁴¹¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Note the contrast between the earnest beseeching tone of the Believer here and the hectoring tone of Pharaoh in using similar words in xi. 29 above.

"O my people! This worldly life is but a brief enjoyment, whereas, behold, the life to come is the home abiding.

  - Mohammad Asad

O my people! The life of this world is only temporary enjoyment, while the abode of hereafter is everlasting.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O my people! This worldly life is only 'a fleeting' enjoyment, whereas the Hereafter is truly the home of settlement.

  - Mustafa Khattab

O my people! Lo! this life of the world is but a passing comfort, and lo! the Hereafter, that is the enduring home.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"O my people! This life of the present is nothing but (temporary) convenience: it is the Hereafter that is the Home that will last. ⁴⁴¹²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Faith makes him see the contrast between vanities, even though they may glitter temporarily, and the eternal Good that is destined for man.

[There,] anyone who has done a bad deed will be requited with no more than the like thereof, whereas anyone, be it man or woman, who has done righteous deeds and is a believer withal - all such will enter paradise, wherein they shall be blest with good beyond all reckoning!²⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., beyond any earthly imagination. The concept of rizq (expressed in the verb yurzaqun) has here its full significance of all that is good and of benefit to a living being, comprising things material as well as intellectual and spiritual; hence my rendering of yurzaqun (lit., "they will be given sustenance") as "they shall be blest with good".

The one who does evil shall be recompensed to the extent of the evil done; and the one who is a believer and does good deeds, whether man or woman, shall enter the paradise and therein receive sustenance without measure.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Whoever does an evil deed will only be paid back with its equivalent. And whoever does good, whether male or female, and is a believer, they will enter Paradise, where they will be provided for without limit.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Whoso doeth an ill deed, he will be repaid the like thereof, while whoso doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, (all) such will enter the Garden, where they will be nourished without stint.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

"He that works evil will not be requited but by the like thereof: and he that works a righteous deed whether man or woman and is a believer such will enter the Garden (of Bliss): therein will they have abundance without measure. ⁴⁴¹³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. ii. 212. This sustenance will not only last. It will be a most liberal reward, far above any merits of the recipient.