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wa-qāla mūsā rabbanā ʾinnaka ʾātayta firʿawna wa-malaʾahū zīnatan wa-ʾamwālan fī l-ḥayāti d-dunyā rabbanā li-yuḍillū ʿan sabīlika rabbanā ṭmis ʿalā ʾamwālihim wa-shdud ʿalā qulūbihim fa-lā yuʾminū ḥattā yarawu l-ʿadhāba l-ʾalīma
Moses said, ‘Our Lord! You have given Pharaoh and his elite glamour and wealth in the life of this world, our Lord, that they may lead [people] astray from Your way! Our Lord! Blot out their wealth and harden their hearts so that they do not believe until they sight the painful punishment.’
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Yunus – Verse 88
88. “And Moses said: ‘Our Lord! Verily You have given to Pharaoh and his chiefs adornment and wealth in the life of this world, Our Lord! so that they mislead (men) from Your Path. Our Lord! Destroy their wealth, and harden their hearts, so they will not believe until they see the painful penalty’.”
The Qur’an then refers to one of the reasons for the rebellion of the Pharaoh and his adherents, by mentioning the statement of Moses to his Lord where he talks about the wealth and luxury that Pharaoh and his followers had in the world. This wealth and luxury had the effect of seducing the people away from the true Path. The verse says:
“And Moses said: ‘Our Lord! Verily You have given to Pharaoh and his chiefs adornment and wealth in the life of this world, Our Lord! so that they mislead (men) from Your Path...”
Thus Moses (as) asked Allah to destroy their belongings so that they could not benefit from them, and to take their power away from them that they might be able to reflect and meditate upon the reality of existence. The verse says:
“…Our Lord! Destroy their wealth, and harden their hearts...”
By losing these two capitals, they would quickly degenerate and move a step closer to annihilation, thus making it more possible for the Children of Israel to inflict the last blow upon them. This prayer was not because of revenge or retaliation but it was because they did not have the slightest preparedness for accepting faith. The verse says:
“…so they will not believe until they see the painful penalty’.”