said the command of being gentle meant Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم should promise Pharaoh worldly and eternal blessings if he embraced faith, such as remaining youthful, retaining his kingship until death, enjoying food, drink, and marital comforts in this life, and entering Paradise in the Hereafter.

When Pharaoh heard this, he was pleased and considered accepting, but being accustomed to consulting Hāmān (his minister) on every matter, he delayed. When Hāmān came, Pharaoh told him, “I am considering accepting the guidance of Mūsā.”

Hāmān arrogantly replied, “I thought you were wise, but you want to lower yourself? You are a lord, yet wish to become a servant? You are worshipped, yet want to become a worshipper?”

Pharaoh, deceived by his minister, said, “You are right.”

Thus, he lost the chance and was deprived of faith.^[1]

A glimpse of divine mercy

Dear Islamic brothers! In Tafsīr Ṣirāṭ al-Jinān, it is written:

From this verse, we also see a glimpse of Allah Almighty’s immense mercy, that even with a rebellious and disobedient servant, He still commanded gentleness. Now, if this is His mercy towards a defiant servant, then how much greater will His mercy be for an obedient servant? When this verse was recited before Sayyidunā Yaḥyā b. MuꜤādh رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, he began to weep and said: “O Generous Lord! This is Your gentleness with that servant who says, ‘I am god.’ Then how will Your gentleness be with the servant who says, ‘You alone are the Creator.’ This is Your gentleness with that servant who says, ‘I am your supreme lord.’ Then how great will Your gentleness be with the servant who says, ‘My Lord is the Most High.’”^[2]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                          صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد