Surah 10

Surah 10:89

"He said, ‘The request of both of you has been answered. So both of you go straight, and do not follow the way of those who do not know.’"
Musa supplicated against Fir'awn and His Chiefs Verses 10:88-89
Show Full Scripture Context (10:88-89) — 2 Verses
Verse 88

وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءَاتَيۡتَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَأَهُۥ زِينَةٗ وَأَمۡوَٰلٗا فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِكَۖ رَبَّنَا ٱطۡمِسۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ وَٱشۡدُدۡ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ فَلَا يُؤۡمِنُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُاْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَلِيمَ

Moses said, ‘Our Lord, surely You have given Pharaoh and his assembly splendor and wealth in this present life, Our Lord, so that they might lead (people) astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts, so that they do not believe until they see the painful punishment.’

Verse 89

قَالَ قَدۡ أُجِيبَت دَّعۡوَتُكُمَا فَٱسۡتَقِيمَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعَآنِّ سَبِيلَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

He said, ‘The request of both of you has been answered. So both of you go straight, and do not follow the way of those who do not know.’

Allah mentioned what Musa said when he prayed against Fir'awn and his chiefs after they refused to accept the truth. They continued to go astray and be haughty and arrogant. Musa said: {Our Lord! You have indeed bestowed on Fir'awn and his chiefs splendor} and pleasure of this worldly life. {and wealth} plentiful and abundant. Allah's statement, {in the life of this world, Our Lord! That they may lead men astray from Your path.} was read with the word "Liyadillu" and "Liyudillu." The first is with a Fathah over the Ya, meaning that "You have given them that while You know they would not believe in what You have sent me with to them. You did that so they would gradually be drawn away from the truth." As Allah said: {that We may test them thereby.} [20:131] and [72:17]. Others read the word with a Dammah over the Ya. (i.e. Liyudillu) This makes the Ayah mean: You have given them that so whoever You willed from among Your creatures will be tried. Those whom You wish to misguide would think that You have given them that because You loved them and You cared about them." {"Our Lord! Destroy their wealth,"} Ibn 'Abbas and Mujahid said: "They asked Allah to destroy their wealth." 1] At-Tabari 15:181. Ad-Dahhak, Abu Al-'Aliyah and Ar-Rabi' bin Anas said: "Allah made their wealth into engraved stones as it was before." [2] At-Tabari 15:180. About Allah's statement, {and harden their hearts} Ibn 'Abbas said, "Harden their hearts means put a seal on them." [3] At-Tabari 15:181. {so that they will not believe until they see the painful torment.} This prayer was from Musa because he was angry for the sake of Allah and His religion. He prayed against Fir'awn and his chiefs when he was certain that there was no good in them. Similarly, Nuh prayed and said: [{My Lord! Leave not one of the disbelievers on the earth! If You leave them, they will mislead Your servants, and they will beget none but wicked disbelievers.} [71:26-27]. Harun said "Amin" to his brother's prayer. And Allah answered Musa's prayer. Allah said: {Verily, the invocation of you both is accepted.} "in destroying Fir'awn's people. {Verily I have answered your prayers (both of you). So you both keep to the straight way} So as I have answered your prayer, you should remain steadfast on My command.' Ibn Jurayj narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said about this Ayah: "Be steadfast and follow My command." [1] Al-Tabari 15:187.

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.