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fa-mā ʾāmana li-mūsā ʾillā dhurriyyatun min qawmihī ʿalā khawfin min firʿawna wa-malaʾihim ʾan yaftinahum wa-ʾinna firʿawna la-ʿālin fī l-ʾarḍi wa-ʾinnahū la-mina l-musrifīna
But none believed in Moses except some youths from among his people, for the fear of Pharaoh and his elite that he would persecute them. For Pharaoh was indeed a tyrant in the land, and indeed he was an unrestrained [despot].
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Yunus – Verse 83
83. “But none believed in Moses save some children of his people, because of the fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs, that they would torment them; and verily, Pharaoh was mighty on the earth, and verily, he was of the extravagant.”
In the beginning, the Qur’an describes the situation of the first group of those who believed in Moses, saying that after this (event) no one believed in Moses except a group of his own offspring. This tiny group, which becomes apparent by use of the Qur’anic word /ŏurriyah/ (children), was formed mostly from among the youth and young adolescents. They were under tremendous pressure from the side of Pharaoh and his associates, and feared the Pharaohnic system which, by putting pressure upon the believers tried to dissuade them, and make them quit the religion of Moses.
The verse says:
“But none believed in Moses save some children of his people, because of the fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs, that they would torment them;...”
Pharaoh was an arrogant man in that land, indulgent and violent, and he recognized no boundaries and limits. The verse continues saying:
“…and verily, Pharaoh was mighty on the earth, and verily, he was of the extravagant.”