وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَـٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ 49
Translations
And [recall] when We saved you [i.e., your forefathers] from the people of Pharaoh, who afflicted you with the worst torment, slaughtering your [newborn] sons and keeping your females alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord.
Transliteration
Wa-idh najjaynakum min ali fir'awna yasoomunkum soo'a al-'adhab yudhabbihoon abnaa'akum wa-yastahyoon nisaa'akum wa-fee dhaalikum balaa'un min rabbikum 'adheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah recalls Allah's deliverance of the Children of Israel from the oppression of Pharaoh's people, who subjected them to severe torment, killed their sons, and enslaved their women. Ibn Kathir notes this was a great trial (balaa') and blessing from Allah, meant to test their faith and demonstrate His power over their enemies. Al-Tabari emphasizes that this divine rescue was a sign of Allah's mercy and a reminder of His covenant with the Israelites, serving as a rebuke to those who would later forget these favors.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan period within a section reminding the Children of Israel of Allah's past favors to their ancestors. It serves to establish the historical relationship between Allah and the Israelites, providing context for the laws and commandments being established in Surah Al-Baqarah, and implicitly calling them to gratitude and obedience.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) mentioned the oppression of Pharaoh's people in various contexts emphasizing Allah's power. Related to the theme of deliverance, Sahih Bukhari records the Prophet's emphasis on Allah's protection of the believers: 'Whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all of humanity' (5:32), reflecting the value Allah places on preserving life.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to remember Allah's past favors in times of hardship, as a source of hope and renewed faith in His power to protect. It also serves as a reminder that trials and tests are divine blessings that strengthen faith and purify the soul when endured with patience and reliance on Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَلَمَّا بَرَزُوا۟ لِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And when they went forth to [face] Goliath and his soldiers, they said, "Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people."
وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ لِمَن يُقْتَلُ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمْوَٰتٌۢ ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَآءٌ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَشْعُرُونَ
And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allāh, "They are dead." Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not.
ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦ ۚ وَقَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allāh and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination."
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ
Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allāh took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.