54فَاستَخَفَّ قَومَهُ فَأَطاعوهُ ۚ إِنَّهُم كانوا قَومًا فاسِقينَAli UnalThus did he make fools of his people and demeaned them, and they obeyed him. Assuredly, they were a people given to transgression.1As can be understood from the verses, the Pharaoh began to really fear the Prophet Moses, upon him be peace, and worried about what would happen. So, in order to secure his throne, he sent out heralds among the people to strengthen their obedience to him. He reminded them of his absolute dominion over Egypt, implying that the people led their lives in his land only by his generosity. Thus, they could only be his servants. Moreover, he tried to disgrace Moses, upon him be peace, in their eyes by reminding them that he belonged to an inferior class – the Children of Israel, who had long been serving them. He also claimed that Moses, upon him be peace, could not express himself clearly, although this was not true. There was no impediment in Moses’ speech, as some have thoughtlessly claimed (see sūrah 20, note 8; sūrah 21: 84, note 15). The Pharaoh fooled his people, and they blindly obeyed him, though for years they had been witnessing the truth clearly. Their obedience was not because they believed in the proclamations of the Pharaoh, but rather because they were a people given to a dissipated life-style and who recognized no rules to guide their behavior. They also feared the Pharaoh, as he could take their lives. So they followed him and shared with him his rebellion against God and his cruel treatment of Moses, upon him be peace, and his followers.