Adapted from the book "Awliya Allah Ki Pehchaan" by Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi
Pharaoh and Haman were among the closest allies of Satan in human form. They filled the earth with corruption and tyranny. Pharaoh even went to the extent of claiming divinity. Their mention is found in multiple places in the Qur'an:
Surah Al-Qasas [28:1–6] outlines Pharaoh’s oppression:
He divided people into groups, weakened one faction, killed their sons, and spared their women. Allah intended to honor the oppressed and show Pharaoh and Haman what they feared.
Surah An-Nazi'at [79:23–24] mentions Pharaoh’s divine claim:
He declared before his people, "I am your supreme lord."
Surah Ta-Ha [20:40–46] speaks of Pharaoh’s arrogance and Allah’s command to Musa (عليه السلام) to approach him gently, despite his tyranny.
Surah Ta-Ha [20:56–59] and [10:88–89] show his rejection of Allah’s signs and Musa’s supplication against him and his people.
Surah Ta-Ha [20:77–79] and Surah Ad-Dukhan [44:17–24] detail his pursuit of Bani Israel and his ultimate destruction by drowning.
Surah Yunus [10:90–92] presents Pharaoh's last-moment declaration of belief and Allah’s rejection of it, preserving only his body as a sign.
Surah Ghafir [40:84–85] confirms that belief after punishment is of no benefit.
Qarun lived during the time of Prophet Musa (عليه السلام). Despite being granted immense wealth—so vast that the keys to his treasures burdened a group of strong men—he became arrogant and a companion of Satan by denying Allah’s favor.
Surah Al-Qasas [28:76–83] recounts how his people advised him to seek the Hereafter and not cause corruption. Qarun arrogantly claimed his wealth was due to his own knowledge. In response, Allah caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling.
Those who once envied him realized Allah gives and withholds as He wills, and that the final home is only for those who do not seek grandeur or corruption in the earth.
Surah Al-‘Ankabut [29:39–40] states:
Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun were all shown clear signs by Musa (عليه السلام) but they acted arrogantly. Each was seized by Allah in accordance with their sins:
Ibn al-Qayyim and Shaykh as-Sa‘di highlight how all were overwhelmed by Allah despite their power and arrogance.
Nimrod was granted great kingship, but instead of being grateful, he rebelled and became an ally of Satan. He even challenged Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and claimed powers similar to Allah.
Surah Al-Baqarah [2:258] narrates the debate between Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and Nimrod:
When told that Allah gives life and death, Nimrod arrogantly claimed the same. Ibrahim (عليه السلام) then challenged him to bring the sun from the west if he were truthful. Nimrod was confounded and silenced.
Shaykh as-Sa‘di comments:
Nimrod’s arrogance stemmed from the kingdom Allah gave him. He used logical fallacies and deflected with deceptive answers until confronted with a proof he could not refute.
This verse is a definitive argument proving Allah's sole right to divinity and worship.
Pharaoh, Haman, Qarun, and Nimrod—though human in form—were allies of Satan due to their rebellion, arrogance, and tyranny. The Qur'an presents their stories as eternal warnings for those who transgress the limits set by Allah. Their downfall illustrates that no worldly power can stand against divine justice.
① Pharaoh and Haman: Tyrants in Human Form
Pharaoh and Haman were among the closest allies of Satan in human form. They filled the earth with corruption and tyranny. Pharaoh even went to the extent of claiming divinity. Their mention is found in multiple places in the Qur'an:
Surah Al-Qasas [28:1–6] outlines Pharaoh’s oppression:
He divided people into groups, weakened one faction, killed their sons, and spared their women. Allah intended to honor the oppressed and show Pharaoh and Haman what they feared.
Surah An-Nazi'at [79:23–24] mentions Pharaoh’s divine claim:
He declared before his people, "I am your supreme lord."
Surah Ta-Ha [20:40–46] speaks of Pharaoh’s arrogance and Allah’s command to Musa (عليه السلام) to approach him gently, despite his tyranny.
Surah Ta-Ha [20:56–59] and [10:88–89] show his rejection of Allah’s signs and Musa’s supplication against him and his people.
Surah Ta-Ha [20:77–79] and Surah Ad-Dukhan [44:17–24] detail his pursuit of Bani Israel and his ultimate destruction by drowning.
Surah Yunus [10:90–92] presents Pharaoh's last-moment declaration of belief and Allah’s rejection of it, preserving only his body as a sign.
Surah Ghafir [40:84–85] confirms that belief after punishment is of no benefit.
② Qarun: The Arrogant Wealth Hoarder
Qarun lived during the time of Prophet Musa (عليه السلام). Despite being granted immense wealth—so vast that the keys to his treasures burdened a group of strong men—he became arrogant and a companion of Satan by denying Allah’s favor.
Surah Al-Qasas [28:76–83] recounts how his people advised him to seek the Hereafter and not cause corruption. Qarun arrogantly claimed his wealth was due to his own knowledge. In response, Allah caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling.
Those who once envied him realized Allah gives and withholds as He wills, and that the final home is only for those who do not seek grandeur or corruption in the earth.
③ Collective Mention: Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun
Surah Al-‘Ankabut [29:39–40] states:
Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun were all shown clear signs by Musa (عليه السلام) but they acted arrogantly. Each was seized by Allah in accordance with their sins:
- Some were overtaken by storms
- Some by blasts
- Some were swallowed by the earth
- Others were drowned
Allah does not wrong them; rather, they wronged themselves.
Ibn al-Qayyim and Shaykh as-Sa‘di highlight how all were overwhelmed by Allah despite their power and arrogance.
④ Nimrod: The Deluded Monarch
Nimrod was granted great kingship, but instead of being grateful, he rebelled and became an ally of Satan. He even challenged Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and claimed powers similar to Allah.
Surah Al-Baqarah [2:258] narrates the debate between Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and Nimrod:
When told that Allah gives life and death, Nimrod arrogantly claimed the same. Ibrahim (عليه السلام) then challenged him to bring the sun from the west if he were truthful. Nimrod was confounded and silenced.
Shaykh as-Sa‘di comments:
Nimrod’s arrogance stemmed from the kingdom Allah gave him. He used logical fallacies and deflected with deceptive answers until confronted with a proof he could not refute.
This verse is a definitive argument proving Allah's sole right to divinity and worship.
Conclusion:
Pharaoh, Haman, Qarun, and Nimrod—though human in form—were allies of Satan due to their rebellion, arrogance, and tyranny. The Qur'an presents their stories as eternal warnings for those who transgress the limits set by Allah. Their downfall illustrates that no worldly power can stand against divine justice.
