Surah Ash-Shu'ara, Ayah 61

Fir`awn's Pursuit and Expulsion of the Children of Israel, and how He and His People were drowned

More than one of the scholars of Tafsir said that Fir`awn set out with a huge group, a group containing the leaders and entire government of Egypt at that time, i.e., the decision-makers and influential figures, princes, ministers, nobles, leaders and soldiers.

فَأَتْبَعُوهُم مُّشْرِقِينَ

(So, they pursued them at sunrise.) means, they caught up with the Children of Israel at sunrise.

فَلَمَّا تَرَآءَا الْجَمْعَانِ

(And when the two hosts saw each other,) means, each group saw the other. At that point,

قَالَ أَصْحَـبُ مُوسَى إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ

(the companions of Musa said: "We are sure to be overtaken.") This was because Fir`awn and his people caught up with them on the shores of the Red Sea, so the sea was ahead of them and Fir`awn and his troops were behind them. Hence they said:

قَالَ أَصْحَابُ مُوسَىٰ إِنَّا لَمُدْرَ‌كُونَ ﴿61﴾ قَالَ كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَ‌بِّي سَيَهْدِينِ ﴿62﴾

(The Companions of Musa said: "Surely we are overtaken." He said, "Never! Indeed with me is my Lord. He will guide me -26:61-62.

When the Pharaoh's army, which was in their pursuit, reached right behind them, all the people of Bani Isra'il called out ` We are caught'. And there was little doubt in their nabbing as the river was in front of them and the Pharaoh's enormous army behind them. Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) was fully aware of the situation, but his belief in the promise of Allah was unshaken like a rock. He, therefore, replied firmly that they will never be caught.

In spite of the years spent by Moses in spreading the word of God, Pharaoh did not embrace the Faith. At last when Moses had striven his utmost to convey the divine message to Pharaoh, Almighty God instructed Moses to leave Egypt along with the Children of Israel. When Pharaoh came to know that all of the Children of Israel had left Egypt, he pursued them along with his army and courtiers. Obviously, this step taken by Pharaoh was meant to rout the Children of Israel, but as it turned out, it rebounded upon him. Unaware of their impending fate, Pharaoh and his companions left their palatial dwellings and reached the place where they were all destined to be drowned together in the sea. Almighty God deprived Pharaoh and his companions of the royal amenities they had enjoyed in Egypt, because of their oppressive actions. But He blessed the pious people of the Children of Israel by eventually taking them to Palestine and, there, granting them all kinds of favours.