Surah Taha 20:78

The Children of Israel leave Egypt

Allah, the Exalted, informs that He commanded Musa to journey at night with the Children of Israel, when Fir`awn refused to release them and send them with Musa. He was to take them away from Fir`awn's captivity. Allah expounds upon this in Surahs other than this noble Surah. Musa left with the Children of Israel, and when the people of Egypt awoke in the morning they found that not a single one of them remained in Egypt. Fir`awn became extremely furious. He sent callers into all of the cities to gather together his army from all of his lands and provinces. He said to them,

(Verily, these indeed are but a small band. And verily, they have done what has enraged us.) 26:54-55 Then when he gathered his army and organized his troops, he set out after them and they followed them at dawn when the sun began to rise.

(And when the two hosts saw each other) 26:61 This means that each person of the two parties was looking at the other party.

(The companions of Musa said: "We are sure to be overtaken." (Musa) said: "Nay, verily, with me is my Lord. He will guide me.") 26:61-62 Musa stopped with the Children of Israel and the sea was in front of them and Fir`awn was behind them. Then, at that moment, Allah revealed to Musa,

(And strike a dry path for them in the sea.) So Musa struck the sea with his stick and he said, "Split for me, by the leave of Allah." Thus, it split, and each separate part of the water became like a huge mountain. Then, Allah sent a wind to the land of the sea and it burned the soil until it became dry like the ground that is on land. For this reason Allah said,

(and strike a dry path for them in the sea, fearing neither to be overtaken...) This means being caught by Fir`awn.

(nor being afraid.) meaning, "Do not be afraid of the sea drowning your people." Then, Allah, the Exalted, said,

(Then Fir`awn pursued them with his hosts, but the sea Al-Yamm completely overwhelmed them) Al-Yamm means the sea.

(and covered them up. ) meaning, covered them up with a thing that was well-familiar to them in such a situa- tion, as Allah states;

(And He destroyed the overthrown cities. So there covered them that which did cover.) 53:53-54 As Fir`awn pursued them into the sea, misled his people and did not lead them to the path of correct guidance, likewise, he will go ahead of his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will lead them in to the Hellfire. And evil indeed is the place to which they are led.

Pada ayat ini Allah menerangkan bahwa setelah Firaun mengetahui kepergian Musa bersama Bani Israil meninggalkan Mesir ia mengirimkan orang-orang ke kota-kota untuk mengumpulkan tentaranya dengan maksud untuk menyusul Musa dan rombongannya. Firaun sangat marah sehingga ia memerintahkan tentaranya mengejar Musa dan kaumnya, karena mereka dianggap selalu berbuat hal-hal yang menyebabkannya murka. Sebagaimana firman Allah:

Kemudian Firaun mengirimkan orang ke kota-kota untuk mengumpulkan (bala tentaranya). (Firaun berkata), "Sesungguhnya mereka (Bani Israil) hanya sekelompok kecil, dan sesungguhnya mereka telah berbuat hal-hal yang menimbulkan amarah kita. (asy-Syu'ara/26: 53-54 dan 55)

Setelah itu Firaun dan bala tentaranya segera mengejar Musa dan rombongannya. Setelah sampai di pinggir laut dan melihat banyak jalan terbentang di hadapan mereka, dengan tidak ada kecurigaan sedikit pun mereka melalui jalan-jalan yang telah dilalui Musa dan rombongannya, karena disangkanya jalan biasa. Setelah Firaun dengan bala tentaranya berada di tengah-tengah lautan, sedang Musa bersama rombongannya telah sampai ke seberang dan telah mendarat dengan selamat, tiba-tiba air laut bersatu kembali menutup Firaun dan bala tentaranya, maka mereka tenggelam semuanya. Firaun sebelum tenggelam dan ketika melihat keadaan yang berbahaya serta tidak mungkin menyelamatkan diri dari bahaya tenggelam, baru ia sadar dan mengucapkan kata-kata yang menunjukkan bahwa ia mengakui dan percaya bahwa tiada tuhan selain Tuhan yang dipercayai oleh Bani Israil, dan ia adalah orang yang berserah diri kepada Allah. Pengakuan Firaun itu tidak berguna lagi, karena ia telah berbuat dosa besar dan melakukan kerusakan di bumi. Firaun mati tenggelam namun demikian tubuhnya diselamatkan untuk menjadi bukti atas kekuasaan Allah bagi generasi yang akan datang, sebagaimana firman Allah:

Sehingga ketika Firaun hampir tenggelam dia berkata, "Aku percaya bahwa tidak ada tuhan melainkan Tuhan yang dipercayai oleh Bani Israil, dan aku termasuk orang-orang muslim (berserah diri)." Mengapa baru sekarang (kamu beriman), padahal sesungguhnya engkau telah durhaka sejak dahulu, dan engkau termasuk orang yang berbuat kerusakan. Maka pada hari ini Kami selamatkan jasadmu agar engkau dapat menjadi pelajaran bagi orang-orang yang datang setelahmu, tetapi kebanyakan manusia tidak mengindahkan tanda-tanda (kekuasaan) Kami. (Yunus/10: 90-91 dan 92)