Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and divided its people into factions,
slaughtering their sons and sparing their women.
The Qur'an calls him Fir'awn, Pharaoh, and gives him no other name.
Some modern authors identify him with a known king, such as Merneptah. That is a hypothesis, not a text.
Why the newborn boys? Ibn Kathîr explains: he feared a boy of the Children of Israel would cause his fall.
Some accounts add a dream, explained by his priests. That detail is not in the Qur'an.
And to show Pharaoh, Hâmân and their soldiers, through them, the very thing they feared.
Hâmân appears here for the first time, beside Pharaoh. You will meet him again.
And We wished to show favor to those who were oppressed in the land.
Pharaoh wants. Allah wants. The verses set the two wills side by side, and only one will be done.
In such a year, the mother of Mûsâ (peace be upon him) gives birth to a son.
Ibn Kathîr reports a striking detail: her pregnancy did not show, and none of the watchers noticed.
And We inspired the mother of Mûsâ: “Nurse him.
And when you fear for him, cast him into the river.
Do not fear, and do not grieve.
We will bring him back to you, and make him one of the messengers.”
Two orders, two forbiddings, two promises: all in one verse.
A king who calls himself a god, and a people he crushes.
Into that land, in the worst of years, a boy is born.
Casting her son into a river was no plan anyone would choose. She obeyed, holding on to the promise.
Tonight, hand Allah one worry you cannot carry, and repeat to yourself: do not fear, do not grieve.