إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَآئِفَةً مِّنْهُمْ يُذَبِّحُ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ وَيَسْتَحْىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ 4
Translations
Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions, oppressing a sector among them, slaughtering their [newborn] sons and keeping their females alive. Indeed, he was of the corrupters.
Transliteration
Inna Fir'awna 'ala fi al-ardi wa ja'ala ahlaha shi'a'an yastadh'ifu ta'ifatan minhum yudhabbihu abnaa'ahum wa yastahyi nisaa'ahum. Innahu kana mina al-mufsideen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Pharaoh's tyranny and oppression in Egypt, where he divided the people into factions and subjugated the Israelites specifically, slaughtering their sons while sparing their daughters for servitude. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that Pharaoh's actions were driven by his fear of a prophecy that a child from the Israelites would be his downfall, making him one of the greatest spreaders of corruption (mufsidun) despite his worldly power. The ayah illustrates how material dominion without righteousness leads to systematic injustice and moral degradation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears early in Surah Al-Qasas, which details the life story of Prophet Musa (Moses). It establishes the oppressive context that necessitated Musa's mission and God's intervention. The surah was revealed in Mecca to comfort the persecuted Muslims by reminding them of how God saved the believers from previous tyrannies.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Verily, the most merciful of people towards children are those who show mercy to children. Show mercy to the children of others, and Allah will show mercy to your children' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). This contrasts with Pharaoh's cruelty and emphasizes the Islamic value of protecting vulnerable populations.
Themes
Key Lesson
No amount of worldly power or authority justifies the exploitation of vulnerable populations; true corruption lies not in powerlessness but in the abuse of power to oppress others. Muslims should remember that God's justice ultimately prevails against tyrants, and we are called to protect the weak rather than exploit them.
Related Ayahs
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍۭ بَطِرَتْ مَعِيشَتَهَا ۖ فَتِلْكَ مَسَـٰكِنُهُمْ لَمْ تُسْكَن مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ۖ وَكُنَّا نَحْنُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ
And how many a city have We destroyed that was insolent in its [way of] living, and those are their dwellings which have not been inhabited after them except briefly. And it is We who were the inheritors.
فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَآئِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
So he left it, fearful and anticipating [apprehension]. He said, "My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people."
فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِنْ عِندِنَا قَالُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُوتِىَ مِثْلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰٓ ۚ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفُرُوا۟ بِمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ قَالُوا۟ سِحْرَانِ تَظَـٰهَرَا وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا بِكُلٍّ كَـٰفِرُونَ
But when the truth came to them from Us, they said, "Why was he not given like that which was given to Moses?" Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Moses before? They said, "[They are but] two works of magic supporting each other, and indeed we are, in both, disbelievers."
وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَآ أَجَبْتُمُ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
And [mention] the Day He will call them and say, "What did you answer the messengers?"