Surah Ghafir (40) — Ayah 29

(Ayah 29) ➊ { يٰقَوْمِ لَكُمُ الْمُلْكُ الْيَوْمَ …:} This believing man, by saying "O my people!" expressed his connection with them, which he had as a Copt, a member of Pharaoh's family, and by saying {’’ الْيَوْمَ ‘‘} "(today)", he drew their attention to the changes of time, that this dominance and power is not a permanent thing. If yesterday it was with Yusuf (peace be upon him) and his successors, the Israelites, and today in this land of Egypt it is with you and you have dominance over the Israelites, then just as it was taken from the Israelites, it can also be taken from you, and due to disbelief, polytheism, and oppression, you too can become the target of Allah's punishment like the previous nations. So if it comes, who will save us from it? {’’ الْاَرْضِ ‘‘} Because of the definite article "al" (alif lam), it has been translated as "this land," meaning Egypt.

➋ { قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ مَاۤ اُرِيْكُمْ اِلَّا مَاۤ اَرٰى:} Some commentators think that Pharaoh did not realize that the person who opposed the decision to kill Musa (peace be upon him) had actually believed in him, so Pharaoh did not hold him accountable for his boldness. But the more likely view is that he was already afraid of Musa (peace be upon him) because of the miracles and awe granted to him by Allah Almighty, as evidenced by his saying: « ذَرُوْنِيْۤ اَقْتُلْ مُوْسٰى» [ المؤمن : ۲۶ ] "Leave me so that I may kill Musa." Now, when he saw that even among his close people there was support for Musa (peace be upon him), he did not dare say anything to this believing man, nor could he answer any of his arguments. Rather, he avoided answering and expressed his sincerity to his chiefs and people, saying that he thinks for them what he thinks for himself and presents to them the opinion that is the result of his best thinking. But this statement of this extravagant liar was a complete lie, because in his heart he already knew Musa (peace be upon him) to be truthful. Allah Almighty has mentioned his lie in several verses. (See An-Naml: 12–14; Bani Isra'il: 102) His purpose was to fool his people, and indeed he did fool them, as mentioned in Surah Az-Zukhruf: « فَاسْتَخَفَّ قَوْمَهٗ فَاَطَاعُوْهُ اِنَّهُمْ كَانُوْا قَوْمًا فٰسِقِيْنَ » [ الزخرف : ۵۴ ] "So he made his people seem light (insignificant), and they obeyed him; indeed, they were defiantly disobedient people."

Besides this, his saying, "I think for you what I think for myself," was also clearly a lie, because for himself he was not willing to settle for any position below the Lord Most High, but for his people he had nothing except to keep them as his slaves. The same is the case with the words and actions of today's rulers.

➌ { وَ مَاۤ اَهْدِيْكُمْ اِلَّا سَبِيْلَ الرَّشَادِ:} Allah Almighty has made it clear in several verses that his saying, "I am only guiding you to the path of goodness," was also wrong. See Surah Hud (9) and Surah Ta-Ha (79).

29. 1. That is, this is Allah’s favor upon you that He granted you dominance on the earth; be grateful for it and do not incur Allah’s displeasure by denying His Messenger.

29. 2. These military armies will be of no use to you, nor will they be able to avert Allah’s punishment if it comes. Up to this point, this was the speech of the believer who was concealing his faith.

29. 3. Pharaoh lied on the basis of his worldly grandeur and said that whatever I see, I am telling you, and the path I am showing is the right one, although it was not so. وما امر فرعون برشید (Hud)

29. "O my people! Today the kingdom is yours and you are dominant in the land, but if Allah's punishment comes upon us, who will help us [42]?" Pharaoh said, "I only show you what I see myself, and I guide you only to the path of right guidance [43]."

[42] Are you talking about killing him merely because today authority is in your hands, and if you do so, there will be no one to question you? But if he is truthful and a punishment from Allah comes upon you, then at that time your authority will be of no use, and all will be destroyed. From this verse, it is understood that up to that point, he had not yet revealed his faith, and he was speaking in an advisory manner, remaining neutral from Pharaoh and his courtiers.

[43] From Pharaoh’s statement, it is also apparent that Pharaoh did not yet consider him an opponent or a believer, but rather regarded him as his well-wisher. That is why he replied to this believing man that, in his view, the best course is to kill this person, and that he is telling them what he sees before him according to his own understanding and insight, and considers this to be in their best interest.