Parables of the QuranA parable of the Quran · At-Tahrim 66:11–12

The wife of Pharaoh, and Maryam

مثل امرأة فرعون ومريم

A believing woman married to a tyrant was not harmed by him: she asked her Lord for a house near Him in the Garden.

Quran

What it means

For those who believe, Allah strikes the parable of Pharaoh's wife, who asked her Lord to build her a house near Him in the Garden and save her from Pharaoh and his deeds; and of Maryam the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity and believed in her Lord's words and books (66:11-12).

As-Sa'di names Pharaoh's wife as Asiyah bint Muzahim and says Allah described her with faith and humble prayer: she asked for the greatest of things, the Garden near her Lord, and to be saved from Pharaoh's trial. The lesson is that a believer's tie to a disbeliever does not harm her while she does what she must.

Evidence

QuranAt-Tahrim (The Prohibition)Quran 66:11

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ٱبْنِ لِى عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِى مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِۦ وَنَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ١١

And Allāh presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people."

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

11. And Allâh has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Fir‘aun (Pharaoh), when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir‘aun (Pharaoh) and his work, and save me from the people who are Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers in Allâh).

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