Website code number
en21996
Archive code number
40389
group
Hadith
Summary of question
In Shi’a narrations have some Muslim individuals been called Fir’aun (Pharaoh) or Hamaan?
question
In Shi’a narrations have some Muslim individuals been called Fir’aun (Pharaoh) or Hamaan?
Concise answer
Considering some of the similarities that exist between individuals, sometimes one person’s name may be used figuratively for someone else. This custom is prevalent in all languages and may be a reference to a positive or negative aspect. This is also not limited to human beings.
- The Prophet [Muhammad] (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and His family), said: "Aren't you satisfied with being unto me what Aaron (Harun) was unto Moses (Musa), but with this exception that there would be no prophet after me?"[1]
- The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and His family), said: Bear witness that the worst of creation from the beginning till end are twelve persons; six people from the past nations and six people from this nation. Then he named the six persons from previous nations: The son of Adam (peace be upon him), who killed his brother and Fir’aun and Hamaan and Qarun and Sameri and the Dajjal whose name is in previous nations but will emerge at the End of Time. As for the latter six and those who are from this nation: The one who has a long foxlike beard and the Fir’aun [of this nation] is Muawiyah and the Hamaan of this nation is Ziyad and the Qarun of this nation is Saied ibn ‘Aas, and the Sameri of this nation is Abu Musa Ash’ari Abdullah ibn Qays, because he like Sameri said ‘لا مساس’ meaning ‘Do not fight’ and the sixth person of this nation is Amru-ibn ‘Aas, who is Abtar ‘cut-off’ [as far as offspring/progeny].[2]
[1]. Tabarsi, Ahmad ibn Ali, Al-ihtijaj ‘ala Ahle al-lajaj, Vol.1, Pg. 51, Mashad, Murtaza Publication, First edition, 1403 AH.
"فَقَالَ (ص) لَهُ (ع): أَ مَا تَرْضَى أَنْ تَکُونَ مِنِّی بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَا نَبِیَّ بَعْدِی".
[2]. Saduq, Khisal, Vol.2, Pg. 458-459, Qom, Jam’eatul Mudaresin, First edition, 1983.
"أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ (ص) قَالَ شَرُّ الْأَوَّلِینَ وَ الْآخِرِینَ اثْنَا عَشَرَ سِتَّةٌ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِینَ وَ سِتَّةٌ مِنَ الْآخِرِینَ ثُمَّ سَمَّى السِّتَّةَ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِینَ ابْنَ آدَمَ الَّذِی قَتَلَ أَخَاهُ وَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَ هَامَانَ وَ قَارُونَ وَ السَّامِرِیَّ وَ الدَّجَّالَ اسْمُهُ فِی الْأَوَّلِینَ وَ یَخْرُجُ فِی الْآخِرِینَ وَ أَمَّا السِّتَّةُ مِنَ الْآخِرِینَ فَالْعِجْلُ وَ هُوَ نَعْثَلٌ وَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَ هُوَ مُعَاوِیَةُ وَ هَامَانُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَ هُوَ زِیَادٌ وَ قَارُونُهَا وَ هُوَ سَعِیدٌ وَ لسَّامِرِیُّ وَ هُوَ أَبُو مُوسَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ قَیْسٍ لِأَنَّهُ قَالَ کَمَا قَالَ سَامِرِیُّ قَوْمِ مُوسَى لا مِساسَ أَیْ لَا قِتَالَ وَ الْأَبْتَرُ وَ هُوَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاص"