This passage draws the final scene of what happened between Moses and Pharaoh after the encounter arranged by the latter between his sorcerers and Moses. The encounter that was meant to disprove Moses’ claims of receiving God’s message ended with total submission by the sorcerers who declared their complete faith in God, the Lord of all the worlds. Pharaoh and his nobles gathering their forces and preparing for a showdown followed this. It was at this point that God gave His instruction to Moses, who immediately carried them out.

Moses marched with his people at night, in accordance with God’s plan. In the morning, Pharaoh and his soldiers began their chase in order to put Pharaoh’s scheme into effect. We then see the climax approaching, and the battle about to flare up. Moses and his people find themselves close to the sea, without any boats that they could use to cross. They could not cross it on foot. And they had no arms to defend themselves. Pharaoh and his army were approaching, with his soldiers fully equipped, confident of their victory and intent on showing no mercy. All indications suggest a final tragedy for the small group with Moses: There was no escape, for the sea was ahead and the enemy to the rear. Hence they cried out: “We shall certainly be overtaken.”

It was a time of great stress about to reach its pinnacle. To those believers with Moses it looked only a matter of a few minutes and they would certainly be overtaken. They were certain that Pharaoh will indiscriminately deal death and that there was no escape.

But Moses, who had received God’s revelations, does not entertain any doubt. He has complete trust in God, believing that His help will be forthcoming. He is certain that God will save them, although he does not know how will that be. Nevertheless, it is certain and God will guide him. Hence, his comment in reply: “No indeed! My Lord is with me and He will guide me.”

We note the emphasis in his reply: “No indeed.” We will not be overtaken and we will not suffer any persecution, because God will guide me and this is most certain. At the last moment, a bright ray of hope is clearly seen against the long dark night of stress and despair, as the route of their savior opens at a point no one has ever thought of: “And We revealed to Moses: ‘Strike the sea with your staff.’”

The surah does not give us further details so as to say that he complied with the order and struck the sea with his staff. All this is clearly understood. The surah gives us the result of his action: “So it divided, and each part was like a massive mountain.”

So the miracle was there for all to see. What people describe as impossible was a reality before their own eyes. People only think of natural laws according to what is familiar to them, but God creates natural laws and He is able to make them operate in accordance with His will, at any moment of his choosing.

A miracle was enacted and they were looking on. In between the water of the sea, a passageway of dry land opened for them. The water stood still on both sides of the passageway like great mountains, and the Israelites rushed to cross over. Pharaoh and his army stood there, overwhelmed with amazement at this miraculous event. He must have stood there long, watching the Israelites cross over, walking along a dry passage way. After a long while, he ordered his soldiers to chase them along the same passage. Thus, God’s will was done. As the Israelites were coming out at the other end, Pharaoh and his host were walking in between the two great water bodies, drawing ever nearer to their inevitable death: “And We caused the others to draw near, and We saved Moses and all who were with him, while We caused the others to drown.”

This was a great sign for mankind, which remains the subject of discussion by countless generations. Do many people believe in it? The answer comes from none other than God: “Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe.” Miraculous signs do not necessarily lead to people’s acceptance of the truth, even though they may forcibly submit to them. Faith is generated in people’s hearts as divine guidance touches them.

“And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.” This is the usual comment in this surah after mentioning God’s signs and people’s rejection of His messages.

“Relate to them the story of Abraham, when he said to his father and his people: ‘What is that you worship?’”

The surah moves on to give us an account of Abraham and his people. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is ordered to relate this story to the unbelievers. For they claimed to be the custodians of Abraham’s heritage and that they followed his old faith, even though they addressed their worship to multiple deities. They went further and placed idols in the Sacred Mosque built by Abraham as a focus for the followers of the pure faith based on God’s oneness.

We will begin our comments on Abraham’s story as related in this surah next week, God willing.