فَٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَكَانُوا۟ عَنْهَا غَـٰفِلِينَ 136
Translations
So We took retribution from them, and We drowned them in the sea because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them.
Transliteration
Faintaqamnā minhum fa-aghraaqnāhum fil-yammi bi-annahum kadhdhābū bi-āyātinā wa-kānū 'anhā ghāfilīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's retribution against Pharaoh and his people for their rejection and heedlessness of the divine signs. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that drowning in the sea was the appropriate punishment (istiwfā') for those who denied the clear miracles shown to them through Prophet Musa. The emphasis on their inattentiveness (ghāfilīn) indicates that their destruction resulted not merely from disbelief, but from willful negligence and arrogance despite witnessing manifest proofs.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes the narrative of Pharaoh and the Children of Israel within Surah Al-A'raf, which recounts stories of prophets and their peoples. The context details how the Egyptians were given nine clear signs (the plagues) yet persisted in rejection and mockery, leading to their inevitable punishment. This narrative serves as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers of the consequences of rejecting prophetic messages.
Related Hadiths
The story of Pharaoh's drowning is referenced in various hadiths discussing the punishment of the arrogant. See Sunan Ibn Majah on the final state of Pharaoh's body being preserved as a sign. Additionally, hadiths in Sahih Muslim discuss how those who reject clear signs face swift punishment in this life.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that persistent rejection and willful neglect of divine guidance inevitably leads to ruin, while it encourages mindfulness (yaqẓah) and attentiveness to Allah's signs in creation and revelation. For modern readers, it serves as a cautionary reminder that ignorance or indifference toward truth is not an excuse, and that accountability before Allah is certain.
Related Ayahs
وَقَطَّعْنَـٰهُمُ ٱثْنَتَىْ عَشْرَةَ أَسْبَاطًا أُمَمًا ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱسْتَسْقَىٰهُ قَوْمُهُۥٓ أَنِ ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْحَجَرَ ۖ فَٱنۢبَجَسَتْ مِنْهُ ٱثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ۚ وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْغَمَـٰمَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ ۚ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
And We divided them into twelve descendant tribes [as distinct] nations. And We inspired to Moses when his people implored him for water, "Strike with your staff the stone," and there gushed forth from it twelve springs. Every people [i.e., tribe] knew its watering place. And We shaded them with clouds and sent down upon them manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not, but they were [only] wronging themselves.
وَإِن تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ لَا يَتَّبِعُوكُمْ ۚ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْكُمْ أَدَعَوْتُمُوهُمْ أَمْ أَنتُمْ صَـٰمِتُونَ
And if you [believers] invite them to guidance, they will not follow you. It is all the same for you whether you invite them or you are silent.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ عَنْهَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But the ones who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
قَالَ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْغِيكُمْ إِلَـٰهًا وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
He said, "Is it other than Allāh I should desire for you as a god while He has preferred you over the worlds?"