Combining Allah’s command to Musa to be gentle with Pharaoh and Musa’s harshness toward Pharaoh
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Your Eminence! Regarding the saying of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He: [Taha:44] We find in Surat al-Isra that there was a conversation between Musa and Pharaoh containing severity and harshness, including Musa’s saying: [al-Isra:102] How do we reconcile this verse with the command to be gentle?
The reconciliation is that he addressed him with gentleness first. When Pharaoh became arrogant, haughty, and elevated himself, it was his right to be humiliated. This is part of the gradual approach in calling people to Allah with wisdom: you speak to the one being called first with gentleness and ease, but if he persists and is stubborn, his only due is that you be harsh with him.As Allah the Exalted said: [al-'Ankabut:46] .
And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]."
فَقُولا لَهُ قَوْلاً لَيِّناً لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىand indeed I think, O Pharaoh, that you are destroyed."
وَإِنِّي لَأَظُنُّكَ يَا فِرْعَوْنُ مَثْبُوراًThe reconciliation is that he addressed him with gentleness first. When Pharaoh became arrogant, haughty, and elevated himself, it was his right to be humiliated. This is part of the gradual approach in calling people to Allah with wisdom: you speak to the one being called first with gentleness and ease, but if he persists and is stubborn, his only due is that you be harsh with him.As Allah the Exalted said: