Taha · Makki · ayah 51 of 135

Taha 20:51

قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ ٱلْقُرُونِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ

“[Pharaoh] said, "Then what is the case of the former generations?"”

Saheeh International

Essence

Unable to answer Musa's argument, Pharaoh changes the subject: and what about all the generations before us?

A reflection

When the argument is lost, change the subject

A fifteen-year-old is caught vaping behind the garage. His father starts to talk to him about his lungs. The boy cuts in: why was my cousin allowed to do worse at my age and nobody said anything? Suddenly the conversation is about the cousin, the father's fairness, the family's history. The boy's lungs are forgotten.

Pharaoh did the same. Musa had just answered 'who is your Lord?' in a way that left little room for reply. The One who gave each thing its form, he said, then guided it. Pharaoh's response was not a counter-argument. Qāla fa-mā bālu l-qurūni l-ūlā: then what about the former generations?

Two commentators say plainly what was happening. Pharaoh saw the clear proof Musa had set out. He feared the truth of it would become obvious to the people, and the emptiness of his own claims with it. So he tried to turn Musa away from his course, towards stories of the past that had nothing to do with the message. He hoped Musa would show some gap in his knowledge, so that he himself could appear wise in front of his court. One of them calls this the most likely link between the ayat.

A modern commentary names the tactic in two words: sophistry and stirring trouble.

This is worth recognising, because it is everywhere. In arguments at work, at home and online, a person who cannot answer the point raises a different one. What about this other case? What about that person? The new question may be interesting. But it is a door out of the room where the truth was standing.

The next ayah shows Musa's response. He answered briefly, refused the bait, and returned to his argument. When the subject is changed on you, notice it. You may answer kindly, but you do not have to follow.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.