ٱذْهَبْ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ 17
Translations
"Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.
Transliteration
Idhhab ilā fir'awna innahu ṭaghā
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands Musa (Moses) to go to Pharaoh and deliver the message of monotheism, describing Pharaoh as one who has transgressed all bounds in his arrogance and disbelief. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah marks the beginning of Musa's mission and emphasizes the gravity of Pharaoh's rebellion against Allah's signs. The word 'ṭaghā' (transgressed) indicates that Pharaoh had crossed every limit of righteousness and reason, making his case one of extreme spiritual corruption.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the narrative section of Surah An-Nazi'at describing Musa's commission as a prophet. The surah is Meccan and addresses the Makkan audience by recounting the story of Musa and Pharaoh as a warning against arrogance and rejection of divine truth, paralleling the Quraysh's rejection of Prophet Muhammad's message.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Musa's appointment is referenced in various collections regarding his conversation with Allah at the burning tree. Related to the theme of warning tyrants, Sahih Muslim records that the worst of rulers are those who oppress their subjects, contrasting with the divine command to convey truth to power.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are commanded to convey the message of Allah's oneness even to the most powerful and arrogant, trusting in Allah's support; and that no matter how mighty a tyrant appears, his transgression is known to Allah and will be reckoned with.