The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 433
PT. 19 ASH-SHU ARĀ' CH. 26 takest a god other than me, I will certainly put thee into prison. '2727 قَالَ لَبِنِ اتَّخَذْتَ الهَا غَيْرِي لَاَجْعَلَنَّكَ Pharaoh said, “If thou. 30 مِنَ الْمَسْجُونِينَ قَالَ اَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكَ بِشَيْءٍ مُّبِيْنٍ قَالَ فَأْتِ بِهِ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّدِقِينَ فَأَلْقَى عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ تُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ 31. Moses said, 'What, even though I bring thee something that is manifest! '2728 32. "Pharaoh said, 'Bring it then, if thou speakest the truth. ' 33. So he threw down his rod, and behold! it was a serpent plainly visible. 2729 "28:39. b7:107. 7:108. and the West,' Moses completes his argument about the undisputed lordship of God over the entire universe. These words refer to the vastness of God's kingdom in respect of directions and sides. They may also contain an effective hint to the falseness of the polytheistic beliefs of the Egyptians who worshipped the sun and therefore looked upon the East and the West as belonging to their own gods. 2727. Commentary: Pharaohs question contained in v. 24 above, viz. "And what is the Lord of the worlds?" was so ably and effectively answered by Moses that he did not know how to contradict him. At first he had recourse to interruptions in order to silence Moses. When these tactics failed in their purpose, he sought to divert the attention of the audience by playing upon their feelings of patriotism and by making disparaging remarks concerning Moses. When this 2347 stratagem also failed, he resorted to giving open threats to Moses. Such invariably are the tactics used by those who feel that their case is weak. In fact, such tactics imply a confession of defeat on the part of the person who uses them. The Egyptians were a nation of idol- worshippers. They worshipped wood and stones, the sun and stars. They had their animal gods and human gods. Fire, water and other natural elements were also worshipped by them. Their gods were legion. It was, therefore, nothing strange on the part of Pharaoh also to lay claim to Divinity. 2728. Commentary: Moses remains undaunted by threats of violence on the part of Pharaoh and seems prepared to advance more arguments in support of his claims if Pharaoh would only listen to him. 2729. Commentary: The miracles referred to in this and