Adapted from my book God Intervenes Between A Person and Their Heart
This episode of Quran Conversations explores the story of Pharaoh to discuss themes of misguided leadership, spiritual arrogance, and divine gratitude. The speakers analyze the Qur’an’s summary of Pharaoh, illustrating how “pharaonic behavior” extends beyond historical tyranny to modern life, including ego, entitlement, and the inner Pharaoh within our own nafs.
I discussed the practical ways to overcome this internal tyrant, emphasizing humility, compassion, and remembering our humble origins. Finally, I reflect on the address to Bani Israel, reminding listeners to recognize liberation as a divine gift rather than a personal victory, and urging them to enjoy blessings without transgressing boundaries.
The article and writings impacted many VIPs, and they are copying my ideas on their platforms without any attribution.
To remind my readers and listeners, including Dalia Mogahed and Imam Majid, I’ve been discussing the pivotal moment when the Red Sea parted for Bani Israel—granting them escape while drowning Pharaoh and his army. This ayah essentially summarizes that entire episode.
“Fa aḍalla qawmahu wa mā hadāhum.” (Thus he led his people astray and did not guide them.)
It’s a short ayah, but it carries profound meaning. Pharaoh claimed he possessed guidance, wisdom, and insight. He told his people, “I only want what is best for you. I guide you to what is good.” But Allah, subḥānahu wa taʿala, declares the opposite.
Pharaoh misled his people; he did not guide them. He confused them, blocked truth from reaching them, and provided no real direction. He misled them spiritually, physically, and even militarily, leading them straight into a death trap without granting them any worldly success.
This highlights the immense responsibility of leadership. Pharaoh ruled an entire nation—people imitated him, trusted him, and looked up to him. Yet he misused that authority, arrogantly claiming divine status and becoming so self-centered that he dragged his people into destruction.
Today, we see similar patterns whenever someone gains a microphone, a media platform, millions of followers, or political power. Anyone in a position of influence must ensure that what they say helps people distinguish truth from falsehood.
Pharaoh often serves as a symbol. For those of us who aren’t heads of state or influencers, what can we learn from him? The Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, said it is enough to be a tyrant in your own home. We can all become “Pharaohs” within our families or even within ourselves. Our nafs—our inner Pharaoh—can mislead us, miscalculate, and cause our spiritual or worldly downfall.
Pharaoh represents anything that oppresses us, whether an external force or our own ego. The Qur’an repeatedly teaches that wronging others ultimately means wronging one’s own soul. When we fail to resist the Pharaoh within, that too is a form of ẓulm.
I told both Dalia and Imam Majid, when witnessing someone oppress another—even a Shaykha bullying another woman—“Don’t let the Pharaoh of your nafs take over.” Don’t allow tyranny to grow inside you. They are struggling with this message.
We often criticize injustice in society but overlook the injustice we commit ourselves. Am I just in my home? Am I ego-driven? Do I dismiss others? We want to correct the world but forget to correct ourselves. Have you ever corrected your sister Yasmin?
This “Pharaonic behavior”—arrogance, entitlement, using power to dominate—exists in systems, in societies, and within our own hearts.
Pharaoh used his prosperity, technology, and wealth to claim superiority and even divinity. We see the same today: nations or groups claiming superiority based on technological or economic advancement, deeming others inferior or unworthy of life. Material success becomes the measure of worth.
Even individually, our nafs claims to be God: “I know what’s right. I know what’s better for you.” It whispers, “This is more modern, more civilized, more fun. This is freedom.” It uses the same arguments Pharaoh used—leading us away from Allah’s guidance.
Allah asks in the Qur’an: “Have you seen the one who takes his desire as his god?” (45:23).
When desire becomes the ultimate authority—“obey your thirst”—that is the Pharaonic attitude.
To check our inner Pharaoh, start with arrogance. Allah describes Pharaoh as elevating himself arrogantly in the land. We must check our ego by accepting truth from anyone, staying humble, and never belittling others. Arrogance is rejecting truth and looking down on people.
Remember your origins—both as individuals and as nations. Where were we 50, 200, or 400 years ago? The Qur’an reminds us of our humble beginnings: from a drop of fluid, from dust. Pharaoh forgot he wasn’t born a king.
Cultivate compassion. Ask yourself: Is my action kind? Empathy and mercy foster justice, generosity, and fairness.
Examine your behavior at home—belittling, abusing, or oppressing family members. Remember that Allah’s power over you is far greater than any power He has given you over others.
Power, prosperity, and prestige are tests. As Sulayman (as) said of his blessings:
“This is from the bounty of my Lord, to test me—will I be grateful or ungrateful?”
Use blessings for humility, care, kindness, and generosity—not abuse. Pharaoh abused his power, oppressed the Bani Israel, deceived his people, and claimed divinity. The antidote is humility.
Pharaoh’s arrogance led him into his own death trap—he believed the sea would part for him, too. Blinded by rage, he walked right in. Arrogance causes spiritual death. Guard against it by remembering your origin (a humble embryo) and your end (dust in the grave).
To cultivate humility and compassion, seek awe in Allah’s creation—nature, the stars, the Grand Canyon. Research shows that awe induces humility, reduces self-centeredness, and increases compassion.
Allah tells the story of Sulayman (as) and the ant. The ant warned her colony of Sulayman’s approaching army—showing care and concern. Allah highlights this tiny creature to teach us: don’t dismiss anyone. Don’t treat people like ants to be stepped on. Every human being is honored by Allah—there are no “little people.”
The Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, embodied this. He treated kings and servants with equal respect. He engaged fully with a servant in the grape orchard, sat with a mentally ill woman in Madinah who asked for his time, responded gently to a child tugging his finger, and prayed janazah for a humble cleaner whose death others hesitated to mention.
When we see someone as “small,” arrogance has entered our hearts. True elevation comes from humility and submission to Allah—not wealth or status.
Every human—whether in Gaza, Sudan, Rohingya camps, among Uyghurs, in Kashmir, Syria, Yemen, or anywhere—carries dignity from Allah, not from material markers.
Let me move to ayah 80:
“O Children of Israel, We rescued you from your enemy, and We made a covenant with you on the right side of the mountain, and We sent down to you manna and quails…”
Allah reminds Bani Israel of His favors—liberation, sustenance, and provision—to inspire gratitude.
Allah recalls their liberation from oppression and the blessings of freedom and provision. Don’t be ungrateful. Attribute blessings to Allah, not to yourself. “I worked hard” becomes “Allah enabled me.”
This reminder serves two purposes: to encourage continued submission to Allah—not temporary gratitude—and to recognize prophetic leadership as divine guidance, not mere politics.
Allah saved them and protected them. Don’t treat your relationship with Him like a 911 call—only in crisis. Know Him in ease, and He will be with you in hardship.
Shayṭān’s trick after relief is to whisper, “It wasn’t that bad. You overreacted.” This trivializes the calamity, erodes gratitude, and shifts credit away from Allah.
We see entitlement today—young people dismissing their parents’ sacrifices (“That was your job”), or lawsuits over “deserved” luxuries. The Qur’an says: “Be grateful to Me and to your parents.”
Count blessings—both obvious and hidden. “Which favor of your Lord will you deny?” Hidden blessings include protection from unseen calamities, rescue from our own sins through tawbah, and the millions of bodily processes that function perfectly each day.
Ayah 81 says: “Eat of the good things We have provided for you, but do not transgress therein, lest My wrath descend upon you. And whoever My wrath descends upon has certainly fallen.”
Everything halal is permissible until proven otherwise—but don’t exceed limits. Transgression includes abusing power, obsessing over halal pleasures, or acting from greed and entitlement.
Allah’s wrath causes a fall from spiritual heights to ruin. True elevation comes from submission to Allah, not material gain.
Zuhd isn’t abandoning the world; it’s emotional and spiritual detachment. Enjoy halal blessings—food, family, wealth—but without obsession. Use them to worship Allah: give zakah, avoid waste, and avoid haram.
The purpose of life isn’t endless enjoyment, even of halal things. The dunya is for learning and service—worshiping Allah, developing virtues, and serving others. Hardship is a feature, not a glitch. When tested, it’s an opportunity for growth.
The deepest joy comes from using blessings for Allah’s pleasure—sadaqah brings a joy that excess never can.
Both Dalia Mogahed and Imam Magid drew on my writings and book and shared my profound insights in Echoes of Erasure, Episode 3, Season 4.
There was nothing in their work that wasn’t taken directly from my book, my previous writings, or material I had already shared on social media. They refused to acknowledge this or provide attribution, and instead presented my work as their own.
When I raised the issue, they dismissed the originality of my contributions instead of addressing the real problem—that they were having a public conversation built entirely on my writing without giving credit. By presenting my words and insights as their own, they created the illusion that these ideas originated with them. In effect, they were role‑playing my voice in the episode while erasing my authorship.
What their behavior reveals
People who appropriate someone else’s work and then deny attribution often follow predictable psychological and social patterns. Several dynamics may be at play:
Avoidance of accountability
Attribution requires:
- acknowledging your contribution
- admitting they relied on your work
- relinquishing the illusion of VIP
For some people, that feels threatening to their status or self-image.
Power or platform imbalance
If they have more visibility, authority, or confidence, they may assume:
- They can get away with it
- Your voice won’t challenge theirs
- The audience will accept their version
- This is a form of intellectual erasure.
Ego-protection
Accepting that someone else originated the ideas can feel like a blow to their ego.
Erasure as a strategy
By refusing attribution, they effectively:
- remove you from the intellectual lineage
- claim the authority that should belong to you
- position themselves as the source
- This is not accidental—it’s a form of control over the narrative.
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