قَالَ أَلَمْ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدًا وَلَبِثْتَ فِينَا مِنْ عُمُرِكَ سِنِينَ 18
Translations
[Pharaoh] said, "Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you remained among us for years of your life?
Transliteration
Qala alam nurabbika fina walidan wa labitha fina min 'umrika sinina
Tafsir (Explanation)
Pharaoh reminds Musa (Moses) of the favors he received as a child raised in Pharaoh's palace, arguing that Musa should therefore be grateful and obedient rather than rebellious. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reveals Pharaoh's attempt to use past kindness as leverage to silence Musa's call to monotheism, demonstrating how worldly benefactors often expect servitude in return. The ayah illustrates the arrogance of tyrants who believe their material provisions should override divine truth and moral obligation.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the dialogue between Pharaoh and Musa at their first confrontation in Egypt. The broader context of Surah Ash-Shu'ara presents the stories of various prophets and their rejection by their peoples. Here, Pharaoh uses Musa's upbringing in his household as a rhetorical weapon, attempting to undermine Musa's prophetic mission by appealing to ingratitude—a common tactic of oppressive rulers to silence dissent.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly addresses this verse, the thematic concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet ﷺ emphasized that gratitude for blessings should not lead to disobedience against Allah. Additionally, hadiths about Prophet Musa's story in Sahih Muslim elaborate on his early life in Pharaoh's household and his eventual rejection of false loyalty.
Themes
Key Lesson
True gratitude to Allah transcends obligation to any human authority; believers must not allow material favors or past kindness from others to compromise their commitment to divine truth and justice. This ayah teaches that moral integrity and faith cannot be purchased or manipulated through worldly benefits.