قَالَ لَئِنِ ٱتَّخَذْتَ إِلَـٰهًا غَيْرِى لَأَجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْمَسْجُونِينَ 29
Translations
[Pharaoh] said, "If you take a god other than me, I will surely place you among those imprisoned."
Transliteration
Qala la-in ittakhatha ilahan ghayri laajaʿalannaka mina al-masjunin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records Pharaoh's arrogant threat to Prophet Musa (Moses), declaring that if Musa accepts any god besides Pharaoh himself, he will imprison him. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this reflects Pharaoh's claim to divinity and his absolute rejection of monotheism—a defining characteristic of his tyranny. The ayah illustrates how despots resort to coercion and threats when confronted with the message of tawhid (divine oneness).
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Ash-Shu'ara, a Meccan chapter that chronicles the narratives of various prophets and their struggles against their peoples' disbelief. The specific context is the dialogue between Musa and Pharaoh, where Musa presents the signs of Allah, and Pharaoh responds with escalating threats and denial. This exchange demonstrates the timeless pattern of prophetic challenge and tyrannical resistance.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself records Pharaoh's various threats and denials (26:34-35, 44:31-33). While not a direct hadith reference, Surah Taha (20:71) presents a similar confrontation where Pharaoh threatens believers with crucifixion and amputation, illustrating the consistent pattern of his oppression documented in Quranic narratives.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that resistance to truth often manifests through intimidation and threats from those in power, yet the ultimate victory belongs to Allah and His message. It reminds us that standing firm upon tawhid requires courage in the face of worldly consequences, as Prophet Musa exemplified.
Related Ayahs
أَوَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ ءَايَةً أَن يَعْلَمَهُۥ عُلَمَـٰٓؤُا۟ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ
And has it not been a sign to them that it is recognized by the scholars of the Children of Israel?
فَأَلْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ
Then Moses threw his staff, and at once it devoured what they falsified.
قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسَحَّرِينَ
They said, "You are only of those affected by magic.
قَالَ ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُۥ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحْرَ فَلَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ۚ لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
[Pharaoh] said, "You believed him [i.e., Moses] before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic, but you are going to know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you all."