Surah Yunus, Ayah 83
Quran 10:83 · Jonah · Makki · Para 11 · Page 218
فَمَاۤ اٰمَنَ لِمُوْسٰۤی اِلَّا ذُرِّیَّةٌ مِّنْ قَوْمِهٖ عَلٰی خَوْفٍ مِّنْ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَاۡىِٕهِمْ اَنْ یَّفْتِنَهُمْ ؕ وَاِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ لَعَالٍ فِی الْاَرْضِ ۚ وَاِنَّهٗ لَمِنَ الْمُسْرِفِیْنَ ۟
Transliteration
Fama amana limoosa illathurriyyatun min qawmihi AAala khawfin minfirAAawna wamala-ihim an yaftinahum wa-inna firAAawna laAAalinfee al-ardi wa-innahu lamina almusrifeen
Saheeh International
But no one believed Moses, except [some] offspring [i.e., youths] among his people, for fear of Pharaoh and his establishment that they would persecute them. And indeed, Pharaoh was haughty within the land, and indeed, he was of the transgressors.
Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir
The people resolved to turn away and none accepted Moses (peace be upon him), despite the open miracles and clear proof he brought, besides a few youth from his people, the Israelites. Those who persisted in rejection did so out of fear that Pharaoh and the nobles from his people would turn them away from their faith by imposing a punishment on them if they came to know of their belief. Pharaoh was high-handed in his authority over Egypt and its people, and he was of those who overstepped the limit with respect to disbelief and in killing and punishing the Israelites.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)
But none believed in Musa except the offspring of his people, because of the fear of Fir'awn and his chiefs, lest they should persecute them; and verily, Fir'awn was an arrogant tyrant on the earth, he was indeed one of the transgressors (83)
Only a Few Youth from Fir'awn's People believed in Musa
Allah tells us that despite all the clear signs and irrefutable evidence Musa came with, only a few offspring from Fir'awn's followers believed in him. They were even scared that Fir'awn and his followers would force them to return to Kufr (disbelief). Fir'awn was an evil tyrant and extremely arrogant. His people feared him and his power too much. Al-'Awfi reported that Ibn 'Abbas said:
فَمَا آمَنَ لِمُوسَىٰ إِلَّا ذُرِّيَّةٌ مِّن قَوْمِهِ عَلَىٰ خَوْفٍ مِّن فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِمْ أَن يَفْتِنَهُمْ
(But none believed in Musa except the offspring of his people because of the fear of Fir 'awn and his chiefs, lest they should persecute them.)
The offspring that believed in Musa from Fir'awn's people, other than Banu Israel, were few. Among them were Fir'awn's wife, the believer who was hiding his faith, Fir'awn's treasurer, and his wife.
The Children of Israel, however, themselves believed in Musa, all of them. They were glad to see him coming. They knew of his description and the news of his advent from their previous Books. They knew that Allah was going to save them through him from the capture of Fir'awn and give them power over him. So when this knowledge reached Fir'awn he was very wary. But his caution and weariness didn't help him one bit. When Musa arrived, Fir'awn subjected them to great harm, and
قَالُوا أُوذِينَا مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَأْتِيَنَا وَمِن بَعْدِ مَا جِئْتَنَا ۚ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ
(They said: "We (Children of Israel) suffered troubles before you came to us, and since you have come to us." He said: "It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you successors on the earth, so that He may see how you act?')[7:129] The fact that all of the Children Israel became believers is evidenced by the following Ayat: