Surah Al-Mu'minoon 23:46
ﱩ ﱪ ﱫ ﱬ ﱭ ﱮ ﱯ
To Pharaoh and his establishment, but they were arrogant and were a haughty people.
Tafsir of Al-Mu'minoon 23:46
Tafsir
Ruh al-Ma'ani
Verse range: 23:46
(To Pharaoh and his chiefs)
Meaning his noblemen; they were specifically mentioned because the sending forth of the Children of Israel—which was one of the reasons for which they [Moses and Aaron] were sent—was contingent upon their opinions. It is also possible that "the chiefs" (al-mala') is intended to mean his people generally, as the term is used to mean a group in an absolute sense.
(But they behaved arrogantly)
They were arrogant regarding submission to what they were commanded and invited to—namely, faith, the sending forth of the Children of Israel, and the cessation of their torture. This invitation was not limited to the sending forth of the Children of Israel and releasing them from bondage; for in Surah an-Nazi‘at, it is stated: "Go to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed. And say, 'Would you [be willing to] purify yourself, and let me guide you to your Lord so you would fear [Him]?'" Furthermore, the context in which we are currently situated provides evidence against such limitation.
(And they were a people who were exalting themselves)
Meaning arrogant, or overbearing through transgression and oppression. The intent is that they were a people whose habit was exalting themselves.