Surah Al-A'raf — Verse 110

Key Words and Phrases:

• يُرِيدُ أَن يُخْرِجَكُم – "He intends to drive you out" – meaning to expel and remove you from your land.
• مِّنْ أَرْضِكُمْ – "from your land" – referring to the land of Egypt, the homeland of the Coptic people.
• فَمَاذَا تَأْمُرُونَ – "So what do you command?" – meaning: What is your counsel and advice? This is a consultation from Pharaoh to his chiefs.

Explanation of the Verse:

This verse continues the scene of the confrontation between Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and Pharaoh, after Moses had performed the miracles of the staff turning into a serpent and his hand shining white – clear signs from Allah. The chiefs of Pharaoh's people, the nobles of Egypt, were alarmed and said to Pharaoh: "This is indeed a learned magician who wants to drive you out of your land." Then Pharaoh, addressing his council, said: "He intends to drive you out of your land" – meaning, this Moses wants to expel you, O people of Egypt, from your homes and your country, so that he and his people may take over.

Pharaoh was trying to stir up fear and tribal loyalty among his people, playing on their attachment to their land and their fear of losing their status and power. He then turned to them for counsel, saying: "So what do you command?" – i.e., what is your advice? What do you propose we do with him? This shows Pharaoh's cunning: he did not give his own opinion first, but rather asked his people to decide, so that the blame for the decision would fall on them collectively, and so that they would feel responsible for whatever came next. He wanted to make them partners in his tyranny and injustice.

This consultation, however, was not a genuine request for guidance, but rather a manipulative move to consolidate his authority and to prepare his people to accept the harsh measures he was about to take against Moses. The chiefs, as we see in the following verses, advised him to "defer" Moses and his brother and to send summoners to all cities to gather the magicians – a plan that ultimately failed by the will of Allah, for the truth of Moses prevailed and the magic of the sorcerers was shattered.

A Da'wah Reflection:

This scene teaches us a profound lesson about the nature of falsehood and its leaders. Whenever the truth appears with clear signs, the people of falsehood gather their forces, use emotional manipulation, and consult among themselves to find ways to suppress it. They appeal to people's fears – fear of losing their homes, their status, their comfort – to turn them away from the truth. But Allah's promise is true: falsehood is bound to vanish, and the truth will always prevail, no matter how great the conspiracy.

For us as believers, this verse reminds us to be steadfast in the face of intimidation and psychological warfare. The enemies of Islam may use every tool – media, economic pressure, social isolation – to make us fear for our land, our livelihood, or our safety, just as Pharaoh did. But we must remember that the earth belongs to Allah, and He gives it as inheritance to whom He wills among His righteous servants. So hold firm to your faith, trust in Allah, and never let the threats of tyrants shake your certainty. The end is always for the God-fearing.