إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِۦ فَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَ فِرْعَوْنَ ۖ وَمَآ أَمْرُ فِرْعَوْنَ بِرَشِيدٍ 97
Translations
To Pharaoh and his establishment, but they followed the command of Pharaoh, and the command of Pharaoh was not [at all] discerning.
Transliteration
Ila Fir'awna wa mala'ihi fa-ttaba'u amra Fir'awna wa ma amru Fir'awna bi-rashid
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Pharaoh's chiefs and nobles blindly followed his commands without question, demonstrating the spiritual blindness of those who reject divine guidance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that Pharaoh's leadership was fundamentally misguided (ghayr rashid), leading his followers away from truth and toward destruction. The ayah serves as a warning against blind obedience to unjust authority and highlights how tyrannical rulers seduce their followers into misguidance.
Revelation Context
This verse appears in the context of Surah Hud's discussion of Pharaoh's rejection of Prophet Moses. The broader narrative illustrates the consequences of rejecting divine messengers and the corruption that spreads when people follow leaders based on worldly power rather than divine guidance. This thematic section emphasizes the inevitable downfall of those who oppose Allah's messengers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of leaders are those whom you love and who love you, and you pray for them and they pray for you. The worst of leaders are those whom you hate and who hate you, and you curse them and they curse you.' (Sahih Muslim 1855). This relates to the danger of corrupt leadership exemplified by Pharaoh.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must exercise critical thinking and moral discernment rather than blindly following leaders, regardless of their power or position, and should always prioritize divine truth over worldly authority. The ayah reminds us that following an unjust leader leads to collective ruin, making it incumbent upon both leaders to govern justly and followers to refuse participation in tyranny.
Related Ayahs
إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم ۚ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ ءَاخِذٌۢ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Indeed, I have relied upon Allāh, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that He holds it by its forelock [i.e., controls it]. Indeed, my Lord is on a path [that is] straight.
قِيلَ يَـٰنُوحُ ٱهْبِطْ بِسَلَـٰمٍ مِّنَّا وَبَرَكَـٰتٍ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰٓ أُمَمٍ مِّمَّن مَّعَكَ ۚ وَأُمَمٌ سَنُمَتِّعُهُمْ ثُمَّ يَمَسُّهُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
It was said, "O Noah, disembark in security from Us and blessings upon you and upon nations [descending] from those with you. But other nations [of them] We will grant enjoyment; then there will touch them from Us a painful punishment."
وَٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا وَلَا تُخَـٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ
And construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration and do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are [to be] drowned."
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۗ وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْمَوْتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you are resurrected after death," those who disbelieve will surely say, "This is not but obvious magic."