Verses 26–32
40. Ghafir · The Forgiver
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وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ذَرُونِىٓ أَقْتُلْ مُوسَىٰ وَلْيَدْعُ رَبَّهُۥٓ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُبَدِّلَ دِينَكُمْ أَوْ أَن يُظْهِرَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْفَسَادَ
40:26And Pharaoh said, ‘Let me slay Moses, and let him invoke his Lord. Indeed I fear that he will change your religion, or bring forth corruption in our land.’
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّى عُذْتُ بِرَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم مِّن كُلِّ مُتَكَبِّرٍۢ لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِيَوْمِ ٱلْحِسَابِ
40:27Moses said, ‘I seek the protection of my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant one who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning.’
وَقَالَ رَجُلٌۭ مُّؤْمِنٌۭ مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَكْتُمُ إِيمَٰنَهُۥٓ أَتَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلًا أَن يَقُولَ رَبِّىَ ٱللَّهُ وَقَدْ جَآءَكُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَكُ كَٰذِبًۭا فَعَلَيْهِ كَذِبُهُۥ ۖ وَإِن يَكُ صَادِقًۭا يُصِبْكُم بَعْضُ ٱلَّذِى يَعِدُكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌۭ كَذَّابٌۭ
40:28Said a man of faith from Pharaoh’s clan, who concealed his faith, ‘Will you kill a man for saying, ‘‘My Lord is Allah,’’ while he has already brought you manifest proofs from your Lord? Should he be lying, his falsehood will be to his own detriment; but if he is truthful, there shall visit you some of what he promises you. Indeed Allah does not guide someone who is a transgressor and liar.12
يَٰقَوْمِ لَكُمُ ٱلْمُلْكُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ظَٰهِرِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَمَن يَنصُرُنَا مِنۢ بَأْسِ ٱللَّهِ إِن جَآءَنَا ۚ قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ مَآ أُرِيكُمْ إِلَّا مَآ أَرَىٰ وَمَآ أَهْدِيكُمْ إِلَّا سَبِيلَ ٱلرَّشَادِ
40:29O my people! Today sovereignty belongs to you, and you are dominant in the land. But who will save us from Allah’s punishment should it overtake us?’ Pharaoh said, ‘I just point out to you what I see [to be advisable for you], and I guide you only to the way of rectitude.’
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَامَنَ يَٰقَوْمِ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُم مِّثْلَ يَوْمِ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ
40:30He who had faith said, ‘O my people! Indeed I fear for you [a day] like the day of the [heathen] factions;
مِثْلَ دَأْبِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍۢ وَعَادٍۢ وَثَمُودَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ۚ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ظُلْمًۭا لِّلْعِبَادِ
40:31like the case of the people of Noah, of Ad and Thamud, and those who came after them, and Allah does not desire any wrong for [His] servants.
وَيَٰقَوْمِ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلتَّنَادِ
40:32O my people! I fear for you a day of mutual distress calls,
Tafsir
Commentary on this passage
Verse 28
1.This blessed verse of the Holy Quran announces that you must conceal your belief to protect the life of the representative of Allah and not to disclose it. It is called Taqaiyyah in Islamic jurisprudence. Which is praiseworthy in the light of Allah, the Lord of Universe. Now taking exception on permissible deeds and giving the name of secret of Allah and raising voices against Allah in different ways, is a disputable deed, that is against the Holy Quran. This does not mean that this is true and sincere and by announcing it and bringing it to the public view makes it lawful to hide the truth. Trust means to prove one’s claim and when it is the need it should be disclosed. Such as the polytheists and infidels know about the truth of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and they tried to conceal it so that the truth would not become common otherwise all people would turn the devotees of Islam and the traces of pagan religion would disappear. Permissible man is called the true believer because Taqaiyyah is not against the faith and manliness and it cannot be called infidelity or cowardice. They all knew of its greatness and necessity, those who understand the truths and its safeguard and they know to sacrifice their desires and feelings in such endeavour.
Footnotes
Explanations of words and phrases in these verses
Benefit
The believer of the people of the Firon’s character proves that Taqaiyya is the best mode of attack with which a person gathers his strength to face the tribulations of the future. In the beginning of the mission the Prophet (s.a.) himself resorted to this, in the form of secret propagation of faith. Through this he was preparing the announcement of the future.
- 1
Some commentators say that this believer was the paternal cousin of Firon. He was the heir apparent and a military ruler and he was the one who obtained salvation with Moosa (a.s.). This shows that relationships neither signify deviation nor guidance. The worst relative of a person could be the best and the best relative of a person could be the worst. There are numerous examples of both kinds in History.
- 2
The secret method of propagation by the believer deserves attention. That first it was said that if Moosa considers Allah as his Lord what was the problem? And after this on getting a chance he mentioned the same God as the Lord of everyone and also pointed out towards their proofs. Then it was seen if the proofs were effective for people of reason, they were warned by punishment as even those of weak conscience were affected by it and then all together their attention was taken to the temporary status of the world that this power is not going to remain forever. And even if it remains it is not capable of saving one from chastisement.