English Translation of Al-Quran
[40].Surah Al Mumin (The Believer) also known as Surah Ghafir [The Forgiver]
Ayat 36. And Firaun (Pharaoh) said: “O Haman! Build me a tower that I may arrive at the ways,
Ayat 37. “The ways of the heavens, and I may look upon the Ilah (God) of Musa (Moses) but verily, I think him to be a liar.” Thus it was made fair-seeming, in Firaun’ s (Pharaoh) eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the (Right) Path, and the plot of Firaun (Pharaoh) led to nothing but loss and destruction (for him).
Tafseer of Surah Al Mumin (The Believer) Ayat 36 and 37. Pharaoh said: “O Haman! Build me a lofty palace, that I may attain the ways and means, Cf. 28:38. There are two points to be noted here. (1) Pharaoh, in the arrogance of his materialism, thinks of the Kingdom of Heaven like a kingdom on earth; he thinks of spiritual things in terms of palaces and ladders: notice that the word asbab (ways and means) is emphasized by repetition. (2) His sarcasm turns Moses and Allah to ridicule. Really, he does not believe in anything spiritual, and he frankly states that ‘for his part he thinks Moses is a liar’, though other men less lofty than he (Pharaoh) may be deceived by the Clear Signs of Moses. Ayat 37. “The ways and means of (reaching) the heavens, and that I may mount up to the Allah of Moses: But as far as I am concerned, I think (Moses) is a liar!” Thus, was made alluring, in Pharaoh’s eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the Path; and the plot of Pharaoh led to nothing but perdition (for him). Pharaoh’s speech shows how his own egotism and haughty arrogance brought him to this pass, that even the evil which he did seemed alluring in his own eyes! His heart was indeed sealed, and his arrogance prevented him from seeing the right path. (With the Kufi Qira’ah I read sudda in the passive voice). Pharaoh had plotted to kill Moses (40:26) and to kill the Children of Israel (40:25). The plot recoiled on his own head and on the head of his people who joined in the plot; for they were all drowned in the Red Sea.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Abu Said Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) said, “The best type of Jihad (striving in the way of Allah) is speaking a true word in the presence of a tyrant ruler.”
[Abu Dawud Hadith # 4344 and At-Tirmidhi Hadith # 2174].
Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Al-Mumin Ayat 37 “the plot of Firaun (Pharaoh) led to nothing but loss and destruction (for him)” Jihad has many degrees. Preaching virtue is also Jihad. The most meritorious of all is the effort of communicating the Message of Allah to an unjust ruler. Similarly, if a society is so much given to a vice that no one can dare to utter a word against it, then to protest against it can also be reckoned as the best Jihad.