Surah Ghafir 40:24
سُورَةُ غَافِرٍ · Meccan · Verse 24 of 85
إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَٰمَٰنَ وَقَٰرُونَ فَقَالُوا۟ سَٰحِرٌۭ كَذَّابٌۭ
Translation
to Pharaoh, Haman, and Korah and they said, ‘Sorcerer! Liar!’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
In Surah Ghafir, Allah recounts the story of Prophet Musa, peace be upon him, being sent to a formidable trio: Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun. This ayah, specifically, captures their immediate and profound rejection of Musa's message.
The Audience
Allah, the Exalted, is narrating this event to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and through him, to us. The address is to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt; Haman, his chief minister; and Qarun, a wealthy man from the Children of Israel who had sided with Pharaoh. This array of figures, political, administrative, and economic power, highlights the comprehensive nature of Musa's mission and the widespread opposition he faced.
Their Immediate Response
The verse tells us, "فَقَالُوا سَاحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ" (and they said: a sorcerer, a liar). The word "فَقَالُوا" (fa-qālū), starting with the conjunctive particle 'fa', indicates an immediate and decisive response. As Ibn Ashur notes, this accusation came swiftly, almost as an interjection, highlighting the arrogance and swift denial of those in power. They didn't pause to consider; they instantly dismissed.
The Weight of the Accusation
Notice the words they chose: "ساحرٌ كَذَّابٌ" (sāhirun kadhdhāb). The grammar here, as explained by al-Jalalayn and al-Jadwal, implies an unstated "هو" (he is). So, they declared, "He is a sorcerer, he is a liar." This directness gives their statement an air of absolute certainty and condemnation.
They called him "ساحرٌ" (sāhir), a sorcerer. This was a direct attempt to undermine Musa's clear signs and miracles, which Allah describes in the preceding verse as "سُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ" (clear authority or proofs). Al-Zamakhshari points out how they branded these undeniable proofs as mere "magic." By doing so, they not only rejected the truth but also distorted it, implying Musa's power came from trickery, not from Allah.
Even more, they called him "كَذَّابٌ" (kadhdhāb). This isn't just calling him a liar; al-Jadwal highlights that "كَذَّابٌ" is an intensive form (sighat mubalaghah), meaning an *extreme* or *habitual* liar. This word choice reveals the depth of their disdain and their intent to thoroughly discredit Musa. They didn't just disagree with him; they branded him as utterly deceitful, someone whose every claim was a fabrication.
This immediate, unequivocal, and intense rejection, by those who held power and influence, serves as a poignant lesson for us. It demonstrates how truth can be met with swift dismissal, distortion, and personal defamation by those whose interests or arrogance stand in its way, a pattern seen throughout history and reflected in the experience of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Ghafir 40:24 is discussed in 9 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Ghafir 40:24 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.