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
وَٱلْمُطَلَّقَـٰتُ يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَـٰثَةَ قُرُوٓءٍ ۚ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَهُنَّ أَن يَكْتُمْنَ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ فِىٓ أَرْحَامِهِنَّ إِن كُنَّ يُؤْمِنَّ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۚ وَبُعُولَتُهُنَّ أَحَقُّ بِرَدِّهِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ إِنْ أَرَادُوٓا۟ إِصْلَـٰحًا ۚ وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَيْهِنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
Divorced women remain in waiting [i.e., do not remarry] for three periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allāh has created in their wombs if they believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And their husbands have more right to take them back in this [period] if they want reconciliation. And due to them [i.e., the wives] is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men [i.e., husbands] have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
وَأَنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا۟ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوٓا۟ ۛ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And spend in the way of Allāh and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allāh loves the doers of good.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ
And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].
مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَـٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥٓ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Who is it that would loan Allāh a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allāh who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned.