THE STORY OF THE PROPHET MOSES - Prophet Moses with the Bani Israil Leaving Egypt and the Sinking of Pharaoh with His Followers

Prophet Moses has had more followers since showing his miracles. Many people began to follow the teachings of the Prophet Moses and only worshiped Allah SWT. This made Pharaoh and his followers began to fret, because the influence of the Prophet Moses was greater and considered to bring ruination to the position of Pharaoh in Egypt. So Pharaoh and his officials tried to torture the Bani Israil and those who believed. Those who were tortured suffered extraordinary suffering and were forced to obey the rules of Pharaoh.

Prophet Moses advised his followers to remain patient and beg for protection to Allah SWT. His followers continued to complain that they were always tortured by Pharaoh. Prophet Moses hoped that Allah SWT would punish Pharaoh and his followers and Prophet Moses's followers would be the leader on this earth. Allah SWT punished Pharaoh's people with the long drought that hit Egypt. The drought causes crop failure, plants and trees that die, and lack of fruits. Life feels very difficult for Pharaoh and his followers.

Then, the punishment from God has been revoked. Egypt experienced a period of prosperity again. The Egyptian economy has risen. Pharaoh and his followers were happy with it but were not at all grateful. With pride they assumed that the results came from their own hard work. All disasters that befall them are ascribed to Moses. They always refused to accept the truth brought by Prophet Moses.

Then followed a disaster that hit Pharaoh and his followers. Hurricanes hit their homes causing severe damage. Then a large number of locusts raided their farms and plantations. Fleas and frogs attack so that life becomes disturbed. And water for the needs of Egypt turned blood, certainly not worth drinking. Many people died from the Egyptians due to the incident.

In this difficult situation, Pharaoh asked the Prophet Moses to ask God to stop the punishment. If the punishment stopped, they promised to believe in what Moses taught and let the Bani Israil go with the Prophet Moses.

But after the punishment that befell them had stopped, Pharaoh and his followers reneged on their promises. The Bani Israel were still treated as slaves and continued to work for Pharaoh. The followers of Prophet Moses remained tortured. In such conditions, Allah SWT gave a revelation to the Prophet Moses so that he and the Bani Israel would leave Egypt at night. Prophet Moses preached the revelation to all the people of Israel. So the people of Israel prepared the items that must be taken on the way. That said, Moses also brought the body of the Prophet Joseph to be buried in his homeland.

The Prophet Moses and the Bani Israil departed secretly at night with the hope of being unknown to Pharaoh and his followers. The group of Bani Israil protected by Allah SWT went to the promised land. Finally Pharaoh knew of their departure. Pharaoh gathered all his people and troops to chase after the entourage of the Bani Israel.

So Pharaoh and his troops departed after the entourage of the Bani Israil. They have left a luxury residence in their country.

The entourage of the Bani Israel has arrived at the beach located on the edge of the Red Sea. They cannot continue the journey because they are blocked by the sea. The entourage of the Bani Israil was also increasingly panicked because the Pharaoh's entourage had been seen behind them and was approaching. But the Prophet Moses remained calm and reminded his people that God was always with them.

Allah's help came to the Bani Israil. Prophet Moses struck his staff into the sea. So the sea divided, which gave them a safe way. The group of Bani Israil immediately passed the road between the divided sea. The group of Pharaoh also continued to chase through the road in the divided sea.

Moses and all of his followers arrived at the land opposite. At that time Pharaoh and his followers who were still in the middle of the road were drowned by the reconnected sea. So the group of Pharaoh perished. Pharaoh had expressed faith in God who was believed by Bani Israil when he was about to drown, but it was in vain because the punishment had already beenfall him. Then the Pharaoh's body remain intact and shown to humans so that they can be used as lessons. While the group of the Bani Israel had survived the pursuit of the Pharaoh's entourage. Allah is Almighty and Most Merciful.

This story is explained in several surahs in the Holy Qur'an.

Surah Al-A'raf verses 127-136:

وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِن قَوۡمِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ أَتَذَرُ مُوسَىٰ وَقَوۡمَهُۥ لِيُفۡسِدُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَيَذَرَكَ وَءَالِهَتَكَۚ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ وَنَسۡتَحۡيِۦ نِسَآءَهُمۡ وَإِنَّا فَوۡقَهُمۡ قَٰهِرُونَ  ١٢٧ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوۡمِهِ ٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْۖ إِنَّ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦۖ وَٱلۡعَٰقِبَةُ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ  ١٢٨ قَالُوٓاْ أُوذِينَا مِن قَبۡلِ أَن تَأۡتِيَنَا وَمِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جِئۡتَنَاۚ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمۡ أَن يُهۡلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمۡ وَيَسۡتَخۡلِفَكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَيَنظُرَ كَيۡفَ تَعۡمَلُونَ  ١٢٩ وَلَقَدۡ أَخَذۡنَآ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ بِٱلسِّنِينَ وَنَقۡصٖ مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَذَّكَّرُونَ  ١٣٠ فَإِذَا جَآءَتۡهُمُ ٱلۡحَسَنَةُ قَالُواْ لَنَا هَٰذِهِۦۖ وَإِن تُصِبۡهُمۡ سَيِّئَةٞ يَطَّيَّرُواْ بِمُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥٓۗ أَلَآ إِنَّمَا طَٰٓئِرُهُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ  ١٣١ وَقَالُواْ مَهۡمَا تَأۡتِنَا بِهِۦ مِنۡ ءَايَةٖ لِّتَسۡحَرَنَا بِهَا فَمَا نَحۡنُ لَكَ بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ  ١٣٢ فَأَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلطُّوفَانَ وَٱلۡجَرَادَ وَٱلۡقُمَّلَ وَٱلضَّفَادِعَ وَٱلدَّمَ ءَايَٰتٖ مُّفَصَّلَٰتٖ فَٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ وَكَانُواْ قَوۡمٗا مُّجۡرِمِينَ  ١٣٣ وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلرِّجۡزُ قَالُواْ يَٰمُوسَى ٱدۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَۖ لَئِن كَشَفۡتَ عَنَّا ٱلرِّجۡزَ لَنُؤۡمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرۡسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ  ١٣٤ فَلَمَّا كَشَفۡنَا عَنۡهُمُ ٱلرِّجۡزَ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ هُم بَٰلِغُوهُ إِذَا هُمۡ يَنكُثُونَ  ١٣٥ فَٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ فَأَغۡرَقۡنَٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡيَمِّ بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَذَّبُواْ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِنَا وَكَانُواْ عَنۡهَا غَٰفِلِينَ  ١٣٦

127.  And the eminent among the people of Pharaoh said," Will you leave Moses and his people to cause corruption in the land and abandon you and your gods?" [Pharaoh] said, "We will kill their sons and keep their women alive; and indeed, we are subjugators over them."

128.  Said Moses to his people, "Seek help through Allah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous."

129.  They said, "We have been harmed before you came to us and after you have come to us." He said, "Perhaps your Lord will destroy your enemy and grant you succession in the land and see how you will do."

130.  And We certainly seized the people of Pharaoh with years of famine and a deficiency in fruits that perhaps they would be reminded.

131.  But when good came to them, they said, "This is ours [by right]." And if a bad [condition] struck them, they saw an evil omen in Moses and those with him. Unquestionably, their fortune is with Allah, but most of them do not know.

132.  And they said, "No matter what sign you bring us with which to bewitch us, we will not be believers in you."

133.  So We sent upon them the flood and locusts and lice and frogs and blood as distinct signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people.

134.  And when the punishment descended upon them, they said, "O Moses, invoke for us your Lord by what He has promised you. If you [can] remove the punishment from us, we will surely believe you, and we will send with you the Children of Israel."

135.  But when We removed the punishment from them until a term which they were to reach, then at once they broke their word.

136.  So We took retribution from them, and We drowned them in the sea because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them.

Surah Yunus verses 90-92:

۞وَجَٰوَزۡنَا بِبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُمۡ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ بَغۡيٗا وَعَدۡوًاۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَدۡرَكَهُ ٱلۡغَرَقُ قَالَ ءَامَنتُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِيٓ ءَامَنَتۡ بِهِۦ بَنُوٓاْ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ وَأَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ  ٩٠ ءَآلۡـَٰٔنَ وَقَدۡ عَصَيۡتَ قَبۡلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ  ٩١ فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنۡ خَلۡفَكَ ءَايَةٗۚ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرٗا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ عَنۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا لَغَٰفِلُونَ  ٩٢

90.  And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and 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 corrupters?

92.  So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many among the people, of Our signs, are heedless

Surah Thaha verses 77-79:

وَلَقَدۡ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَسۡرِ بِعِبَادِي فَٱضۡرِبۡ لَهُمۡ طَرِيقٗا فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ يَبَسٗا لَّا تَخَٰفُ دَرَكٗا وَلَا تَخۡشَىٰ  ٧٧ فَأَتۡبَعَهُمۡ فِرۡعَوۡنُ بِجُنُودِهِۦ فَغَشِيَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡيَمِّ مَا غَشِيَهُمۡ  ٧٨ وَأَضَلَّ فِرۡعَوۡنُ قَوۡمَهُۥ وَمَا هَدَىٰ  ٧٩

77.  And We had inspired to Moses, "Travel by night with My servants and strike for them a dry path through the sea; you will not fear being overtaken [by Pharaoh] nor be afraid [of drowning]."

78.  So Pharaoh pursued them with his soldiers, and there covered them from the sea that which covered them,

79.  And Pharaoh led his people astray and did not guide [them].

Surah Ash-Shu'ara verses 52-68:

۞وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَسۡرِ بِعِبَادِيٓ إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ  ٥٢ فَأَرۡسَلَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ فِي ٱلۡمَدَآئِنِ حَٰشِرِينَ  ٥٣ إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ لَشِرۡذِمَةٞ قَلِيلُونَ  ٥٤ وَإِنَّهُمۡ لَنَا لَغَآئِظُونَ  ٥٥ وَإِنَّا لَجَمِيعٌ حَٰذِرُونَ  ٥٦ فَأَخۡرَجۡنَٰهُم مِّن جَنَّٰتٖ وَعُيُونٖ  ٥٧ وَكُنُوزٖ وَمَقَامٖ كَرِيمٖ  ٥٨ كَذَٰلِكَۖ وَأَوۡرَثۡنَٰهَا بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ  ٥٩ فَأَتۡبَعُوهُم مُّشۡرِقِينَ  ٦٠ فَلَمَّا تَرَٰٓءَا ٱلۡجَمۡعَانِ قَالَ أَصۡحَٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّا لَمُدۡرَكُونَ  ٦١ قَالَ كَلَّآۖ إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهۡدِينِ  ٦٢ فَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱضۡرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَۖ فَٱنفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرۡقٖ كَٱلطَّوۡدِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ  ٦٣ وَأَزۡلَفۡنَا ثَمَّ ٱلۡأٓخَرِينَ  ٦٤ وَأَنجَيۡنَا مُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥٓ أَجۡمَعِينَ  ٦٥ ثُمَّ أَغۡرَقۡنَا ٱلۡأٓخَرِينَ  ٦٦ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكۡثَرُهُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ  ٦٧ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ  ٦٨

52.  And We inspired to Moses, "Travel by night with My servants; indeed, you will be pursued."

53.  Then Pharaoh sent among the cities gatherers

54.  [And said], "Indeed, those are but a small band,

55.  And indeed, they are enraging us,

56.  And indeed, we are a cautious society... "

57.  So We removed them from gardens and springs

58.  And treasures and honorable station -

59.  Thus. And We caused to inherit it the Children of Israel.

60.  So they pursued them at sunrise.

61.  And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moses said, "Indeed, we are to be overtaken!"

62.  [Moses] said, "No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me."

63.  Then We inspired to Moses, "Strike with your staff the sea," and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain.

64.  And We advanced thereto the pursuers.

65.  And We saved Moses and those with him, all together.

66.  Then We drowned the others.

67.  Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

68.  And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.