28. Surah Al-Qasad

The Quranic text and Ali’s version

وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرِي...

28: 38. Pharaoh said:

"O Chiefs! no god do I know for you but myself:

C3370. Pharaoh claimed, himself, to be God,-not only one god among many, but the only god: "I am your Lord Most High": 79:24.

At any rate he did not see why his people should worship any one but him.

...فَأَوْقِدْ لِي يَا هَامَانُ عَلَى الطِّينِ فَاجْعَل لِّي صَرْحًا...

therefore, o Haman! light me a (kiln to bake bricks) out of clay, and build me a lofty palace,

C3371. I understand his speech to his minister Haman to be sarcastic. But some Commentators have taken it very seriously and imagined that he actually thought of reaching the heavens by budding lofty towers.

...لَّعَلِّي أَطَّلِعُ إِلَى إِلَهِ مُوسَى...

that I may mount up to the god of Moses:

...وَإِنِّي لَأَظُنُّهُ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ﴿٣٨﴾

but as far as I am concerned, I think (Moses) is a liar!"

Asad’s version

(28:38) Whereupon Pharaoh said: "O you nobles! I did not know that you could have any deity other than myself! 38 Well, then, O Haman, kindle me a fire for [baking bricks of] clay, and then build me a lofty tower, that haply I may have a look at the god of Moses 37 - although, behold, I am convinced that he is of those who [always] tell lies!"