Surah 26. Ash-Shu'ara

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Verses [Section]: 1-9[1], 10-33 [2], 34-51 [3], 52-68 [4], 69-104 [5], 105-122 [6], 123-140 [7], 141-159 [8], 160-175 [9], 176-191 [10], 192-227 [11]

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Quran Text of Verse 52-68وَ اَوْحَیْنَاۤAnd We inspiredاِلٰیtoمُوْسٰۤیMusaاَنْ[that]اَسْرِTravel by nightبِعِبَادِیْۤwith My slavesاِنَّكُمْindeed youمُّتَّبَعُوْنَ (will be) followed فَاَرْسَلَThen sentفِرْعَوْنُFiraunفِیinالْمَدَآىِٕنِthe citiesحٰشِرِیْنَۚgatherers اِنَّIndeedهٰۤؤُلَآءِtheseلَشِرْذِمَةٌ(are) certainly a bandقَلِیْلُوْنَۙsmall وَ اِنَّهُمْAnd indeed, theyلَنَا[to] usلَغَآىِٕظُوْنَۙ(are) surely enraging وَ اِنَّاAnd indeed weلَجَمِیْعٌ(are) surely a multitudeحٰذِرُوْنَؕforewarned فَاَخْرَجْنٰهُمْSo We expelled themمِّنْfromجَنّٰتٍgardensوَّ عُیُوْنٍۙand springs وَّ كُنُوْزٍAnd treasuresوَّ مَقَامٍand a placeكَرِیْمٍۙhonorable كَذٰلِكَ ؕThusوَ اَوْرَثْنٰهَاAnd We caused to inherit themبَنِیْۤ(the) Children of Israelاِسْرَآءِیْلَؕ(the) Children of Israel فَاَتْبَعُوْهُمْSo they followed themمُّشْرِقِیْنَ (at) sunrise 26. Ash-Shu'ara Page 370فَلَمَّاThen whenتَرَآءَsaw each otherالْجَمْعٰنِthe two hostsقَالَsaidاَصْحٰبُ(the) companionsمُوْسٰۤی(of) MusaاِنَّاIndeed weلَمُدْرَكُوْنَۚ(are) surely to be overtaken قَالَHe saidكَلَّا ۚNayاِنَّindeedمَعِیَwith meرَبِّیْ(is) my Lordسَیَهْدِیْنِ He will guide me فَاَوْحَیْنَاۤThen We inspiredاِلٰیtoمُوْسٰۤیMusaاَنِ[that]اضْرِبْStrikeبِّعَصَاكَwith your staffالْبَحْرَ ؕthe seaفَانْفَلَقَSo it partedفَكَانَand becameكُلُّeachفِرْقٍpartكَالطَّوْدِlike the mountainالْعَظِیْمِۚ[the] great وَ اَزْلَفْنَاAnd We brought nearثَمَّthereالْاٰخَرِیْنَۚthe others وَ اَنْجَیْنَاAnd We savedمُوْسٰیMusaوَ مَنْand whoمَّعَهٗۤ(were) with himاَجْمَعِیْنَۚall ثُمَّThenاَغْرَقْنَاWe drownedالْاٰخَرِیْنَؕthe others اِنَّIndeedفِیْinذٰلِكَthatلَاٰیَةً ؕsurely (is) a Signوَ مَاbut notكَانَareاَكْثَرُهُمْmost of themمُّؤْمِنِیْنَ believers وَ اِنَّAnd indeedرَبَّكَyour Lordلَهُوَsurely Heالْعَزِیْزُ(is) the All-Mightyالرَّحِیْمُ۠the Most Merciful

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Translation of Verse 52-68

52. And ⁴⁸We sent revelation to Moosa, saying : “Take away My slaves by night, verily, you will be pursued.”⁴⁹

53. Then Firaun sent to the cities, summoners,

54. (Who said):”Verily, these indeed but are a little group,⁵⁰

55. “And verily they have provoked us much”.

56. “And verily we are an alert group.”⁵¹

57. Eventually We took them away from the gardens and the water-springs,

58. Their treasures, and sumptuous dwellings.⁵²

59. Thus (were those things taken from them) and We caused Bani Israil to inherit them.⁵³

60. At sunrise, they pursued them (Bani Israil).⁵⁴

61. And when the two groups came in view of each other, Moosa’s companion said: “Surely, we are caught.”

62. He (Moosa) said: Nay, verily, My Lord is with me. He will guide me.⁵⁵

63. Then We sent revelation to Moosa, saying: “Strike the sea with your staff.” So the sea cleft asunder and each part was like a great mountain.⁵⁶

64. And we brought the other group near to that place.⁵⁷

65. And We saved Moosa and those with him, all of them.⁵⁸

66. Then We drowned the others.⁵⁹

67. Surely in that there is great⁶⁰ sign, but most men among them do not believe.⁶¹

68. And verily, your Lord! He is Mighty, Most Merciful.⁶²

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Commentary

48. The dispute and argumentation relating to dawah that went on between Prophet Moosa and Firaun has been narrated in Surah A’raf. Here after narrating the preliminary events, his end has been mentioned, for according to the situation that idea was to clarify the fact that obstinate people do not accept faith even after seeing the miracle, their eyes are opened only when they reach their adverse ends.

49. Bani Israil used to live in the region Jushn in Egypt, and from the Bible it is learnt that first being hard pressed by the calamities that befell one after the other, Firaun allowed the Bani Israil to go away, but subsequently he realised his error, therefore, he pursued them with his army.

The Bani Israil might have made all preparations to leave Egypt on a hint from Prophet Moosa, and when Allah commanded them to migrate in the dark of night, their caravan set to migrate under the leadership of prophet Moosa.

One advantage of travelling during night was that in the desert night-time is quite peaceful and therefore suitable for travelling. Allah had already informed Prophet Moosa earlier that they would be pursued, i.e. Bani Israil need not worry on seeing Firaun and his army following in their footsteps, Allah will arrange for their rescue.

50. That is: Bani Israil is a minority group, they are less in number.

51. This declaration of Firaun was to gather officers and the other ranks of the army from all parts of the country, so that the menace of Bani Israil might be settled once and for all. But Allah turned this very step of Firaun against him, as will be seen further.

52.That is: Allah so planned that Firaun, his nobles and the officers of his army left their luxurious palaces and pursued Bani Israil only on account of their hatred and enmity of Bani Israil and in their enthusiasm they went so much out of their way that they did never return.

53. It does not mean that Bani Israil were the inheritors of these things of Egypt, because after migration from Egypt they passed through the valley of Tiah and set forth towards Palestine which was their real destination. But it means that the gifts, pleasures and the luxuries that were given to the community of Firaun were snatched away from them and similar favours were showered on Bani Israil. Accordingly in Surah A’raf it is stated:

“And We made the persecuted weak people inheritors of the eastern and western parts of the land, which We had blessed.”- (Aaraf -137). It is obvious that from the blessed land here is meant the land of Palestine. And Qur’an also explains that on the one hand if Firaun and his army were drowned, then on the other hand the country was made to suffer severe calamities, its high rise buildings were made to collapse and all its civilised progress turned to dust: “ And We razed to the ground what Firaun and his people had made and the edifices that they had erected.” -(Aaraf - 137). Probably these devastations might have visited Egypt by the stormy westerly winds. (Allah knows best).

54. That is: When Bani Israil left their homes, Firaun pursued them with his army.

55. In this delicate situation, it was really a test of their trust in God. What Prophet Moosa said on the occasion to remove the fright of Bani Israil expresses his trust and confidence in Allah.

56. Such cleaving asunder of the sea and the turning of the two parts of water into two solid masses of mountain and the appearance of a path in between was a miracle-a preternatural sign that manifests by the command of Allah. According to Qur’an, this miracle manifested after Prophet Moosa’s striking his staff over the seawater, therefore, there is no room for any explaining away or any interpretation of the sort that by hard blowing winds the water was swept away, for it never happens that by stormy winds the water is swept away and in between a path is created. If the stormy winds had really swept away the water, then how is it that Bani Israil could safely pass and only the pursuing army is drowned. It is likely that stormy winds might have blown at that time as mentioned in the Bible, but it is not correct to say that the sea was cleft asunder as a result of the stormy winds. Qur’an presents this event as a miracle and not an accidental happening or an event that ordinarily takes place.

57. That is: Firaun and his companions, army, etc., reached the spot.

58. That is: The caravan which had set forth under the leadership of Prophet Moosa crossed the sea safely. None of his followers was harmed nor did Firaun and his army were successful in capturing them.

59. But Allah’s plan for the second group was: when they found that there is a path dry and Safe in the sea, they went ahead and when they reached the middle of the sea, the two separated parts of the sea reverted to their original position, and Firaun was drowned along with his army, which also included high officers of his kingdom. This was the fate of the man who had claimed to be the high exalted lord, and the fate of those people who danced to his tune.

60. That is: In this event of the history of prophets there is a clear sign that Allah sends down His messengers to show the path of guidance to the people, and when his nation refuses to accept faith and believe in his message, and resorts to violence against him, Allah punishes that nation in a way that stands out as a lesson for others.

The drowning of Firaun and his army, the deliverance of Prophets Moosa, Haroon and Bani Israil from a tyrant nation, and their crossing of the sea in an extraordinary way is an undeniable historical fact, which is confirmed by Bible(Torah) as well as by Qur’an. In other words the majority of the people of the world (Jews, Christians and Muslims) believe this fact, then is not such a great evidence sufficient for others to believe in the truth of Allah’s message?

61. For explanation, please see Note No.8.

62. For explanation please see Note No.9.

In the foregoing ,ayah and also in this ayah, the topic that has been narrated, has been repeated at the end of every event so that the negligent man may wake up.