The interpretation of the Divine verses in the Holy Quran serves as a gateway to a deeper understanding of the essence of existence and the guidance provided by God for humanitys salvation. This writing, focusing on the verses related to the story of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and Pharaoh, endeavourswith a profound and scholarly perspectiveto elucidate the meanings and implicit messages within these verses for a specialised audience and researchers in the fields of theology and religious studies. The structure of this text is arranged to preserve absolute fidelity to the original content, while establishing a meaningful connection among its parts, and presenting the concepts in an exalted, academic, and systematic manner. In this context, refined metaphors and allegories have been employed to enrich the literary quality and spiritual appeal.
The story of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and Aaron (peace be upon him) in the face of Pharaoh epitomises the confrontation between two opposing forces: the Divine call leading towards light and salvation, and the tyranny of Pharaoh seeking darkness and misguidance. This section analyses the verses concerning the prayers of these two prophets and their outcomes.
God revealed to Moses and Aaron to prepare houses for their people in Egypt and to position these houses opposite one another, symbolising unity and solidarity against oppression. This command, like a beacon in darkness, invited the Children of Israel towards steadfastness and the establishment of prayer.
وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى وَأَخِيهِ أَنْ تَبَوَّآ لِقَوْمِكُمَا بِمِصْرَ بُيُوتًا وَاجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Translation: And We inspired Moses and his brother, saying: "Establish dwellings for your people in Egypt and make your dwellings facing one another, and establish the prayer and give glad tidings to the believers."
(Surah Yunus, Verse 87)
Moses (peace be upon him), confronted with the adornments and wealth of Pharaoh and his nobleswhich were like a deceptive mirage leading people astray from Gods pathuttered a majestic prayer beseeching God to annihilate the possessions of the Pharaohs and harden their hearts so that they would not believe until they witness the painful punishment. Aaron (peace be upon him), however, voiced a beautiful prayer seeking the guidance of the people. These two prayers, akin to the two wings of a celestial bird, embody the dual aspects of Divine mercy and wrath.
قَالَ مُوسَى رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ آتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَالًا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِكَ رَبَّنَا اطْمِسْ عَلَى أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاشْدُدْ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ
Translation: Moses said, "Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his nobles splendour and wealth in this worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [people] astray from Your path. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment."
(Surah Yunus, Verse 88)
The connection of this section with the preceding one lies in the ultimate fate of Pharaohs oppression. Following the acceptance of Moses and Aarons prayers, God inflicted a painful punishment upon Pharaoh and his armies to serve as a lesson for future generations.
Pharaoh, at the moment of drowning, professed faith; however, this faith was not sincere but a desperate attempt to escape punishment. He declared, "I believe in that which the Children of Israel believe," yet these words, like a mask concealing the truth, lacked authenticity.
حَتَّى إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ آَمَنْتُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آَمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Translation: Until, when drowning overtook him, he said, "I believe that there is no deity except the One in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims."
(Surah Yunus, Verse 90)
God cast Pharaohs body ashore as a sign for those who come after him. This act decisively nullified any illusion of Pharaohs divinity.
فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آَيَةً وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ عَنْ آَيَاتِنَا لَغَافِلُونَ
Translation: So today We will save you with your body that you may be a sign for those who come after you; and indeed, many among the people are heedless of Our signs.
(Surah Yunus, Verse 92)
This section, by examining the roots of Pharaohs arrogance, analyses the verses that discuss his pride and arrogance, and evaluates the consequences of such traits.
Despite awareness of the miraculous signs granted to Moses (peace be upon him), Pharaoh, driven by arrogance and self-exaltation, denied them. This denial acted as a dark veil, obscuring the truth from his perception.
وَجَحَدُوا بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَا أَنْفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
Translation: And they denied them, while their own selves were convinced of them out of injustice and arrogance. So observe how was the end of the corrupters.
(Surah An-Naml, Verse 14)
Pharaohs arrogance was like a sturdy barrier that prevented him from accepting the truth. Even when confronted with clear signs from God such as the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood, he did not submit.
فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الطُّوفَانَ وَالْجَرَادَ وَالْقُمَّلَ وَالضَّفَادِعَ وَالدَّمَ آَيَاتٍ مُفَصَّلَاتٍ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا مُجْرِمِينَ
Translation: So We sent upon them the flood and locusts and lice and frogs and blood as distinct signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people.
(Surah Al-A'raf, Verse 133)
After Pharaohs demise, the Children of Israel settled in a favourable position, yet ingratitude and discord, like a thorn in the foot, prevented them from fully benefiting from Divine blessings.
God bestowed upon the Children of Israel pure blessings such as manna and quail, but instead of gratitude, they resorted to discord and ingratitude.
وَلَقَدْ بَوَّأْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مُبَوَّأَ صِدْقٍ وَرَزَقْنَاهُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ فَمَا اخْتَلَفُوا حَتَّى جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِي بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
Translation: And indeed We settled the Children of Israel in a true settlement and provided them with good things. They did not differ until knowledge came to them. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
(Surah Yunus, Verse 93)
The Children of Israel, after their deliverance from Pharaoh, resorted to excuses and discord. This trait, known as the faults of the Children of Israel, originated in their prolonged humiliation and abasement.
This section examines one of the most profound moments in the life of Moses (peace be upon him), namely the covenant and his request to behold God, representing the zenith of mysticism and the limitations of human capacity.
After forty days of spiritual purification at the covenant, Moses
