Tafsir of An-Nazi'at 79:23-24

Surah An-Nazi'at: Verses (23-24)

{فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ * فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ}

Translation and Exegesis:

"So he gathered and proclaimed, Then he said, 'I am your Lord, the Most High.'"

1. {فَحَشَرَ} (So he gathered): This means he assembled (the people/magicians), similar to the verse: {فَأَرْسَلَ فِرْعَوْنُ فِي الْمَدَائِنِ حَاشِرِينَ} (So Pharaoh sent among the cities gatherers) [Ash-Shu'ara: 53].
2. {فَنَادَىٰ} (Then he proclaimed): He proclaimed this (statement) in the place where they were gathered with him, or he commanded a caller to proclaim it to the people.
3. It is also said that he stood up among them as an orator and uttered these words.
4. According to Ibn Abbas, his first statement was: {مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرِي} (I know of no god for you other than myself) [Al-Qasas: 38], and his second statement was: {أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ} (I am your Lord, the Most High).

Analysis of Pharaoh's Claim:

We have previously explained in Surah Taha that it is impossible for a person to genuinely believe himself to be the Creator of the heavens, the earth, the mountains, the plants, the animals, and humankind. Knowledge of the falsity of this claim is self-evident (necessary knowledge); anyone who doubts it would be insane. If he were insane, it would not be permissible for God to send Prophets and Messengers to him.

Rather, Pharaoh was a materialist (Dahri), denying the Creator, resurrection, and accountability. He claimed: "No one has authority or prohibition over you except me, so I am your Lord in the sense of your nurturer and benefactor. The world has no God who could issue commands or prohibitions to you, or send a Messenger to you."

Al-Qadi (Al-Baqillani) stated that it would have been more appropriate for him, after his disgrace was revealed when the staff turned into a serpent, not to utter this statement. Because at the moment when his weakness and inability were manifest, how fitting was it for him to say: {أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ}? This verse indicates that at that time, he had become like a madman who does not know what he is saying.

{فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الْآخِرَةِ وَالْأُولَىٰ}

Translation: "So Allah seized him with the punishment of the Hereafter and the first [life]."

Exegesis:

When the Almighty recounted his actions and sayings, He followed it up with how He dealt with him, which is His statement: {فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الْآخِرَةِ وَالْأُولَىٰ} (So Allah seized him with the punishment of the Hereafter and the first [life]).