Allah, the Exalted, informs that He commanded Musa to journey at night with
the Children of Israel, when Fir`awn refused to release them and send them with
Musa. He was to take them away from Fir`awn's captivity. Allah expounds upon
this in Surahs other than this noble Surah. Musa left with the Children of
Israel, and when the people of Egypt awoke in the morning they found that not a
single one of them remained in Egypt. Fir`awn became extremely furious. He sent
callers into all of the cities to gather together his army from all of his lands
and provinces. He said to them,
[إِنَّ هَـؤُلاءِ
لَشِرْذِمَةٌ قَلِيلُونَ - وَإِنَّهُمْ لَنَا لَغَآئِظُونَ ]
(Verily, these indeed are but a small band. And verily, they have done what
has enraged us.) [26:54-55] Then when he gathered his army and organized his
troops, he set out after them and they followed them at dawn when the sun began
to rise.
[فَلَمَّا تَرَآءَا
الْجَمْعَانِ]
(And when the two hosts saw each other) [26:61] This means that each person
of the two parties was looking at the other party.
[فَلَمَّا تَرَآءَا
الْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَـبُ مُوسَى إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ - قَالَ كَلاَّ إِنَّ
مَعِىَ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ ]
(The companions of Musa said: "We are sure to be overtaken.'' (Musa) said:
"Nay, verily, with me is my Lord. He will guide me.'') [26:61-62] Musa stopped
with the Children of Israel and the sea was in front of them and Fir`awn was
behind them. Then, at that moment, Allah revealed to Musa,
[فَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ
طَرِيقاً فِى الْبَحْرِ يَبَساً]
(And strike a dry path for them in the sea.) So Musa struck the sea with his
stick and he said, "Split for me, by the leave of Allah.'' Thus, it split, and
each separate part of the water became like a huge mountain. Then, Allah sent a
wind to the land of the sea and it burned the soil until it became dry like the
ground that is on land. For this reason Allah said,
[فَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ
طَرِيقاً فِى الْبَحْرِ يَبَساً لاَّ تَخَافُ دَرَكاً]
(and strike a dry path for them in the sea, fearing neither to be
overtaken...) This means being caught by Fir`awn.
[وَلاَ
تَخْشَى]
(nor being afraid.) meaning, "Do not be afraid of the sea drowning your
people.'' Then, Allah, the Exalted, said,
[فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ
فِرْعَوْنُ بِجُنُودِهِ فَغَشِيَهُمْ مِّنَ الْيَمِّ]
(Then Fir`awn pursued them with his hosts, but the sea [Al-Yamm] completely
overwhelmed them) Al-Yamm means the sea.
[مَا
غَشِيَهُمْ]
(and covered them up. ) meaning, covered them up with a thing that was
well-familiar to them in such a situa- tion, as Allah states;
[وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ
أَهْوَى - فَغَشَّـهَا مَا غَشَّى ]
(And He destroyed the overthrown cities. So there covered them that which did
cover.) [53:53-54] As Fir`awn pursued them into the sea, misled his people and
did not lead them to the path of correct guidance, likewise, he will go ahead of
his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will lead them in to the Hellfire.
And evil indeed is the place to which they are led.
[يبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ
قَدْ أَنجَيْنَـكُمْ مِّنْ عَدُوِّكُمْ وَوَاعَدْنَـكُمْ جَانِبَ الطُّورِ
الاٌّيْمَنَ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَى ]
[كُلُواْ مِن
طَيِّبَـتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـكُمْ وَلاَ تَطْغَوْاْ فِيهِ فَيَحِلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غَضَبِى
وَمَن يَحْلِلْ عَلَيْهِ غَضَبِى فَقَدْ هَوَى - وَإِنِّى لَغَفَّارٌ لِّمَن تَابَ
وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحَاً ثُمَّ اهْتَدَى ]
(80. O Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and We made a
covenant with you on the right side of the Mount, and We sent down to you manna
and quail,) (81. (Saying) eat of the Tayyibat wherewith We have provided you,
and commit no transgression or oppression therein, lest My anger should justly
descend on you. And he on whom My anger descends, he is indeed perished.) (82.
And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes and does
righteous deeds, and then Ihtada.)
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