Assalamu'alaikum wr wb,
From what little i've learned so far it's not always about "who" but "what", although it's often "who" too.
When we say: wa na'udhubillahi min shuroori anfusina wa min sayyi-aati a'malina.
We are referring to the resilts of whisperings and deeds that come out of us - us meaning self and mankind.
A general method of the inadequate/narrow minded is to just turn it into "teams" blindly.
Thereby justifying any act as reasonable since its about winning against the "other" team and not actually about true success.
There is throughout history always a hierarchy which utilizes this base trait in humans and feeds off greed and selfishness.
Allah describes pharaoh as one of these manipulators in the opening verses of surah al qasas ch.28.
Some also draw fake boundaries and create a tribal sentiment.
I remember once being told by a desperate person: it's "God against Allah" lol.
It is interesting to note in the previous scripture that Musa (as) asks Allah who he should say sent him? and the reply is: "i am what i am",
So instead of giving Pharaoh a name to compete with, he comes with a description
(no room for "God vs Allah").
Seems to be corroborated by the Quran since Pharaoh asks
"what is the Lord of the worlds" instead of "who".
I am better than he,
Me fire,
Him clay.
(mentality behind nationalism).
If we see ourselves in our true place equally as slaves of Almighty God, all the false divides come crashing down and the only divide remaining is based on what Allah says and conduct, rather than ego.
Instead, A moral divide does form based on truth and falsehood, justice and oppression in place of cain vs abel, left wing vs right wing.
And some people will inevitably become of Hizb Allah and Hizb as Shaytaan based on adherence to standards, though, like with Khaalid, Umar and Abu Sufyaan, be able to switch to right or wrong at any time.
Here's a statement attributed to the messenger of Allah pbuh
Interesting to note that he pbuh isn't recorded as saying "them" but twice describing the acts (which gives insight into the justifications of Yusuf (pbuh) and the believer in Pharaohs court (ra)):
Ka’b ibn Ujrah reported:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to us while we were a group of nine.
The Prophet said, “Verily, tyrannical rulers will come after me and whoever affirms their lies and supports their oppression has nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with him, and he will not drink with me at the fountain in Paradise.
Whoever does not affirm their lies and does not support their oppression is part of me and I am part of him, and he will drink with me at the fountain in Paradise.”
Source: Sunan An-Nasa’i 4207
Grade:*Sahih (authentic) according to Ibn Hajar
rعَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ عُجْرَةَ قَال
خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَنَحْنُ تِسْعَةٌ فَقَالَ*إِنَّهُ سَتَكُونُ بَعْدِي أُمَرَاءُ مَنْ صَدَّقَهُمْ بِكَذِبِهِمْ وَأَعَانَهُمْ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَلَسْتُ مِنْهُ وَلَيْسَ بِوَارِدٍ عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يُصَدِّقْهُمْ بِكَذِبِهِمْ وَلَمْ يُعِنْهُمْ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ فَهُوَ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْهُ وَهُوَ وَارِدٌ عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ4207 سنن النسائي كتاب البيعة ذكر الوعيد لمن أعان أميرا على الظلمالمحدث ابن حجر العسقلاني خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح
Notice how the man in pharaoh's court sees himself as a believer and neutrally advises them as "O my people" as if they are a neutral audience capable of considering and taking either path, while pharaoh is trying to be competitive based upon blind prejudice.
Shows wisdom in a prejudice tainted situation.
But in other situations we are reminded of Musa and Nuh (as) who asked for separation and judgement.
And Ibrahim (as) who cleared himself of those given to wrongdoing and as did Lut (as) too.
Ultimately it's the "what" on the day of judgement.
And "who" in regards to paradise and hell.
Does that mean you'll judge a liar and a truthful by the same yardstick and not give the benefit of the doubt to the one perceived as truthful?
Maybe not always, Ya'qub (as) called them liars for crying captured (benjamin) because they cried wolf (Yusuf) before because he knew Yusuf had a certain future and felt that they must be liars.
He was wrong the second time, but i don't blame him and you can see why.
It was a case of "who" in that situation based on past experience.
So many gray areas for the human to use his intellect.
Here's a short instructive experiment which shows how closely the "what" and "who" are intermingled and how they can also be confused/manipulated.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt0ucxOrPQE
May Allah guide us.
