He Made Fools of His People

Allāhu akbar — this ayah, we need to understand it. Thus he, Firʿawn, befooled and misled his people, and they obeyed him. Firʿawn misled his people, and they obeyed him. Firʿawn treated them with humiliation, and they obeyed him. Why? Because they were corrupt people. Any people who fall into the trap of following a man like Firʿawn are corrupt. Any people who receive oppression and then give loyalty to that king or leader are corrupt. How could you give loyalty to a man like Firʿawn, who is oppressive, ẓālim? That is because of their corruption. If they were not corrupt, they would not agree to live under the dominion, under the rule, of Firʿawn.

And this ayah describes a great deal. When the leaders belittle the people and treat them with humiliation, and the people follow them, that is a sign of the corruption.