390 Page Notes

28 Surah Al-Qasas (continued)

Page 390 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 390 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 390 of the standard Madinah Mushaf contains Surah Al-Qasas (28:36–43). This section details the dramatic confrontation between Prophet Musa (Moses) and Pharaoh’s court upon Musa's return to Egypt, Pharaoh's arrogant architectural challenge to his minister Haman, and the ultimate destruction of the Egyptian tyranny, followed by the revelation of the Torah as a source of enlightenment.

The Sunnah and authentic Hadith literature provide critical insights into these verses, focusing on the condemnation of pride, the historical context of the Nile's destruction, and the spiritual status of the Torah.

1. Hadiths Related to Pharaoh's Dismissal of Miracles as Magic (Verse 36)

“But when Moses came to them with Our clear signs, they said, 'This is not except invented magic, and we have not heard of this [religion] among our forefathers.'” (28:36)

The Pattern of Accusing Prophets of Magic

Pharaoh and his ministers dismissed Musa’s staff and glowing hand as "invented magic" (Sihrun Muftara). The Sunnah notes that this psychological defense mechanism—accusing prophets of sorcery—was a uniform trial faced by all messengers, including the Prophet Muhammad (ρ).

Hadith: When the Prophet Muhammad (ρ) split the moon as a physical sign for the Qurayash, they immediately mirrored Pharaoh's exact rhetoric from page 390. Ibn Mas'ud narrated: "The moon was cleft into two parts during the lifetime of the Prophet... The disbelievers of Quraysh said: 'This is magic cast upon you by Ibn Abi Kabshah (Muhammad).'”

• Source Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 3636), Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2800).

2. Hadiths Related to Haman and Pharaoh's Tower (Verse 38)

“And Pharaoh said, 'O eminent ones, I have not known for you any god other than me. So kindle for me, O Haman, [a fire] upon the clay and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I think he is of the liars.'” (28:38)

The Absolute Condemnation of Arrogance (Kibr)

Pharaoh reaches the peak of blasphemy in verse 38 by claiming exclusive divinity ("I have not known for you any god other than me") and ordering Haman to bake bricks to build a tower to climb to the heavens. The Sunnah presents Pharaoh as the ultimate historical archetype of pride, warning believers that even a trace of this pharaonic attitude bars a person from Paradise.

Hadith: The Messenger of Allah (ρ) said: “He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance (Kibr) will not enter Paradise.” A man remarked, "A man likes that his dress and shoes look fine." The Prophet replied: “Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance is the rejection of truth and looking down upon people.”

• Source Citation: Sahih Muslim (Hadith 91).

3. Hadiths Related to the Drowning of Pharaoh and His Army (Verses 39–40)

“And he and his soldiers were arrogant in the land without right, and they thought that they would not be returned to Us. So We took him and his soldiers and cast them into the sea. So see how was the end of the wrongdoers.” (28:39–40)

The Annual Commemoration of Musa's Victory (Ashura)

The physical event described in verse 40—Allah seizing Pharaoh and his army and casting them into the sea (Fanabadhnāhum fil-yam)—is directly tied to a major, ongoing Sunnah ritual: fasting on the 10th of Muharram (Ashura).

Hadith: When the Prophet (ρ) migrated to Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked them, "What is the significance of this day on which you fast?" They replied, "This is a great day on which Allah saved Musa and his people, and drowned Pharaoh and his army. So Musa fasted on this day out of gratitude, and we fast on it as well."

The Prophet (ρ) said: “We have more right to Musa and are closer to him than you.” So, the Prophet fasted on that day and ordered the Muslims to fast.

• Source Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 2004), Sahih Muslim (Hadith 1130).

The Desperation of Pharaoh at the Moment of Drowning

Verse 40 highlights the swift execution of divine justice. The Sunnah reveals what occurred inside the water at the exact moment Pharaoh realized he was being destroyed.

Hadith: The Prophet (ρ) said: *“When Allah drowned Pharaoh, he said (as recorded elsewhere in the Qur'an): 'I believe that there is no deity except He in whom the Children of Israel believe.' Jibril (Gabriel) said to me: 'O Muhammad, if you could have only seen me as I took mud from the bottom of the sea and shoved it into his mouth, fearing that the mercy of Allah might save him!'”

• Source Citation: Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 3107), Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 2144). Classed as Sahih.

4. Hadiths Related to the Torah as an Enlightenment (Verse 43)

“And We gave Moses the Scripture, after We had destroyed the former generations, as enlightenment for the people and guidance and mercy that they might be reminded.” (28:43)

Following the destruction of the ancient tyrants, Allah revealed the Torah (Al-Kitab) to Musa as a comprehensive spiritual guide (Basā'ira lin-nās). The Sunnah establishes the immense prestige of this original text and documents a famous cosmic debate regarding its contents.

The Argument Between Adam and Musa

The Sunnah details an extraordinary dialogue in the unseen world where Prophet Musa references the very scripture mentioned in verse 43 to question Prophet Adam.

Hadith: The Prophet (ρ) said: “Adam and Musa debated with one another. Musa said to Adam: 'You are Adam whom Allah created with His own Hand... yet you caused mankind to be expelled from Paradise by your mistake.' Adam replied to him: 'You are Musa whom Allah chose with His speech and wrote for you the Torah with His Hand. How many years before my creation did you find that written concerning me?' Musa replied, 'Forty years.' Adam concluded, 'Do you blame me for an action that Allah had decreed upon me forty years before He created me?'” The Prophet (ρ) added, “So Adam embedded Musa in the argument.”

• Source Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 6614), Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2652).

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. (1997). Sahih al-Bukhari (Vols. 1-9). Darussalam Publishers.

• Al-Tirmidhi, M. (2007). Sunan al-Tirmidhi. Darussalam Publishers.

• Ibn Hanbal, A. (2012). Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal. Mu'assasat al-Risalah.

• Muslim, I. (2007). Sahih Muslim. Darussalam Publishers.