Destroy Their Wealth, Harden Their Hearts

Mūsā made his duʿāʾ against Firʿawn, but he did not do it until he had exhausted every means possible. He used every possible means. Firʿawn was shown all of the signs, but he disbelieved in them and rejected them. Mūsā tried everything possible: soft words; presenting him with nine ayat, one after another; giving him targhīb and tarhīb. Nothing worked with Firʿawn. In the end, when Mūsā had used every possible means, Mūsā made the duʿāʾ against Firʿawn. And what did he say?

Mūsā said: O Allah, You have indeed bestowed on Firʿawn and his chiefs splendour and wealth in the life of this world. Mūsā is saying: O Allah, You have given Firʿawn a lot. And then what did he say? Rabbanā li-yuḍillū ʿan sabīlik — Mūsā is saying: they are using this wealth to mislead people from Your path. This wealth, which is in the hands of Firʿawn, is not used for Your sake; it is used against Your religion.

Rabbanā iṭmis ʿalā amwālihim — he said: O Allah, destroy their wealth. This wealth which they have, which they are using against Islam and against Your religion — O Allah, destroy it. Wa ushdud ʿalā qulūbihim — and harden their hearts. Fa-lā yuʾminū ḥattā yarawu al-ʿadhāba al-alīm — so that they will not believe until they see the painful torment.

Mūsā is making a duʿāʾ: do not guide Firʿawn. O Allah, do not guide him. Do not make him believe until he sees the punishment and it is too late. It is an interesting duʿāʾ. We usually always make duʿāʾ: O Allah, guide. Mūsā over here is making a duʿāʾ: O Allah, do not make him believe until he sees the painful punishment in front of his eyes — but then it is too late.

This duʿāʾ was not made in the first year or the second year. This duʿāʾ was made when Mūsā had reached the conclusion; he had tried every means possible. And he is making this duʿāʾ — why? Because he has seen that Firʿawn, and the evil of Firʿawn, is going to cause the misleading of the believers. So the maṣlaḥah, the interest, is in destroying Firʿawn and getting rid of him, because he has become a cause of misguidance for the guided.