فَلَمّا جاءَهُم بِآياتِنا إِذا هُم مِنها يَضحَكونَ
But when he brought them Our signs, behold, they laughed at them.
EXEGESIS
Brought them Our signs means ‘showed them Our signs’.[1]
The verb yaḍḥakūn (they laughed) stems from the infinitive ḍaḥik which refers to the brightening of the face and the revealing of teeth due to inner joy. Because teeth become visible during laughter, the front teeth are called ḍawāḥik. This infinitive is metaphorically used to denote mockery, and is usually intended when the verb is made transitive using the preposition min. For example, ḍaḥiktu minhu (I laughed at him) is said to express ridicule.[2] Because this verse also uses the verb with the preposition min, a more accurate translation would be the one employed by Yusuf Ali: ‘But when he came to them with Our Signs, behold they ridiculed them.’
Using the verb in the present continuous tense indicates that disregarding the message of truth and responding to it with a tumultuous and dismissive attitude had been the consistent approach of Pharaoh and his like.[3]
EXPOSITION
A cross-reference of verses detailing the confrontation between Prophet Moses (a) and Pharaoh reveals that Prophet Moses (a) initially substantiated his mission through clear, rational arguments for the exclusive worship of God (26:18-29). When dialogue alone failed to persuade Pharaoh and his chiefs, Prophet Moses (a) challenged them by saying, What if I bring you something manifest? (26:30), heralding the revelation of his miracles. During this inaugural encounter, Prophet Moses (a) demonstrated two signs: he cast down his staff which transformed into a serpent, and drew forth his hand which appeared radiant and white to the onlookers (26:32-33, 7:107-108).
Accepting Prophet Moses’ (a) claim that he was a divinely appointed messenger depended on him displaying some miracle – a requirement for all divine apostles. Therefore, the verse states that Prophet Moses (a) did indeed show them divine miracles, but alas, instead of accepting the truth, Pharaoh and his chiefs resorted to mockery and laughter.[4] Their response echoes the principle mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, How many a prophet We have sent to the ancients! There did not come to them any prophet but that they used to deride him (verses 6-7).
Historically, the societal elite have consistently responded to prophetic messages with derision and scorn, a pattern parallel to that of the Meccan polytheists (see verse 57 and 53:60). The experience of Prophet Moses (a) adheres to this paradigm; this verse illustrates how Pharaoh and his courtiers met his clear signs with mocking laughter. This ridicule was a calculated attempt to belittle the miracles and undermine their gravity.[5] Such conduct betrays a profound ignorance, as they failed to contemplate the dire consequences of rejecting these signs, thereby forfeiting the immense benefits of accepting Prophet Moses’ (a) mission.[6] Furthermore, exegetes interpret this verse as a directive for the faithful: those assured of their divine duty must remain steadfast, undeterred by the ridicule of detractors.[7]
Some scholars add that it seems unlikely that their first reaction to seeing the staff of Prophet Moses (a) turn into a serpent was to laugh. Even Prophet Moses (a), as courageous as he was, feared when he first saw the serpent on the mountain (28:31). If they were so unperturbed by the serpent as to simply laugh derisively at it, then we would have to admit that God chose a poor miracle to send to them. Rather, their first reaction was probably terror, which aligns with the narration that states that Pharaoh was on the verge of submitting.[8] It was only after deliberation that he was able to feign derision. It was at this time that they laughed in condescension at Prophet Moses (a) and his miracles, more as a tactic than a spontaneous reaction.[9] This interpretation is more obvious when, as mentioned in the Exegesis, the verse is translated as ‘they ridiculed them’.
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.[10]
- And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies andMy people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.[11]
- And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said. So the LORD said to Moses: “Pharaoh’s heart ishard; he refuses to let the people go.[12]
[1] Mizan, 18/109.
[2] Raghib, p. 501; Qamus, 4/173.
[3] Rahnama, 17/68.
[4] Munyah, 25/216.
[5] Mizan, 18/109.
[6] Tibyan, 9/204; Tabrisi, 9/77.
[7] Tibyan, 9/204.
[8] Bihar, 13/110.
[9] Rizwan Arastu, God’s Emissaries, p. 374.
[10] Exodus 4:21.
[11] Exodus 7:3-4.
[12] Exodus 7:13-14.