In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Food For Thought Whenever Contemporary Ideologues and Their Wealthy Allies Manifest Their Raging Obsession With Self-entitlement and Control, Whilst Disguising It With The Claim That They Are Pursuing Upright Social Welfare, Security and Prosperity For Future Generations 

An Example of How Tyrants Utilized Deception In The Past

Allaah [The Most High] says: [وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ – And indeed We did send Musa (Moses) with Our Aayaat (i.e. proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations)]: Meaning, Aayaat which clearly showed that what Moosaa [peace be upon him] brought was truth- those Aayaat which Allaah [The Most High] showed Fir’awn, his chiefs and his people, such as the miracles Moosaa was allowed to perform with his stick, which turned into a serpent, the locusts and lice which Allaah [The Most High] sent as a punishment to Fir’awn and his people etc

[وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِۦ فَقَالَ إِنِّى رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ – And indeed We did send Musa (Moses) with Our Ayat (i.e. proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations), to Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and his chiefs (inviting them to Allah’s Religion of Islam) He said: “Verily, I am a Messenger of the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)]: Meaning, Moosaa [peace be upon him] called them to single out Allaah [The Most high] in worship and forbade them from worshipping others besides Allaah.

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ إِذَا هُم مِّنۡہَا يَضۡحَكُونَ – But when he (Moosaa) came to them with Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) behold! They laughed at them]: Meaning, they rejected those signs and mocked at them due to transgression and arrogance, and not because those signs were insignificant and unclear. And this is why Allaah [The Most High] says:

[وَمَا نُرِيهِم مِّنۡ ءَايَةٍ إِلَّا هِىَ أَڪۡبَرُ مِنۡ أُخۡتِهَا‌ۖ – And not an Ayah (sign, etc.) We showed them but it was greater than its fellow]: Meaning, the signs that came last were greater than the previous ones. [وَأَخَذۡنَـٰهُم بِٱلۡعَذَابِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ – and We seized them with torment, in order that they might turn [from their polytheism to Allah’s Religion (Islamic Monotheism)].

However, whenever punishment came to them, Allaah [The Most High] says that they said: [يَـٰٓأَيُّهَ ٱلسَّاحِرُ -O you sorcerer!]: Meaning, O Moosaa! The sorcerer. They addressed him in such a manner either to falsely accuse him, or it may have been a praise – the manner in which they addressed those they considered to be from their scholars, their magicians.

[ٱدۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ إِنَّنَا لَمُهۡتَدُونَ -Invoke your Lord for us according to what He has covenanted with you. Verily, We shall guide ourselves (aright)]: Meaning, invoke your Lord on our behalf because your Lord has given you a high status and other special favours, so that this hardship is removed from us and we shall become rightly guided thereafter.

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [فَلَمَّا كَشَفۡنَا عَنۡہُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابَ إِذَا هُمۡ يَنكُثُونَ -But when We removed the torment from them, behold! They broke their covenant]: Meaning, they did not fulfil their promise; rather they were treacherous and persisted upon disbelief. This behaviour of theirs is similar to what Allaah [The Most High] says about them in Surah Al-Araaf:

فَأَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلطُّوفَانَ وَٱلۡجَرَادَ وَٱلۡقُمَّلَ وَٱلضَّفَادِعَ وَٱلدَّمَ ءَايَـٰتٍ۬ مُّفَصَّلَـٰتٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَڪۡبَرُواْ وَكَانُواْ قَوۡمً۬ا مُّجۡرِمِينَ
وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلرِّجۡزُ قَالُواْ يَـٰمُوسَى ٱدۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ‌ۖ لَٮِٕن كَشَفۡتَ عَنَّا ٱلرِّجۡزَ لَنُؤۡمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرۡسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ فَلَمَّا ڪَشَفۡنَا عَنۡہُمُ ٱلرِّجۡزَ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ هُم بَـٰلِغُوهُ إِذَا هُمۡ يَنكُثُونَ

So We sent on them: the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, and the blood: (as a succession of) manifest signs, yet they remained arrogant, and they were of those people who were Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners, etc.). And when the punishment fell on them they said: “O Musa (Moses)! Invoke your Lord for us because of His Promise to you. If you will remove the punishment from us, we indeed shall believe in you, and we shall let the Children of Israel go with you.” But when We removed the punishment from them to a fixed term, which they had to reach, behold! They broke their word!

Then Allaah says [The Most High] says:

[وَنَادَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنُ فِى قَوۡمِهِۦ قَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ أَلَيۡسَ لِى مُلۡكُ مِصۡرَ وَهَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِىٓ‌ۖ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَ – And Fir’aun (Pharaoh) proclaimed among his people, saying: “O my people! Is not mine the dominion of Egypt, and these rivers flowing underneath me. See you not then?]: Meaning, Fir’awn proclaimed – whilst exalting his falsehood, deceived by his Kingdom, transgressing all bounds due to his wealth and armies- that he is the king of Egypt, the judge in all the affairs in Egypt and the one whose castle is surrounded by rivers and springs, which everyone can see. Then Allaah [The Most High] says that Firawn said: [أَمۡ أَنَا۟ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ مَهِينٌ۬ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُبِينُ – Am I not better than this one [Musa (Moses)], who is Mahin [has no honour nor any respect, and is weak and despicable] and can scarcely express himself clearly?]

May Allaah [The Most High] disfigure Fir’awn, for indeed he intended Moosaa [peace be upon him] by this description, even though Moosaa is one whom Allaah [The Most High] spoke to directly and one given high status by Allaah [The Most High]; however Fir’awn thought that he is honoured and Moosaa [peace be upon him] is dishonoured and disgraced. He also proclaimed that in addition to this, Moosaa cannot even speak clearly because he is not eloquent; but his insult against Moosaa that he cannot even express himself is not something blameworthy at all. That is because Moosaa was able to convey the message, even though he used encounter some difficulty when speaking.

Then Allaah [The Most High] says that Firawn said:

[فَلَوۡلَآ أُلۡقِىَ عَلَيۡهِ أَسۡوِرَةٌ۬ مِّن ذَهَبٍ أَوۡ جَآءَ مَعَهُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةُ مُقۡتَرِنِينَ – Why then are not golden bracelets bestowed on him, or angels sent along with him?]

Then Allaah [The Most High] says: [فَٱسۡتَخَفَّ قَوۡمَهُ ۥ فَأَطَاعُوهُ‌ۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَوۡمً۬ا فَـٰسِقِينَ – Thus he [Fir’aun (Pharaoh)] befooled and misled his people, and they obeyed him. Verily, they were ever a people who were Fasiqun(rebellious, disobedient to Allah)]: Meaning, Fir’awn deceived them through those doubts, which were portrayed as something true. He deceived his people and his chiefs through words that neither carry any reality nor were such words a means by way of which truth could be distinguished from falsehood. And those words cannot deceive, except the possessors of feeble intellects. Fir’awn did not possess any proofs, rather he only stated that he was the king of Egypt (at the time) and that the rivers flow beneath him. He did not produce any proof to nullify the message brought by Moosaa, even though Moosaa had few followers, found it hard to express himself clearly and did not possess the riches that Firawn possessed. However, the fact of the matter is that Fir’awn’s chiefs had no common sense, so they followed whatever he said -whether truth or falsehood. And because they were rebellious sinners, Fir’awn beautified Shirk and evil for them. (1)

Propaganda, Demagoguery and Fearmongering

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ذَرُونِىٓ أَقۡتُلۡ مُوسَىٰ وَلۡيَدۡعُ رَبَّهُ ۥۤ‌ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُبَدِّلَ دِينَڪُمۡ أَوۡ أَن يُظۡهِرَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ

Fir’aun (Pharaoh) said: “Leave me to kill Musa (Moses), and let him call his Lord (to stop me from killing him)! I fear that he may change your religion, or that he may cause mischief to appear in the land!” [Surah Ghaafir. Verse 26]

Imaam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: Allaah (The Most High) said: [وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ – Fir’aun (Pharaoh) said] – Meaning, with haughtiness and tyranny, whilst deluding his foolish people;

[ذَرُونِي أَقْتُلْ مُوسَىٰ وَلْيَدْعُ رَبَّهُ – Leave me to kill Musa (Moses), and let him call his Lord (to stop me from killing him)!] This was his (false) claim that had it not been for his consideration of the wishes of his people, he would have killed Musa and that (Musa’s) supplication to his Lord would not have prevented him from that. Fir’awn then mentioned what made him want to kill Musa and that he is a sincere adviser to his people, and that he wished to remove mischief from the land. Allaah (The Most High) stated that Fir’awn said:

[إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ يُبَدِّلَ دِينَكُمْ أَوْ أَنْ يُظْهِرَ فِي الْأَرْضِ الْفَسَادَ – I fear that he (Musa) may change your religion, or that he may cause mischief to appear in the land!]

This is the most amazing the affair can be! The most evil one among the creation gives advice to the people against the best among the creation. This is (nothing but) disguised falsehood and propaganda, which cannot seize except the intellects of those (people) about whom Allaah stated:

[فَاسْتَخَفَّ قَوْمَهُ فَأَطَاعُوهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ – Thus he Fir’aun (Pharaoh)] befooled and misled his people, and they obeyed him. Verily, they were ever a people who were Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)]. [Surah Az-Zukhruf. Verse 54] (2)

Allaah [The Most High] said:

قَالَ أَجِئۡتَنَا لِتُخۡرِجَنَا مِنۡ أَرۡضِنَا بِسِحۡرِكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ
فَلَنَأۡتِيَنَّكَ بِسِحۡرٍ۬ مِّثۡلِهِۦ فَٱجۡعَلۡ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكَ مَوۡعِدً۬ا لَّا نُخۡلِفُهُ ۥ نَحۡنُ وَلَآ أَنتَ مَكَانً۬ا سُوً۬ى
قَالَ مَوۡعِدُكُمۡ يَوۡمُ ٱلزِّينَةِ وَأَن يُحۡشَرَ ٱلنَّاسُ ضُحً۬ى
فَتَوَلَّىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنُ فَجَمَعَ ڪَيۡدَهُ ۥ ثُمَّ أَتَىٰ
قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ وَيۡلَكُمۡ لَا تَفۡتَرُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ڪَذِبً۬ا فَيُسۡحِتَكُم بِعَذَابٍ۬‌ۖ وَقَدۡ خَابَ مَنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ

He [Fir’awn] said, “Have you come to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moosaa? Then verily, we can produce magic the like thereof, so appoint a meeting between us and you, which neither we, nor you shall fail to keep, in an open wide place where both shall have a just and equal chance (and beholders could witness the competition)”. [Moosaa] said, “Your appointed meeting is the day of the festival, and let the people assemble when the sun has risen (forenoon)”. So Fir’awn withdrew, devised his plot and then came back. Musa (Moses) said to them, “Woe unto you! Invent not a lie against Allah, lest He should destroy you completely by a torment. And surely, he who invents a lie (against Allah) will fail miserably”. [Surah Taa Haa. Verses 57-61]

Imaam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “He (Fir’awn) claimed that the signs which Moosaa [peace be upon him] showed him were nothing more than sorcery and illusions, and that the aim behind them was to drive them from their land and take it over. Fir’awn’s statements were intended to influence his people, because people are naturally attached to their homelands and it is difficult for them to abandon them. He told them that this was Moosaa’s goal, so that they would hate and oppose him. (3)

Divide and Rule

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يُذَبِّحُ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ

Verily, Fir’aun (Pharaoh) exalted himself in the land and made its people sects, weakening (oppressing) a group (i.e. Children of Israel) among them, killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the Mufsidoon]. [Surah Al-Qasas. Aayah 4]

Imaam Al-Aloosee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “He divided them into different sects and they went along with him in everything he desired of evil and corruption, or he used some as a means to get others to obey him, or he made them into different distinct groups under his service and used every group in some type of work, such as construction, tillage, earthwork (drilling etc) and other burdensome work, and whoever did not work was beaten, so they served him by doing so; or he made them into sects and incited hatred and enmity between them, so that they do not come to an agreement (or become united in their stance against him). (4)

[ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ – Verily, he was of the Mufsidoon]- Meaning: Those whose intention is neither to rectify the religious nor worldly affairs, and this was from his corrupt behaviour in the earth. (5)

When They Gather Their Experts to Nullify The Truth and Then Become Violent After Some of Their Followers Abandon Them

[وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ٱئۡتُونِى بِكُلِّ سَـٰحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ۬ -And Fir’aun (Pharaoh) said: “Bring to me every well-versed sorcerer]; meaning: ”Everyone who is proficient in magic; magicians who can perform different types of magic and are at different levels of proficiency in their field”. So when the magicians arrived to defeat Moosaa and Haaroon, Allaah says that Moosaa said to them: [أَلۡقُواْ مَآ أَنتُم مُّلۡقُونَ-Cast down what you want to cast!]; Moosaa said this to them because he did not care about what they were going to do first, for he was certain that he will defeat them and nullify their falsehood (by the aid of Allaah). So after they threw their ropes, which appeared as serpents in the eyes of the people, Allaah says that Moosaa said to them:

مَا جِئۡتُم بِهِ ٱلسِّحۡرُ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَيُبۡطِلُهُ ۥۤ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُصۡلِحُ عَمَلَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ

What you have brought is sorcery, Allah will surely make it of no effect. Verily, Allah does not set right the work of Al-Mufsidun (the evil-doers, corrupts, etc.); meaning: Indeed, you want to aid falsehood against truth and Allaah will nullify your actions.

This will also be the case with every corrupter- the one who uses tricks, devices plots and evil plans- for indeed his deeds will be of no effect. And even if he has weapons to aid him pursue his goal at a particular time period, however the end result will be nothing for him and Allaah will make the truth apparent. As for those who do righteous deeds for the sake of Allaah -deeds that are based on the beneficial ways and are based on what Allaah has commanded- then indeed Allaah will bless their deeds, make them bear righteous end results and make them remain (as a source of good for themselves & an example for others to follow).

So when Moosaa threw his staff, it became a real serpent and swallowed all the ropes that were thrown by the magicians and made to look like serpents in the eyes of the people, and thus their magic was nullified and their falsehood obliterated. Allaah [The Most High] says: [وَيُحِقُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحَقَّ بِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَلَوۡ ڪَرِهَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ – And Allah will establish and make apparent the truth by His Words, however much the Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, etc.) may hate it].

After the magicians witnessed the truth, they prostrated (in repentance to Allaah); so Fir’awn threatened them – that he will crucify them, and cut their hands and legs, but they gave no concern to Fir’awn’s threats; rather they remained steadfast upon their Eemaan. As for Fir’awn and his chiefs, then not a single one of them believed, rather they persisted upon transgression, and this is why Allaah [The Most High] says:

فَمَآ ءَامَنَ لِمُوسَىٰٓ إِلَّا ذُرِّيَّةٌ۬ مِّن قَوۡمِهِۦ عَلَىٰ خَوۡفٍ۬ مِّن فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِمۡ أَن يَفۡتِنَهُمۡ‌ۚ وَإِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لَعَالٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِنَّهُ ۥ لَمِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ

But none believed in Musa (Moses) except the offspring of his people, because of the fear of Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and his chiefs, lest they should persecute them; and verily, Fir’aun (Pharaoh) was arrogant tyrant on the earth, he was indeed one of the Musrifun (polytheists, sinners and transgressors, those who give up the truth and follow the evil, and commit all kinds of great sins).

[فَمَآ ءَامَنَ لِمُوسَىٰٓ إِلَّا ذُرِّيَّةٌ۬ – But none believed in Musa (Moses) except the offspring of his people]; Meaning: The youth amongst Bani Israa’eel, who exercised patience due to the Eemaan that was firmly established in their hearts, whilst being in a state of fear because Fir’awn had complete authority and power in the land, so it is expected that he will seek to punish them, for he was an extreme transgressor.

And the wisdom -and Allaah knows best- behind the fact that only the offspring of Moosaa’s people believed in Moosaa, is because the offspring- the youth- are more likely to accept the truth and quicker to submit to it, as opposed to the old people and those similar to them – those who were brought up in a religion of disbelief, for indeed due to the corrupt creed that is established in their hearts, they are the ones most likely not to accept the truth. (6)

Whoever Perpetrates These Three Crimes Will Be Hunted By Them

It used to be said that whoever perpetrates these three acts  will be haunted by them:

Rebellion against Allaah’s commandments: Allaah [The Most High] said: [يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغْيُكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِكُمْ – O mankind! Your rebellion (disobedience to Allah) is only against your ownselves]. [Soorah Yoonus: Ayah: 23]

Evil plotting: Allaah [The Most High] said: [وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ – But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it]. [Soorah Faatir: Ayah: 43]

[3] Breaking pledges: Allaah [The Most High] said: [فَمَنْ نَكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنْكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ – Then whosoever breaks his pledge only breaks it to his own harm]. [Soorah Al-Fath: Ayah: 10] (7)

[Ref 1, 2 and 3: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam As-Sadi (rahimahullaah)]
[Ref 4: Roohul Ma’aanee]
[Ref 5: Zaadul Maseer Fee Ilmit Tafseer]
[Ref 6: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam As-Sadi (rahimahullaah)]

[Ref 7: Kitaab Uyoonul Akhbaar of Ibn Qutaybah (rahimahullaah) Vol 1: page: 149]