The benefits of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “And there was a man from the family of Pharaoh who believed in secret and said, ‘Will you kill a man because he says, “My Lord is Allah”? And he has come to you with clear proofs from your Lord. And if he is a liar, then his lie is against himself, and if he is truthful, some of what he promises you will befall you. Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.’”
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Then Allah the Exalted said: [Ghafir 40:28] to the end of it.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is that one should focus on the substance of the story rather than the specific individual it happened to, as He said:[Ghafir 40:28] Otherwise, we know that Allah knows who this man is, and knows his name, his lineage, and everything related to him. But Allah the Exalted mentioned him vaguely to indicate that the important thing is the substance of the story, not the specific individual it happened to, unless there is a benefit in specifying him, in which case the benefit is to mention and specify him.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is that one of the close relatives of the enemies may be among the awliya (close friends of Allah), as He said here:[Al-Baqarah 2:49] Whether we say he was from his relatives or from his followers in his religion, it indicates that Allah is capable of all things, and that He may cause faith to be prepared for one who is among a people immersed in disbelief.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is the permissibility of concealing faith if a person fears for his life, as He said: But if a person cannot live as a believer except by concealing his faith, is migration obligatory upon him? The answer is yes. In the religion of Islam, if a person cannot live while concealing his religion, then migration is obligatory upon him, but on the condition that he is able to do so. If he is unable, then Allah the Exalted said: .
Among the benefits of this noble verse is the strong disapproval of this believer toward Pharaoh, who threatened with killing, as He said:[Ghafir 40:28].
Among its benefits is the disapproval of one who does an act without a cause that necessitates it, from:[Ghafir 40:28] This is not a cause for killing; rather, at the very least, he should be left alone. As for killing him for this cause, this is abominable and it is not permissible to approve of it.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is the avoidance of specifying the individual out of fear of accusation, or if you wish, the use of euphemism, as He said: He did not say, “Will you kill Musa?” because if he had specified him by name, people would have suspected him of having a connection with him, and his intention would have been ruined. But he kept it vague and said: [Ghafir 40:28] to the end of it.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is that Musa (peace be upon him) came with clear signs by which people believe, as He said:[Ghafir 40:28].
Among the benefits of the noble verse is the strength of this man’s faith, where he confronted them by implicitly denying the lordship of Pharaoh, from his saying: He confronted them by saying that they have a Lord other than Pharaoh. This indicates the strength of this man. As for his saying: [Ghafir 40:28] there is no evidence in it, because the lordship of Allah the Majestic over Musa does not contain any denial. But: it is clear that he is implying that Pharaoh is not a Lord, and that the Lord is Allah. This indicates the perfection of this man’s courage.
Among the benefits of the noble verse is the use of patience and brevity, meaning the hesitation between two states or conditions that do not exceed the matter, as He said:.
Among the benefits of the verse is considering the opponent in what reconciles and brings him closer, because he began with what they believed, which was the lie of Musa. He began with the lie before beginning with the truth in order to reconcile them and to show that the man does not have bias toward Musa. For this reason, he did not begin with the truth, which is one of the two possibilities.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is the permissibility of insinuation, as He said: and his saying: [Ghafir 40:28] Because we know that this man knows that he is truthful, but he used this speech as an insinuation that he is not a believer in him, in order for his speech to be accepted. Because if they had sensed that he was a believer in Musa, and he was from their family, they would have killed him. But he used speech indicating insinuation.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is that the evil of lying returns to the liar, and it is so, as He said: And Allah the Majestic exposed the liars who fabricated against him in this world, and He will expose them in the Hereafter.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is the strength of this man’s faith, in that he believed and had faith that some of what Musa (peace and blessings be upon him) promised them would befall them if he was truthful and they had lied about him, as He said:[Ghafir 40:28].
Among the benefits of the noble verse is that the transgressor and the liar, meaning the one who exceeds the limit in his action and his speech, in his speech because he is a liar, and in his action because he is a transgressor, is far from guidance, as He said:[Ghafir 40:28].
At that point, we ask: Is the intended meaning guidance of success or guidance of explanation and direction? It is guidance of success, because Allah the Exalted has explained to the transgressor and the liar and to others, but He granted success to whom He willed of His servants and caused to fail whom He willed, and Allah knows best.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes, because He said:[Ghafir 40:28] meaning in this world. For this reason, the exegetes determined it to be: “the immediate punishment”.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Not from the family of Pharaoh, explicitly. But is he his relative or his follower in his religion?
And a believing man
وقال رجل مؤمنAmong the benefits of this noble verse is that one should focus on the substance of the story rather than the specific individual it happened to, as He said:
And a believing man
وقال رجل مؤمنAmong the benefits of this noble verse is that one of the close relatives of the enemies may be among the awliya (close friends of Allah), as He said here:
from the people of Pharaoh
من آل فرعونAmong the benefits of this noble verse is the permissibility of concealing faith if a person fears for his life, as He said:
concealing his faith
يكتم إيمانهExcept the weak among men, women, and children who are unable to find a way out or to find a path. Those, perhaps, Allah will pardon. And Allah was Pardoning, Forgiving.
إلا المستضعفين من الرجال والنساء والولدان لا يستطيعون حيلة ولا يهتدون سبيلا فأولئك عسى الله أن يعفوا عنهم وكان الله عفوا غفوراAmong the benefits of this noble verse is the strong disapproval of this believer toward Pharaoh, who threatened with killing, as He said:
Do you kill a man [merely] because he says, 'My Lord is Allah'
أتقتلون رجلا أن يقول ربي اللهAmong its benefits is the disapproval of one who does an act without a cause that necessitates it, from:
Do you kill a man [merely] because he says, 'My Lord is Allah'
أتقتلون رجلا أن يقول ربي اللهAmong the benefits of this noble verse is the avoidance of specifying the individual out of fear of accusation, or if you wish, the use of euphemism, as He said:
Will you kill a man
أتقتلون رجلاDo you kill a man [merely] because he says, 'My Lord is Allah'
أتقتلون رجلا أن يقول ربي اللهAmong the benefits of this noble verse is that Musa (peace be upon him) came with clear signs by which people believe, as He said:
while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord
وقد جاءكم بالبينات من ربكمAmong the benefits of the noble verse is the strength of this man’s faith, where he confronted them by implicitly denying the lordship of Pharaoh, from his saying:
from your Lord
من ربكمbecause he says, 'My Lord is Allah'
أن يقول ربي اللهfrom your Lord
من ربكمAmong the benefits of the noble verse is the use of patience and brevity, meaning the hesitation between two states or conditions that do not exceed the matter, as He said:
If he is a liar... and if he is truthful
فإن يكن كاذبا ... وإن يكن صادقاAmong the benefits of the verse is considering the opponent in what reconciles and brings him closer, because he began with what they believed, which was the lie of Musa. He began with the lie before beginning with the truth in order to reconcile them and to show that the man does not have bias toward Musa. For this reason, he did not begin with the truth, which is one of the two possibilities.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is the permissibility of insinuation, as He said:
If he is a liar
فإن يك كاذباbut if he should be truthful
وإن يك صادقاAmong the benefits of this noble verse is that the evil of lying returns to the liar, and it is so, as He said:
If he is a liar, then his lie is against him
وإن يك كاذبا فعليه كذبهAmong the benefits of this noble verse is the strength of this man’s faith, in that he believed and had faith that some of what Musa (peace and blessings be upon him) promised them would befall them if he was truthful and they had lied about him, as He said:
but if he should be truthful, there will strike you some of what he promises you
وإن يك صادقا يصبكم بعض الذي يعدكمAmong the benefits of the noble verse is that the transgressor and the liar, meaning the one who exceeds the limit in his action and his speech, in his speech because he is a liar, and in his action because he is a transgressor, is far from guidance, as He said:
Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.
إن الله لا يهدي من هو مسرف كذابAt that point, we ask: Is the intended meaning guidance of success or guidance of explanation and direction? It is guidance of success, because Allah the Exalted has explained to the transgressor and the liar and to others, but He granted success to whom He willed of His servants and caused to fail whom He willed, and Allah knows best.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes, because He said:
some of what he promises you
بعض الذي يعدكمThe student: ...
The Shaykh : Not from the family of Pharaoh, explicitly. But is he his relative or his follower in his religion?
