we have mentioned this in Surah Sad (1).
Abu Sa‘id al-Shurayhi informed us; Abu Ishaq al-Tha‘labi informed us; Ibn Fanjawayh informed us; Makhlad ibn Ja‘far narrated to us; al-Husayn ibn ‘Alawiyah narrated to us; Isma‘il ibn ‘Isa narrated to us; Ishaq ibn Bishr narrated to us, from Ibn Sam‘an, from ‘Ata’, from Ibn ‘Abbas: Pharaoh was called “lord of the stakes” because of a woman—the wife of Pharaoh’s treasurer, Hizbil. He was a believer who had concealed his faith for one hundred years, and his wife was the hairdresser of Pharaoh’s daughter.
One day, as she was combing Pharaoh’s daughter’s hair, the comb fell from her hand, and she said, “Wretched is whoever disbelieves in Allah.” Pharaoh’s daughter said, “Do you have a god other than my father?” She replied, “My God, your father’s god, and the God of the heavens and the earth are One, with no partner.” The girl rose and entered upon her father weeping. He asked, “What is making you weep?” She said, “The hairdresser, your treasurer’s wife, claims that your god, her God, and the God of the heavens and the earth are one, with no partner.”
So he sent for her and questioned her about it. She said, “She has spoken the truth.” He said to her, “Woe to you! Disbelieve in your God and acknowledge that I am your god.” She replied, “I will not do so.” He then stretched her out between four stakes and sent snakes and scorpions upon her. He said, “Disbelieve in your God, or else I shall torment you with this punishment for two months.” She said to him, “Even if you tortured me for seventy months, I would not disbelieve in Allah.”
She had two daughters, so he brought her elder daughter and slaughtered her near her. He said to her, “Disbelieve in Allah, or I shall slaughter the younger one before your very eyes.” She was still nursing. The woman said, “Even if you slaughtered everyone on the face of the earth before me, I would not disbelieve in Allah.” He then brought her younger daughter. When she was laid upon her mother’s breast and they intended to slaughter her, the woman became distraught. Allah then enabled her daughter to speak. She was one of the four who spoke in infancy, and she said, “My mother, do not grieve. Allah has built a house for you in Paradise. Be patient, for you are going on to Allah’s mercy and honor.” She was slaughtered, and soon thereafter she died; and Allah admitted her into Paradise.
He said: Pharaoh then sent men in pursuit of her husband, Hizbil, but they were unable to find him. Pharaoh was told, “He has been seen in such-and-such a place, on such-and-such a mountain.” So he dispatched two men after him. They came upon him while he was praying, with rows of wild beasts behind him, praying as well. When they saw this, they turned back.
Hizbil said, “O Allah, You know that I concealed my faith for one hundred years, and no one ever discovered me. Whichever of these two men conceals my matter, guide him to Your religion and grant him his desire in this world. But whichever of them exposes me, hasten his punishment in this world and make his final destination in the Hereafter the Fire.”
The two men returned to Pharaoh. One of them took heed and believed, while the other informed Pharaoh of what had happened publicly, before the assembled chiefs. Pharaoh asked him, “Was anyone else with you?” He replied, “Yes, so-and-so.” Pharaoh summoned him and asked, “Is what this man says true?” He replied, “No, I saw nothing of what he has said.” Pharaoh gave him a generous reward; as for the other man, he killed him and then crucified him.