Surah Yunus 10:90

The Children of Israel were saved and Fir`awn's People drowned

Allah tells us how He caused Fir`awn and his soldiers to drown. The Children of Israel left Egypt in the company of Musa. It was said that there were six hundred thousand soldiers, plus offspring. They borrowed a lot of ornaments from the Coptics and took that with them. Fir`awn became very angry with them. So he sent heralds to all the cities to send their soldiers. He embarked, following behind them, filled with great pride and with massive armies. Allah wanted this to happen for He had a plan for them. No one that had any authority or power remained behind in Fir`awn's kingdom. They were all together and caught the Children of Israel at sunrise.

فَلَمَّا تَرَآءَا الْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَـبُ مُوسَى إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ

(And when the two hosts met each other, the companions of Musa said: "We are sure to be overtaken.") (26:61) They said that because when they got to the seashore Fir`awn was behind them. The two groups met face to face. The people with Musa kept asking, "How can we be saved today" Musa replied, "I have been commanded to come this way." Musa said:

كَلاَّ إِنَّ مَعِىَ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ

(Nay, verily, with me is my Lord. He will guide me.) (26:62) It had been so difficult, but it suddenly became easy. Allah commanded him to strike the ocean with his staff. He did and the sea was cleft asunder, each part stood like a mighty mountain. The sea was split into twelve paths, each route for each Israelite tribe. Allah then commanded the wind and the path was dry for them.

فَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقاً فِى الْبَحْرِ يَبَساً لاَّ تَخَافُ دَرَكاً وَلاَ تَخْشَى

(And strike a dry path for them in the sea, fearing neither to be overtaken by Fir`awn nor being afraid (of drowning in the sea).)(20:77) The water in between the paths appeared as windows and every tribe was able to see the other so they would not think that others were destroyed. The Children of Israel crossed the sea. When the last one crossed, Fir`awn and his soldiers had arrived at the edge of the other shore. They were one hundred thousand black horses in addition to horsemen of other colors. When Fir`awn saw the sea he was frightened. He wanted to turn back, but it was too late. Allah's decree prevailed and the prayer of Musa was answered. Jibril came on a war stallion. He passed by Fir`awn's horse. Jibril's horse whinnied at Fir`awn's and then Jibril rushed into the sea, and Fir`awn did the same behind him. Fir`awn no longer had any control over matters. He wanted to sound strong before his chiefs, so he said: "The Children of Israel do not have more right in the sea." So they rushed into the sea. Mika'il was behind their army pushing them all to join. When they all were in the sea and the first of them was about to emerge on the other side, Allah, the All-Powerful, commanded the sea to strand them. The sea closed over them and none was saved. The waves took them up and down. The waves accumulated above Fir`awn and he was overwhelmed by the stupors of death. While in this state, he said:

ءَامَنتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلِـهَ إِلاَّ الَّذِى ءَامَنَتْ بِهِ بَنواْ إِسْرَءِيلَ وَأَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

(I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He (Allah) in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims.) He believed at a time when he couldn't benefit from his faith.

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ وَكَـفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِ مُشْرِكِينَ - فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَـنُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ الْكَـفِرُونَ

(So when they saw Our punishment, they said: "We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as (His) partners." Then their faith could not avail them when they saw Our punishment. (Like) this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants. And there the disbelievers lost utterly (when Our torment covered them).)(40:84-85) Therefore Allah said, as a response to Fir`awn,

ءَالَنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ

(Now (you believe) while you refused to believe before) do you say that just now when you have disobeyed Allah before that.

وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

(And you were one of the mischief-makers.) You were among the makers of mischief on the earth who misled the people.

وَجَعَلْنَـهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيـمَةِ لاَ يُنصَرُونَ

(and We made them leaders inviting to the Fire: and on the Day of Resurrection, they will not be helped.) (28:41) These facts about Fir`awn and his status at that time were among the secrets of the Unseen that Allah revealed to His Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ. Similarly Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said;

«قَالَ لِي جِبْرِيلُ: لَوْ رَأَيْتَنِي وَأَنَا آخِذٌ مِنْ حَالِ الْبَحْرِ فَأَدُسُّهُ فِي فَمِ فِرْعَونَ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ تُدْرِكَهُ الرَّحْمَة»

(Jibril said to me, "If you could have seen me while I was taking black mud from the sea and placing into the mouth of Fir`awn out of fear that the mercy would reach him.") Abu `Isa At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Jarir also recorded it. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Gharib Sahih." About Allah's statement,

فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ ءَايَةً

(So this day We shall deliver your (dead) body (out from the sea) that you may be a sign to those who come after you!) Ibn `Abbas and others from among the Salaf have said: "Some of the Children of Israel doubted the death of Fir`awn so Allah commanded the sea to throw his body -- whole, without a soul -- with his known armor plate. The body was thrown to a high place on the land so that the Children of Israel could confirm his death and destruction." That is why Allah said,

فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ

("So this day We shall deliver your..") meaning that We will put your body on a high place on the earth. Mujahid said,

بِبَدَنِكَ

(your (dead) body) means, `your physical body. "

لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ ءَايَةً

(that you may be a sign to those who come after you!) meaning, so that might be a proof of your death and destruction for the Children of Israel. That also stood as a proof that Allah is All-Powerful, in Whose control are all the creatures. Nothing can bear His anger. Fir`awn and his people were destroyed on the day of `Ashura', as recorded by Al-Bukhari, Ibn `Abbas said, "When the Prophet arrived at Al-Madinah, the Jews fasted the day of `Ashura'. So he asked,

«مَا هَذَا الْيَومُ الَّذِي تَصُومُونَهُ؟»

(What is this day that you are fasting) They responded `This is the day in which Musa was victorious over Fir`awn.' So the Prophet said,

«أَنْتُمْ أَحَقُّ بِمُوسَى مِنْهُمْ فَصُومُوه»

(You have more right to Musa than they, so fast it.)

Dalam ayat ini, Allah menceritakan tentang kepergian Bani Israil dari bumi Mesir. Ketika Nabi Musa meminta kepada Firaun agar dia membebaskan Bani Israil yang ada di Mesir dari belenggu perbudakan, kemudian mengizinkan mereka kembali ke Palestina, untuk menjalankan agama mereka dengan bebas, Firaun menolak permintaan itu.

Akhirnya Musa dan kaumnya lari meninggalkan Mesir. Firaun dan tentaranya kemudian mengejar mereka Rombongan Firaun dan tentaranya hampir menyusul Musa dan kaumnya ketika mereka akan menyeberang lautan. Bani Israil merasa ketakutan jika tertangkap oleh pasukan Firaun, lalu Musa menenteramkan rombongannya dengan meyakinkan kepada mereka bahwa mereka akan menyaksikan kehancuran musuh mereka. Maka Tuhanpun mewahyukan kepada Musa supaya dia memukulkan tongkatnya ke laut. Lautanpun terbelah, masuklah Musa dan kaumnya berjalan di celah-celahnya yang kering hingga tiba dengan selamat di seberang lautan. Firaun bersama pasukannya mengikuti jalan yang sama tapi ketika tiba di tengah perjalanan, Musa mengulurkan tangannya ke arah lautan, maka lautanpun kembali seperti sedia kala. Firaun tenggelam ditelan gelombang bersama pasukannya. Ketika dia merasa akan mati tenggelam, dia menyatakan iman dan Islamnya. Dia menyatakan beriman kepada Tuhan yang diimani oleh Bani Israil. Pernyataan iman kepada Allah dan Musa a.s., diucapkannya dengan kalimat: "Aku termasuk orang Islam". Pengakuan Islam mengandung iman kepada Allah dan Rasul-Nya, tetapi pernyataan iman ini sangat terlambat karena dinyatakan pada saat dia hampir tenggelam dan tidak seorangpun yang dapat menolongnya. Pernyataan dalam keadaan demikian itu tidak diterima oleh Allah. Firman Allah:

Maka ketika mereka melihat azab Kami, mereka berkata, "Kami hanya beriman kepada Allah saja dan kami ingkar kepada sembahan-sembahan yang telah kami persekutukan dengan Allah."Maka iman mereka ketika mereka telah melihat azab Kami tidak berguna lagi bagi mereka. Itulah (ketentuan) Allah yang telah berlaku terhadap hamba-hamba-Nya. Dan ketika itu rugilah orang-orang kafir. (Gafir/40: 84-85)