Lesson 6: Musa’s Confrontation with Pharaoh

Pharaoh would claim that he is the Lord, the Most High, to his people and would seek to be worshipped by them. However, deep down, the Pharaoh knew for sure that the signs of Musa were indeed revealed by Allaah, however he would use false arguments and reasoning to try to reject these clear signs from Allaah.

He would use emotional arguments, belittle Musa and his message and use sarcasm and mockery also. For example, from the false arguments of Pharaoh is that he said regarding Musa that he can hardly express himself due to his impediment, trying to cast doubt on his character and therefore his message. He says "Am I not better than this one [Musa (Moses)], who is Mahin [has no honour nor any respect, and is weak and despicable] and can scarcely express himself clearly?" [Surah Zukhruf, verse 52] This is futile as Musa’s impediment did not mean that he wasn’t able to speak and argue with Pharaoh so it didn’t change whether he was telling the truth or not.

Confronting Pharaoh

Musa and Harun, following the command of Allaah, arrive and tell Pharaoh that they are the Messengers of Allaah. So Pharaoh replies that they nurtured and raised Musa, trying to use the fact that Musa accidentally killed the man against him to claim he was ungrateful for what they did for him, which was another one of Pharaoh's false and emotional arguments as this does not prove them to be incorrect in their claim. So Musa responded and refuted this argument swiftly by saying that he did this deed (killing the man) when he was astray, so this can't be used against him. And then Musa said, further showing Pharaoh's hypocrisy, "Does the favour you bestowed upon me, and I am one man, justify you enslaving the whole of Bani Israel?".

The Proofs of Musa

So then Pharaoh replies to Musa's original argument, saying, "And what is the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)?" [Surah ash-Shu'arah, verse 23]. This is an attempt by Pharaoh to mock Musa and Harun as he is implying that no one really sent them. So Musa replied, "Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty." [Surah ash-Shu'arah, verse 24] So Pharaoh said to his ministers and governors that were around him, "Do you not hear (what he says)?" [Surah ash-Shu'arah, verse 25] And this is a diversion tactic from Pharaoh, proving that he knew he was incorrect and had no answers for what Musa was coming with. So Musa said, "Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!" [Surah ash-Shu'arah, verse 26] So Pharaoh tries to divert again, mocking Musa, saying, "Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!" [Surah ash-Shu'arah, verse 27]

Musa then says, "Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!" [Surah ash-Shu'arah, verse 28] So Musa then uses another rational proof for the existence of a Creator, which is the east and the west, which links to the sun and moon as they rise from the east and set in the west, in a cycle, showing the necessity of an All-Knowing Creator to keep this in motion and to create these things in such a precise and miraculous manner. When Pharaoh realised he had no answer and was defeated in debate, he threatened Musa with imprisonment, showing his desperation and embarrassment.

Key Lessons

Musa wasn't put off by the mockery and stayed determined in the call to Tawheed, and didn't lose hope even though Pharaoh continued to stubbornly reject the clear and apparent proofs, showing the virtue of as-Sabr (patience).

When we call the non-Muslims to Islaam, we experience the same thing from them as Musa experienced from Pharaoh (mockery, belittlement, false arguments) so we should try to deal with them like how Musa dealt with him as that is the methodology of the Prophets and Messengers in calling people to Tawheed.

From the methodology of the Prophets and Messengers also, is using rational proofs and arguments against our opponents that are impossible to argue against. For example, the fact that we exist, and that everything around us exists is a proof in itself for the existence of Allaah, the Creator of all that exists as it's not possible for nothing to bring about nothing and it's also not possible for something to bring about itself! Musa, along with the rest of the Prophets and Messengers, uses clear proofs from the world to prove the existence of a Creator that anyone can understand.

Summary of Lesson

Musa and his brother Harun were commanded to confront and call Pharaoh to Islam however, when they arrived, Pharaoh tried to use his past favours upon Musa, the act that Musa had done and the speech impediment of Musa to excuse himself from following his message showing the weakness of his arguments. Musa humiliated Pharaoh with undeniable proofs to the point that he was even threatened with being put in prison due to the inability of Pharaoh to respond.