Allah’s Command to Musa to Be Gentle, Yet We Find Severity in His Speech with Pharaoh, Such as His Saying, Exalted is He, About Him: “And I think, O Pharaoh, that you will be destroyed.” How is this reconciled?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, regarding the saying of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He: [Taha 20:44] We find in Surat al-Isra that there was speech between Musa and Pharaoh containing severity and harshness, including Musa’s saying: [Al-Isra 17:102] How is this verse reconciled with the command to be gentle?
The Shaykh : The reconciliation is that he addressed him with gentleness first; initially, he addressed him with gentleness. But when Pharaoh transgressed, became arrogant, 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 severe with him.
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 Shaykh : The reconciliation is that he addressed him with gentleness first; initially, he addressed him with gentleness. But when Pharaoh transgressed, became arrogant, 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 severe with him.