This is what we hear from the pharaoh in the third verse and it reflects the thinking of the people of Egypt. The Pharaoh said this after Moses had gained superiority over the magicians of the court and his fame spread throughout the land. The Pharaoh wanted to erase the effect of Moses’ victory from the minds of the people so he wanted to say something extra-ordinary. He said, “O People! I do not know any god for you besides myself.”(1) But since I am a searcher for truth I will not throw caution to the wind. I have thought something that will expose the lies of Moses. He said, “So, burn for, O Haaman, bricks of clay, and build me a tower so that I may mount it and see the God of Moses.”(2) Even though I think that Moses is a liar. “And I verily deem him to be a liar.”
There is no doubt that the Pharaoh was a very clever person and it is not possible that he did not know that he was not God. He also understood that when Moses said the God of the heavens he meant the God who created the heavens not that He lived in the sky. Even if the sky was the abode of God no person at that time could raise a tower and reach Him because even from the heights the sky seems as far as it seems from earth. These were not the issues that the Pharaoh did not understand but his purpose was something else.
He wanted to disturb the thinking of the people by such statements for they now leaned towards Moses. He though that the construction of high rise or tower will keep the population busy for a long time.
Hundreds of people will make money while they work on such a tower and when the tower is ready he would go to the top and then return to tell them he could not find any trace of the God of Moses.
The thing that becomes evident from all of this is the lowliness of thoughts in the people of Egypt. They were not accept The True God but would the one that which could be sensed and seen. They thought that the God of Moses must be present in the sky just as their god the Pharaoh was physically present in their midst. It is only idolatry that is present in such a society.
In the fourth verse there is this dialogue with the polytheists and the strange excuses and objections that they raised against the Holy Messenger. Qura’n says, “They said, “We will never believe in you until you cause a spring for us to gush forth from the ground.” (3)
Some others said something different, “Or cause the heavens to fall upon us in pieces as you assert” or, “or bring God and the angels (to vouch for you) face to face (with us).” (4)
Their last demand clearly illustrates that they believed in the material existence of god. Some commentators think that by asking for the angels to come was that they should come and help god (5) or that they come and stand witness for His God-ship. This shows the lowly depth of their thoughts.
1. The word “Malaa’ according to the linguists means a group of people with one ideology and that this is evident to all. It originates from the word “Malu” and means to fill and so this word is used for a nation, its kings and their courtiers.
2. “Sarah” means free of defect and then it was used for something very high like towers or for a palace free of defects.
3. Yanbu originates from Naba’ which means a fountain of water.
4. Qabeel has been used for a group or opponent, benefactor, and witness and sometimes for all.
5. Tafsir Fi Zalal Al Qura’n Vol.5 Page 359
