Features of the Pharaonic Kingdom of Torture within the Quranic Chapter 28

Published in July 2, 2018

Translated by: Ahmed Fathy

Introduction:

  Moses' Pharaoh and his affluent people differed from the Egyptian nation; i.e., in the dominant culture of tyranny, Pharaoh as a tyrant assumed that he and his affluent courtiers or retinue members are masters and the people of the Egyptian nation were their slaves. The Egyptian nation at the time were not free people; they were enslaved by means of torture, terror, and intimidation; they chose being submissive to the Pharaonic tyrant out of fear of being tortured. This circle of fear and terror engulfed the whole of the Egyptian people at the time; they are the absent, but also the ever-present, element in the story of Moses and Moses' Pharaoh in the Quran. We trace in the points below the features of the Pharaonic kingdom of torture within the Quranic Chapter 28.  

Firstly:

1- God says in the Quran: "We narrate to you from the history of Moses and Pharaoh, in truth, for people who believe." (28:3). Moses' Pharaoh is the only character in Quranic stories that represents its people and affluent courtiers or retinue members. In the other Quranic stories of previous prophets/messengers, no names or titles are provided for the leaders of the disbelieving retinue members. Besides, Moses' Pharaoh here is a main character in the story like Moses; this is repeated in the Quranic Chapters 7, 10, 20, 26, 40, and 43. Moses' Pharaoh is an imam/leader for all tyrants coming in the eras after him; as per the Quran, God is tormenting the souls of Pharaoh and his people (once they died by drowning) within a Barsakh level until now; this will go on till the end of days.  

2- God says in the Quran: "Pharaoh exalted himself on earth, and divided its people into factions. He persecuted a group of them, slaughtering their sons, while sparing their daughters. He was truly a corrupter." (28:4). Because of its might, civilization, and its powerful deep-state, Egypt is described in the Quran (as the earth); more details about this are found in our books, in English, titled "Egypt in the Holy Quran" (http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=97) and "The Israelites in Pharaonic Egypt within a Quranist Vision" (http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=118). Hence, when Pharaoh exalted himself inside Egypt, he did so on earth; he assumed he owned and controlled Egypt; he followed the policy of (divide and rule) within the inhabitants/dwellers of Egypt. This is about the Quran endorsing the meaning of citizenship: the Israelites had a difference race, religion, culture, and tongue than the rest of the Egyptians, and yet, they were among Egypt's people, and its factions, since they were born inside it. The torture policy employed by Moses' Pharaoh made him oppress one faction of the Egyptians: the Israelites. Pharaoh massacred their sons and enslaved their daughters; he doubted their loyalty to him since they were descendants of foreign ancestors who originally came from the East and lived for centuries inside Egypt; the culture of the Israelites never matched with that of the self-deified Pharaoh who enslaved them and forced them to worship him. This is an indication about the deep-state of Pharaoh; his Quranic story repeats these words: (people), (troops), (family), and (retinue members). This means there were high-ranks and lower-ranks within these classes of affluent, arrogant ones who served Pharaoh and spread in all villages and cities inside Egypt. Among such low-rank troops were those who watched the pregnant Israelite women closely; once such women gave birth, they male babies were put to death and the female ones were enslaved. This is why Pharaoh was a corrupter.      

3- God says in the Quran: "But We desired to favor those who were oppressed on earth, and to make them leaders, and to make them the inheritors. And to establish them on earth; and to show Pharaoh, Haman, and their troops, the very thing they feared." (28:5-6). Because of this grave injustice of this self-deified tyrant who monopolized power/might and oppressed a very weak faction, the divine intervention aimed to punish Pharaoh and his troops, family, courtiers, and retinue members; ironically, Pharaoh himself raised and protected Moses inside his palace and he did not slaughter him. This does not come as a surprise; God has control over His affairs. The story of Moses' Pharaoh serves to warn and preach all arrogant, unjust tyrants who assume superiority on earth and are heedless of the fact that their evil schemes will turn against themselves later on.     

4- God says in the Quran: "We inspired the mother of Moses: "Nurse him; then, when you fear for him, cast him into the river, and do not fear, nor grieve; We will return him to you, and make him one of the messengers." Pharaoh's household picked him up, to be an opponent and a sorrow for them. Pharaoh, Haman, and their troops were sinners. Pharaoh's wife said, "An eye's delight for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son." But they were not aware." (28:7-9). The mother of Moses lived inside the capital of Egypt during the era of Pharaoh; we infer that she and the Israelites lived within the outskirts of the Egyptian capital; in contrast, the palace of Pharaoh overlooked the River Nile, and so were the mansions or palaces of the affluent class members. We infer that the mother of Moses concealed her pregnancy very well; the spies of Pharaoh never knew about it; when she delivered her baby, God revealed to her that if she feared the troops of the tyrannical Pharaoh, she should hide the baby in the casket into the River Nile; God promised her to bring the baby back to her bosom. The River Nile carried the casket of Moses till members of the Pharaoh's household (i.e., followers of Pharaoh inside his palace) fetched it; they carried the baby to Pharaoh and we infer they understood that the baby belonged to the Israelites; they were about to put him to death if it had not been for the wife of Pharaoh.    

5- God says in the Quran: "The heart of Moses' mother became vacant. She was about to disclose him, had We not steadied her heart, that she may remain a believer. She said to his sister, "Trail him." So she watched him from afar, and they were unaware. We forbade him breastfeeding at first. So she said, "Shall I tell you about a family that can raise him for you, and will look after him?" Thus We returned him to his mother, that she may be comforted, and not grieve, and know that God's promise is true. But most of them do not know." (28:10-13). The mother of Moses was filled with worry about her baby; she made her daughter follow the casket as the River Nile carried it with the current. This elder sister of Moses got news about the baby Moses without stirring any suspicions as the Israelites feared the troops of the tyrannical Pharaoh; this elder sister was very cautious and managed to see her baby brother without making anyone feel her presence. Once she knew Moses was hungry as he refused breasts of wet-nurses, she proposed to the wife of Pharaoh and those around her to make her mother as his wet-nurse; God has fulfilled His promise to the mother of Moses. We infer that the screams of the hungry baby alarmed the wife of Pharaoh and that many wet-nurses desired to get the job, but in vain. Hence, between the lines, we see examples of the absent but ever-present Egyptian nation within this Pharaonic kingdom of torture and tyranny; e.g., those who saw the casket, those who carried the baby to Pharaoh and his wife, the spies/troops avoided by the elder sister of Moses, and the wet-nurses; the sister might have talked to one of these wet-nurses and other servants who worked inside the palace of Pharaoh. This Egyptian nation at the time was the working force that had no voice and had no say at all within any affairs of life.

6- God says in the Quran: "And when he reached his maturity, and became established, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus do We reward the charitable ones." (28:14). Moses' Pharaoh and his wife raised Moses inside the palace of Pharaoh and he grew up there as a charitable doer of good deeds within deep faith; Moses knew that he was an Israelite and a monotheist. God granted Moses wisdom and knowledge of faith as a prophet. 

7- God says in the Quran: "Once he entered the city, unnoticed by its people. He found in it two men fighting-one of his own sect, and one from his enemies. The one of his sect solicited his assistance against the one from his enemies; so Moses punched him, and put an end to him. He said, "This is of Satan's doing; he is an enemy that openly misleads." He said, "My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me." So He forgave him. He is the Forgiver, the Merciful. He said, "My Lord, in as much as you have favored me, I will never be a supporter of the criminals."" (28:15-17). We infer that Moses was granted knowledge from God about his ancestors: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph; he came to know the plight of his people the Israelites; even as he lived inside the palace of Pharaoh, he came to know that Pharaoh was the enemy; this palace of terror made Moses feel afraid all the time despite being a Pharaonic prince and the adoptive son of the queen who was Pharaoh's wife. As a prince of Egypt, Moses moved about within the Egyptian capital along with troops/guards of his own; he was not free and he felt fear because he knew that such troops/guards were spies of Pharaoh. This is why in this scene when he entered the city (unnoticed by its people), he moved about alone and without being watched by such troops/guards. We infer that he knew the oppressed man in the quarrel from the signs of humiliation in his clothes and facial features; no one interfered to release the Israelite man, out of fear of this Egyptian man of authority. Moses inadvertently killed the Egyptian man and he admitted his sin to God and God has forgiven him; we infer that the killed man was a low-rank person among the classes/strata of affluent retinue members of Pharaoh; such persons as masters typically tortured and beat the oppressed, weak, enslaved ones in the streets as per the rules in this kingdom of torture in Egypt at this Pharaonic era to show strength and might and terrorize onlookers. We do believe this occurs until now in modern Egypt. This killed person was not very strong in terms of physical might; one strike from Moses caused his death; this means that this man had authority and power among the low-rank affluent class. We infer that the group of men (i.e., Israelites and Egyptians) who gathered around the scene moved away and left the corpse in the street; they were witnesses who spread the news about this action of Moses.      

8- God says in the Quran: "The next morning, he went about in the city, fearful and vigilant, when the man who had sought his assistance the day before was shouting out to him. Moses said to him, "You are clearly a troublemaker." As he was about to strike the one who was their enemy, he said, "O Moses, do you intend to kill me, as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a bully on earth, and do not want to be a peacemaker."" (28:18-19). Moses was afraid and he was keen on getting news from the retinue members; Moses described the Israelite man as a troublemaker because he was the primary cause of the serious trouble of Moses; the Egyptian man in this context reminded Moses of the crime and this means that the news of this incident spread and Moses was regarded by them as a murderer. 

9- God says in the Quran: "And a man came from the farthest part of the city running. He said, "O Moses, the retinue members are considering killing you, so leave; I am giving you good advice." So he left, fearful and vigilant. He said, "My Lord, deliver me from the unjust people."" (28:20-21). News of the incident of Moses killing an Egyptian man reached the retinue members very soon; they decided to put Moses to death in secret within a scheme away from the palace of Pharaoh; they could not murder him in public or within a trial because Pharaoh's wife loved him as if she were his own mother. This is a main feature of the Pharaonic deep-state of tyranny; i.e., strata or classes of retinue members and courtiers would act freely within all evil schemes of murder, kidnapping, looting, etc. without qualms and without fearing any penalties since the victims belonged to the class of slaves; but when the intended victim belonged to the class of masters (Moses in this case), the scheme of getting rid of him must be implemented in secret. It is noteworthy here the one telling Moses about this scheme came from the farthest part of the city; he was an Egyptian man who lived in the outskirts of the capital; he was not among the retinue members or affluent courtiers; this man hated their injustice and sided with Moses and the Truth and he knew that Moses was innocent and never deserved to be punished. This is why he hurried to Moses to warn him; this man had a conscience and he was manly in the sense of being chivalrous and courageous. Feeling extremely afraid, Moses implored the Lord God to deliver him from the unjust ones as he ran away to flee from Egypt.      

10- God says in the Quran: "Then, one of the two women approached him, walking bashfully. She said, "My father is calling you, to reward you for drawing water for us." And when he came to him, and told him the story, he said, "Do not fear, you have escaped from the unjust people."" (28:25). Upon reaching a water-well inside Madian in a desert area, he met with the two young women and later on their father, who is destined to be his father-in-law later on, and this man reassured him that he escaped from the unjust ones; he told Moses to stop being afraid. Fear is linked always with Moses in the Quranic stories; he lived within terror inside the place of Pharaoh and he drank fear from the breast-milk of his mother. This reflects the huge terror spread within this Pharaonic kingdom of torture and tyranny.  

11- God says in the Quran: "Put your hand inside your pocket, and it will come out white, without blemish. And press your arm to your side, against fear. These are two proofs from your Lord, to Pharaoh and his dignitaries. They are truly sinful people." He said, "My Lord, I have killed one of them, and I fear they will kill me. And my brother Aaron, he is more eloquent than me, so send him with me, to help me, and to confirm my words, for I fear they will reject me." He said, "We will strengthen your arm with your brother, and We will give you authority, so they will not touch you. By virtue of Our signs, you and those who follow you will be the triumphant."" (28:32-35). Upon his return to Egypt, Moses was commanded by his Lord God to preach to Pharaoh and his affluent and powerful retinue members and courtiers and God has granted him miracles as signs to show inside the palace of Pharaoh; Moses was afraid because he inadvertently caused the death of an Egyptian man; we infer that this killed man was among the low-rank troops or retinue members who roam streets and alleys of cities as spies and keepers of order, and NOT among the high-rank retinue members who had camps, mansions, and palaces. Yet, killing this man meant a type of destruction for the awe and fear instilled by the masters into the enslaved ones; this is why the roaming troops or low-rank retinue members decided to murder Moses in secret within a scheme so as not to be punished or questioned by Moses' Pharaoh's wife who loved him as if he were her own son. Moses declared to his Lord God his fear from both low-rank and high-rank retinue members; God promised protection for Moses and Aaron.

12- God says in the Quran: "He and his troops acted arrogantly on earth, with no justification. They thought they would not be returned to Us. So We seized him, and his troops, and We threw them into the sea. Observe, therefore, what was the end of the oppressors. And We made them leaders calling to the Fire. And on Resurrection Day, they will not be saved. And We pursued them in this world with a curse. And on Resurrection Day, they will be among the despised." (28:39-42). Pharaoh and his people rejected the call of Moses, and Pharaoh went into extremes of disbelief, violence, and arrogance and so did his people; i.e., his deep-state members, troops, soldiers, spies, security men, retinue members, courtiers, cronies, and family members; God punished them as they drowned in the Red Sea. God made them imams/leaders to all arrogant tyrants who never believe in the Day of Judgment.    

Lastly:

 We perceive now the reason for the fact that the Quranic story of Moses' Pharaoh and his people is repeated in the Quranic text; i.e., the aim of these repeated details of this Quranic story is to warn and preach believers in all eras and locations. Sadly, the Muhammadans never take heed of this warning. Proof: the tyrannical pharaoh enthroned in Egypt now follows the footsteps of Moses' Pharaoh. Any ordinary person once enthroned as the ruler of Egypt, the Pharaonic spirit of tyranny haunts him and he easily forgets his past when he was never known by anyone. Is there a devilish substance in the throne of Egypt that gets up the butthole of rulers, once seated there, that makes them follow the footsteps of Moses' Pharaoh until they die or get deposed/ousted?! Why would not rulers draw useful lessons from the fall/end of their predecessors?!