Quran Universe
40:38

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِيٓ ءَامَنَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱتَّبِعُونِ أَهۡدِكُمۡ سَبِيلَ ٱلرَّشَادِ

Waqala allathee amana ya qawmi ittabiAAooni ahdikum sabeela alrrashadi

And he who believed said, "O my people, follow me, I will guide you to the way of right conduct.

Word by word
  1. وَقَالَAnd said
  2. ٱلَّذِيٓthe one who
  3. ءَامَنَbelieved
  4. يَٰقَوۡمِO my people
  5. ٱتَّبِعُونِFollow me
  6. أَهۡدِكُمۡI will guide you
  7. سَبِيلَ(to the) way
  8. ٱلرَّشَادِthe right
Ghafir · 40:38Makkah

Follow me, I will guide you to the right way.

The believer reclaims the words Pharaoh misused

Two claims, same words
PharaohI guide you to right conduct
the believerfollow me to right conduct
How to tell them apart
who says it louder
where it leadsto Allah, or to him

Ibn Kathir notes this is in contrast to the false claim of Pharaoh, who said I guide you only to the path of right conduct. The believer uses the same words, but he points to Allah, not to himself.

Everyone online says follow me, I will show you the way: to money, to fitness, to happiness. The words sound the same. Ask where each voice is really leading you, and who benefits.

Anyone confident enough probably knows the way.

Two people can say the same words. The real question is where each one leads.

Try this

Unfollow one account today that leads you somewhere you do not want to go.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

And the man who believed said: "O my people! Follow me, I will guide you to the way of right conduct. (38)"O my people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing but an enjoyment, and verily, the Hereafter that is the home that will remain forever. (39)"Whoever does an evil deed, will not be requited except the like thereof; and whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female and is a true believer, such will enter Paradise, where they will be provided therein without limit. (40)

More of what the Believer from Fir'awn's Family said

This believer said to his people who persisted in their rebellion and transgression, and preferred the life of this world:

يَا قَوْمِ اتَّبِعُونِ أَهْدِكُمْ سَبِيلَ الرَّشَادِ

(O my people! Follow me, I will guide you to the way of right conduct.) This is in contrast to the false claim of Fir'awn:

وَمَا أَهْدِيكُمْ إِلَّا سَبِيلَ الرَّشَادِ

(and I guide you only to the path of right policy.) Then he sought to make them shun this world which they preferred to the Hereafter, and which had prevented them from believing in the Messenger of Allah, Musa, peace be upon him. He said:

يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّمَا هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ

(O my people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing but an enjoyment,) meaning, it is insignificant and fleeting, and soon it will diminish and pass away.

وَإِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ هِيَ دَارُ الْقَرَارِ

(and verily, the Hereafter that is the home that will remain forever.) means, the abode which will never end and from which there will be no departure, which will be either Paradise or Hell. Allah says:

مَنْ عَمِلَ سَيِّئَةً فَلَا يُجْزَىٰ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا ۖ 

(Whosoever does an evil deed, will not be requited except the like thereof;) means, one like it.

وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَٰئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ يُرْزَقُونَ فِيهَا بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ 

(and whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female and is a true believer, such will enter Paradise, where they will be provided therein without limit.) means, the reward cannot be enumerated, but Allah will give an immense reward without end. And Allah is the Guide to the straight path.