Surah ash-Shu`ara' (The Poets ) 26 : 20

Explanatory Note

Pharaoh then reminds Moses of the incident leading to the killing of the Egyptian, giving it an air of exaggeration: “Yet you have done that deed of yours...” It was a ghastly deed that should never be mentioned or described in real terms. Yet you did it “while being an unbeliever.” You did not believe then in the Lord of all the worlds, about whom you are now telling us. Thus we see Pharaoh making what he thought was a final argument and against which Moses would have no reply, especially his killing of an Egyptian and the punishment that could be inflicted on him. His words are clearly meant as an implied threat. Since God answered his prayer and cured his speech impediment, Moses rejoins with a clear reply. I did it when I was ignorant, rushing to defend anyone from among my people.