(90) “We brought the Children of Israel across the sea.” When Moses reached the sea, Allah revealed to him that he should strike it with his staff. He struck it, and it split into twelve paths, which the Children of Israel traversed. Pharaoh and his troops followed behind him (1), entering the sea.

When Moses and his people had all emerged from the sea, while Pharaoh and his troops were entering it, Allah commanded the sea, and its waters closed over Pharaoh and his troops and drowned them as the Children of Israel watched.

When drowning finally overtook Pharaoh and he became certain that he was doomed, he said, “I believe that there is no god except the One in whom the Children of Israel believe”—namely Allah, the true God, besides whom there is no god—“and I am one of the Muslims,” meaning those who submit to Allah’s religion and to what Moses brought.

(91) Allah Most High said—making clear that faith in such circumstances was of no benefit to him—“Now?” Do you believe and acknowledge the Messenger of Allah, though “you disobeyed before”—that is, you openly defied Allah through disobedience, disbelief, and denial—“and were one of the corrupters”? Your faith is therefore of no benefit to you. It is Allah’s established way that when disbelievers reach such a state of desperation, their faith does not benefit them, because it has become faith based on direct sight, like the faith of one who has reached the Day of Resurrection. The only faith that benefits is faith in the unseen.