1, 2: Pharaoh and Haman
Pharaoh and Haman were friends of Satan in human form. Both of them filled Allah’s earth with turmoil and corruption. Pharaoh even claimed divinity. Both of them are mentioned in the Holy Quran. Allah Almighty says:
﴿طسم ﴿١﴾ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ ﴿٢﴾ نَتْلُو عَلَيْكَ مِن نَّبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرْعَوْنَ بِالْحَقِّ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٣﴾ إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَائِفَةً مِّنْهُمْ يُذَبِّحُ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيِي نِسَاءَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٤﴾ وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ الْوَارِثِينَ ﴿٥﴾ وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنُرِيَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَحْذَرُونَ ﴿٦﴾
Ta Seen Meem. These are the verses of the clear Book. We narrate to you the truthful story of Moses and Pharaoh for those who believe. Indeed, Pharaoh had exalted himself in the land and divided its people into factions, weakening one group among them. He used to kill their sons and let their women live. Indeed, he was among the corrupters. Then We intended to show favor to those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and heirs. And to grant them power and authority in the land, and to show Pharaoh, Haman, and their armies that which they feared.
At one place, Pharaoh’s claim of divinity is mentioned as follows:
﴿فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ ﴿٢٣﴾ فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ ﴿٢٤﴾
“Then he gathered them and loudly proclaimed, ‘I am your Lord, the Most High.'”
At another place, the Quran mentions Pharaoh’s arrogance:
﴿إِذْ تَمْشِي أُخْتُكَ فَتَقُولُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن يَكْفُلُهُ ۖ فَرَجَعْنَاكَ إِلَىٰ أُمِّكَ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ ۚ وَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا فَنَجَّيْنَاكَ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَفَتَنَّاكَ فُتُونًا ۚ فَلَبِثْتَ سِنِينَ فِي أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَىٰ قَدَرٍ يَا مُوسَىٰ ﴿٤٠﴾ وَاصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِي ﴿٤١﴾ اذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِآيَاتِي وَلَا تَنِيَا فِي ذِكْرِي ﴿٤٢﴾ اذْهَبَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ ﴿٤٣﴾ فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًا لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰ ﴿٤٤﴾ قَالَا رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَا أَوْ أَن يَطْغَىٰ ﴿٤٥﴾ قَالَ لَا تَخَافَا ۖ إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَا أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ ﴿٤٦﴾
“(Remember) when your sister was walking and said, ‘Shall I show you someone who will take care of him?’ Thus We returned you to your mother so that her eyes might be cooled and she would not grieve. And you had killed a man, but We saved you from sorrow and tested you thoroughly. Then you stayed for many years among the people of Midian. Then, by divine decree, O Moses, you came, and I chose you for Myself. Now go, you and your brother, with My signs, and do not slacken in My remembrance. Go to Pharaoh; indeed, he has transgressed. Speak to him gently, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear [Allah]. They said, ‘Our Lord, indeed we fear that he will hasten [punishment] against us or transgress.’ He said, ‘Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and see.'”
At another place, it is said:
﴿وَلَقَدْ أَرَيْنَاهُ آيَاتِنَا كُلَّهَا فَكَذَّبَ وَأَبَىٰ ﴿٥٦﴾ قَالَ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتُخْرِجَنَا مِنْ أَرْضِنَا بِسِحْرِكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ ﴿٥٧﴾ فَلَنَأْتِيَنَّكَ بِسِحْرٍ مِّثْلِهِ فَاجْعَلْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَّا نُخْلِفُهُ نَحْنُ وَلَا أَنتَ مَكَانًا سُوًى ﴿٥٨﴾ قَالَ مَوْعِدُكُمْ يَوْمُ الزِّينَةِ وَأَن يُحْشَرَ النَّاسُ ضُحًى ﴿٥٩﴾
“We showed him all Our signs, but he denied and refused. He said, ‘O Moses, is it that you have come to us to drive us out of our land with your magic? Then we will surely bring you magic like it, so make between us and you an appointment, that we meet on the day of the festival, and that the people be assembled.'”
At another place, it is said:
﴿وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ آتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَالًا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا عَن سَبِيلِكَ ۖ رَبَّنَا اطْمِسْ عَلَىٰ أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاشْدُدْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ ﴿٨٨﴾ قَالَ قَدْ أُجِيبَت دَّعْوَتُكُمَا فَاسْتَقِيمَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعَانِّ سَبِيلَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٨٩﴾
“And Moses said, ‘Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his establishment splendor and wealth in the worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [people] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so they will not believe until they see the painful punishment.’ Allah said, ‘Your prayer has been answered. So remain patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Me. I cause to inherit it whom I will of My servants. And the [end] is for the righteous.'”
Also, regarding him, it is said:
﴿وَلَقَدْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِي فَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًا فِي الْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا لَّا تَخَافُ دَرَكًا وَلَا تَخْشَىٰ ﴿٧٧﴾ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ بِجُنُودِهِ فَغَشِيَهُم مِّنَ الْيَمِّ مَا غَشِيَهُمْ ﴿٧٨﴾ وَأَضَلَّ فِرْعَوْنُ قَوْمَهُ وَمَا هَدَىٰ ﴿٧٩﴾
“We inspired Moses, ‘Travel by night with My servants; indeed, you will be pursued.’ Then Pharaoh sent among the cities gatherers, saying, ‘Whoever is a believer, kill him or enslave him.’ But the plan of Pharaoh was not except in ruin. Indeed, We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said, ‘I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims.’ Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters? So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many among the people, of Our signs, are heedless.”
The Quran mentions his drowning in the sea at one place:
﴿وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَجَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿١٧﴾ أَنْ أَدُّوا إِلَيَّ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ ﴿١٨﴾ وَأَن لَّا تَعْلُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّي آتِيكُم بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿١٩﴾ وَإِنِّي عُذْتُ بِرَبِّي وَرَبِّكُمْ أَن تَرْجُمُونِ ﴿٢٠﴾ وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا لِي فَاعْتَزِلُونِ ﴿٢١﴾ فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ مُّجْرِمُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾ فَأَسْرِ بِعِبَادِي لَيْلًا إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾ وَاتْرُكِ الْبَحْرَ رَهْوًا ۖ إِنَّهُمْ جُندٌ مُّغْرَقُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾
“Indeed, We tried before them the people of Pharaoh when a noble messenger came to them. [Saying], ‘Send to the Children of Israel that they should come out with me.’ But when We inspired to Moses, ‘Travel by night with My servants; indeed, you will be pursued.’ Then Pharaoh sent among the cities gatherers, saying, ‘Whoever is a believer, kill him or enslave him.’ But the plan of Pharaoh was not except in ruin. Indeed, We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said, ‘I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims.’ Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters? So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many among the people, of Our signs, are heedless.”
At another place, it is said:
﴿وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ آمَنتُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿٩٠﴾ آلْآنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٩١﴾ فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آيَةً ۚ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ عَنْ آيَاتِنَا لَغَافِلُونَ ﴿٩٢﴾
“And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said, ‘I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims.’ [Allah] said, ‘Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters? So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many among the people, of Our signs, are heedless.'”
﴿فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنَا قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ وَكَفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِ مُشْرِكِينَ ﴿٨٤﴾ فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَانُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنَا ۖ سُنَّتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي قَدْ خَلَتْ فِي عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ الْكَافِرُونَ ﴿٨٥﴾
“When Our punishment came upon them, they said, ‘We believe in Allah alone and disbelieve in that which we used to associate with Him.’ But their faith did not benefit them once they saw Our punishment. That is the way of Allah which has passed before among His servants. And the disbelievers are surely in loss.”
3 : Qarun
Qarun was from the time of our master Musa (peace be upon him). Allah Almighty had blessed him with great wealth.
The keys to his treasures were carried by a group of camels. But instead of being grateful to Allah, he became arrogant and befriended Satan. His story is also mentioned in the Quran:
﴿إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِن قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ مَا إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوءُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ قَوْمُهُ لَا تَفْرَحْ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ ﴿٧٦﴾ وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِن كَمَا أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَلَا تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٧٧﴾ قَالَ إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عِندِي ۚ أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَهْلَكَ مِن قَبْلِهِ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مَنْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرُ جَمْعًا ۚ وَلَا يُسْأَلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ ﴿٧٨﴾ فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فِي زِينَتِهِ ۖ قَالَ الَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا يَا لَيْتَ لَنَا مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ قَارُونُ إِنَّهُ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٧٩﴾ وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَلَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الصَّابِرُونَ ﴿٨٠﴾ فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِ وَبِدَارِهِ الْأَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُ مِن فِئَةٍ يَنصُرُونَهُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُنتَصِرِينَ ﴿٨١﴾ وَأَصْبَحَ الَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوْا مَكَانَهُ بِالْأَمْسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيْكَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ ۖ لَوْلَا أَن مَّنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا ۖ وَيْكَأَنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الْكَافِرُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾ تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا ۚ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٨٣﴾
“Qarun was from the people of Musa (peace be upon him), but he oppressed them. We had given him such treasures that a group of strong men could barely carry his keys. Once his people said to him: Do not be arrogant, Allah does not love those who are arrogant. And seek the home of the Hereafter with what Allah has given you, and do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you, and do not seek corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like the corrupters. Qarun said: This has been given to me because of the knowledge I possess. Does he not know that Allah destroyed many communities before him who were mightier and had greater wealth? And the sinners are not asked about their sins at such a time. So Qarun came out before his people in all his finery, and those who desired the life of this world said: Oh, would that we had what was given to Qarun! He is indeed fortunate. The knowledgeable began to advise them, saying: Alas, the best reward is that which awaits those who believe in Allah and do righteous deeds. This is instilled in the hearts of those who are patient. (In the end) We caused the earth to swallow him and his palace, and there was no group to help him against Allah, nor was he among those who could save themselves. And those who wished to reach his status yesterday now say: Do you not see that Allah expands provision for whom He wills among His servants and restricts it? If Allah did not have mercy on us, He would have caused us to be swallowed too. Do you not see that the ungrateful never prosper? We assign the good home of the Hereafter only to those who do not exalt themselves in the earth, nor cause corruption. It is an excellent end for the righteous.”
At another place, the Quran mentions all of them as follows:
﴿وَقَارُونَ وَفِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مُّوسَىٰ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا كَانُوا سَابِقِينَ ﴿٣٩﴾ فَكُلًّا أَخَذْنَا بِذَنبِهِ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ حَاصِبًا وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَخَذَتْهُ الصَّيْحَةُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ خَسَفْنَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَغْرَقْنَا ۚ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَٰكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ ﴿٤٠﴾
“And Qarun, Pharaoh, and Haman, for they came with clear signs to Musa (peace be upon him), yet they were arrogant in the land. But they could not outstrip Us. Then We seized each one of them for their sins. Among them, some We rained stones upon, some were seized by a mighty blast, some We caused the earth to swallow, and some We drowned. And Allah does not wrong them, but they wrong themselves.”
Abdur Rahman bin Nasir As-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, explains this verse as:
﴿وَمَا كَانُوا سَبقِينَ﴾ “They could not flee from Allah anywhere,” and they had to surrender themselves to Allah Almighty. ﴿فكلا﴾ “So all,” meaning all those nations who denied the prophets, ﴿اَخَذْنَا بذنبه﴾ “We seized them by the measure of their sins and the punishment corresponding to those sins.”
4 : Nimrod
He was also greatly endowed by Allah with a vast kingdom. But he too became rebellious and befriended Satan. He even claimed divinity, but Allah made him an example for the people of the world by causing his death through a mosquito. The Quran mentions him in several places.
﴿أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِي حَاجَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي رَبِّهِ أَنْ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْمُلْكَ إِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّيَ الَّذِي يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا أُحْيِي وَأُمِيتُ ۖ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْتِي بِالشَّمْسِ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ فَبُهِتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٢٥٨﴾
“Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord because Allah had given him kingship? When Abraham said, ‘My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death,’ he said, ‘I also give life and cause death.’ Abraham said, ‘Indeed, Allah brings the sun from the east, so bring it from the west.’ So the disbeliever was overwhelmed [by astonishment], and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Al-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in his tafsir of this verse: Allah Almighty says:
﴿أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِي حَاجَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي رَبِّهِ﴾ “Have you not seen the one who disputed with Our servant Abraham about his Lord?” That is, have you not witnessed his audacity, ignorance, obstinacy, and the undeniable truth about the dispute? The only reason was ﴿أَنْ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْمُلْكَ﴾ “that Allah had given him kingship.” So he became rebellious and defiant. He saw that he had become a ruler over the subjects, and he had the audacity to argue with Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, about the Lordship of Allah, claiming that he too could do what Allah does. Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, said: ﴿رَبِّيَ الَّذِي يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ﴾ “My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death.” That is, He has control over everything. He specifically mentioned giving life and causing death because this is the greatest power. Also, giving life is the beginning of worldly life, and causing death is the beginning of the matters of the Hereafter. In response, he said ﴿أَنَا أُحْيِي وَأُمِيتُ﴾ “I also give life and cause death.” He did not say “I alone give life and cause death,” because his claim was not of permanent control but that he could also do what Allah does. He meant that if he kills a man, it is as if he has caused death, and if he lets a man live, it is as if he has given life. When Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, saw that this person was using fallacies in argument and saying things that were not even capable of becoming doubtful evidence, he presented another argument: ﴿فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْتِي بِالشَّمْسِ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ﴾ “Allah brings the sun from the east.” This is a fact accepted by everyone, even the disbeliever cannot deny it. ﴿فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ﴾ “So bring it from the west.” This is a decisive argument. If he were truthful in his claim, this would have supported him. When you say something that leaves no room for doubt and he has no counter to this argument, ﴿فَبُهِتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ﴾ “the disbeliever was overwhelmed.” That is, he was astonished and could not respond. His argument was proven false, and his doubt was invalidated. Whoever tries to oppose the truth through lies, stubbornness, and obstinacy is defeated and overcome in this way. Therefore, Allah Almighty said: ﴿وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ﴾ “And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” Rather, He lets them remain in disbelief and misguidance because they have chosen this for themselves. If their goal were to attain guidance, Allah would have guided them and provided the means to reach it. This verse is a definitive proof that Allah alone is the Creator and the sole Owner of all authority, and the necessary consequence is that worship and obedience in all circumstances belong only to Him. Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: In this debate, there is a point that in this world, polytheism revolves around the worship of stars and graves, and later idols were made in their names. The arguments presented by Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, contain a comprehensive denial of their divinity because Allah alone, without partner, gives life and causes death. The living who will die cannot be worthy of worship in life or after death because they have one Lord who is powerful and mighty and controls their life and death. How can one who is thus powerless be a deity to be made into an idol and worshipped? The same applies to the stars. Among them, the largest visible one is the sun, which is also subject to command and cannot decide freely about itself. Its Creator and Owner brings it from the east, and it obeys His command and will. That is, it is also a servant subject to command, not a deity to be worshipped.”
