“for fear of Pharaoh and their chiefs.” It was said that by Pharaoh is meant the household of Pharaoh—that is, “for fear of Pharaoh’s household and their chiefs”—just as He says, “Ask the town” (Joseph 12:82), meaning, its people.

It was also said that He said, “and their chiefs,” although Pharaoh was but one man, because when a king is mentioned, he is understood to include both himself and his companions, just as one says, “The caliph has arrived,” meaning he and those with him.

It was also said that what is meant is the chiefs of those descendants, since their chiefs were from Pharaoh’s people.

“lest he persecute them,” meaning, turn them away from their religion. He did not say, “lest they persecute them,” because the statement refers to Pharaoh, while his people followed the same way as Pharaoh. “Indeed, Pharaoh was exalted,” meaning, arrogant, “in the land, and he was surely among those who exceed all bounds”—those who transgress the limits—because he was a servant of Allah yet claimed lordship.

“And Moses said, ‘O my people, if you truly believe in Allah, then place your trust in Him, if you are Muslims.’ (84) They said, ‘In Allah we place our trust. Our Lord, do not make us a trial for the wrongdoing people, (85) and save us, by Your mercy, from the disbelieving people.’ (86) And We revealed to Moses and his brother, ‘Settle your people in houses in Egypt, make your houses places of prayer, establish the prayer, and give glad tidings to the believers.’ (87)”

“And Moses said” to the believers among his people, “O my people, if you truly believe in Allah, then place your trust in Him, if you are Muslims.”

“They said, ‘In Allah we place our trust,’” that is, we rely upon Him. Then they supplicated, saying, “Our Lord, do not make us a trial for the wrongdoing people,” meaning: Do not give them power over us, nor destroy us at their hands, lest they think that we were not upon the truth and thereby increase in their tyranny.

Mujahid said: Do not punish us with a punishment from Yourself, lest Pharaoh’s people say, “Had they been upon the truth, they would not have been punished,” and suppose themselves to be better than us, thus being led into trial.

“And save us, by Your mercy, from the disbelieving people.”

Allah’s saying, “And We revealed to Moses and his brother,” Aaron, “Settle your people in houses in Egypt”: one says that a man settled himself in a house or a sleeping-place when he adopted it for himself; and I settle him there when I provide it for him. “Make your houses places of prayer.” Most exegetes said: ⦗171/b⦘ The Children of Israel used to pray only in their synagogues and churches, which were visible and public. When Moses was sent, Pharaoh ordered them demolished and prevented the Children of Israel from praying. They were therefore commanded to establish places of worship in their homes and pray there out of fear of Pharaoh. This was the view of Ibrahim and Ikrimah, as narrated from Ibn Abbas.

Mujahid said: Moses and those with him feared Pharaoh, and so feared praying in the congregational synagogues. They were commanded to make places of worship in their homes, facing the Kaabah, and to pray there secretly. Its meaning is: Make your houses face the direction of prayer.

Ibn Jurayj narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Kaabah was the direction of prayer for Moses and those with him.

“Establish the prayer, and give glad tidings to the believers,” O Muhammad.