قَالَ فَأْتِ بِهِۦٓ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ 31
Translations
[Pharaoh] said, "Then bring it, if you should be of the truthful."
Transliteration
Qāla fa'ti bihi in kunta mina aṣ-ṣādiqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Pharaoh demands that Moses produce the staff (as a miracle) if he truly speaks the truth, challenging him to prove his claim of being a messenger from Allah. This ayah represents Pharaoh's arrogant demand for evidence, setting the stage for the miraculous transformation of the staff into a serpent. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this challenge, while meant to mock Moses, ultimately becomes the very means through which Allah's power is demonstrated, turning Pharaoh's skepticism into a sign of divine authority.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which details the conversation between Prophet Moses and Pharaoh. The surah is Meccan and was revealed to reassure the Prophet Muhammad and the believers in Mecca facing similar rejection from the Quraysh. The context here is the initial confrontation where Pharaoh demands proof of Moses's prophethood, echoing the demand of the disbelievers in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sahih Muslim contains narrations about the staff of Moses and its miraculous properties. Additionally, hadiths in Sahih Bukhari discuss how signs and miracles were given to previous prophets when their people demanded proof, establishing the pattern of divine response to such challenges.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that those who arrogantly demand proof while harboring disbelief will not be guided by signs alone; however, it also reassures us that Allah's power will ultimately manifest and vindicate His messengers, encouraging patience in the face of mockery and rejection.
Related Ayahs
وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةً تَجْرِى بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَـٰلِمِينَ
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing.
قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ٱللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَآ أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَءَاخِرِنَا وَءَايَةً مِّنكَ ۖ وَٱرْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ
Said Jesus, the son of Mary, "O Allāh, our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers."
فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّا
So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?"
وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ ۖ وَأَسَلْنَا لَهُۥ عَيْنَ ٱلْقِطْرِ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ مَن يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِۦ ۖ وَمَن يَزِغْ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ أَمْرِنَا نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind - its morning [journey was that of] a month - and its afternoon [journey was that of] a month, and We made flow for him a spring of [liquid] copper. And among the jinn were those who worked for him by the permission of his Lord. And whoever deviated among them from Our command - We will make him taste of the punishment of the Blaze.