Is it true that Pharaoh believed in the exaltation of Allah in His saying: "O Haman, build for me a tower that I may reach the ways, the ways to the heavens, so that I may look at the God of Moses"?
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The questioner : ...a tower, perhaps he will reach the ways... he acknowledges that Allah...
The Shaykh : No, my brother 'Abd Allah, my brother, this is mockery that obscures his statement. That is why it is called[Ghafir 40:37] tamwi' (deception), meaning it is like when we say we are conceding a point to the opponent, yes. But despite that, Pharaoh acknowledged Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Moses said to him: [Al-Isra 17:102] And what did he say when he said: "A debate?" If he had a response, he would have responded to him. And in the other debates in Surat al-Shu'ara, which are longer, the last thing he said was: [Ash-Shu'ara 26:29] There is nothing but threats and intimidation; he has no evidence. The time is up, he says, "Hujaj" (arguments).
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes
The student: ...
The Shaykh : What?
The Shaykh : No, my brother 'Abd Allah, my brother, this is mockery that obscures his statement. That is why it is called
so that I may look at the deity of Moses; but indeed, I think he is a liar.
فأطلع الى إله موسى وإني لأظنه كاذبا[Moses] said, "You have already known that none has sent down these [signs] except the Lord of the heavens and the earth as evidence, and indeed I think, O Pharaoh, that you are destroyed."
لقد علمت ما أنزل هؤلاء إلا رب السماوات والأرض بصائر وإني لأظنك يا فرعون مثبوراIf you take a god other than me, I will surely place you among those imprisoned."
لئن اتخذت إلها غيري لأجعلنك من المسجونينThe student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes
The student: ...
The Shaykh : What?