وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِۦ فَقَالَ إِنِّى رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 46
Translations
And certainly did We send Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his establishment, and he said, "Indeed, I am the messenger of the Lord of the worlds."
Transliteration
Wa-laqad arsalnā Mūsā bi-āyātinā ilā Fir'awna wa-mala'ihi fa-qāla innī rasūlu Rabbi al-'ālamīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah recounts how Allah sent Prophet Mūsā (Moses) to Pharaoh and his nobles with clear signs and miracles, and Mūsā boldly proclaimed his message: 'I am a messenger of the Lord of the worlds.' Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that Mūsā's declaration directly challenged Pharaoh's claim to divinity and presented the monotheistic message with confidence despite the immense power disparity. Al-Qurtubi notes that Mūsā's address to both Pharaoh and his nobles indicates the comprehensive nature of the prophetic mission to reach all levels of society.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Az-Zukhruf (a Meccan surah) which discusses various prophets and their messages, serving to comfort Prophet Muhammad and validate his own mission by showing the pattern of prophetic struggle throughout history. The broader context emphasizes how Allah's messengers were consistently rejected by their peoples despite presenting clear evidence.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3473) describes Mūsā's confrontation with Pharaoh, highlighting how the prophets showed unwavering conviction in their message despite opposition. Similarly, in Sunan Ibn Mājah, there are references to the courage of the messengers in delivering their divine messages against tyrannical rulers.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that standing for truth and divine guidance may require confronting powerful opposition, yet the messenger's strength lies in the certainty of their divine commission. This ayah teaches that delivering God's message takes precedence over worldly considerations of power and status.
Related Ayahs
لِتَسْتَوُۥا۟ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِۦ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا ٱسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُولُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُۥ مُقْرِنِينَ
That you may settle yourselves upon their backs and then remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them and say, "Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it.
وَزُخْرُفًا ۚ وَإِن كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
And gold ornament. But all that is not but the enjoyment of worldly life. And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous.
وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ مَا عَبَدْنَـٰهُم ۗ مَّا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ
And they said, "If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshipped them." They have of that no knowledge. They are not but misjudging.
فَٱخْتَلَفَ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ مِنۢ بَيْنِهِمْ ۖ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ
But the denominations from among them differed [and separated], so woe to those who have wronged from the punishment of a painful Day.