Surah Ghafir 40:21-27 - Quran Translation Commentary

21. Have they not traveled in the land and seen the end of those who Have gone before them? They were mightier than these in power and (in the) traces (left behind them) in the earth.³⁴ Yet Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no protector from Allah.

22. That was because their messengers had come to them with clear signs and they denied them, so Allah seized them. Verily, He is Strong, Severe in punishment.³⁵

23. And verily We sent Moosa with Our signs and clear authority. ³⁶

24. To Firaun, Haman³⁷ and Qaroon,³⁸ but they said: “He is a lying magician.”

25. And when he brought them the truth from ourself, they said: “Put to death the sons of those who uphold faith with him and spare their girls.³⁹ But futile was the plot of the disbelievers.⁴⁰

26. Firaun said: “Leave me to kill Moosa, then let him invoke his Lord. ⁴¹ I fear that he will change your religion,⁴² and that he will cause mischief in the land.”⁴³

27. And Moosa said: “Verily I have taken refuge in my Lord and your Lord from (the evil of) every proud man who denies the Day of Reckoning.⁴⁴

Commentary

34. That is: Signs or traces of the civilised progress. Points to the community of Thamud, Madyan, etc. whose signs of progress can be seen even today in the form of the ruins of their city.

35. When this reality has come out in the open that Allah punishes the guilty nations in this world for their crimes, then how can it be correct to think that in the Hereafter there will be salvation for them ? And how can it be correct to presume that however serious crime a man may commit he will not be punished in the Hereafter?

36. For explanation, please see Surah Muminoon, Note No.44.

37. For details please see Surah Qasas Note No.11.

38. For details, please see Surah Qasas Note No.143.

39. Firaun had issued earlier also the command to kill the infant male children of Bani Israil in order to reduce the number of his Bani Israil subjects. The birth of Prophet Moosa had taken place in these circumstances. Again when Firaun felt that there was a danger for him in the message of Prophet Moosa, he issued that order again by which the sons of Bani Israil were to be killed, so that this minority might be suppressed and their number should also fall. This was a severe and prejudiced step taken by Firaun. (For further explanation, please see Surah A’raf. Note No.181).

40.This plot of Firaun also could not succeed. Bani Israil were made to suffer without doubt, but being people of faith and followers of the Prophet they gained Allah’s support, and the people of Firaun were the ones who met with destruction.

41. This is what Firaun told his courtiers. He expressed his desire to kill Prophet Moosa and also taunted that Moosa might invoke his Lord. Thus Firaun tried to ridicule Moosa and his Lord. It gives an idea how proud and vain he had become!

42. Changing religion means change of faith and belief. Firaun’s nation was the worshipper of the stars. They had made stars their gods and goddesses, instead of Allah, and they also used to worship Firaun, who used to claim that he was the reincarnation of the sun god. The message of Prophet Moosa was to believe in monotheism, prophethood, and the Hereafter, and to worship only Allah and to give oneself entirely to the obedience of Allah. This was Allah’s religion, which he was presenting. But how could Firaun tolerate that his community may accept the religion presented by Moosa - Islam -, therefore, he provoked his community against Prophet Moosa.

General commentators have also taken the meaning of changing the religion as changing the belief and faith, and not changing the political system, and the author of Kashshaf has put up this argument from the Quran itself: “They worshipped Firaun and his idols, and the argument in its support is the statement from Allah: and to renounce you and your gods.” -(Surah A’raf -127) (Kashshaf Vol. 3, page 433).

Therefore, the interpretation of the author of the Tafheemul Quran that here by ‘religion’ is meant the system of the government -(Tafheemul Quran Vol.4 page 405), is far fetched. (For further explanation, please see Surah A’raf Note No.180).

43. The message of Prophet Moosa was the message of reform. But Firaun accused him of this false charge that he wants to start disturbances in the land. He thought that the message of Prophet Moosa would create dissent in his community. If one group of men accepts his religion, and another group remains on its own religion, then in the hearts of both the groups sectarian feelings would be created, which would result in disturbances and disorder.

Today also the tendency of the modern godless governments are to think on these lines only. They are not prepared to tolerate any rising Islamic power. They suspect sectarianism in this, and consider it a danger to public order and peace. Even if this danger may be real, the responsibility of this will be on those who are ever ready to oppose the Islamic mission with evil schemes. If this logic of these governments is considered to be right, then there will be no chance of reform in the world. Then what should be done. Should the people be left to go to Hell, and should no efforts be made to save them?

44. Prophet Moosa sought Allah’s refuge to protect him from the evil of the mischief makers, and he surrendered himself to Allah. This is the high example of trust in God.