سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 127
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ أَتَذَرُ مُوسَىٰ وَقَوْمَهُۥ لِيُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَيَذَرَكَ وَءَالِهَتَكَ ۚ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ وَنَسْتَحْىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمْ وَإِنَّا فَوْقَهُمْ قَـٰهِرُونَ ﴿127﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The chiefs of Fir‘aun’s (Pharaoh) people said: "Will you leave Mûsâ (Moses) and his people to spread mischief in the land, and to abandon you and your gods?" He said: "We will kill their sons, and let live their women, and we have indeed irresistible power over them."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And said
ٱلْمَلَأُ
l-mala-u
the chiefs
مِن
min
of
قَوْمِ
qawmi
(the) people
فِرْعَوْنَ
fir'ʿawna
(of) Firaun
أَتَذَرُ
atadharu
Will you leave
مُوسَىٰ
mūsā
Musa
وَقَوْمَهُۥ
waqawmahu
and his people
لِيُفْسِدُوا۟
liyuf'sidū
so that they cause corruption
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
وَيَذَرَكَ
wayadharaka
and forsake you
وَءَالِهَتَكَ ۚ
waālihataka
and your gods
قَالَ
qāla
He said
سَنُقَتِّلُ
sanuqattilu
We will kill
أَبْنَآءَهُمْ
abnāahum
their sons
وَنَسْتَحْىِۦ
wanastaḥyī
and we will let live
نِسَآءَهُمْ
nisāahum
their women
وَإِنَّا
wa-innā
and indeed, we
فَوْقَهُمْ
fawqahum
over them
قَـٰهِرُونَ
qāhirūna
(are) subjugators
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 127) ➊ { وَ قَالَ الْمَلَاُ مِنْ قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ … : } After the dominance of the miracles of Musa (peace be upon him) and the magicians embracing faith, although only a few young people dared to believe, and that too while fearing Pharaoh and his chiefs (see Yunus: 83), nevertheless, Pharaoh's actions against the Children of Israel somewhat decreased. So his chiefs incited him by saying, "Will you leave Musa and his people to spread corruption in the land?"—meaning, will you let your subjects go around inviting others to worship Allah alone instead of you and your gods, and spread corruption in the land through the call to monotheism? Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "It is astonishing that these people fear Musa (peace be upon him) and his people spreading corruption, while in fact, they themselves are the ones spreading corruption." Allah said: «{ اَلَاۤ اِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُوْنَ وَ لٰكِنْ لَّا يَشْعُرُوْنَ }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۲ ] "Behold! Surely, they are the ones who spread corruption, but they do not perceive."
➋ {وَ يَذَرَكَ وَ اٰلِهَتَكَ: ’’ آلِهَةٌ ‘‘} This is the plural of {’’ اِلٰهٌ ‘‘}, which means deity, i.e., will they leave you and your deities? This shows that Pharaoh also had some deities whom he worshipped. In the recitation of some Companions, it is {’’اِلَاهَتَكَ‘‘}, the meaning of {’’ اِلَاهَةٌ ‘‘} is worship, i.e., will they leave you and your worship? Although this is also correct, the well-known recitation is the first one. Therefore, the scholars have given several explanations for this, and all are possible. One explanation is that despite his claim of being the "Lord Most High," he actually worshipped several deities, and the belief in the sanctity of these deities was also present among his people. For example, the worship of the cow was common, and due to association and subjugation to them, this belief also entered the Children of Israel. The evidence for this is their excuses when commanded to slaughter a cow even after being freed, and after Musa (peace be upon him) went to Mount Tur, Samiri made the calf and led the people to worship it. Egyptian civilization was similar to that of the Hindus. Polytheistic religions have strange complexities; usually, they believe that the real god descends into a human, which is known among Muslim Sufis as "hulul" (incarnation). Pharaoh, by declaring himself the representative of all these deities, called himself the "Lord Most High" and said to his chiefs: «{ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُمْ مِّنْ اِلٰهٍ غَيْرِيْ }» [ القصص : ۳۸ ] "I do not know of any god for you other than myself." This is the same thing that some who claim to be Muslims have said:
He who was established on the Throne as God
Has descended to Madinah as Mustafa
But these people, even after considering Mustafa (peace and blessings be upon him) as the real God, worship many living gods, such as spiritual guides, and dead gods, such as graves, and also believe in the manifestation of Allah in them. Whereas Allah Almighty and His Messenger are free from all such filthy beliefs.
Another explanation is that in reality, Pharaoh was an atheist. He did not believe in any Creator of the universe; in his view, the king himself held the status of deity, that whatever came from his mouth was religion and law. He reserved this status for himself among his chiefs, and his chiefs held this status for their respective regions' subjects. Thus, he had his idols made and kept in people's homes, just as most rulers today try to instill their divinity in people's minds through their pictures and statues. Communist rulers like Stalin, Lenin, and Mao Zedong, despite denying God, tried to create an impression of their divinity in people's minds. Democratic rulers also do not fall short in this effort as much as possible, even though they use the name of the people.
A third explanation is that in terms of authority, he did not accept anyone as a deity except himself, but he also had some deities for seeking unseen help, just as some rulers today enforce their own laws but offer vows to various entities for unseen help. Thus, they wash solid graves with rose water like the Ka'bah and consider saints as miracle workers, and somewhat accept Allah as well, but never allow any of His laws to be implemented.
➌ { قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ اَبْنَآءَهُمْ …:} That is, we will resume the oppression and tyranny we used to inflict on the Children of Israel before the birth of Musa (peace be upon him), so that they will be destroyed and not a trace of them will remain. Their men will be killed and only the women will survive. What could they do? We will keep them as slave girls in our homes. Until now, he had not dared to do this, making the excuse: what is the hurry? We have full control over them; whenever we wish, we can do this.
➋ {وَ يَذَرَكَ وَ اٰلِهَتَكَ: ’’ آلِهَةٌ ‘‘} This is the plural of {’’ اِلٰهٌ ‘‘}, which means deity, i.e., will they leave you and your deities? This shows that Pharaoh also had some deities whom he worshipped. In the recitation of some Companions, it is {’’اِلَاهَتَكَ‘‘}, the meaning of {’’ اِلَاهَةٌ ‘‘} is worship, i.e., will they leave you and your worship? Although this is also correct, the well-known recitation is the first one. Therefore, the scholars have given several explanations for this, and all are possible. One explanation is that despite his claim of being the "Lord Most High," he actually worshipped several deities, and the belief in the sanctity of these deities was also present among his people. For example, the worship of the cow was common, and due to association and subjugation to them, this belief also entered the Children of Israel. The evidence for this is their excuses when commanded to slaughter a cow even after being freed, and after Musa (peace be upon him) went to Mount Tur, Samiri made the calf and led the people to worship it. Egyptian civilization was similar to that of the Hindus. Polytheistic religions have strange complexities; usually, they believe that the real god descends into a human, which is known among Muslim Sufis as "hulul" (incarnation). Pharaoh, by declaring himself the representative of all these deities, called himself the "Lord Most High" and said to his chiefs: «{ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُمْ مِّنْ اِلٰهٍ غَيْرِيْ }» [ القصص : ۳۸ ] "I do not know of any god for you other than myself." This is the same thing that some who claim to be Muslims have said:
He who was established on the Throne as God
Has descended to Madinah as Mustafa
But these people, even after considering Mustafa (peace and blessings be upon him) as the real God, worship many living gods, such as spiritual guides, and dead gods, such as graves, and also believe in the manifestation of Allah in them. Whereas Allah Almighty and His Messenger are free from all such filthy beliefs.
Another explanation is that in reality, Pharaoh was an atheist. He did not believe in any Creator of the universe; in his view, the king himself held the status of deity, that whatever came from his mouth was religion and law. He reserved this status for himself among his chiefs, and his chiefs held this status for their respective regions' subjects. Thus, he had his idols made and kept in people's homes, just as most rulers today try to instill their divinity in people's minds through their pictures and statues. Communist rulers like Stalin, Lenin, and Mao Zedong, despite denying God, tried to create an impression of their divinity in people's minds. Democratic rulers also do not fall short in this effort as much as possible, even though they use the name of the people.
A third explanation is that in terms of authority, he did not accept anyone as a deity except himself, but he also had some deities for seeking unseen help, just as some rulers today enforce their own laws but offer vows to various entities for unseen help. Thus, they wash solid graves with rose water like the Ka'bah and consider saints as miracle workers, and somewhat accept Allah as well, but never allow any of His laws to be implemented.
➌ { قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ اَبْنَآءَهُمْ …:} That is, we will resume the oppression and tyranny we used to inflict on the Children of Israel before the birth of Musa (peace be upon him), so that they will be destroyed and not a trace of them will remain. Their men will be killed and only the women will survive. What could they do? We will keep them as slave girls in our homes. Until now, he had not dared to do this, making the excuse: what is the hurry? We have full control over them; whenever we wish, we can do this.
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
127. 1. This has always been the way of the corrupters in every era: they label the people of Allah as corrupters and describe their call to faith and monotheism as corruption. Pharaoh also said the same.
127. 2. Although Pharaoh claimed Lordship — (اَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْاَعْلٰى) 79. Az-Zariyat:24) — he used to say, "I am your greatest lord," but there were also other minor deities through whom people sought nearness to Pharaoh.
127. 3. They cannot create any obstacle in our system. This program of killing the prophets was devised at the suggestion of Pharaoh's people. Even before this, when Musa (Moses) (AS) had not yet been born, and after his birth, to eliminate him, Pharaoh began killing the newborn sons of Bani Israel. After the birth of Musa ﷺ, Allah made such an arrangement to save him that Musa ﷺ was sent to Pharaoh's own palace and was raised in his lap. (فَلِلّٰهِ الْمَكْرُ جَمِيْعًا) 13. Ar-Ra'd:42).
127. 2. Although Pharaoh claimed Lordship — (اَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْاَعْلٰى) 79. Az-Zariyat:24) — he used to say, "I am your greatest lord," but there were also other minor deities through whom people sought nearness to Pharaoh.
127. 3. They cannot create any obstacle in our system. This program of killing the prophets was devised at the suggestion of Pharaoh's people. Even before this, when Musa (Moses) (AS) had not yet been born, and after his birth, to eliminate him, Pharaoh began killing the newborn sons of Bani Israel. After the birth of Musa ﷺ, Allah made such an arrangement to save him that Musa ﷺ was sent to Pharaoh's own palace and was raised in his lap. (فَلِلّٰهِ الْمَكْرُ جَمِيْعًا) 13. Ar-Ra'd:42).
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
127. And the chiefs of Pharaoh’s people [124] said to Pharaoh: "Will you leave Moses and his people to spread corruption in the land and abandon you and your gods?" He said: "We will kill their sons and let their women live, and we have full [125] power over them."
[124]
The Belief of the People and the Danger of Rebellion for the Pharaoh's People:
The Pharaoh’s scheme had the opposite effect, and many Israelites came to believe in Sayyiduna Musa ؑ, to the extent that even some Copts (Pharaoh’s people) believed in him. This created a worrying situation for the Pharaoh’s people. They began to say to Pharaoh that this situation should be considered seriously, lest all of them together incite a rebellion in the land and abandon you and your gods. From this, it is evident that Pharaoh had several other deities who were worshipped. Firstly, Pharaoh had his statues made and installed everywhere for worship. Secondly, from the Quran it is known that this nation was involved in calf-worship, meaning that worshipping the bull had become their religious symbol, and besides the sun, they also worshipped the supposed statues of the spirits of several other stars.
[125]
The Second Punishment for the Israelites for Killing the Prophets:
The punishment of killing sons was imposed on the Israelites twice. The first time, Pharaoh Ramses enforced such an order when astrologers told him that a child would be born among the Israelites who would overthrow his kingdom. Thus, Pharaoh began the campaign of killing all the sons born to the Israelites, but whatever Allah willed came to pass. The child who was to overthrow this kingdom—Allah arranged for his upbringing and nurturing in the very house of Pharaoh. The second time, the son of this Pharaoh, Menephtah, followed in his father’s footsteps and started the same campaign of killing sons, with the aim that after some time, the lineage of the Israelites would be completely wiped out. They used to make the Israelite women into slave girls and forced them into various kinds of labor. In this way, in their own estimation, these people completed all measures to protect their kingdom and themselves from the coming danger.
[124]
The Belief of the People and the Danger of Rebellion for the Pharaoh's People:
The Pharaoh’s scheme had the opposite effect, and many Israelites came to believe in Sayyiduna Musa ؑ, to the extent that even some Copts (Pharaoh’s people) believed in him. This created a worrying situation for the Pharaoh’s people. They began to say to Pharaoh that this situation should be considered seriously, lest all of them together incite a rebellion in the land and abandon you and your gods. From this, it is evident that Pharaoh had several other deities who were worshipped. Firstly, Pharaoh had his statues made and installed everywhere for worship. Secondly, from the Quran it is known that this nation was involved in calf-worship, meaning that worshipping the bull had become their religious symbol, and besides the sun, they also worshipped the supposed statues of the spirits of several other stars.
[125]
The Second Punishment for the Israelites for Killing the Prophets:
The punishment of killing sons was imposed on the Israelites twice. The first time, Pharaoh Ramses enforced such an order when astrologers told him that a child would be born among the Israelites who would overthrow his kingdom. Thus, Pharaoh began the campaign of killing all the sons born to the Israelites, but whatever Allah willed came to pass. The child who was to overthrow this kingdom—Allah arranged for his upbringing and nurturing in the very house of Pharaoh. The second time, the son of this Pharaoh, Menephtah, followed in his father’s footsteps and started the same campaign of killing sons, with the aim that after some time, the lineage of the Israelites would be completely wiped out. They used to make the Israelite women into slave girls and forced them into various kinds of labor. In this way, in their own estimation, these people completed all measures to protect their kingdom and themselves from the coming danger.
