Page 119 - Perished Nations

chiefs splendour and wealth in the life of the present, and so, Our Lord,
they mislead (men) from Thy Path. Deface our Lord, the features of their
wealth, and send hardness to their hearts, so they will not believe until they
see the grievous penalty."
Allah said: "Accepted is your prayer (O Musa and Harun)! So stand ye
straight, and follow not the path of those who know not." (Surah Yunus:
88-89)
It is clearly understood from these verses that Musa (as) was thus
informed in answer to his supplication that Fir’awn would believe in Allah
at the time he faced the painful punishment. Indeed, Fir’awn said that he
believed in Allah when the waters started to cover. Yet, the last-minute
acceptance of faith of Fir’awn and his asking for forgiveness did not save
him from drowning. Fir’awn and his army drowned and became a lesson
to all.
(It was said to him): "Ah now! But a little while before, wast thou in
rebellion! and thou didst mischief (and violence)! This day shall We save
thee in the body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee!
but verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!" (Surah Yunus:
91-92)
We are also informed that in addition to Fir’awn himself, his men also
received their share of the punishment. Since the soldiers of Fir’awn were
men of "insolence and spite" (Surah Yunus: 90), "men of sin" (Surat al-
Qasas: 8), "did wrong" (Surat al-Qasas: 40), and "thought that they would
not have to return to Allah" (Surat al-Qasas: 39) just like Fir’awn, they well
deserved the punishment of Allah. Thus,
Allah “seized both Fir’awn and his hosts and flung them into the sea”.
(Surat al-Qasas: 40)
So Allah exacted retribution from them and drowned them in the sea,
because they rejected His signs and failed to take warning from them.
(Surat al-A‘raf: 136)
Allah describes in the Qur’an in the following verses, all that happened
after the death of Fir’awn:
And We made a people, considered weak (and of no account), inheritors
of lands in both east and west - lands whereon We sent down Our
blessings. The fair promise of thy Lord was fulfilled for the Children of

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