Surah Taha Tafseer

The Children of Israel leave Egypt

Allah tells,

وَلَقَدْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِي

And indeed We revealed to Musa:"Travel by night with My servants,

Allah, the Exalted, informs that He commanded Musa to journey at night with the Children of Israel, when Fir`awn refused to release them and send them with Musa. He was to take them away from Fir`awn's captivity.

Allah expounds upon this in Surahs other than this noble Surah.

Musa left with the Children of Israel, and when the people of Egypt awoke in the morning they found that not a single one of them remained in Egypt. Fir`awn became extremely furious. He sent callers into all of the cities to gather together his army from all of his lands and provinces. He said to them,

إِنَّ هَـوُلاءِ لَشِرْذِمَةٌ قَلِيلُونَ

وَإِنَّهُمْ لَنَا لَغَأيِظُونَ

Verily, these indeed are but a small band. And verily, they have done what has enraged us. (26:54-55)

Then when he gathered his army and organized his troops, he set out after them and they followed them at dawn when the sun began to rise.

فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَا الْجَمْعَانِ

And when the two hosts saw each other. (26:61)

This means that each person of the two parties was looking at the other party.

فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَا الْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَـبُ مُوسَى إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ

قَالَ كَلَّ إِنَّ مَعِىَ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ

The companions of Musa said:"We are sure to be overtaken."

(Musa) said:"Nay, verily, with me is my Lord. He will guide me." (26:61-62)

Musa stopped with the Children of Israel and the sea was in front of them and Fir`awn was behind them. Then, at that moment, Allah revealed to Musa,

فَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًا فِي الْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا

And strike a dry path for them in the sea.

So Musa struck the sea with his stick and he said, "Split for me, by the leave of Allah."

Thus, it split, and each separate part of the water became like a huge mountain.

Then, Allah sent a wind to the land of the sea and it burned the soil until it became dry like the ground that is on land.

For this reason Allah said,

فَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًا فِي الْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا لاَّ تَخَافُ دَرَكًا

and strike a dry path for them in the sea, fearing neither to be overtaken...

This means being caught by Fir`awn.

وَلَا تَخْشَى

nor being afraid.

meaning, "Do not be afraid of the sea drowning your people."

Then, Allah, the Exalted, said