not to set out in pursuit of the Children of Israel until the rooster crowed. By Allah, not a single rooster crowed that night. Pharaoh then set out in pursuit of the Children of Israel, with Haman at the head of his forces: one million seven hundred thousand men, including seventy thousand black horses, besides horses of all other markings. (1) [Muhammad ibn Ka'b, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Pharaoh’s army contained one hundred thousand black horses, besides horses of all other markings. (2)] (3) Pharaoh himself rode one of the black horses. (4)

It was also said that Pharaoh had seven million men, with one hundred thousand archers before him, one hundred thousand spearmen, and one hundred thousand men bearing clubs. The Children of Israel travelled on until they reached the sea, whose waters were at their highest. Then, when the sun rose, they looked and saw Pharaoh. They were left bewildered and said, “Moses, what are we to do? Where is what you promised us? Pharaoh is behind us: if he catches us, he will kill us; and the sea is before us: if we enter it, we will drown!” Allah, exalted is He, said: “When the two hosts came within sight of one another, Moses’ companions said, ‘We are surely overtaken!’ Moses said, ‘No indeed! My Lord is with me; He will guide me.’” (al-Shu'ara 26:61–62)

Allah then revealed to him, “Strike the sea with your staff.” So he struck it, but it did not obey him. Allah then revealed to him that he should address it by its kunyah. So he struck it and said, “Split apart, Abu Khalid, by Allah’s permission!” It split apart, and each part was like a towering mountain. Twelve paths appeared within it, one path for each tribal division, and the water rose between every two paths like a mountain. Allah sent the wind and the sun upon the bed of the sea until it became dry. The Children of Israel then crossed through the sea, each tribal division taking its own path, with water on either side of them like immense mountains; yet they could not see one another. They became afraid, and each tribal division said, “Our brethren have been killed.” Then Allah, exalted is He, revealed to the mountains of water that they should interlock. The water became interwoven lattices, layer upon layer, so that they could see one another and hear one another’s speech, until they crossed the sea safely. This is the meaning of His saying, exalted is He: “And when We parted the sea for you.”

“And We saved you” from Pharaoh’s people and from drowning, “and We drowned Pharaoh’s people.” For when Pharaoh reached the sea and saw it split open, he said to his people, “Look at the sea! It has split apart out of awe of me, so that I may catch my slaves who have fled. Enter the sea!” But his people were afraid to enter it. It was also said that they told him, “If you are truly a lord, then enter the sea as Moses entered it.” Pharaoh was riding a black stallion, and there was not a single mare among Pharaoh’s horses. Then Gabriel came riding a mare in heat (5), went ahead of them, and entered the sea. When Pharaoh’s black stallion caught her scent, it plunged into the sea after her, while they did not see him. Pharaoh had no control over the matter, and he did not see Gabriel’s mare. Then all the horses plunged into the sea behind him. Michael came on horseback behind the people, urging and driving them on so that none of them would lag behind, saying to them, “Catch up with your companions!” Thus they all entered the sea, and Gabriel emerged from