Pharaoh and the Devil. Who's Worse?

 

Pharaoh and the Devil. Who's Worse?

In the book an-Nawâdir by Sheikh Shayhabuddin Ahmad ibn Salamah al-Mishri ash-Shafi'i it is told, once Iblis came to Pharaoh and said, "Do you know me?"

“Ya,” sahut Fir'aun.

"You have beaten me at one point."

"What's that?" Pharaoh asked curiously.

“Your presumptuous claim to be a god. Truly, I am older than you, also more knowledgeable and stronger than you. But I dare not do it."

"You are right. But I will repent,” said Pharaoh.

"Don't be in such a hurry," persuaded Iblis la'natullah 'alaih , "The people of Egypt have accepted you as a god. If you repent, they will leave you, embrace your enemies, and destroy your power, until you fall in shame."

"You are right," replied Pharaoh, "But do you know who the inhabitants of this earth are worse than the two of us?"

Said the Devil, “Yes. People who don't want to accept other people's apologies. He's worse than me and you.