Surah Ash-Shu'araa (26) — Ayah 23

(Ayah 23) ➊ {قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَ مَا رَبُّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ :} When Pharaoh saw that he could not frighten Musa (peace be upon him) and that he would not desist from inviting to monotheism and demanding the freedom of the Children of Israel under any circumstances, he resorted to argumentation. Generally, it is considered a successful method in debate to entangle the opponent in questions. Accordingly, he said: «{ وَ مَا رَبُّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ }» “And what is the Lord of the worlds?” The waw of conjunction is because he had already asked a question before this: «{ اَلَمْ نُرَبِّكَ فِيْنَا }» This is connected to that. Here, commentators generally write that with {’’ مَا ‘‘}, a question is asked about the reality of something; since the creation cannot comprehend the reality of the Creator, Musa (peace be upon him) presented the signs of Allah’s Lordship for His introduction. Ibn Ashur said, when a question is asked with the word {’’ مَا ‘‘}, after {’’ مَا ‘‘}, the intent is to know the reality of the thing that distinguishes it from others. Therefore, if one wants to know someone’s tribe or nation, the question is asked with {’’ مَا ‘‘}, as in the conversation between the general of Kisra and Mughirah bin Shu’bah (may Allah be pleased with him) during a war with Persia, when he asked: [ مَا أَنْتُمْ؟ ] “What are you?” So he replied: [ نَحْنُ أُنَاسٌ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ ] [ بخاري، الجزیۃ، باب الجزیۃ والموادعۃ … : ۳۱۵۹ ] “We are some people of Arabia.”

➋ Among the Copts, there was worship of many deities; the science of idols among the polytheists, being entirely false, was extremely convoluted and incomprehensible. In Pharaoh’s kingdom, many deities were worshipped, and Pharaoh also acknowledged their divinity. (See Al-A’raf: 127) Despite this, he would present himself as the representative of all those deities and call himself, and have himself called, the “supreme lord,” as He said: «{ فَحَشَرَ فَنَادٰى (23) فَقَالَ اَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْاَعْلٰى }» [ النازعات : ۲۳، ۲۴ ] “Then he gathered (the people), then he proclaimed. Then he said: I am your highest lord.” Sometimes he would say: «{ يٰۤاَيُّهَا الْمَلَاُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُمْ مِّنْ اِلٰهٍ غَيْرِيْ }» [ القصص : ۳۸ ] “O chiefs! I have not known for you any god other than myself.” Apparently, this suggests that he did not know the “Lord of the worlds,” so he asked: «{ وَ مَا رَبُّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ }» But in reality, he knew the “Lord of the worlds” very well, as Musa (peace be upon him) had said to him: «{ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَاۤ اَنْزَلَ هٰۤؤُلَآءِ اِلَّا رَبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ بَصَآىِٕرَ }» [ بني إسرائیل : ۱۰۲ ] “Indeed, you already know that none has sent these down except the Lord of the heavens and the earth, with clear proofs.” And Allah Almighty has testified about him and his people, saying: «{ وَ جَحَدُوْا بِهَا وَ اسْتَيْقَنَتْهَاۤ اَنْفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَّ عُلُوًّا }» [ النمل : ۱۴] “And they rejected them out of injustice and arrogance, though their souls were convinced of them.” Thus, it is clear that his question {’’ وَ مَا رَبُّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ ‘‘} was feigned ignorance; he was not willing to accept despite knowing. In Surah Ta-Ha, his question is quoted as: «{ فَمَنْ رَّبُّكُمَا يٰمُوْسٰى }» [ طٰہٰ : ۴۹ ] “So who is the Lord of you two, O Musa!?”

23-1 He did not say this as a question, but rather as a response, because his claim was (مَا عَلِمْتُ لَکُمْ مِّنْ اِلٰہِ غَیْرِیْ) (وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يٰٓاَيُّهَا الْمَلَاُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُمْ مِّنْ اِلٰهٍ غَيْرِيْ ۚ فَاَوْقِدْ لِيْ يٰهَامٰنُ عَلَي الطِّيْنِ فَاجْعَلْ لِّيْ صَرْحًا لَّعَلِّيْٓ اَطَّلِــعُ اِلٰٓى اِلٰهِ مُوْسٰي ۙ وَاِنِّىْ لَاَظُنُّهٗ مِنَ الْكٰذِبِيْنَ) 28. Al-Qasas:38) 'I do not know of any other deity for you besides myself.'

Pharaoh said: "And what is the Lord of the worlds [16]?"

[16] Pharaoh had seized control of all the economic resources of the kingdom. In this sense, he considered himself the sustainer or lord of his subjects, and even claimed to be their supreme lord. He had statues of himself installed throughout the land, which were worshipped. He had firmly implanted in the minds of his subjects that he alone was their provider. Therefore, when Musa (peace be upon him) said that they were messengers of the “Lord of all worlds,” Pharaoh was immediately startled and, out of contempt, said: What is this “Lord of all worlds”? I myself am the lord of my subjects. Which lord of all worlds are you talking about?