In the Quran, Pharaoh is depicted as claiming divinity and demanding to be worshipped as a god. This idea has been challenged by sceptics who argue that Pharaohs were respected as kings but not worshipped as gods. However, modern Egyptology confirms that Pharaohs were, in fact, regarded as divine figures, particularly during the New Kingdom period. By the time of the New Kingdom (circa 1550–1070 BCE), it was common for Egyptian rulers to be worshipped as gods. Pharaohs were not only kings but were considered the living embodiment of divine authority. This was especially true during the 18th Dynasty, when rulers like Akhenaten promoted their divine status, and later pharaohs like Ramses II were also viewed as divine figures by the people.

By the early New Kingdom, the practice of deifying the living pharaoh became deeply embedded in Egyptian religion. Pharaohs were believed to be the intermediaries between the gods and the people, often portrayed as possessing divine powers. They were not only obeyed but also revered as gods. Pharaohs like Ramses II, for example, were even deified after their deaths. One key text discussing this divinity in ancient Egypt is found in Religion in Ancient Egypt: Gods, Myths, and Personal Practice (p. 64), which explains how pharaohs were deified and worshipped as living gods.

The Quran in Surah 28:38 captures Pharaoh’s claim of divinity:

This claim of divinity by Pharaoh is consistent with the practice of Pharaohs claiming god-like status in ancient Egypt, a detail that was not widely known until modern Egyptology uncovered it.

Given that Pharaohs’ divinity was a well-established belief during the New Kingdom, and that this detail was not commonly known or accessible to people in the 7th century, the Quran's portrayal of Pharaoh's claim to divinity is remarkable. This knowledge about the ancient Egyptian deification of rulers was only confirmed much later through the study of hieroglyphs and ancient Egyptian religious practices.