فَٱسْتَخَفَّ قَوْمَهُۥ فَأَطَاعُوهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا فَـٰسِقِينَ 54
Translations
So he bluffed his people, and they obeyed him. Indeed, they were [themselves] a people defiantly disobedient [of Allāh].
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Pharaoh easily swayed his people through mockery and belittlement, and they obeyed him because they were inherently transgressive people. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that Pharaoh's ridicule and dismissive attitude toward Prophet Moses made his followers comply readily, revealing their spiritual corruption and lack of guidance. The ayah emphasizes that such blind obedience is a characteristic of those who have strayed far from righteousness.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Az-Zukhruf's discussion of Pharaoh and Prophet Moses. It specifically refers to Pharaoh's mockery of Moses and his message, and how his people's willingness to follow him despite the clear signs demonstrated their spiritual bankruptcy. The surah contrasts the fate of those who reject truth with the blessings of those who accept it.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those in my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them' (Sahih Bukhari 2652), highlighting how communities that follow true guidance differ from those who obey corrupt leaders. Additionally, themes of rejecting truth appear in warnings against blind obedience in Surah An-Nahl 16:43.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should guard themselves against following leaders blindly, especially those who ridicule truth and divine messages. This ayah serves as a reminder that true leadership is measured by adherence to God's guidance, not by charisma or the ability to sway masses through mockery.