Ash-Shu'araa (The Poets)

34. “(Pharaoh) said to the chiefs around him: ‘Verily this is a skilled sorcerer,”

35. “Who intends to drive you out of your land with his sorcery, what do you command?’”

In order to move and encourage the sorcerers to compete with Moses (as), Pharaoh called him ‘a knowing sorcerer’.

Loving home and country and the motivation of ownership are among men’s instincts which Pharaoh used as pretext for inciting people to fight Moses (as).

However, when the staff was changed into a great serpent by Moses hand, Pharaoh got astonished and feared a lot, but to keep his devilish power, which was really exposed to danger, because of Moses’ acts, and also to maintain their belief, to have the confidence of his companions and to improve their moral, Pharaoh embarked on justification of Moses’ miracles.

First he said to his companions that Moses (as) was a skilful and knowing wizard.

The verse says:

“(Pharaoh) said to the chiefs around him: ‘Verily this is a skilled sorcerer,”

The person who had been introduced as mad by Pharaoh was now called a learned one. This is the custom and method of oppressors that they change their opinion several times in one meeting or gathering and every time they resort to a new means to achieve their aim.

Since wizardry was common in that age, Pharaoh thought this accusation, after showing these miracles, is the best one that Moses (as) can be charged of.

Then, to mobilize the audience against Moses, Pharaoh continued:

“Who intends to drive you out of your land with his sorcery, what do you command?’”

This is that very Pharaoh who knew all territory of Egypt as his very own sovereignty and was saying:

“...Is not mine the sovereignty of Egypt and these rivers flowing under me? Can you not then discern?”1

Now that he saw his government was going to be overthrown, he totally forgot his exclusive rulership of this region and counted it as people's property and implied that their country was facing danger and they had to find a way to defend it.

Pharaoh who did not listen to anyone’s words one hour ago and was always an unrestrained ruler and no one could oppose him, was now so miserable that he told his companions to provide a command! He demanded a humble and hopeless counseling!

It is understood from verse 110 of Surah Al-’A‘raf, No. 7 that the companions started counseling and they were so panicky that they could not think and every one of them asked another one:

“...Now what do you command?”

Yes, this is the tradition of all oppressors in all ages that when they can control everything they count everything as their own property and everyone as their own slave, and their logic is only despotism.

However, when they see that their tyrannical kingdom is going to be subdued and in danger, they temporarily abandon despotism and resort to people and their opinions; they count country as people’s country, everything as property of people and they respect people’s opinions, but when storm abates, they return to their previous behaviour.