The story of the destruction of Pharaoh.

And by what was Pharaoh and his people taken? They were taken by drowning, so He destroyed them with what they used to boast about. He used to say to his people: So by what were they destroyed? By the water that flowed from beneath them, which was a source of pride for him. Allah the Exalted destroyed him with water. The story is well known: Pharaoh gathered all the inhabitants of the cities to plot against Moses. So Moses left Egypt with his people, and by the command of Allah, they headed toward the Sea of Qulzum, which is the well-known Red Sea that separates the continent of Africa from Asia in the direction of Jeddah. When they reached the sea, the companions of Moses said: How? Because the sea was in front of them, and Pharaoh and his people were behind them. So they were doomed to destruction in any case: if they went into the sea, they would be destroyed by the sea, and if they stayed, they would be destroyed by Pharaoh and his soldiers. So Moses (peace be upon him) said: meaning, you will not be overtaken. Then he explained that by saying: Allah is the Greatest. How is faith when facing hardships? He saw the sea in front of him and Pharaoh and his soldiers behind him, and his companions, despite their faith, said: But he said: Allah is the Greatest. So Allah revealed to him: "Strike the sea with your staff." He struck the sea with his staff, and it split. After how many days? Immediately, in an instant. What is the evidence that it was in an instant? Because He said: Look, Allah even omitted the action by which the splitting occurred. Yes? Because when Allah commanded Moses to strike the sea, it was prepared; it was prepared to split at the mere moment of that strike that fell upon it, and it split. And how much was it? It became twelve dry paths. They dried up immediately, and they walked on them on their feet. The waters were like blocks of mountains. Some of the exegetes mentioned from the news of the Children of Israel that Allah placed windows in these blocks so that some of them could see each other, all of them seeing each other, so that some would be reassured about the others. When Moses and his people had finished coming out, behold, Pharaoh had entered with his people. So the Lord the Exalted commanded the sea, and it closed over them immediately, and they drowned, every last one of them. When drowning overtook Pharaoh, he said: When he saw the punishment and witnessed it, he believed that there is no god except the One in whom the Children of Israel believed. But that did not benefit him, as Allah the Exalted said about those like him: For this reason, it was said to Pharaoh: meaning, do you believe now that there is no god except the One in whom the Children of Israel believed? meaning, this is a rhetorical question expressing denial of him and negating his benefit from that faith. But Allah the Exalted said: Not for your benefit, but to be a sign for those who come after you. Who came after him? The Children of Israel. Because Pharaoh had terrified the Children of Israel, and if his body had not been shown on the surface of the water, they would have doubted, perhaps he had not entered with his people, perhaps he was saved. So Allah preserved his body only, not your soul. Why? So that they may know that you have died. Now, do you see anything more severe than this punishment—may Allah protect us—from this tyrant? Never. It was a severe punishment. He gathered his people and displayed a show of pride to destroy Moses and his people, so Allah the Exalted took him with the taking of the Mighty and Capable Mighty and Majestic. He took him as the Mighty and Prevailing who is not overcome, the Capable who is not helpless, Glorified and Exalted is He. And they were destroyed by this water that Pharaoh used to boast about. For this reason, Allah said: The letter "ba" here is causal in one aspect and for compensation in another aspect. How is that? Causal means that it was because of their sins, for Allah does not wrong people in anything, but people themselves wrong themselves. And Allah has not taken anyone except for a sin. And for compensation in another aspect, that He did not wrong them, but made their recompense of the same kind as their deeds: , Ending the verse with this description is very appropriate, because those who were taken for their sins were afflicted with what? With severe punishment, of which there is nothing more severe. And I do not think that anyone up to this day is able to destroy his enemy as Allah destroyed Pharaoh. Can the greatest state in the world today make the water recede with this speed so that the enemy enters, and then the water closes over them? Never, it is impossible. But the Severe in Punishment, the Exalted, the Lord the Exalted, who brings down His punishment upon His enemies for a wisdom, was able to do that and in an instant . Then Allah the Exalted said: The benefits follow. Every verse and its benefits? Yes.