The Drowning of Fir'awn and His Men
in the Sea
The Qur'an informs us about the most important aspects
of the event of the division of the Red Sea. According to
the account of the Qur'an, Musa set out to leave Egypt with
the Children of Israel who obeyed him. However, Fir'awn
could not accept their departure without his permission.
He and his soldiers followed them "in insolence and
spite" (Surah Yunus: 90). By the time Musa and the
Children of Israel reached the shore, Fir'awn and his soldiers
had caught up with them. Some of the Children of Israel,
who saw this, began to complain to Musa. According to the
Old Testament, they said to Musa "why did you take
us away from our homeland, there we were slaves but we could
lead our lives, now we will die". This weakness of
the community is also described in the Qur'an in the following
verse:
"And when the two bodies saw each other, the
people of Musa said: 'We are sure to be overtaken.'"
(Surat ash-Shuara: 61)
As a matter of fact, this was neither the
first nor the last time that the Children of Israel displayed
such behaviour in which they showed no submission. The people
of Musa had complained to him once before saying:
"We have had (nothing but) trouble, both before
and after thou camest to us." (Surat al-Araf: 129)
Contrary to the weak conduct of his people, Musa was extremely
confident, since he had profound trust in Allah. Right from
the beginning of his struggle, Allah had informed him that
His help and support would be with him:
"Fear not: for I am with you: I hear and see
(everything)." (Surah Ta-Ha: 46)
When Musa first met the sorcerers of Fir'awn, he felt "a
sort of fear" (Surah Ta-Ha: 67). Thereupon, Allah revealed
to him that he should not fear at all and that he would definitely
overcome in the end. (Surah Ta-Ha: 68). Thus, Musa was educated
by Allah and acquired a full maturity in respect to His ways.
Consequently, when some of his people feared being overtaken,
he said:
"By no means! my Lord is with me! Soon will He
guide me!" (Surat ash-Shuara: 62)
Allah revealed to Musa that he should strike the sea with
his rod. Upon this, "it divided, and each separate part
became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain." (Surat
ash-Shuara: 63) In ordinary circumstances, at the moment when
Fir'awn saw such a miracle, he should have understood that
there was something extraordinary about the situation, and
that he was seeing Divine intervention. The sea opened for
the people whom Fir'awn wanted to destroy. Moreover, there
was no guarantee that the sea would not close back after they
passed across. Still, he and his army followed the Children
of Israel into the sea. Most probably, Fir'awn and his soldiers
had lost their ability to think reasonably because of their
insolence and spite, and were unable comprehend the miraculous
nature of the situation.
The Qur'an describes the last moments of Fir'awn as follows:
We took the Children of Israel across the sea: Fir'awn
and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At
length, when overwhelmed with the flood, he said: "I
believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children
of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to Allah
in Islam)." (Surah Yunus: 90)
Here, it is possible to see another miracle of Musa. Let us
remind ourselves of the following verse:
Musa prayed: "Our Lord! Thou hast indeed bestowed
on Fir'awn and his chiefs splendour and wealth in the
life of the present, and so, Our Lord, they mislead (men)
from Thy Path. Deface our Lord, the features of their
wealth, and send hardness to their hearts, so they will
not believe until they see the grievous penalty."
Allah said: "Accepted is your prayer (O Musa
and Harun)! So stand ye straight, and follow not the path
of those who know not." (Surah Yunus: 88-89)
It is clearly understood from this verse that Musa was
thus informed in answer to his supplication that Fir'awn
would believe in Allah at the time he faced the painful
punishment. Indeed, Fir'awn said that he believed in Allah
when the waters started to cover. Yet, it was very clear
that his behaviour was insincere and false. Fir'awn most
probably said so to save himself from dying.
Certainly, the last-moment acceptance of faith of Fir'awn
and his asking for forgiveness were not accepted by Allah.
Fir'awn and his army could not be saved from death by drowning.
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We save thee in
the body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come
after thee! but verily, many among mankind are heedless
of Our Signs! (Surah Yunus: 92) |
(It was said to him): "Ah now! But a little while
before, wast thou in rebellion! and thou didst mischief
(and violence)! This day shall We save thee in the body,
that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee!
but verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!"
(Surah Yunus: 91-92)
We are also informed that his men, as well as Fir'awn himself,
received their share of the punishment. Since the soldiers
of Fir'awn were men of "insolence and spite" (Surah
Yunus: 90), "men of sin" (Surat al-Qasas: 8),
"did wrong" (Surat al-Qasas: 40), and "thought
that they would not have to return to Allah" (Surat
al-Qasas: 39) just like Fir'awn, they well deserved the
punishment of Allah. Thus, Allah seized both Fir'awn and
his hosts and flung them into the sea. (Surat al-Qasas:
40)
So Allah exacted retribution from them and drowned them
in the sea, because they rejected His signs and failed to
take warning from them. (Surat al-Araf: 136)
And We made a people, considered weak (and of no account),
inheritors of lands in both east and west - lands whereon
We sent down Our blessings. The fair promise of thy Lord
was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because they
had patience and constancy, and We levelled to the ground
the great works and fine buildings which Fir'awn and his
people erected (with such pride). (Surat al-Araf: 137)
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