سُوْرَةُ الشُّعَرَآءِ
Surah Ash-Shu'araa (26) — Ayah 29
قَالَ لَئِنِ ٱتَّخَذْتَ إِلَـٰهًا غَيْرِى لَأَجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْمَسْجُونِينَ ﴿29﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
[Fir‘aun (Pharaoh)] said: "If you choose an ilâh (god) other than me, I will certainly put you among the prisoners."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
لَئِنِ
la-ini
If
ٱتَّخَذْتَ
ittakhadhta
you take
إِلَـٰهًا
ilāhan
a god
غَيْرِى
ghayrī
other than me
لَأَجْعَلَنَّكَ
la-ajʿalannaka
I will surely make you
مِنَ
mina
among
ٱلْمَسْجُونِينَ
l-masjūnīna
those imprisoned
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 29) ➊ { قَالَ لَىِٕنِ اتَّخَذْتَ اِلٰهًا غَيْرِيْ …:} It is the practice of every tyrant, oppressor, and bearer of falsehood in power that when he is defeated in the field of argument, as a last resort he threatens to use force, implying: either accept our falsehood as truth, or be prepared for punishment. Pharaoh also finally said clearly that in Egypt there is no god except me and no one else's command will prevail; if you accept the rule of any deity other than me, then prison is ready for you.
➋ {لَاَجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ الْمَسْجُوْنِيْنَ :} Instead of saying to Musa (peace be upon him) that {’’لَأَسْجُنَنَّكَ‘‘} (I will imprison you), Pharaoh said, "I will include you among those who are imprisoned." In this, he was frightening Musa (peace be upon him) with a very dreadful outcome, implying: look at the condition of those whom I have imprisoned; I will include you with them as well. It should be clear that due to his denial of the Hereafter and lack of any sense of accountability, Pharaoh was extremely hard-hearted and completely unfamiliar with humanity and mercy. Considering his practice of killing the sons of the Children of Israel, it is not difficult to imagine the treatment he would have given his opponents in prison.
➋ {لَاَجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ الْمَسْجُوْنِيْنَ :} Instead of saying to Musa (peace be upon him) that {’’لَأَسْجُنَنَّكَ‘‘} (I will imprison you), Pharaoh said, "I will include you among those who are imprisoned." In this, he was frightening Musa (peace be upon him) with a very dreadful outcome, implying: look at the condition of those whom I have imprisoned; I will include you with them as well. It should be clear that due to his denial of the Hereafter and lack of any sense of accountability, Pharaoh was extremely hard-hearted and completely unfamiliar with humanity and mercy. Considering his practice of killing the sons of the Children of Israel, it is not difficult to imagine the treatment he would have given his opponents in prison.
