إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ لَشِرْذِمَةٌ قَلِيلُونَ 54
Translations
[And said], "Indeed, those are but a small band,
Transliteration
Inna haaulaa lashirdhatun qalilun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, spoken by Pharaoh regarding the Children of Israel, expresses his contemptuous dismissal of Moses and the believers as merely a small, insignificant group. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Pharaoh was attempting to minimize the threat posed by Moses and his followers to bolster his own authority and confidence among his people, yet this arrogance ultimately led to his destruction. The phrase 'shirdhatun qalilun' (a small, contemptible band) reflects Pharaoh's false sense of security despite the divine signs being shown to him.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which chronicles the stories of various prophets and their peoples. It is set in the context of Pharaoh's dialogue with his ministers regarding Moses and the Israelites, demonstrating how the arrogant dismiss the truth and underestimate the power of Allah's message. This Meccan surah uses these historical narratives to console Prophet Muhammad and warn the disbelievers of Mecca of similar consequences.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sunan Ibn Majah and other collections contain traditions about the arrogance of tyrants being a precursor to their downfall. The principle is reflected in: 'Pride and arrogance are the qualities of the people of the Fire, and humility is the quality of the people of Paradise' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that worldly power and numbers do not determine success—only obedience to Allah and sincere faith matter. We should never be discouraged by the apparent smallness of believers or the largeness of opposition, as Allah's support transcends human calculation and worldly measures.