وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءَاتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُۥ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَٰلًا فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِكَ ۖ رَبَّنَا ٱطْمِسْ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَٱشْدُدْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ 88
Translations
And Moses said, "Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his establishment splendor and wealth in the worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [men] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment."
Transliteration
Wa qala Musa rabbana innaka ataita Fir'awna wa mala'ahu zeenataw wa amwalan fil hayatid dunya rabbana liyudillu 'an sabileek rabbana utmis 'ala amwalihim waashdud 'ala qulubihim fala yu'minun hatta yaraw al-'adhaban alaleem
Tafsir (Explanation)
Musa (Moses) calls upon Allah after witnessing Pharaoh and his chiefs granted worldly adornments and wealth that they exploit to lead people away from Allah's path. He supplicates to Allah to destroy their wealth and harden their hearts, so they will not believe until they witness the painful punishment. Classical exegetes like Ibn Kathir explain that this dua reflects Musa's deep concern for his people's guidance and his recognition that some hearts have become so hardened in rejection that only witnessing divine punishment will convince them of truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the narrative of Musa and Fir'awn (Pharaoh) in Surah Yunus, which presents the conflict between the message of monotheism and pharaonic tyranny. The context describes the rejection Musa faced despite clear signs, and this dua represents Musa's appeal to Allah after exhausting all means of persuasion. It reflects the broader Quranic theme of how material prosperity can be a trial that leads people astray.
Related Hadiths
The principle of hardened hearts is referenced in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim regarding the ayah 'Allah has sealed their hearts' (2:7), which indicates that rejection of truth leads to spiritual blindness. Additionally, hadiths emphasize that wealth and children are trials (fitnah) as mentioned in Surah At-Taghabun 64:15.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that material prosperity is not a sign of Allah's pleasure but can be a test that leads people astray, and that true guidance requires not only intellectual understanding but openness of heart. For believers today, it serves as a reminder to seek spiritual wealth over material gain and to remain vigilant against letting worldly possessions distance us from Allah's path.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَآ أَذَقْنَا ٱلنَّاسَ رَحْمَةً مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُمْ إِذَا لَهُم مَّكْرٌ فِىٓ ءَايَاتِنَا ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَسْرَعُ مَكْرًا ۚ إِنَّ رُسُلَنَا يَكْتُبُونَ مَا تَمْكُرُونَ
And when We give the people a taste of mercy after adversity has touched them, at once they conspire against Our verses. Say, "Allāh is swifter in strategy." Indeed, Our messengers [i.e., angels] record that which you conspire.
۞ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ وَزِيَادَةٌ ۖ وَلَا يَرْهَقُ وُجُوهَهُمْ قَتَرٌ وَلَا ذِلَّةٌ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
For them who have done good is the best [reward] - and extra. No darkness will cover their faces, nor humiliation. Those are companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَآءٌ لِّمَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
O mankind, there has come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.
دَعْوَىٰهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ ٱللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَـٰمٌ ۚ وَءَاخِرُ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ أَنِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Their call therein will be, "Exalted are You, O Allāh," and their greeting therein will be, "Peace." And the last of their call will be, "Praise to Allāh, Lord of the worlds!"