Reflect, then, on this. May Allah Most High guide us to His straight path—the path of those whom He has blessed, not of those who have incurred wrath or gone astray.

He described some Jews as associating partners with Him when He said:

“The Jews say, ‘Ezra is the son of Allah.’”

And when He said:

“Say, ‘Shall I inform you of those whose recompense with Allah is worse than that? Those whom Allah has cursed and with whom He is angry, some of whom He turned into apes and pigs, and those who worshipped false gods.’”

Thus, among the Jews were those who worshipped idols and human beings. For whoever arrogantly rejects the truth is afflicted with submission to falsehood, so that the arrogant person becomes one who associates partners with Allah. Allah thus mentioned that Pharaoh and his people, despite their arrogance and denial, associated partners with Him. He related the words of the believer from Pharaoh’s household:

“My people! Why do I call you to salvation while you call me to the Fire? You call me to disbelieve in Allah and associate with Him that of which I have no knowledge, while I call you to the Almighty, the All-Forgiving. Without doubt, what you call me to has no claim to worship in this world or in the Hereafter.”

He also said:

“Joseph had already come to you before with clear proofs,” to the end of the verse.

Joseph, the truthful, said to them:

“My two fellow prisoners! Are separate lords better, or Allah, the One, the All-Subduing? You worship besides Him nothing but names that you and your forefathers have invented, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Judgment belongs to Allah alone. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know.”

Allah Most High also said:

“The chiefs of Pharaoh’s people said, ‘Will you leave Moses and his people to spread corruption in the land and abandon you and your gods?’ He said, ‘We will kill their sons and spare their women. We certainly hold mastery over them.’”

If it is asked: “How could Pharaoh’s people have associated partners with Allah, when Allah has told us concerning Pharaoh