The Believer
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.[40:28]
A believer, a man from among the people of Pharaoh, who had concealed
his faith, said: "Will ye slay a man because he says, ’My Lord is God’?- when he has
indeed come to you with Clear (Signs) from your Lord? and if he be a liar, on him is
(the sin of) his lie: but, if he is telling the Truth, then will fall on you something of the
(calamity) of which he warns you: Truly God guides not one who transgresses and
lies!
* v.28 : There is nothing to justify the identification of this man with the man mentioned in xxviii. 20, who warned Moses long before Moses had received his mission. On the contrary, in this passage, the man is evidently speaking after Moses had received his mission, preached to Pharaoh, and got a certain amount of success, for which Pharaoh and his people were trying, to seek his life. Moses had evidently already brought his Clear Signs.
* A commonsense view is put before them by an Egyptian who loves his own people and does not wish them to perish in sin. "Will you kill this man for calling on Allah? Have you not seen his character and behaviour? Do you not see the ’Clear Signs’ about him that bespeak his credentials? Suppose for a moment that he is a liar and pretender: he will suffer for his falsehood, but why should you turn against Allah? But suppose that he is really inspired by Allah to tell you the truth and warn you against evil, what will be your fate when Allah’s Wrath descends? For it must descend if he is a true Messenger sent by Allah."
* This is with reference to the "Clear signs". ’They are Signs of Allah’s guidance, for Allah would never guide a man who exceeds the bounds of truth and tells you lies! Such a man is bound to be found out!’