house of Pharaoh itself, for Pharaoh’s wife took him in and raised him in Pharaoh’s house. Pharaoh behaved arrogantly and exalted himself throughout the land. He told his people, “I am your lord, the most high,” and said to them, “I know of no god for you other than myself.” He also said, “Or am I not better than this man, who is contemptible”—meaning Moses—“and can scarcely make himself clear?” Allah Most High says:
“Thus he deceived his people, and they obeyed him.” [Al-Zukhruf: 54]
Seeking their affirmation, he said to his people:
“Does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, with these rivers flowing beneath me? Do you not see?” [Al-Zukhruf: 51]
He boasted of the rivers—that is, the waters—so he was drowned in water.
“The possessor of the stakes” means the possessor of strength, for his soldiers were to him like stakes. The ropes of a tent are fastened to stakes, thereby making it firm and stable. He thus had troops in vast multitudes, including sorcerers, soothsayers, and others. But Allah—Glory be to Him—is above all things.
“Those who transgressed throughout the lands”: transgression means exceeding the proper limit. This is also the meaning of the words of Allah Most High:
“When the water overflowed, We carried you aboard the vessel.” [Al-Hāqqah: 11]
That is, when the water rose beyond its limit, We carried you aboard the vessel—meaning the Ark built by Noah, peace be upon him. Thus, “Those who transgressed throughout the lands” means that they exceeded their limits and wronged the servants of Allah.
“And spread much corruption therein”: that is, moral corruption, which is followed by material corruption. The evidence for this is the statement of Allah—Glorious and Exalted is He:
“Had the people of those towns believed and been mindful of Allah, We would certainly have opened up for them blessings from heaven and earth. But they rejected the truth, so We seized them for what they used to earn.” [Al-Aʿrāf: 96]
For this reason, some scholars said regarding the words of Allah Most High:
“Do not spread corruption on earth after it has been set aright.” [Al-Aʿrāf: 56]
They said, “Do not corrupt it through sins.” Accordingly, the words, “And spread much corruption therein,” mean moral corruption. Moral corruption, however, is followed by material corruption. Among earlier nations, Allah Most High would utterly destroy these deniers, down to the last of them. But Allah has spared this nation that form of punishment and has instead made its punishment that its might would be