He dispatched recruiters, then pursued them with vast, numerous troops. Allah revealed to the sea: “When My servant Moses strikes you with his staff, split into twelve paths so that he and those with him may cross; then close in upon whoever remains of Pharaoh and his followers.”

Moses, however, forgot to strike the sea. He reached the shore while the sea rumbled in dread lest he smite it unawares and it thereby disobey Allah. When the two hosts came into view of one another and drew near, the companions of Moses cried, “We shall surely be overtaken!” (al-Shuʿarāʾ 26:61). They urged him, “Carry out what your Lord commanded you. He has never lied, nor have you.” Moses replied, “My Lord promised me that when I reached the sea it would split into twelve sections so that I could cross.” At that moment he remembered the staff and struck the water just as the vanguard of Pharaoh’s army was catching up with the rear of Moses’ people. The sea parted exactly as his Lord had commanded and as He had promised Moses.

When Moses and all who were with him had safely crossed, and Pharaoh and his forces had entered, the sea closed over them as it had been ordered.

Afterward the Israelites said, “We fear that Pharaoh may not have drowned; we are not convinced of his destruction.” Moses prayed to his Lord, and Allah cast Pharaoh’s body upon the shore so that they were certain of his demise.

They then passed by a people devoted to idols. The Israelites said, “O Moses, fashion for us a god just as they have gods.” He replied, “You are indeed an ignorant people. What they are engaged in will be shattered, and false is all that they have been doing.” (al-Aʿrāf 7:138–139) “You have already seen and heard lessons enough.”

Moses moved on, had them encamp, and said, “Obey Aaron, for Allah has appointed him your guardian. I am going to my Lord.” He fixed a term of thirty days for his return.

When he came before his Lord intending to speak with Him within those thirty days, he had fasted days and nights throughout. Disliking the thought of addressing his Lord while his mouth bore the odor of the fasting person, Moses plucked a plant from the earth and chewed it. When he stood before Allah, He said—though He knew best—“Moses, why did you break your fast?” Moses answered, “My Lord, I disliked speaking to You unless my mouth had a pleasant scent.” Allah said, “Do you not know, Moses, that the breath of the fasting person is more fragrant to Me than musk? Return and fast ten more days, then come to Me.” Moses complied with his Lord’s command.

When Moses’ people saw that he had not returned within the appointed time, they were dismayed. Aaron had already addressed them, saying, “You left Egypt with goods and valuables that belong to Pharaoh’s people, and they likewise have property of yours. I believe you should regard what is yours as a reward with Allah. I do not deem it lawful for you to keep any deposit entrusted to you or any borrowed article. We shall neither return these things to them nor keep them for ourselves.” He dug a pit and ordered everyone who possessed any such goods or ornaments to throw them into it. Then he set it alight, burning everything, and declared, “It shall belong neither to us nor to them.”