Prophets Stories In Islam

Part 6. Prophet Musa and Harun: Musa (as) and Harun (as) talk to Pharaoh

Musa (as) and Harun (as) went together to Pharaoh and delivered their message. Musa (as) spoke to him about Allah (ﷻ), His mercy and His Paradise and about the obligations of monotheism and His worship. Pharaoh listened to Musa's (as) speech with disdain. He thought that Musa (as) was crazy because he dared to question his supreme position.
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Then he raised his hand and asked: "What do you want?"
Musa (as) answered: "I want you to send the children of Israel with us."
Pharaoh asked: "Why should I send them, as they are my slaves?"
Musa (as) replied: "They are the slaves of Allah (ﷻ), Lord of the Worlds."
Pharaoh then inquired sarcastically if his name was Musa (as).
Musa (as) said "Yes."
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"Are you not the Musa whom we picked up from the Nile as a helpless baby? Are you not the Musa whom we reared in this palace, who ate and drank from our provisions and whom our wealth showered with charity? Are you not the Musa who is a fugitive, the killer of an Egyptian man, if my memory does not betray me? It is said that killing is an act of disbelief. Therefore, you were a disbeliever when you killed. You are a fugitive from justice and you come to speak to me! What were you talking about Musa, I forgot?"
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Musa (as) knew that Pharaoh's mentioning his past, his upbringing, and his receiving Pharaoh's charity was Pharaoh's way of threatening him. Musa (as) ignored his sarcasm and explained that he was not a disbeliever when he killed the Egyptian, he only went astray and Allah the Almighty had not yet given him the revelation at that time. He made Pharaoh understand that he fled from Egypt because he was afraid of their revenge upon him, even though the killing was an accident. He informed him that Allah (ﷻ) had granted him forgiveness and made him one of the messengers.
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Allah (ﷻ) said in the Quran:
"Pharaoh said: 'And what is the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)?'
Musa (as) replied: 'Lord of the heavens, and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty.'
Pharaoh said to those around: 'Do you not hear what he says?'
Musa (as) said: 'Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!'
Pharaoh said: 'Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!'
Musa (as) said: 'Lord of the east, and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!'
Pharaoh said: 'If you choose an ilah (a god) other than me, I will certainly put you among the prisoners.'
Musa (as) said: 'Even if I bring you something manifest (and convincing).'
Pharaoh said: 'Bring it forth then, if you are of the truthful!' " (26:23-31)
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The degree of the conflict expressed in this dialogue reached its apex; thus, the tone of dialogue changed. Musa (as) used a convincing intellectual argument against Pharaoh. However, Pharaoh escaped from the circle of dialogue based on the logic and began a dialogue of another type, a type which Musa (as) could not bear to follow; a dialogue of menacing and threatening. Pharaoh deliberately adopted the style of the absolute ruler. Did he not know that Pharaoh was a god? After declaring his divinity, Pharaoh asked Musa (as) how he dared to worship another god. The punishment for this crime was imprisonment. It was not permitted for anyone to worship anyone other than the Pharaoh. Musa (as) understood that the intellectual arguments did not succeed. The calm dialogue was converted from sarcasm to mentioning charity, then to scorn, then to the threat of imprisonment.