فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَنُؤْمِنُ لِبَشَرَيْنِ مِثْلِنَا وَقَوْمُهُمَا لَنَا عَـٰبِدُونَ 47
Translations
They said, "Should we believe two men like ourselves while their people are for us in servitude?"
Transliteration
Faqālū anuʾminu libashrayni mithlnā wa-qawmuhumā lanā ʿābidūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the arrogant response of the people of Pharaoh when confronted with the message of Moses and Aaron, two men from among them. They rejected faith in these two human messengers, arguing that they were merely mortals like themselves, while dismissing the entire nation of the Israelites as their slaves. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this reflects the spiritual blindness and pride of those who reject truth out of arrogance, refusing to accept guidance from those they deem socially inferior, despite the clarity of the miracles presented.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Mu'minun and is part of the narrative of Moses and Pharaoh's people. The broader context illustrates how nations throughout history rejected their prophets due to arrogance and prejudice. This particular scene depicts the Israelites' enslavement under Pharaoh and his court's dismissal of Moses and Aaron's divine mission, serving as a reminder to the Meccan disbelievers of the consequences of rejecting prophets.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Sahih Bukhari from Abu Hurairah: The Prophet ﷺ mentioned that people rejected prophets, saying similar things out of arrogance and tribal pride, reflecting the eternal human tendency to reject truth based on social status rather than evidence.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that truth should be evaluated on its own merit, not based on the social status or background of the messenger. Pride and prejudice are among the greatest obstacles to faith, and believers must examine their hearts to ensure they do not reject guidance due to arrogance or worldly considerations.