وَٱتْرُكِ ٱلْبَحْرَ رَهْوًا ۖ إِنَّهُمْ جُندٌ مُّغْرَقُونَ 24
Translations
And leave the sea in stillness. Indeed, they are an army to be drowned."
Transliteration
Wa-itrik al-bahr rahwan, innahum jundun mughraqun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands Prophet Musa to leave the sea calm and still, for the army of Pharaoh pursuing the Israelites will be drowned. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, 'rahwan' (calmly/gently) instructs Musa not to strike the sea again, allowing it to return to its natural state so that Pharaoh's forces, driven by arrogance and disbelief, will enter it and be destroyed. This demonstrates the decisive moment of divine retribution against the oppressors and salvation for the believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Musa and the Exodus in Surah Ad-Dukhan. It directly follows the command for Musa to strike the sea and occurs in the climactic moment when the Children of Israel escape Egypt and Pharaoh's army pursues them. The context illustrates the culmination of divine signs and the inevitable punishment of those who reject Allah's messages.
Related Hadiths
The drowning of Pharaoh and his army is referenced in numerous hadiths confirming the historical narrative. See Sunan Ibn Majah where it is mentioned that on the Day of Judgment, the people of the sea will testify against those who disobeyed Allah, and Pharaoh's drowning is cited as a sign of divine justice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's judgment against oppressors is inevitable and absolute—those who persist in rejecting divine truth will face destruction regardless of their worldly power. For believers, it reinforces trust in Allah's protection and the certainty that He will distinguish between the righteous and the wrongdoers.
Related Ayahs
فَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ ٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ ٱلتَّنُّورُ ۙ فَٱسْلُكْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَوْلُ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُخَـٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ
So We inspired to him, "Construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration, and when Our command comes and the oven overflows, put into it [i.e., the ship] from each [creature] two mates and your family, except him for whom the decree [of destruction] has proceeded. And do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are to be drowned.
وَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَدَعْ أَذَىٰهُمْ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا
And do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites and disregard their annoyance, and rely upon Allāh. And sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.
ٱسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِرَبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ مَا لَكُم مِّن مَّلْجَإٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّكِيرٍ
Respond to your Lord before a Day comes from Allāh of which there is no repelling. No refuge will you have that Day, nor for you will there be any denial.
فَٱصْدَعْ بِمَا تُؤْمَرُ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Then declare what you are commanded and turn away from the polytheists.