The Believer of Pharaoh's Family

The believer of Pharaoh's family was a man from Pharaoh's inner circle who, having believed in Musa's message, kept his faith hidden. When the council wanted to kill Musa, he defended him through reason and wisdom, without revealing his own belief, and tried until the end to bring his people back to God. God protected him from their plots.

When Pharaoh and his notables decided to put Musa to death, a man from Pharaoh's own entourage — a believer who concealed his faith — intervened.

He did not reveal himself. He argued calmly: why kill a man whose only fault is saying 'My Lord is Allah,' when he has brought proofs? If he lies, his lie will fall back on him; if he speaks truly, you will incur what he warns you of. He reminded his people that their power, however great, would not protect them from God's punishment.

He insisted further: 'Follow me, I will guide you to the right path,' showing them that this life is only a passage and that only the abode of the Hereafter endures. Before their stubbornness, he submitted entirely to God: 'You will one day remember my words.'

God preserved him from his people's criminal intentions, while Pharaoh and his kind were seized by the worst of punishments. According to tradition (and not the Quran), this man's name would be Hizqil.

This believer teaches another form of courage: that of wisdom and patience. One can serve the truth at the very heart of a hostile power, through reason rather than outward display, and leave the rest to God. His discretion was not weakness, but strategy in service of faith — and God protected him.

وَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَكْتُمُ إِيمَانَهُ أَتَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلًا أَن يَقُولَ رَبِّيَ اللَّهُ وَقَدْ جَاءَكُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ

Un croyant de la famille de Pharaon, qui dissimulait sa foi, intervint alors : « Allez-vous tuer un homme simplement parce qu’il affirme que son Seigneur est Allah, alors qu’il vous a apporté de la part de votre Seigneur toutes les preuves de sa sincérité ? S’il ment, il subira lui-même les conséquences de son mensonge. Mais s’il dit la vérité, alors vous subirez une partie du châtiment dont il vous a menacés. Allah ne saurait d’ailleurs guider un imposteur qui transgresse Ses lois.

40:28

فَسَتَذْكُرُونَ مَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَأُفَوِّضُ أَمْرِي إِلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ

Vous vous souviendrez un jour de mes paroles. Je m’en remets entièrement à Allah qui connaît parfaitement Ses serviteurs. »

40:44