and described their words as ignorance and a departure from knowledge and reason, his own reason and knowledge are afflicted, and his ignorance is exposed as a punishment.

Whoever says that they deliberately lied, Allah exposes his lies; and whoever says that they are ignorant, Allah exposes his ignorance. Thus, when Pharaoh, Hāmān, and Korah called Moses a sorcerer and a liar, Allah related their words, saying:

“We certainly sent Moses with Our signs and clear authority”

“to Pharaoh, Hāmān, and Korah, but they said, ‘A sorcerer and a liar!’”

Pharaoh sought to have him killed and began finding fault with him, as in his words:

“Pharaoh said, ‘Let me kill Moses, and let him call upon his Lord! I fear that he may change your religion or spread corruption in the land.’”

He also said:

“Am I not better than this lowly man, who can hardly express himself?”

Allah destroyed Pharaoh, exposed his lies and fabrications against Allah and His messengers, utterly humiliated him, and rendered him incapable of speaking to any purpose: he could articulate no argument.

The Pharaoh of this community, Abū Jahl, used to be called Abū al-Hakam, but the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, named him Abū Jahl, meaning “father of ignorance.” He was indeed just as the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had named him: a father of ignorance, through which he brought ruin upon himself and his followers in this world and the Hereafter.

Those who said that the Messenger was cut off, meaning that he would die and his memory would cease, were punished by being cut off themselves, as the Most High said:

“Indeed, the one who hates you is the one cut off.”

No one hates the Messenger without Allah cutting him off—even the adherents of religious innovation who oppose his Sunnah. Abū Bakr ibn ‘Ayyāsh was told, “There are people in the mosque who sit to address others and expound religious innovations.”