فَٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَكَانُوا۟ عَنْهَا غَـٰفِلِينَ 136
Translations
So We took retribution from them, and We drowned them in the sea because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them.
Transliteration
Faintaqamnā minhum fa-aghraaqnāhum fil-yammi bi-annahum kadhdhābū bi-āyātinā wa-kānū 'anhā ghāfilīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's retribution against Pharaoh and his people for their rejection and heedlessness of the divine signs. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that drowning in the sea was the appropriate punishment (istiwfā') for those who denied the clear miracles shown to them through Prophet Musa. The emphasis on their inattentiveness (ghāfilīn) indicates that their destruction resulted not merely from disbelief, but from willful negligence and arrogance despite witnessing manifest proofs.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes the narrative of Pharaoh and the Children of Israel within Surah Al-A'raf, which recounts stories of prophets and their peoples. The context details how the Egyptians were given nine clear signs (the plagues) yet persisted in rejection and mockery, leading to their inevitable punishment. This narrative serves as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers of the consequences of rejecting prophetic messages.
Related Hadiths
The story of Pharaoh's drowning is referenced in various hadiths discussing the punishment of the arrogant. See Sunan Ibn Majah on the final state of Pharaoh's body being preserved as a sign. Additionally, hadiths in Sahih Muslim discuss how those who reject clear signs face swift punishment in this life.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that persistent rejection and willful neglect of divine guidance inevitably leads to ruin, while it encourages mindfulness (yaqẓah) and attentiveness to Allah's signs in creation and revelation. For modern readers, it serves as a cautionary reminder that ignorance or indifference toward truth is not an excuse, and that accountability before Allah is certain.
Related Ayahs
وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَـٰتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِىٓ أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ ۚ قَالَ لَن تَرَىٰنِى وَلَـٰكِنِ ٱنظُرْ إِلَى ٱلْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ ٱسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُۥ فَسَوْفَ تَرَىٰنِى ۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُۥ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُۥ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًا ۚ فَلَمَّآ أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And when Moses arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, "My Lord, show me [Yourself] that I may look at You." [Allāh] said, "You will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it should remain in place, then you will see Me." But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level, and Moses fell unconscious. And when he awoke, he said, "Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first [among my people] of the believers."
وَكَم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَا فَجَآءَهَا بَأْسُنَا بَيَـٰتًا أَوْ هُمْ قَآئِلُونَ
And how many cities have We destroyed, and Our punishment came to them at night or while they were sleeping at noon.
قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِى سَفَاهَةٍ وَإِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, "Indeed, we see you in foolishness, and indeed, we think you are of the liars."
فَلَمَّا عَتَوْا۟ عَن مَّا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ قُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا۟ قِرَدَةً خَـٰسِـِٔينَ
So when they were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, "Be apes, despised."