Allah the Exalted said:
“So We revealed to Moses: ‘Strike the sea with your staff,’ and it split apart, each part rising like a towering mountain.”

It is reported that the sea opened into twelve separate paths, one for every tribe, so that each could advance along its own way. Some even claim that windows formed between the walls of water so they might see one another—but this is open to scrutiny, for water is a transparent substance that reflects whatever light is behind it.

Thus the water of the sea stood upright like mountains, held back by the awesome power of Him who says to a thing, ‘Be,’ and it is. Allah then commanded the west wind, which swept over the seabed and dried it, until it became so firm that no mud clung to the hooves of horses or pack-animals.

Allah the Most High also said:
“Indeed, We revealed to Moses: ‘Set out with My servants by night and strike for them a dry path through the sea; you will have no fear of being overtaken and no dread.’
Then Pharaoh pursued them with his troops, but there overwhelmed them from the sea that which overwhelmed them.
Pharaoh led his people astray and did not guide aright.”
(Ta Ha 20: 77-79)

When, by the permission of the Almighty—mighty in retribution—the sea reached this state, Moses, upon him be peace, was ordered to cross with the Children of Israel. They hurried down into it, joyful and eager, having witnessed a wonder that would bewilder onlookers and strengthen believing hearts. Once they had all crossed and the last of them had emerged, their exit coincided with the arrival of the vanguard of Pharaoh’s army at the shore.

Moses, peace be upon him, wanted to strike the sea with his staff so that it would return to its former state, leaving Pharaoh and his soldiers no way to reach them. The All-Powerful, Lord of Majesty, however, commanded him to leave the sea as it was, as He—whose word is truth—said:

“We had indeed tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble messenger:
‘Deliver to me the servants of Allah. I am to you a faithful messenger.
Do not exalt yourselves against Allah; indeed, I come to you with clear authority.
I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord lest you stone me,
and if you will not believe me, then keep away from me.’
So he prayed to his Lord: ‘These are a criminal people.’
(He was told,) ‘Set out with My servants by night—surely you will be pursued—
and leave the sea at rest, for they are an army destined to drown.’
How many gardens and springs they left behind,
fields and splendid dwellings,
and comforts in which they had reveled!
Thus it was; and We caused other people to inherit them.
Neither heaven nor earth wept for them, nor were they given any respite.
And We delivered the Children of Israel from the humiliating torment—
from Pharaoh. Indeed, he was a tyrant among the prodigals.
We knowingly chose them above all peoples,
and We gave them signs in which was a manifest trial.”
(ad-Dukhān 44: 17-33)

His words, “Leave the sea at rest,” mean: leave it calm and in the very state in which it now stands; do not change this condition. This was the view of ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās, Mujāhid, ʿIkrimah, ar-Rubayʿ, al-Ḍaḥḥāk, Qatādah, Kaʿb al-Aḥbār, Simāk ibn Ḥarb, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Zayd ibn Aslam, and others.

Accordingly, Moses left the sea as it was. When Pharaoh arrived and beheld what he saw, the spectacle overwhelmed him. He became certain—as he had already suspected—that this was the work of the Lord of the Glorious Throne. He held back and did not advance, regretting his pursuit—though regret availed him nothing. Outwardly he steeled himself before his troops, treating them as enemies, and his unbelieving soul, his depraved nature, drove him to say