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Hello, World. I am Naeema. I was born and raised in Somalia. I am a survivor of the Somali Civil War. After sometime in a Kenyan refugee camp, I was granted a home in the United States (Anaheim, CA) in November 1993 by the Clinton Administration and a relative). I am a proud citizen of the United States after passing my naturalization test (2/2003). I graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and University of San Francisco School of Law. I studied the Qur’an (over 30 years) and International Human Rights Law. I am a humanitarian. I am doing my part to work for World Peace. Thanks, World.

Who is Pharaoh (Fir’awn)?

Considering the Torah, Bible and Qur’an, who is Pharaoh (exclude Hadith)?

GoogleAI Mode: “In the Torah, Bible, and Qur’an, Pharaoh is the primary antagonist in the story of Moses, serving as a symbolic and literal archetype of tyranny and opposition to God. While both scriptures share the core narrative of his defiance and eventual downfall, they differ in linguistic usage and specific character details. 

  1. Linguistic Designation

Torah & Bible: The term “Pharaoh” (Hebrew: Parʿō) is used as a standard title for the Egyptian ruler across multiple eras, including the times of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses. The Bible uses the word over 270 times as a generic designation for the “Great House” of Egypt.

Qur’an: The Qur’an makes a specific distinction. The ruler during Joseph’s time is referred to as “King” (Malik), while only the ruler during Moses’ time is called “Pharaoh” (Firʿawn). Some scholars interpret Firʿawn in the Qur’an as a personal name rather than a title. 

  1. Key Characteristics and Actions

The Claim to Divinity: In the Qur’an, Pharaoh’s hubris reaches its peak when he declares, “I am your Lord, most high” (79:24), a specific claim of self-deification not explicitly worded this way in the Torah.

The Household of Moses:

Torah: Moses is rescued and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter.

Qur’an: Moses is adopted by Pharaoh’s wife (Asiya), who protects him from Pharaoh’s decree to slaughter male infants.

Oppression and Tyranny: Both texts describe him enslaving the Israelites and ordering the killing of their newborn sons to prevent a predicted uprising or due to fear of their growing numbers.

Response to Miracles: Pharaoh is presented as stubborn; in the Torah, God “hardens” his heart after he repeatedly refuses to release the Israelites. In the Qur’an, he dismisses Moses’ signs as “magic” and tries to compete with his own magicians. 

  1. The Fate of Pharaoh

The Drowning: Both traditions agree that Pharaoh and his army were drowned in the sea while pursuing the Israelites.

Preservation of the Body: Unique to the Qur’an is the statement that Pharaoh’s body would be preserved as a “sign” for future generations (10:92). 

  1. Historical Identity (Theories)

Neither the Bible nor the Qur’an explicitly names the specific historical king. Common scholarly candidates include: 

Ramesses II: Most widely proposed due to his long reign and massive building projects (like the city of Pi-Ramesses mentioned in Exodus).

Merneptah: Proposed because his stele is the first extra-biblical record mentioning “Israel”.

Thutmose III or Amenhotep II: Favored by those adhering to an earlier timeline for the Exodus.”

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