(77–79) “We certainly revealed to Moses, ‘Set out by night with My servants and strike a dry path for them through the sea. You need not fear being overtaken, nor need you fear drowning.’ Then Pharaoh pursued them with his troops, and the sea engulfed them completely. Pharaoh led his people astray and did not guide them.”
Once Moses had established the truth against Pharaoh and his people through clear proofs, he remained in Egypt, calling them to Islam and striving to deliver the Children of Israel from Pharaoh and his torment. Pharaoh, meanwhile, persisted in arrogance and aversion, harshly oppressing the Children of Israel, while Allah showed him the signs and lessons that He has recounted to us in the Quran. The Children of Israel were unable to profess and proclaim their faith openly. They had made their homes into places of worship and patiently endured Pharaoh and the harm he inflicted.
Allah Most High therefore willed to save them from their enemy and establish them in the land so that they might worship Him openly and uphold His command. He revealed to His prophet Moses (1) that he should set out—or that they should all set out—during the first part of the night, so that they could press onward (2) through the land. He informed him that Pharaoh and his people would pursue them. Thus, all the Children of Israel departed during the first part of the night, together with their wives and offspring. When the people of Egypt awoke, not one Israelite remained there, either to call out or answer.
Their enemy Pharaoh became enraged with them. He sent agents throughout the cities to gather the people for him and urge them to set out in pursuit of the Children of Israel, so that he might attack them and vent his fury upon them. But Allah prevails over His affair. Pharaoh’s forces assembled in full, and he marched them in pursuit of the Children of Israel. “So they pursued them at sunrise.” Then, “when the two hosts came into view of one another, Moses’ companions said, ‘We are certain to be overtaken.’” They became anxious and afraid: the sea lay before them, while Pharaoh was behind them, overflowing with rage and fury against them. Moses, however, remained calm at heart and composed, fully trusting his Lord’s promise. He said, “Certainly not! My Lord is with me; He will guide me.”
Allah then revealed to him that he should strike the sea with his staff. He struck it, and it divided into twelve paths, with the water rising like lofty mountains to the right and left of each path. Allah dried the paths exposed when the water parted and commanded them to fear neither being overtaken by Pharaoh nor drowning in the sea. They then proceeded along those paths.
Pharaoh and his troops arrived and followed them along the same paths. Once all of Moses’ people had emerged and all of Pharaoh’s people had entered, Allah commanded the sea, and it surged over them. They were engulfed by the sea and all drowned; not one of them escaped. The Children of Israel watched their enemy as Allah gave them the satisfaction of seeing him destroyed (3).
This is the fate of disbelief and misguidance and of failing to follow Allah’s guidance. Hence Allah Most High says, “Pharaoh led his people astray,” through the disbelief he made attractive to them, his disparagement of what Moses had brought, and his making fools of them. Never at any time did he guide them. He first led them into perversity and error, and then led them into punishment and chastisement.