The Israelites And Pharaoh

49 And remember, We delivered you from the people of Pharaoh: They set you hard tasks and punishments, slaughtered your sons and let your women-folk live; therein was a tremendous trial from your Lord. (Al-Baqarah)

Aali, as in Arabic, refers to a potentate or a prophet. It is not used as a prefix for everyday people’s names. Aali (translated as the people of) shows no familial connection between the people and the prefixed name. Aalu Muhammad, for instance, means the followers of Muhammad at every time and age, even though they are not members of his family. That is why, despite their familial connection with the Prophet, Abu Jahl and Abu Lahab were not part of Aali Muhammad. But we are Aalu Muhammad, though we do not have a familial link with him. That is why Allah said to Nuh:

46. He said: O Noah! Lo! he is not of thy household; lo! he is of evil conduct, so ask not of Me that whereof thou hast no knowledge. I admonish thee lest thou be among the ignorant. (Hud)

So, although Pharaoh had no son, daughter, brother, or father among them, Aali Fir’aun were the followers of his religion. They glorified him, adored him, and worshipped him instead of Allah.

“…slaughtered your sons and let your women-folk live;..”

Why was Pharaoh slaughtering the sons of the Children of Israel?

It was said that Pharaoh saw a fire in his dream that started from Jerusalem and burnt everything in Egypt. The interpretation of this dream was given as the kingdom of Pharaoh will fall at the hands of a boy soon to be born from among the Children of Israel. So, Pharaoh ordered the slaughter of any son born of any Yahudi woman and the spearing of the girl child. But this evil plan did not avail him of Allah’s scheme. Musa was raised in his palace by his wife. Not only that, Pharaoh paid for the nursing of the child Musa. Allah does what He will!

“…slaughtered your sons and let your women-folk live;..”

Why are the people of Pharaoh mentioned as being the perpetrators of these heinous crimes when it was Pharaoh himself who ordered the killings? Because both of them were guilty. He was as guilty as they were. He commanded, and they executed. That was why when Allah killed Pharaoh, He destroyed him with his people. Thus, Muslim scholars said that if somebody ordered the murder of another, the two parties, the one who gave the order and the one who did the killing, are both guilty of murder. So, here, they are referred to as the perpetrators even though the order came from Pharaoh. And that is why when He drowned him, He also drowned his people along with him and said concerning him:

98. He will go before his people on the Day of Resurrection and will lead them to the Fire for watering place. Ah, hapless is the watering-place (whither they are) led. (Hud)

Even in the grave, they are punished:

46. The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening; and on the day when the Hour upriseth (it is said): Cause Pharaoh’s folk to enter the most awful doom. (Ghaafir)

An-Nawwas b. Sam‘an reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A creature is not to be obeyed when it involves disobedience to the “Creator.”

It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Mishkat al-Masabih 3696

That is why the scholars said if you sponsor, bankroll or direct the murder of another person, both you and the murderer should be killed.

“…therein was a tremendous trial from your Lord.”

This tremendous trial, was it on the killings of their sons or the deliverance from Pharaoh?

It was on both sides because a trial can come on good and evil.

35. Every soul must taste of death, and We try you with evil and with good, for ordeal. And unto Us ye will be returned. (Al-Anbiyaa)

“…therein was a tremendous trial from your Lord.”

So, if a misfortune befalls you, it is a test – will you be patient? If you gain success, it is also a test – will you be thankful to Allah, or will you attribute that to some knowledge that you possess?

50 And remember We divided the sea for you and saved you and drowned Pharaoh’s people within your very sight.

The sea was divided into 12 different paths for each of the tribes.

Under Allah’s instruction, Musa moved out with the Children of Israel by night. When Pharaoh learned of their flight, he sent heralds to all cities to stop the fugitives, ‘a small band’.

54. (Who said): Lo! These indeed are but a little troop, (Ash-Shu’araa)

So, at sunrise, having heard of their direction, Pharaoh pursued them and met up with them on the edge of the sea. No place of refuge for the fleeing Israelites. They were terrified and said, ‘We will surely be overtaken.’

61. And when the two hosts saw each other, those with Moses said: Lo! we are indeed caught. (Sha’araa)

62. He said: Nay, verily! for lo! my Lord is with me. He will guide me. (Sha’araa)

Then, Allah inspired Musa to strike the sea with his rod, and 12 paths became visible instantly. The people would not have entered if there had been only one path. They would have preferred to be captured by Pharaoh rather than share a single path with other tribes.

Allah caused the paths to dry like water had never been there. The saltish water between one path and another became as stiff as a rock. They asked how they could know if their brethren, among other tribes, had escaped unscathed with all these dark barriers between the paths.

So, Allah made the barrier between the paths transparent from all sides so that the 12 tribes could monitor the triumphant strides of all to victory.

Pharaoh and his people could see all these from a distance. Was this magic? He and his hosts decided to follow the Israelites through the sea. With the crossing of the last person among the Israelites and the entry of the last man among Pharaoh’s people into the open paths, Allah commanded the sea to return to its natural state. Tsunami-like waves seized them all, and they were drowned. And Musa and his people stood there watching. Their bitterest enemy and his hosts were gone forever!

“…and drowned Pharaoh’s people within your very sight.”

Even though they were saved and they saw this drowning of Pharaoh’s people, they were in doubt as to how this great potentate could die. So, Allah made the sea to push out Pharaoh’s body as a confirmation. Others said the sea brought out the bodies of all drowned so people could see.

“…and drowned Pharaoh’s people within your very sight.”

After their rescue from Pharaoh, they asked Musa to give them a book to distinguish the lawful from the unlawful. Allah made a promise to Musa regarding the revelation of the Torah.

51 And remember, We appointed forty nights for Moses, and in his absence ye took the calf (for worship), and ye did grievous wrong.

They were saved on the day of Aashuraa, as we read in the Hadeeth.

Ibn ‘Abbas said: When the Prophet (Sallalaahu alayhi wa sallam) came to Medina, he found the Jews observing fast on the day of ‘Ashurah; so they were asked about it (by the Prophet). They said: This is a day on which Allah gave Moses domination over Pharaoh. We fast on it out of reverence to him. The Messenger of Allah (Sallalaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: We have a closer connection with Moses than you have. He then gave orders that it should be observed.

Sunan Abi Dawud 2444

The 40 nights covered Zul Qi’dah through the 10th of Zulhijjah, the Day of the Greater Eid.

These 40 nights were calculated by Musa’s people as 20 nights and 20 days instead of counting by the number of nights, which is longer. They, therefore, said the 40 days that Musa promised us had elapsed, so they worshipped the calf. This worship of the calf by the Children of Israel will be discussed fully at the right time.

“…and in his absence ye took the calf (for worship), and ye did grievous wrong.”