The Seven Tactics of Oppressors: from the Story of Musa (peace be upon him) and Firaun
Throughout history, oppression has followed predictable patterns, and tyrants have repeated the same tactics to silence dissent and maintain their grip on power. The exchange between Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and Firaun depicted in Surat Ash-Shu’ara, offers a blueprint of oppression that we still see being used today.
Allah Almighty commanded Musa (peace be upon him) and his brother Haroon (peace be upon him) to approach Firaun, as His representatives and ask him to end his brutal regime and release Bani Isra’il, who have been brutally oppressed.
Allah instructed Musa (peace be upon him):
فَأْتِيَا فِرْعَوْنَ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ١٦
So go, both of you, to Pharaoh and say, ‘We both are messengers of the Lord of all the worlds, 26:16
أَنْ أَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ١٧
(sent with the message) that you must send the children of Isrā’īl with us’”. 26:17
What unfolds next is Firaun’s deployment of the seven classic tactics of oppression to suppress truth and justice.
1. Character assassination
The first and most common weapon of an oppressor is personal attack. Instead of engaging with the truth of Musa’s (peace be upon him) message, Firaun seeks to discredit him by bringing up his past.
Firaun reminds Musa (peace be upon him) that he was raised in Firaun’s palace, attempting to paint him as an ungrateful guest rather than a messenger of truth.
قَالَ أَلَمْ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدًۭا وَلَبِثْتَ فِينَا مِنْ عُمُرِكَ سِنِينَ ١٨
He (Pharaoh) said, “Did we not nourish you among us as a child? And you remained amidst us for years, 26:18
He then brings up the accidental killing of a man by Musa (peace be upon him), using it as a tool to sway public opinion against him.
وَفَعَلْتَ فَعْلَتَكَ ٱلَّتِى فَعَلْتَ وَأَنتَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ١٩
and you did the blunder you did; still you are ungrateful.” 26:19
Firaun is using the same template used by oppressors whenever they wish to suppress their opponent. They brand them with labels and that reveal everything but the truth. They never acknowledge the facts and the truth. Similarly, continuous allegations were thrown at Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by the chiefs of Makkah and leaders of the Quraysh. Prior to Islam, he was renowned for being truthful and trustworthy, but all that changed when their self-interests came under threat.
We see this same tactic used across the world. When whistleblowers, activists, or political dissidents emerge, oppressors dig into their pasts, highlighting mistakes—even if unintentional or irrelevant—to undermine their credibility.
This is a universal strategy across political debates, media manipulation, and corporate power struggles. Rather than addressing real concerns, oppressors focus on character attacks to shift public perception.
The irony is that while Firaun is pointing out the one accidental death that Musa (peace be upon him) was involved with, he deflects attention from the bloody massacres that he has been responsible for and the fact he has enslaved Bani Isra’il.
Musa (peace be upon him) clarifies the reality of what took place and restates that since then Allah has chosen him to deliver His message to Firaun. He brings Firaun back to the point that he has enslaved Bani Isra’il.
قَالَ فَعَلْتُهَآ إِذًۭا وَأَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ٢٠
He said, “I did that at a time when I was mistaken. 26:20
فَفَرَرْتُ مِنكُمْ لَمَّا خِفْتُكُمْ فَوَهَبَ لِى رَبِّى حُكْمًۭا وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ ٢١
Then I fled away from you when I feared you. Thereafter my Lord granted wisdom to me, and made me one of the messengers. 26:21
وَتِلْكَ نِعْمَةٌۭ تَمُنُّهَا عَلَىَّ أَنْ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٢٢
As for the favour with which you are obliging me, it is that you have enslaved the children of Isrā’īl.” 26:22
2. Avoid discussion of real facts
Rather than responding to Musa’s (peace be upon him) point, Firaun refuses to engage with the truth. Instead, he goes off the subject.
قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَا رَبُّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٢٣
Pharaoh said, “What is the Lord of the worlds?” 26:23
Musa (peace be upon him) affirms that Allah is the Lord of all creation, including all of Firaun’s ancestors.
قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ ٢٤
He (Mūsā) said, “Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever there is between them, if you are to believe” 26:24
قَالَ لِمَنْ حَوْلَهُۥٓ أَلَا تَسْتَمِعُونَ ٢٥
He (The Pharaoh) said to those around him, “Are you not hearing?” 26:25
قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ٢٦
He (Mūsā) said, “Your Lord and the Lord of your early forefathers” 26:26
Modern oppressors use similar tactics by changing the subject or raising irrelevant questions in debates or media coverage. Instead of addressing violations of human rights, corruption, or illegal occupations, they redirect conversations towards other matters, hoping to divert attention from the truth.
3. Suppress voices for justice
When Musa (peace be upon him) stays firm, Firaun realises that he cannot afford to let him speak freely, as it threatens his authority. He vilifies him.
قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ لَمَجْنُونٌۭ ٢٧
He (Pharaoh) said, “Your messenger who is sent to you is a mad man indeed.” 26:27
This is a critical moment in every oppressive regime: free speech is dangerous because it awakens people. Thus, oppressors resort to censorship, arrests, and threats.
Musa’s points are difficult to refute. Allah is far greater than Firaun in every way. There is no comparison between Allah and Firaun, who is posing as a god.
قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ وَٱلْمَغْرِبِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ٢٨
He (Mūsā) said, “Lord of the East and the West and whatever lies between them, if you are to understand.” 26:28
This method is particularly visible in the Palestinian struggle. As truth about injustice and war crimes emerges, governments and media outlets work overtime to suppress these voices—branding activists as “extremists” or “threats to national security.”
Firaun begins to feel the heat. He has to shut down Musa (peace be upon him) to maintain his authority in front of his people. We see the parallel of this story in the current situation between Israel and their ruthless assault on Gaza. As the Palestinian plight becomes more and more visible around the world, and their fight against injustice and for freedom of their land, the Israeli government throws more and more false allegations against their supporters to silence them.
4. Resort to threats, violence, and imprisonment
Firaun escalates his tactics, seeing that discrediting Musa (peace be upon him) has failed. He directly threatens him with imprisonment for daring to worship Allah instead of Firaun.
قَالَ لَئِنِ ٱتَّخَذْتَ إِلَـٰهًا غَيْرِى لَأَجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْمَسْجُونِينَ ٢٩
He (Pharaoh) said, “If you adopt a God other than me, I will certainly put you to prison.” 26:29
Activists, journalists, and politicians who challenge oppressive regimes often face imprisonment, exile, or worse. Free speech is celebrated only when convenient, but repressed when it does not suit them.
5. Cast doubt on the opposition’s legitimacy
Even when faced with undeniable proof, Firaun still questions Musa’s (peace be upon him) credibility. Musa (peace be upon him) now demonstrates proof of his prophethood by performing miralces:
فَأَلْقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ ثُعْبَانٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ ٣٢
So, he threw down his staff, and in no time it was a serpent, clearly visible, 26:32
وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُۥ فَإِذَا هِىَ بَيْضَآءُ لِلنَّـٰظِرِينَ ٣٣
and he drew out his hand, and right then it was a white light to the onlookers. 26:33
قَالَ لِلْمَلَإِ حَوْلَهُۥٓ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ عَلِيمٌۭ ٣٤
He (Pharaoh) said to the chiefs around him “This man is certainly an expert sorcerer”. 26:34
Oppressors never admit the truth outright; instead, they plant seeds of doubt, they insinuate, question and cast doubt on the veracity of the opposition . This tactic aims to shake public confidence and maintain control.
Even when clear evidence of war crimes, corruption, or oppression is uncovered, governments and corporations never acknowledge them directly. Instead, they use disinformation campaigns or claim lack of proof to confuse people.
6. Accuse justice seekers of criminal behaviour
Unable to defeat Musa (peace be upon him), Firaun accuses him of sorcery—a tactic to shift blame and alter the narrative. Then appeals to the public to
يُرِيدُ أَن يُخْرِجَكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُم بِسِحْرِهِۦ فَمَاذَا تَأْمُرُونَ ٣٥
He wants to expel you from your land with his sorcery. So what do you suggest?” 26:35
This mirrors how oppressors twist reality today—labelling activists, freedom fighters, or revolutionaries as criminals to justify aggression.
7. Play the victim for sympathy
When Firaun states that Musa (peace be upon him) is the fooling people and oppressing them with his magic, he is not desperate, and trying to portray that he is the victim.
قَالَ لِلْمَلَإِ حَوْلَهُۥٓ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ عَلِيمٌۭ ٣٤
He (Pharaoh) said to the chiefs around him “This man is certainly an expert sorcerer”. 26:34
He is seeking public approval to frame himself as the oppressed party. This is one of the most dangerous tactics, because it distorts reality and secures international support.
We see this daily in global conflicts—those committing mass human rights violations portray themselves as innocent, under attack, manipulating world powers to back their oppression.
Firaun looks to his advisors and close cabinet of ministers for support – they are his tools of oppression, those who give their stamps of approval, and keep applauding him no matter what. We see this unquestioned approval among politicians. Recently we saw this in a session of Congress when the diplomats applauded a tyrant every time he made a comment. When the news reporters analysed the session, they reported 60 rounds of applause within a one-hour session, which is ridiculous.