۞ وَجَـٰوَزْنَا بِبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَدْرَكَهُ ٱلْغَرَقُ قَالَ ءَامَنتُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَامَنَتْ بِهِۦ بَنُوٓا۟ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَأَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ 90
Translations
And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said, "I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims."
Transliteration
Wa jawazna bibani Israila al-bahr fa-attaba'ahum Fir'awn wa junuduhu baghyan wa 'udwan hatta idha adrakahu al-gharaq qala amantu annahu la ilaha illa alladhi amanat bihi banu Israila wa ana mina al-muslimin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah parted the sea for Banu Isra'il to cross safely, while Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them out of tyranny and enmity. When the waters engulfed Pharaoh at the moment of drowning, he proclaimed belief in Allah alone, the same God in whom the Children of Israel believed, and declared himself among the submitters. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this deathbed belief came too late—after witnessing the punishment directly—which is why it was not accepted according to Q. 40:85, illustrating that faith must precede destruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Pharaoh's persecution of Banu Isra'il and their miraculous deliverance, which appears multiple times throughout the Qur'an. It serves as a historical reminder to the Meccan believers of Allah's power over tyrants and His protection of the faithful, drawing a parallel to their own situation under Meccan opposition. The surah emphasizes that Allah's signs are evident to those who reflect, yet many turn away out of arrogance.
Related Hadiths
The drowning of Pharaoh is confirmed in various hadiths. Imam Muslim reports that the Prophet ﷺ stated Pharaoh's body was preserved as a sign: 'So today We shall save you in body that you may be to those who come after you a sign' (Q. 10:92). Additionally, hadiths discuss how belief at the moment of death is rejected, supporting the theological point of this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith and repentance must come before one faces Allah's punishment, not at the moment of destruction—a reminder that genuine belief requires sincere commitment during one's lifetime, and that witnessing divine punishment as a consequence of disbelief is not an acceptable time to submit. The contrast between the immediate acceptance of Banu Isra'il's faith and the rejection of Pharaoh's death-moment belief underscores the importance of timely repentance.
Related Ayahs
فَقَالُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
So they said, "Upon Allāh do we rely. Our Lord, make us not [objects of] trial for the wrongdoing people
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِى شَكٍّ مِّن دِينِى فَلَآ أَعْبُدُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِنْ أَعْبُدُ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى يَتَوَفَّىٰكُمْ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "O people, if you are in doubt as to my religion - then I do not worship those which you worship besides Allāh; but I worship Allāh, who causes your death. And I have been commanded to be of the believers
دَعْوَىٰهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ ٱللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَـٰمٌ ۚ وَءَاخِرُ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ أَنِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Their call therein will be, "Exalted are You, O Allāh," and their greeting therein will be, "Peace." And the last of their call will be, "Praise to Allāh, Lord of the worlds!"
قَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۖ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ۖ لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنْ عِندَكُم مِّن سُلْطَـٰنٍۭ بِهَـٰذَآ ۚ أَتَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
They have said, "Allāh has taken a son." Exalted is He; He is the [one] Free of need. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. You have no authority for this [claim]. Do you say about Allāh that which you do not know?