10:90 Yunus (Jonas)

{ وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ } وذلك أن الله أوحى إلى موسى، لما وصل البحر، أن يضربه بعصاه، فضربه، فانفلق اثنى عشر طريقًا، وسلكه بنو إسرائيل، وساق فرعون وجنوده خلفه داخلين. فلما استكمل موسى وقومه خارجين من البحر، وفرعون وجنوده داخلين فيه، أمر الله البحر فالتطم على فرعون وجنوده، فأغرقهم، وبنو إسرائيل ينظرون. حتى إذا أدرك فرعون الغرق، وجزم بهلاكه { قَالَ آمَنْتُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ } وهو الله الإله الحق الذي لا إله إلا هو { وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ } أي: المنقادين لدين الله، ولما جاء به موسى.

يذكر تعالى كيفية إغراقه فرعون وجنوده فإن بني إسرائيل لما خرجوا من مصر في صحبة موسى عليه السلام وهم فيما قيل ستمائة ألف مقاتل سوى الذرية وقد كانوا استعاروا من القبط حليا كثيرا فخرجوا به معهم فاشتد حنق فرعون عليهم فأرسل في المدائن حاشرين يجمعون له جنوده من أقاليمه فركب وراءهم في أبهة عظيمة وجيوش هائلة لما يريده الله تعالى بهم ولم يتخلف عنه أحد ممن له دولة وسلطان في سائر مملكته فلحقوهم وقت شروق الشمس "فلما تراءى الجمعان قال أصحاب موسى إنا لمدركون" وذلك أنهم لما انتهوا إلى ساحل البحر وفرعون وراءهم ولم يبق إلا أن يقاتل الجمعان وألح أصحاب موسى عليه السلام عليه في السؤال كيف المخلص مما نحن فيه؟ فيقول إني أمرت أن أسلك ههنا "كلا إن معي ربي سيهدين" فعند ما ضاق الأمر اتسع فأمره الله تعالى أن يضرب البحر بعصاه فضربه فانفلق البحر فكان كل فرق كالطود العظيم أي كالجبل العظيم وصار اثني عشر طريقا لكل سبط واحد وأمر الله الريح فنشفت أرضه "فاضرب لهم طريقا في البحر يبسا لا تخاف دركا ولا تخشى" وتخرق الماء بين الطرق كهيئة الشبابيك ليرى كل قوم الآخرين لئلا يظنوا أنهم هلكوا وجاوزت بنو إسرائيل البحر فلما خرج آخرهم منه انتهى فرعون وجنوده إلى حافته من الناحية الأخرى وهو في مائة ألف أدهم سوى بقية الألوان فلما رأى ذلك هاله وأحجم وهاب وهم بالرجوع وهيهات ولات حين مناص نفذ القدر واستجيبت الدعوة. وجاء جبريل عليه السلام على فرس وديق حائل فمر إلى جانب حصان فرعون فحمحم إليها واقتحم جبريل البحر فاقتحم الحصان وراءه ولم يبق فرعون يملك من نفسه شيئا فتجلد لأمرائه وقال لهم ليس بنو إسرائيل بأحق بالبحر منا فاقتحموا كلهم عن آخرهم وميكائيل في ساقتهم لا يترك منهم أحدا إلا ألحقه بهم فلما استوسقوا فيه وتكاملوا وهم أولهم بالخروج منه أمر الله القدير البحر أن يرتطم عليهم فارتطم عليهم فلم ينج منهم أحد وجعلت الأمواج ترفعهم وتخفضهم وتراكمت الأمواج فوق فرعون وغشيته سكرات الموت فقال وهو كذلك "أمنت أنه لا إله إلا الذي آمنت به بنو إسرائيل وأنا من المسلمين" فآمن حيث لا ينفعه الإيمان "فلما رأوا بأسنا قالوا آمنا بالله وحده وكفرنا بما كنا به مشركين فلم يك ينفعهم إيمانهم لما رأوا بأسنا سنة الله التي قد خلت في عباده وخسر هنالك الكافرون".

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.)

And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea; and Pharaoh pursued them he caught up with them together with his hosts in insolence and transgression baghyan wa-‘adwan these constitute the direct object denoting reason until when the fate of drowning overtook him he said ‘I believe that annahu is to be understood as bi-annahu; a variant reading has innahu ‘truly it is …’ indicating a new sentence there is no god save Him in whom the Children of Israel believe and I am of those who submit to Him’ he reiterated this his submission to God so that it might be accepted from him but it was not; and Gabriel thrust mud from the sea into his mouth lest God’s mercy embrace him. And he Gabriel said to him

Mentioned in the fourth verse (90) was the famous miracle of Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) - the crossing of the sea and the drowning of Pharaoh. There it was said:

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَدْرَ‌كَهُ الْغَرَ‌قُ قَالَ آمَنتُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَ‌ائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

Until when he was about to drown, he said, "I believe that there is no god but the One in Whom the children of Isra'il believe, and I am among those who submit".