Page 101 - The importance of conscience in the Qur'an

Examples of Those Who Were Astray 99

his cruelty. He brought great pressure to bear on a certain
group (particularly the children of Israel) among his people,
even going so far as killing their children.
Pharaoh exalted himself arrogantly in the land
and divided its people into camps, oppressing
one group of them by slaughtering their sons
and letting their women live. He was one of
the corrupters. (Surat al-Qasas: 4)
With the sole purpose of maintaining his authority and
forestalling all possible future movements of opposition,
Pharaoh not only slaughtered boys but also male babies.
The order Pharaoh built on cruelty, is nothing but a
historical example of a type of conduct we are accustomed to
in our day. All mentalities based on rejection and transgression
may, if necessary, slaughter women and children, start wars and
drop bombs on thousands of innocent people just to maintain
their state. Their purpose is to protect their own interests and
power, by any means, regardless of the consequences.
If man lives without considering Allah's judgement of his
actions, there is nothing to stop him crossing the borders of
cruelty, wronging people, and making decisions that cost the
lives of many. The example of Pharaoh is one that presents the
most extreme ends of cruelty, but which is still practised today,
though with different methods.

Pharaoh's arrogance
Pharaoh had grown arrogant because of the power and
glory he held, and on top of completely transgressing the limits
of Allah, he even went so far as to declare himself a god. He
made his people suffer unbearable agonies, and went to
extravagant ends to protect his power, which was the only