Az-Zukhruf (Ornaments of gold)

51. And Pharaoh proclaimed among his people: “O my people! Is not mine the dominion of Egypt and these rivers flowing underneath [my palace]? See you not [my greatness]?”

52. “Am I not better than this one who is despicable and can scarcely express himself clearly?”

As mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, the clause:

“Am I not better” (ana khayrun)

is uttered by Iblis and Pharaoh. These two Verse clearly reveal fear, vainglory, despotism, vanity, false belief, reliance on worldly possessions, and the use of adornments which are characteristics of tyrants.

Having premonitions, tyrants make attempts at propaganda:

(“And Pharaoh proclaimed”).

Lacking logicality, tyrants rely on their palaces and worldly possessions;

(“Is not mine the dominion of Egypt?”).

The blessed Verse 51 says that when Pharaoh with his great power and glory failed to resist Moses (as) and noticed that Moses’ (as) followers are on the increase, resorted to hypocrisy and ordered his men to gather people so that he may deceive them by his sovereignty and worldly possessions and make himself greater in their eyes.

Addressing the believing Children of Israel he said:

“Is not mine the dominion of Egypt and these rivers flowing underneath [my palace]? Am I not better than this one who is despicable and can scarcely express himself clearly?”

It is reported from some exegets in Atyab al-Bayan and Majma’ al-Bayan that when God Almighty send Moses (as) to Pharaoh, he removed his stuttering, as mentioned in the Holy Qur’an:

“And loose the knot from my tongue”1

to whom God Almighty answered thus:

“You are granted your request, O Moses!”2 .

Pharaoh meant to remind people of former times and reveal Moses’ (as) speech defect.