The story of the Red Sea being split for Musa and the Children of Israel while pursued by Pharaoh, and the drowning of Pharaoh and his army despite their belief coming too late when death was before them.
Pharaoh's Pursuit of Prophet Musa and the Children of Israel
The Children of Israel, who had suffered greatly from the oppression of Pharaoh and his people, endured persecution and lived in fear under Pharaoh's cruel and fierce rule. Finally, they became aware that Musa was truly the one sent by Allah to free them from Pharaoh's grasp. So they came in crowds to Prophet Musa, seeking his help to take them out of Egypt.
Then the group of the Children of Israel departed under the leadership of Prophet Musa, leaving Egypt towards Jerusalem. Walking quickly for fear of being caught by Pharaoh and his troops who pursued them from behind, they finally arrived at dawn at the shore of the Red Sea after spending the entire night crossing the vast desert.
The anxiety and fear increasingly gripped the hearts of Musa's followers and the Children of Israel when they saw the sea stretching before them while from behind they were pursued by Pharaoh and his army who would try to bring them back to Egypt. They no longer doubted that if they were caught, they would receive the death sentence from the tyrannical Pharaoh.
One of the companions of Musa, named Joshua son of Nun, said: 'O Musa, where should we go? The enemy is behind us pursuing us and the sea is before us, which cannot be crossed without a boat. What should we do to save ourselves from Pharaoh's pursuit?'"
Pharaoh's Pursuit of Prophet Musa and the Children of Israel
Musa replied: 'Do not fear or be anxious. Our journey has been commanded by Allah to me, and it is He who will provide a way out and save us from the grasp of this tyrannical enemy.'"
At that critical moment, when Musa's followers were trembling in fear and awaiting Musa's action, who appeared calm, Allah's revelation came to His Prophet with a command to strike the sea with his staff. By Allah's permission, the sea parted, each side like a great mountain. Between the two sides of the sea, a dry seabed formed, which was quickly traversed by the Children of Israel under Musa's leadership towards the eastern shore.
After they had safely reached the eastern shore, they saw Pharaoh and his army traversing the path that had opened between the two water mountains. Fear and anxiety again troubled their hearts as they looked at Musa as if asking what he would do next. In the meantime, Musa was divinely inspired to remain calm and wait for Pharaoh and his army to descend fully to the seabed, for Allah's decree had already determined that they would become the drowned army.
Pharaoh said to his people when he saw the path open for them between the two water mountains: 'See how the sea has parted into two, providing a path for us to pursue those who have fled. They thought they could escape from my pursuit and punishment. They do not know that my command is obeyed by the sea, let alone by men. Does this not all prove that I am the powerful one who should be worshipped by you?' So with arrogance and pride, Pharaoh and his army descended to the dry seabed, hurrying to catch up with Musa and the Children of Israel who were already on the eastern shore, awaiting Allah's punishment that had been destined for His disbelieving servants.
Pharaoh's Pursuit of Prophet Musa and the Children of Israel
Thus, after Pharaoh and his army found themselves in the middle of the parted sea, far from both shores, Allah's command came and the towering water returned to cover the open path on which Pharaoh was arrogantly leading his troops to pursue Musa and the Children of Israel. They were engulfed alive in the belly of the sea, and the life of Pharaoh and his people came to an end, becoming a historical account and a lesson for generations to come.
In the final moments of his life, struggling to save himself from death that was before his eyes, Pharaoh said: 'I believe that there is no god except the God of Musa and the God of the Children of Israel. I believe in their God and surrender myself to Him as one who submits.'"
Allah said to Pharaoh who was facing the agony of death: 'Is it only now that you say you believe in Musa and submit to Me? Could your claim to divinity save you from death? Is it only now that you perceive and believe, after a lifetime of transgression, oppression, and tyranny against My servants, and behaving arrogantly, corrupting the morals and faith of those under your power? Now accept My punishment, which will be a lesson for those who come after you. I will bring your body up so it becomes a sign for those who doubt My power.'"
The Children of Israel, followers of Musa, still doubted Pharaoh's death. They were still influenced by the reality that Pharaoh had instilled in their minds while he was in power—that he was an extraordinary being unlike others and that he would live eternally as a god and would not die. This illusion that remained in their minds made them unwilling to believe that with his drowning, Pharaoh had died. They told Musa that Pharaoh might still be alive but in another realm.
Musa tried to assure his people that what they imagined about Pharaoh was mere fantasy and that Pharaoh, as an ordinary person, had drowned as punishment from Allah for his deeds of defying Allah's power, denying Musa, and oppressing and enslaving the Children of Israel. And after seeing with their own eyes the bodies of Pharaoh and his men floating on the water's surface, all their illusions about Pharaoh and his power vanished.
Pharaoh's Pursuit of Prophet Musa and the Children of Israel
The content of the story described above can be read in surah Ta-Ha verses 77 to 79, surah al-Shu'ara verses 60 to 68, and surah Yunus verses 90 to 92 as follows:
"77 And indeed, We revealed to Musa, 'Take away My servants by night. Indeed, you will be pursued. Leave the sea in its state divided; each separate part will be like a great towering mass.' "
"78 And indeed, Pharaoh pursued them with his soldiers, but they were covered by the sea, and Pharaoh led his people astray, and he did not guide them."
"79 And Pharaoh led his people astray, and he did not guide them aright.' (Ta-Ha 77-79)"
"60 So Pharaoh pursued them with his soldiers, and there covered them of the sea that which covered them."
"61 And when the two companies sighted one another, the companions of Musa said, 'Indeed, we are to be overtaken.' (But Musa) said, 'No, indeed. With me is my Lord; He will guide me.'"
"63 Then We revealed to Musa, 'Strike with your staff the sea.' So it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mass."
"65 And We saved Musa and those with him, all of them."
"66 Then We drowned the others. 67 Indeed, in that is a sign, but most of them were not to believe."
"68 And indeed, your Lord—He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.' (al-Shu'ara 60-68)"
"90 And when We parted the sea for the Children of Israel, Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said, 'I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims.' 91 Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corruptors?"
"92 So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many of the people, in regard to Our signs, are heedless.' (Yunus 90-92)
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