Surah Ad Dukhan Tafseer

And leave the sea as it is (quiet and divided). Verily, they are a host to be drowned.

When Musa and the Children of Israel has crossed the sea, Musa wanted to strike it with his staff so that it would go back as it had been, and it would form a barrier between then and Fir`awn and prevent him from reaching them. But Allah commanded him to leave it as it was, quiet and divided, and gave him the glad tidings that they were a host to be drowned, and that he should not fear either being overtaken by Fir`awn or drowning in the sea.

Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

وَاتْرُكْ الْبَحْرَ رَهْوًا

(And leave the sea as it is (quiet and divided).

means, leave it as it is and keep moving.

Mujahid said:

رَهْوًا

(as it is),

means, a dry path, as it is. `Do not command it to go back; leave it until the last of them have entered it.'

This was also the view of Ikrimah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, Ibn Zayd, Ka`b Al-Ahbar, Simak bin Harb and others.

كَمْ تَرَكُوا مِن جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ