وَفِرْعَوْنَ ذِى ٱلْأَوْتَادِ 10
Translations
And [with] Pharaoh, owner of the stakes?
Transliteration
Wa Fir'awna dhi al-awtad
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Pharaoh as "possessor of the pegs/stakes," an epithet describing his massive power, fortified cities, and military strength represented by tent pegs and structures. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that this phrase emphasizes Pharaoh's architectural grandeur and worldly dominion, yet despite all his might and fortifications, he was utterly destroyed by Allah's punishment. The description serves to highlight the futility of relying on material power and fortifications against the divine will.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Fajr is a Meccan chapter that recounts the destruction of past civilizations as warnings to the Quraysh. This ayah appears within a sequence (89:6-14) listing destroyed peoples—'Ad, Thamud, and Pharaoh—to demonstrate that no amount of earthly power protects against Allah's justice when people reject His signs and oppress His servants.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Surah Al-Fajr's themes relate to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet ﷺ mentioned the destruction of previous nations as a warning: 'Learn lessons from the destroyed nations before you' (Tirmidhi, related to Qur'anic warnings).
Themes
Key Lesson
No matter how mighty, wealthy, or fortified a tyrant becomes in this world, resistance against Allah's will and oppression of the helpless inevitably leads to destruction. This serves as a timeless reminder that true security lies only in obedience to Allah, not in material accumulation or military might.
Related Ayahs
فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ
So there came upon it [i.e., the garden] an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ تُبْعَثُونَ
Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَخْرَجَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ لِأَوَّلِ ٱلْحَشْرِ ۚ مَا ظَنَنتُمْ أَن يَخْرُجُوا۟ ۖ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُم مَّانِعَتُهُمْ حُصُونُهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ فَأَتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَحْتَسِبُوا۟ ۖ وَقَذَفَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلرُّعْبَ ۚ يُخْرِبُونَ بُيُوتَهُم بِأَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَيْدِى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَٱعْتَبِرُوا۟ يَـٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
It is He who expelled the ones who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture from their homes at the first gathering. You did not think they would leave, and they thought that their fortresses would protect them from Allāh; but [the decree of] Allāh came upon them from where they had not expected, and He cast terror into their hearts [so] they destroyed their houses by their [own] hands and the hands of the believers. So take warning, O people of vision.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ إِذْ يَرَوْنَ ٱلْعَذَابَ أَنَّ ٱلْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعَذَابِ
And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allāh as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allāh. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allāh. And if only they who have wronged would consider [that] when they see the punishment, [they will be certain] that all power belongs to Allāh and that Allāh is severe in punishment.