Page 55 - The Arrogance of Satan

53
Pharaoh

see? Am I not better than this man who is contemptible
and can scarcely make anything clear? Why have gold
bracelets not been put upon his arms and why is there
not a train of angels accompanying him?" (Surat az-
Zukhruf: 51-53)

The issues Allah draws our attention in the verses above
are as follows:
1. According to Pharaoh, the measure of one' s superiority
was not fear of Allah, but possessions and wealth. Nobility
was also considered important.
2. Failing to grasp that the decision rested with Allah
alone, Musa' s stature as Allah' s messenger was hurtful to his
pride.
3. He despised Musa (as), found him contemptible, and
mentioned his manner of speaking as a mark of inferiority.
Focusing on people' s imperfections is evidently the
behaviour of an arrogant person.
4. Pharaoh thought the messenger should have been
accompanied by angels, or possessed wealth and power,
since, in his opinion, these were the symbols of authority.

Pharaoh Tried to Exalt Himself

Before Musa (as):

A conversation between Musa (as) and Pharaoh is quoted
in the Qur' an as follows:
Go to Pharaoh and say, "We are the Messenger of the
Lord of all the worlds to tell you to send the tribe of
Israel away with us." He (Pharaoh) said, "Did we not
bring you up among us as a child and did you not spend
many years of your life among us? Yet you did the deed