سُوْرَةُ الذَّارِياتِ
Surah Adh-Dhaariyat (51) — Ayah 39
فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكْنِهِۦ وَقَالَ سَـٰحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ ﴿39﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
But [Fir‘aun (Pharaoh)] turned away (from Belief in might) along with his hosts, and said: "A sorcerer, or a madman."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَتَوَلَّىٰ
fatawallā
But he turned away
بِرُكْنِهِۦ
biruk'nihi
with his supporters
وَقَالَ
waqāla
and said
سَـٰحِرٌ
sāḥirun
A magician
أَوْ
aw
or
مَجْنُونٌۭ
majnūnun
a madman
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.
But he relied on his power and turned away [33], saying, "This is a magician or a madman."
[33]
Why Did Pharaoh Call Sayyiduna Musa a Magician or Madman?
That is, he, along with all those connected to his government and his officials, collectively opposed the call of Musa ؑ and disobeyed the command of Allah. Then, by employing all his means of communication, he spread throughout the country that Musa was either a magician or a madman. He called him a magician because he wanted to convince his people that the miracles of Musa ؑ were nothing but tricks of magic, nothing more. And he called him mad because Musa ؑ had openly demanded from a tyrant and oppressive ruler like Pharaoh that the Children of Israel be set free and sent with him. That embodiment of arrogance and pride thought that if a lowly person like Musa, who was also a fugitive murderer in their eyes, made such a demand of him, then what else could it be but madness?
[33]
Why Did Pharaoh Call Sayyiduna Musa a Magician or Madman?
That is, he, along with all those connected to his government and his officials, collectively opposed the call of Musa ؑ and disobeyed the command of Allah. Then, by employing all his means of communication, he spread throughout the country that Musa was either a magician or a madman. He called him a magician because he wanted to convince his people that the miracles of Musa ؑ were nothing but tricks of magic, nothing more. And he called him mad because Musa ؑ had openly demanded from a tyrant and oppressive ruler like Pharaoh that the Children of Israel be set free and sent with him. That embodiment of arrogance and pride thought that if a lowly person like Musa, who was also a fugitive murderer in their eyes, made such a demand of him, then what else could it be but madness?
