Haman
Who is Haman, who is mentioned in several surahs of the Quran?
The name Haman appears in six verses of the Quran alongside Pharaoh. Based on Pharaoh's command to Haman, he was Pharaoh's minister and obedient servant. In some tafsirs (Quranic exegeses), Haman is also identified as Pharaoh's minister and Qarun (Korah) is described as Pharaoh’s treasurer. In Surah Qasas, the Quran mentions Pharaoh's and Haman’s troops, which indicates Haman’s influence and power in Pharaoh’s court.
Haman in the Quran
The word "Haman" appears in six verses in the Quran:
- ﴾وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِی الْأَرْضِ وَنُرِیَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَحْذَرُونَ﴿
- ﴾إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا كَانُوا خَاطِئِينَ﴿
- ﴾فَأَوْقِدْ لِی يَا هَامَانُ عَلَی الطِّينِ فَاجْعَلْ لِی صَرْحًا لَعَلِّی أَطَّلِعُ إِلَیٰ إِلٰهِ مُوسَیٰ﴿
- ﴾وَقَارُونَ وَفِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مُوسَیٰ بِالْبَیِّنَاتِ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا فِی الْأَرْضِ وَمَا كَانُوا سَابِقِینَ﴿
- ﴾إِلَیٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَقَارُونَ فَقَالُوا سَاحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ﴿
- ﴾وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ یَا هَامَانُ ابْنِ لِی صَرْحًا لَعَلِّی أَبْلُغُ الْأَسْبَابَ﴿
The Meaning of Haman
In all the verses where the name Haman is mentioned, it appears alongside Pharaoh. Given Pharaoh's command to Haman to construct a building, Haman was Pharaoh’s obedient minister. Another important point in the verses is the mention of Haman alongside Pharaoh and Qarun, which highlights the significance of Haman's position. [1]
Haman was Pharaoh's minister and Qarun was his treasurer. [2] [3]
Haman had so much influence in Pharaoh's court that the Quran, in verse 6 of Surah Qasas, refers to Pharaoh's and Haman’s armies collectively as "Pharaoh and Haman’s troops". [4]
The three figures mentioned in verse 24 of Surah Ghafir symbolize different things: Pharaoh represents tyranny and rebellion, and the rule of oppression; Haman represents evil scheming and satanic plans; and Qarun symbolizes the wealthy oppressor who spared no effort to preserve his wealth. [5]
Sources
- ↑ Qureshi, Ali Akbar, *Qamus al-Quran*, Qom, Dar al-Kitab al-Islamiyya, Vol. 12, 1376, Vol. 7, p. 165.
- ↑ Tabarsi, Fazl ibn Hasan, *Majma' al-Bayan fi Tafseer al-Quran*, Tehran, Nasir Khosrow, 3rd ed., 1372 SH, Vol. 8, p. 808.
- ↑ Qurtubi, Muhammad ibn Ahmad, *Al-Jami' li Ahkam al-Quran*, Tehran, Nasir Khosrow, 1st ed., 1364 SH, Vol. 15, p. 304.
- ↑ Makarem Shirazi, Nasser, *Tafseer-e-Namuna*, Tehran, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyya, 10th ed., 1371 SH, Vol. 16, p. 16.
- ↑ Makarem Shirazi, Nasser, *Tafseer-e-Namuna*, Tehran, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyya, 10th ed., 1371 SH, Vol. 20, p. 76.