415

Section 4

The Children of Israel follow Moses

Moses ordained to march away with the Children of Israel – A miraculous way through
the sea is created by Moses striking his rod on the water of the sea – Moses gets through
and Pharaoh drowned along with his hosts.

77- وَلَقَدْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَى مُوسَى أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِى فَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقاً فِى الْبَحْرِ يَبَساً لاَّ تَخَافُ دَرَكاً وَلاَ تَخْشَى

78- فَاَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ بِجُنُودِهِ فَغَشِيَهُم مِنَ الْيَمِّ مَا غَشِيَهُمْ

79- وَأَضَلَّ فِرْعَوْنُ قَوْمَهُ وَمَا هَدَى

77. “ And We indeed revealed unto Moses (saying:): 'Take away My servants by night, and strike for them a dry path in the sea, with no fear of being overtaken (by Pharaoh) nor you be afraid (of being drowned).”
78. “ Then Pharaoh pursued them with his armies so (the bellows) of the sea covered them, as they were covered (completely drowned).”
79. “ And Pharaoh led his people astray and he did not guide them (aright).”

Commentary:

When the sorcerers and the people of Egypt believed in Moses (a.s.) and did not fear from the threats of Pharaoh, the gate of the helps of Allah were opened to them and, after that


416

Moses (a.s.) was ordered to take people out of Egypt by night, and that Allah made the sea dry for them and secured them from the harm of Pharaoh. (The Commentary of Fi-ZilAl-il-Qur'an). The verse says:

“ And We indeed revealed unto Moses (saying:): 'Take away My servants by night, …”

Thus, the Children of Israel became ready to set out toward the Promised Land (Palestine), but when they reached the shores of the Nile, the men of Pharaoh were informed of the event and, therefore, Pharaoh, accompanied with a large army, pursued them. New, the Children of Israel found themselves surrounded by the sea and the enemy.

At this time Allah commanded Moses as follows:

“…and strike for them a dry path in the sea, …”

The revelation, pointing to the dry path in the sea, informs Moses that it is a path that when you step on it, you will be faced:

“…with no fear of being overtaken (by Pharaoh) nor you be afraid (of being drowned).”

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Therefore, Moses and the Children of Israel arrived to some paths which, by going water aside, appeared inside the sea. At this time, Pharaoh and his army reached beside the sea and were confronted such an amazing and unexpectedly scene. The verse says:

“ Then Pharaoh pursued them with his armies …”

From one end, the last figure of the Pharaoh's army entered the sea, and, on the other end, the last figure of the Children of Israel went out of the sea. At this moment, the pillars of water in the sea were commanded to return to their first state. The walls of water waved and, like an old building the base of which is broken, fell down all of a sudden.


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The verse says:

“…so (the bellows) of the sea covered them, as they were covered (completely drowned).”

And, in this way, an unjust cruel power together with its powerful forces were wholly covered by the masses of water in the sea and were swallowed by the fish of that sea in the form of a ready made food. Yes, it is true that the verse says:

“ And Pharaoh led his people astray and he did not guide them (aright).”

However, the Arabic word /'isra'/ means 'to travel by night'. The word /yabas/ is called to a place where it has become dry now. The term /darak/ means the losses which encompasses a person. And, the objective meaning of the Qur'anic term /'ibAdi/, mentioned in this holy verse, is the Children of Israel.

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