Tafheem ul Quran

Surah 2 Al-Baqarah, Ayat 49-49

وَاِذۡ نَجَّيۡنٰکُمۡ مِّنۡ اٰلِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ يَسُوۡمُوۡنَكُمۡ سُوۡٓءَ الۡعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُوۡنَ اَبۡنَآءَكُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡيُوۡنَ نِسَآءَكُمۡ​ؕ وَفِىۡ ذٰلِكُمۡ بَلَاۤءٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّكُمۡ عَظِيۡمٌ‏ ﴿2:49﴾

(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

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.