إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَقَـٰرُونَ فَقَالُوا۟ سَـٰحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ 24
Translations
To Pharaoh, Hāmān and Qārūn, but they said, "[He is] a magician and a liar."
Transliteration
Ila Fir'awna wa Hamana wa Qarun fa qalū sāhirun kadhhāb
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the enemies of Prophet Musa—Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun—responded to his message by accusing him of being a sorcerer and a liar, rejecting the clear signs he presented to them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, their rejection stemmed from arrogance, disbelief, and their vested interests in maintaining power and wealth rather than any rational objection to the message. This response exemplifies how those consumed by worldly ambition and pride dismiss divine guidance regardless of its clarity.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ghafir, a Meccan chapter that recounts the stories of past nations and their rejection of prophets. It appears within the narrative of Musa's confrontation with Pharaoh's court, illustrating how different groups (political leader, vizier, and wealthy man) unified in their rejection of monotheism. The historical context emphasizes parallels between the Meccan polytheists' rejection of Prophet Muhammad and Pharaoh's court's rejection of Musa.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have faced similar accusations of being a sorcerer and liar from the Quraysh, just as Musa faced from Pharaoh's people. This demonstrates the recurring pattern of rejection faced by messengers throughout history.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that opposition to divine truth often comes not from genuine intellectual disagreement but from pride, vested interests, and spiritual blindness. Modern Muslims should recognize that staying steadfast in faith despite ridicule and false accusations is part of the prophetic tradition, and should respond with wisdom and patience rather than despair.
Related Ayahs
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَشُدَّكُمْ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُوا۟ شُيُوخًا ۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَجَلًا مُّسَمًّى وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
It is He who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot; then He brings you out as a child; then [He develops you] that you reach your [time of] maturity, then [further] that you become elders. And among you is he who is taken in death before [that], so that you reach a specified term; and perhaps you will use reason.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانَت تَّأْتِيهِمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَكَفَرُوا۟ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ قَوِىٌّ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
That was because their messengers were coming to them with clear proofs, but they disbelieved, so Allāh seized them. Indeed, He is Powerful and severe in punishment.
مِثْلَ دَأْبِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ۚ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ظُلْمًا لِّلْعِبَادِ
Like the custom of the people of Noah and of ʿAad and Thamūd and those after them. And Allāh wants no injustice for [His] servants.
ٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ ۚ لَا ظُلْمَ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
This Day every soul will be recompensed for what it earned. No injustice today! Indeed, Allāh is swift in account.