فَأَخَذَهُ ٱللَّهُ نَكَالَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَٱلْأُولَىٰٓ 25
Translations
So Allāh seized him in exemplary punishment for the last and the first [transgression]..
Transliteration
Fa-akhdhahu allahu nakala al-akhirati wa-al-ula
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's punishment of Pharaoh, who was seized by divine retribution in both this life and the next. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that 'nakala' (punishment/example) encompasses Pharaoh's drowning in the sea as a punishment in this world and the eternal punishment awaiting him in the Hereafter. The dual punishment demonstrates Allah's justice toward those who arrogantly reject His signs and oppress His people.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nazi'at's narrative of Musa and Pharaoh, describing the climactic moment when Allah seized Pharaoh as punishment for his persistent rejection of the message and his tyranny. It follows the account of the ten plagues and culminates in Pharaoh's drowning, illustrating the inevitable consequences of defying Allah's messengers.
Related Hadiths
The concept of punishment in both worlds is referenced in various hadiths about the fate of disbelievers. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah record hadiths about the punishment of the grave (al-adhab al-qabr) and the Hereafter for those who reject faith, thematically related to this ayah's mention of dual punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that defying Allah's guidance inevitably leads to severe consequences, both in this life and the next, while also assuring the believers of Allah's protection and justice against oppressors. It serves as a warning that no one, regardless of power or position, is immune from Allah's punishment.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ سِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّشْرِكِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Travel through the land and observe how was the end of those before. Most of them were associators [of others with Allāh].
وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَهُمْ ظَـٰلِمُونَ
And there had certainly come to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they denied him; so punishment overtook them while they were wrongdoers.
ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ أَيْنَ مَا ثُقِفُوٓا۟ إِلَّا بِحَبْلٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَحَبْلٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَسْكَنَةُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ
They have been put under humiliation [by Allāh] wherever they are overtaken, except for a rope [i.e., covenant] from Allāh and a rope [i.e., treaty] from the people [i.e., the Muslims]. And they have drawn upon themselves anger from Allāh and have been put under destitution. That is because they disbelieved in [i.e., rejected] the verses of Allāh and killed the prophets without right. That is because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed.
وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْأَيْكَةِ وَقَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ ۚ كُلٌّ كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِ
And the companions of the thicket and the people of Tubbaʿ. All denied the messengers, so My threat was justly fulfilled.