A Favour Built on Slavery

The response of Mūsā was amazing — a very interesting response. Firʿawn had done Mūsā a favour, had he not? A big favour. He raised him for years in his palace as an adopted son, and took care of him all his life. How could you now come and talk to me this way? It is a big favour. But look at the response of Mūsā:

Is this a favour you are telling me about, when you have enslaved the children of Israel? What was the reason Mūsā was raised in the house of Firʿawn? It was because of Firʿawn's oppression of Banū Isrāʾīl. If it were not for that oppression, Mūsā would have been raised by his own parents. He did not need Firʿawn. He did not need Firʿawn. The only reason Mūsā was raised by Firʿawn was the oppression of Firʿawn against Banū Isrāʾīl — and because of that oppression, he ended up raising Mūsā. Otherwise Mūsā would have been in his own house; his mother would not have put him in the river. His mother put him in the river because of her fear of Firʿawn. If Firʿawn had not been oppressive — ẓālim — Mūsā would have been raised in his own house. So Mūsā is telling him: what favour are you talking about? That is not a favour. That is because of your oppression of Banū Isrāʾīl, so do not tell me it is a favour.