قَوْمَ فِرْعَوْنَ ۚ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ 11
Translations
The people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear Allāh?"
Transliteration
Qawma Fir'awna alaa yattaqun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of Allah's address to Prophet Moses, commanding him to go to Pharaoh's people with a clear warning and call to piety. The rhetorical question 'Will they not fear Allah?' emphasizes the stubborn rejection and heedlessness of Pharaoh's people despite the clear signs and warnings presented to them. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that this reflects the people's deliberate turning away from guidance and their lack of God-consciousness (taqwa), which would have motivated them to accept Moses's message.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the narrative of Moses and Pharaoh in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which recounts Moses's mission to call Pharaoh and his people to monotheism. The context is Allah's command to Moses to deliver His message, highlighting the persistent rejection and arrogance of Pharaoh's nation despite witnessing miraculous signs. This thematic narrative runs throughout the surah as a lesson about those who reject divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized that taqwa (piety/God-consciousness) is the foundation of accepting divine guidance. Also relevant is the hadith concerning Pharaoh's people in Sahih Bukhari where their disbelief is attributed to their hearts being sealed due to their persistent rejection of truth.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that knowledge of truth alone is insufficient without the spiritual quality of taqwa (God-consciousness) to implement it. We should examine our own hearts to ensure we are not like those who hear divine guidance yet turn away due to heedlessness or arrogance.