فَلَمَّا تَرَٰٓءَا ٱلْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَـٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ 61
Translations
And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moses said, "Indeed, we are to be overtaken!"
Transliteration
Falammā tarā'ā al-jama'ān qāla aṣḥābu Mūsā innā lamudrākūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
When the two groups (the Children of Israel and Pharaoh's army) came within sight of each other, the companions of Moses said, 'Indeed, we will be overtaken.' This ayah depicts the moment of crisis when the Israelites, trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's advancing army, expressed their fear of being caught. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this represents the peak of human anxiety before divine deliverance, demonstrating how believers in moments of desperation turn to their Lord, setting the stage for the miraculous parting of the sea that follows in the next ayah.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Musa (Moses) and the Exodus, a central story in Quranic discourse. Surah Ash-Shu'ara is Meccan and recounts various prophetic narratives to comfort Prophet Muhammad and his community during their persecution. The context is the Israelites' flight from Egypt and their pursuit by Pharaoh's forces, illustrating divine protection over believers despite overwhelming worldly obstacles.
Related Hadiths
The story of crossing the Red Sea is referenced in various hadiths discussing divine miracles. See Sahih Bukhari (Book of Stories of the Prophets) where the Prophet Muhammad mentions the parting of the sea as evidence of Allah's power. Also relevant is the general principle in Sahih Muslim about how hardship is followed by ease (Surah 94:5-6), exemplified in this narrative.
Themes
Key Lesson
When believers face seemingly impossible circumstances, despair is a natural human emotion, but it becomes an opportunity to witness Allah's power and mercy through unexpected deliverance. This ayah teaches that expressing fear or worry to Allah, combined with steadfast faith, precedes divine intervention and should strengthen rather than weaken our reliance on Him.