Tafheem ul Quran
Surah 2 Al-Baqarah, Ayat 49-50
وَاِذۡ نَجَّيۡنٰکُمۡ مِّنۡ اٰلِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ يَسُوۡمُوۡنَكُمۡ سُوۡٓءَ الۡعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُوۡنَ اَبۡنَآءَكُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡيُوۡنَ نِسَآءَكُمۡؕ وَفِىۡ ذٰلِكُمۡ بَلَاۤءٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّكُمۡ عَظِيۡمٌ
﴿2:49﴾
وَاِذۡ فَرَقۡنَا بِكُمُ الۡبَحۡرَ فَاَنۡجَيۡنٰکُمۡ وَاَغۡرَقۡنَآ اٰلَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَاَنۡتُمۡ تَنۡظُرُوۡنَ
﴿2:50﴾
(2:49) And recall64 when We rescued you from the slavery of
Pharaoh’s people65 who had afflicted you with dreadful suffering,
slaying your males and sparing your females. That was a tremendous trial for
you from your Lord.66 (2:50) And recall when We split the sea, providing passage for you, and thus
saved you and caused Pharaoh’s people to drown before your very eyes.
Notes
64. From here on, through the several sections that follow, reference is
made to the best
65. We have rendered 'Al Fir'awn' as 'Pharaoh's people'. This includes the
members of the Pharaonic family as well as the aristocracy of Egypt.
66. The test was whether they would emerge from the crucible of persecution
as pure gold, or as mere dross. The test also lay, in whether or not, after
their miraculous deliverance from so great a calamity, they would become grateful
servants of God.