SURAH AL-BAQARAH (AYAH 41 to 50)

وَآمِنُوا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتُ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا مَعَكُمْ وَلَا تَكُونُوا أَوَّلَ كَافِرٍ بِهِ ۖ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا وَإِيَّايَ فَاتَّقُونِ {2:41}

[Q2:41] Wa aaminoo bimaaa anzaltu musaddiqal limaa ma'akum wa laa takoonooo awwala kaafirim bihee wa laa tashtaroo bi Aayaatee samanan qaleelanw wa iyyaaya fattaqoon.

[Q2:41] And believe in what I have revealed, verifying that which is with you, and be not the first to deny it, neither take a mean price in exchange for My communications; and Me, Me alone should you fear.
[Q2:41] Dan berimanlah kamu dengan apa yang Aku turunkan (Al-Quran) yang mengesahkan benarnya Kitab yang ada pada kamu, dan janganlah kamu menjadi orang-orang yang mula-mula kafir (ingkar) akan dia; dan janganlah pula kamu menjadikan ayat-ayatKu (sebagai harga untuk) membeli kelebihan-kelebihan yang sedikit faedahnya; dan kepada Akulah sahaja hendaklah kamu bertaqwa.

The Bani Israil are exhorted, in this verse, **to believe in the Qur’an, which verifies Tawrat and Injil, particularly about the fulfilment of the prophecy **about the advent of the promised prophet, Muhammad al Mustafa, as explained above.

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(2:41) And believe in the Book I have now sent down; as it confirms the Scriptures you already possess, be not the first to reject it; barter not away My Revelations for paltry worldly gain, *57 and guard yourselves against My wrath

*57. 'Trifling gain' refers to the worldly benefits for the sake of which they were rejecting God's directives. Whatever one may gain in exchange for the Truth, be it all the treasure in the world, is trifling; the Truth is of supreme value.

وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا الْحَقَّ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ {2:42}

[Q2:42] Wa laa talbisul haqqa bilbaatili wa taktumul haqqa wa antum ta'lamoon.
[Q2:42] And do not mix up the truth with the falsehood, nor hide the truth while you know (it).

[Q2:42] Dan janganlah kamu campur adukkan yang benar itu dengan yang salah, dan kamu sembunyikan yang benar itu pula padahal kamu semua mengetahuinya.

IT REFERS TO THE SCRIPTURES, revealed prior to the Qur’an, which had been profusely **tampered with, **restyled and **disguised by the Christians. MANY RABBIS KNEW THE TRUE TEXT OF THE SCRIPTURES IN THE TIME OF THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) BUT CONCEALED THE TRUTH, and when a few less careful, now and then, quoted them as mentioned in verse 76 of this surah they were rebuked for giving secret information to the Muslims.

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(2:42) Confound not the Truth with falsehood nor conceal it knowingly. *58

*58. For the proper understanding of this verse we need to recall that in the time of the Prophet the Jews of Arabia were more learned than the Arabs. In fact, there were some Jewish scholars of Arabia whose fame had spread even beyond the confines of that land. For this reason the Arabs tended to be intellectually overawed by them. In addition, the influence of the Jews had become pervasive and profound by virtue of the pomp and pageantry of their religious rites, and the magical crafts and feats of exorcism for which they were famous. The people of Madina, in particplar, were greatly under the spell of the Jews. These Jews made on them the sort of impression generally created on ignorant neighbours by a better educated, more refined and more conspicuously religious group.
It was natural in such circumstances that, when the Prophet began to preach his message, the ignorant Arabs should approach the Jews and ask their opinion of the Prophet and his teachings, particularly as the Jews also believed in Prophets and Scriptures. We find that this inquiry was often made by the Makkans, and continued to he addressed to the Jews after the Prophet arrived in Madina.
In reply to this query, however, the Jewish religious scholars never told the candid truth. It was impossible for them to say that the doctrine of monotheism preached by Muhammad was incorrect, that there was any error in his teachings regarding the Prophets, the Divine Scriptures, the angels and the Next Life and that there was any error in the principles of moral conduct which the Prophet propounded. At the same time, however, they were not prepared to make a straightforward affirmation of the truth of his teachings. In short, they neither categorically denied the Truth nor were prepared to accept it with open hearts.
Instead, they tried to plant insidious doubts in the minds to everybody who enquired about the Prophet and his mission. They sought to create one misgiving after another, disseminated new slanders, and tried to engago people's minds in all kinds of hypothetical problems so as to keep them in a state of doubt and uncertainty. They also tried to raise controversial issues which might keep people, including the followers of the Prophet, entangled in sterile debate. It is this attitude of the Jews to which the Qur’an alludes when it asks them not to overlay the truth with falsehood, not to suppress and conceal it by resorting to false propaganda and mischievous campaigns of slander, and not to attempt to deceive the world by mixing truth with falsehood. 

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ {2:43}

[Q2:43] Wa aqeemus salaata wa aatuz zakaata warka'oo ma'ar raaki'een.
[Q2:43] And keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and bow down with those who bow down.

[Q2:43] Dan dirikanlah kamu akan sembahyang dan keluarkanlah zakat, dan rukuklah kamu semua (berjemaah) bersama-sama orang-orang yang rukuk.

DUE TO THE SYSTEM OF OPTIONAL ASCETICISM among the Jews and the Christians, only a very few could adopt the life of piety and devotion (essential for a human being to be initiated into the realm of spiritual bliss), leaving the rest of the majority of the people to sink deep into hypocritical ritual practices.

ISLAM, on the other hand, educates every human being, through salat, to keep their involvement with the material gains and enjoyment at a reasonable level and give sufficient time to the worship of ALLAH (SWT) in order to reach the heights of spiritual glory, which in fact is the purpose of existence in this world.

r  As explained in the commentary of verse 3 of this surah, salat has been made obligatory for all believers because, on account of its style and substance, man gets rid of pride and arrogance. 

r  Zakat, giving in the way of ALLAH (SWT), has also been dealt with in detail therein. These injunctions make every man join the stream of worshippers and seekers of nearness to the ultimate truth.

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(2:43) Establish the Salat, pay the Zakat *59 and bow down before Me along with those who bow down.

*59. Prayer and Purifying Alms (Zakah) have always been among the most important pillars of the Islamic faith. Like other Prophets, the Prophets of Israel laid great stress upon them. The Jews had, however, become very negligent about these duties. Congregational Prayer had all but ceased among them; in fact, a great majority of the Jews did not perform Prayers even individually. They had also not only ceased to pay Purifying Alms, but some had even gone so far as to make their living out of interest.

أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنْسَوْنَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ {2:44}

[Q2:44] Ataamuroonan naasa bilbirri wa tansawna anfusakum wa antum tatloonal Kitaab; afalaa ta'qiloon.

[Q2:44] What! Do you enjoin men to be good and neglect your own souls while you read the Book; have you then no sense?
[Q2:44] Patutkah kamu menyuruh manusia supaya berbuat kebaikan sedang kamu lupa akan diri kamu sendiri; padahal kamu semua membaca Kitab ALLAH (SwT), tidakkah kamu berakal?

IT IS ESSENTIAL TO CREATE IN-BUILT DISCIPLINE **THROUGH REASON, AND THEN, as a model, advise others to do good, OTHERWISE empty advice is likely to be ineffective.

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(2:44) How is it that you enjoin others to follow the Right Way, but forget it yourselves, though you read the Scriptures? Have you no sense at all?

وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ {2:45}

[Q2:45] Wasta'eenoo bissabri was Salaah; wa innahaa lakabee ratun illaa alal khaashi'een.

[Q2:45] And seek assistance through patience and prayer, and most surely it is a hard thing except for the humble ones,
[Q2:45] Dan mintalah pertolongan (kepada ALLAH (SwT)) dengan jalan sabar dan mengerjakan sembahyang; dan sesungguhnya sembahyang itu amatlah berat kecuali kepada orang-orang yang khusyuk;

Wasta-inu (seek help) applies to worldly as well as spiritual matters as stated in verse 1:5 of al Fatihah. Sabr (patience) and salat (prayer) curb *vain desires, *pride and *self-indulgence AND *lead to humility, *acceptance and *obedience.

Ø  The Arabic word sabr has many shades of implied suggestions - *willingness to endure, *submission, *self-control, *serenity, *poise, and *ability to continue. 

Ø  Salat has been explained in verse 3 of this surah.

TO LIBERATE THE HUMAN EGO from the clutches of the excessive attachment to bodily wants and material success, a refined discipline has to be built through subordinating the body to the control of the spiritual energy, OTHERWISE mere formal rituals and recitation of chants and charms do not help man to rise above the level of animal life, as has been shown by Ali ibne Abi Talib. THE WHOLE WORLD BEARS WITNESS TO THE FACT THAT IN WISDOM, SPIRITUAL ACHIEVEMENTS, AND BODILY STRENGTH THERE IS NO ONE WHO CAN BE COMPARED WITH HIM. HE STANDS HIGH AND ABOVE IN THE SELECT COMPANY OF THE MOST DEVOTED SERVANTS OF ALLAH (SWT).

Ì  The lives of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), Bibi Fatimah, his daughter and the Holy Imams is a brilliant light which throws light on the path to be followed by the sincere faithful who seek assistance (wasta-inu) to build up the balanced character mentioned above, and referred to in this verse. It is reported that whenever the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) or any of the holy Imams, or Bibi Fatimah faced any difficulty, they prayed salat and sought ALLAH (SWT)'s help.

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(2:45) Seek help with the Salat and fortitude: *60 no doubt, Salat is a hard task but not for those obedient servants,

*60. That is, if they feel difficulty in keeping to righteousness, the remedy lies in resorting to Prayer and patience. From these two attributes they will derive the strength needed to follow their chosen course.
The literal meaning of 'sabr' is to exercise restraint, to keep oneself tied down. It denotes, the will.

الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُمْ مُلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ {2:46}

[Q2:46] Allazeena yazunnoona annahum mulaaqoo Rabbihim wa annahum ilaihi raaji'oon.

[Q2:46] Who know that they shall meet their Lord and that they shall return to Him.
[Q2:46] (Iaitu) mereka yang percaya dengan yakin bahawa mereka akan menemui Tuhan mereka, dan bahawa mereka akan kembali kepadaNya.

THE REWARD OF SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE AND WORSHIP OF ALLAH (SWT) IS THE CERTAINTY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE RETURN TO ALLAH (SWT).

The word liqa (meeting or encounter) has been used in the Qur’an many times. It is wrong to interpret it as ‘seeing.’

µ  The theory of the possibility of seeing ALLAH (SWT) (ruyat) in this world or in the hereafter ASSUMES THE PERSONIFICATION OF ALLAH (SWT), WHICH IS A FANCIFUL CONJECTURE AGAINST THE FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLE OF THE FAITH (THE ABSOLUTE UNITY), THEREFORE, has been rejected by the Holy Qur’an: "vision perceives Him not" (An-am 6:103), and the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and the holy Imams.

v  Ali ibne Abi Talib says:

I do not worship the ALLAH (SWT) whom I cannot see, not through sight, (but) through insight.

THEREFORE, LIQA MEANS REALISATION THROUGH INSIGHT AND NOT BY PHYSICAL VISION.

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(2:46) who realize that ultimately they shall meet their Lord and shall return to Him. *61

*61. This means that Prayer is an insufferable encumbrance and affliction for the man who tends not to want to obey, God and to believe in the After-life. For the man who, of his own voilation, has to stand before God after death, it is failure to perform the Prayer, rather than its performance, that becomes intolerable. 

SECTION 6

Children of Israel Warned

Warning to the children of Israel against forgetting the bounties of ALLAH (SWT) ---They are reminded of their rescured from the clutches of Pharaoh---The worshipping of the Calf as their ALLAH (SWT)---Provision of Manna and Quails---Ingratitude of the people---Warning against the Day of Judgement when no intercession from anyone of man’s fanciful guardian deities shall be of any avail to any one.

يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّي فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ {2:47}

[Q2:47] Yaa Baneee Israaa'eelaz kuroo ni'matiyal lateee an'amtu 'alaikum wa annee faddaltukum 'alal 'aalameen

[Q2:47] O’ children of Israel! Call to mind My favor which I bestowed on you and that I made you excel the nations.
[Q2:47] Wahai Bani Israil! Kenangkanlah nikmat-nikmatKu yang Aku telah kurniakan kepada kamu, dan (ingatlah) bahawasanya Aku telah melebihkan (nenek-moyang) kamu (yang taat dahulu) atas orang-orang (yang ada pada zamannya).

The Bani Israil were ALLAH (SWT)'s chosen people. It was his favour that they were GRACED WITH MANY PROPHETS. There were more prophets among them than the rest of the people of the world put together. **ALLAH (SWT) saved them from the merciless persecution of the Fir-awns AND provided them with heavenly bounties, BUT INSTEAD of making use of the guidance and the blessings to reach a higher spiritual level they fell into the degradation of depravity and disbelief.

Ü  "You", the addressee, in this verse, are not only those who were present and were guilty of ingratitude but also their forefathers and ancestors. This is applicable to all humanity. It is a reminder to call to mind ALLAH (SWT)'s favours and bounties bestowed on mankind.

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(2:47) O Children of Israel! Just recall to mind My favour that bestowed upon you, and remember that I exalted you above all the peoples of the world. *62

*62. This refers to that period of human history when, of all nations, only the Children of Israel possessed that knowledge of Truth which comes from God alone. At that time they were entrusted with the task of directing the nations of the world to righteousness; they were expected to serve God and to invite the rest of the world to do the same.

وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا لَا تَجْزِي نَفْسٌ عَنْ نَفْسٍ شَيْئًا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا شَفَاعَةٌ وَلَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْصَرُونَ {2:48}

[Q2:48] Wattaqoo Yawmal laa tajzee nafsun 'an nafsin shai'anw wa laa yuqbalu minhaa shafaa'atunw wa laa yu'khazu minhaa 'adlunw wa laa hum yunsaroon.

[Q2:48] And be on your guard against a day when one soul shall not avail another in the least, neither shall intercession on its behalf be accepted, nor shall any compensation be taken from it, nor shall they be helped.
[Q2:48] Dan peliharalah diri kamu dari (azab sengsara) hari (akhirat), yang padanya seseorang tidak dapat melepaskan orang lain (yang berdosa) sedikitpun (dari balasan azab), dan tidak diterima syafaat daripadanya, dan tidak pula diambil daripadanya sebarang tebusan; dan mereka (yang bersalah itu) tidak akan diberi sebarang pertolongan.

ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION ABSOLUTE JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL. The chosen people also will be judged in view of their actions.

v  If "nor shall intercession be accepted" is not understood by knowing its particular use in this verse, and by making reference to other verses of the Qur’an in this connection, every ordinary reader comes to a wrong conclusion.

ALLAH (SWT) has prescribed for Himself mercy (An-am 6:12 and 54), and says in verse 12:87 of Yusuf that verily, none despairs of ALLAH (SWT)'s mercy save disbelieving people. THE JUST ALLAH (SWT) IS ALSO THE MERCIFUL LORD. HIS MERCY CONDITIONS HIS JUSTICE.

Ì  The verses, which make certain that in the divine scheme of reward and punishment the "institution" of intercession has been firmly established, are quoted below:

·         Who can intercede with Him, except by His permission.(BAQARAH 2:255)

·         They shall have no power of intercession, save he who has taken a promise from the merciful.(MARYAM 19:87)

·         On that day no intercession avails, save (that of) him to whom the merciful has given permission and whose word He accepts.(TAHA 20:109)

·         There is no intercessor save after His permission;(YUNUS 10:3)

THERE ARE SEVERAL SUCH VERSES IN THE QUR’AN WHICH PROVE UNTRUE THE THEORY OF NON-AVAILABILITY OF INTERCESSION PROPAGATED BY A MISGUIDED SCHOOL OF THOUGHT AMONG THE MUSLIMS.

†  The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) AND the thoroughly purified Imams (Ahzab 33:33) are those upon whom ALLAH (SWT) has bestowed (an-amta alayhim - Fatihah 1:7) the power of intercession.

The word shafa (to pair or to join a thing to its like) is the root of shafa-at, which means intercession. It can be favourable or unfavourable, as per verse 4:85 of al Nisa. IT SIGNIFIES THE LOVING ATTACHMENT OF A PERSON WITH HIS IDEAL OR MODEL WHOM HE FOLLOWS. On the Day of Judgement the wicked and the virtuous will be separated, THEREFORE, IT WILL BE A DAY OF PAIRING OF THE SOULS ACCORDING TO THEIR AFFINITY AND ATTACHMENT IN THIS WORLD –

"…remember the day when We will summon every people with their Imam (leader)", says verse 17:71 of Bani Israil.

THE INADMISSIBILITY OF INTERCESSION HERE IS IN THE CASE OF THOSE WHO NOT ONLY DO NOT AVOID EVIL BUT MAKE A CHOICE OF WICKEDNESS AS THEIR MODE OF LIFE; WHICH IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR WILFUL REJECTION OF THE PATH OF THE THOROUGHLY PURIFIED, ADHERENCE TO WHOSE GUIDANCE WOULD HAVE SAVED THEM FROM ETERNAL DAMNATION.

± It is this despair of the non-availability of ALLAH (SWT)'s mercy which had compelled the founders of the Christian Church to invent the doctrine of atonement - ALLAH (SWT), in order to pardon man, in spite of His justice, incarnated Himself into the form a begotten son, called Jesus, and then got Himself killed so that the price of the sins of man be paid. This unreasonable idea of redemption gives man licence to sin as and when he likes.

The word yawm, in this verse, refers to the life of the hereafter which includes the term of life beginning with the departure of the soul till the final resurrection. In some verses of the Qur’an it is said *that every human being will undergo a trial on the day of final resurrection as an individual, *WHEREAS some other verses suggest groups of people, along with their leaders, will come before the Lord.

ACCORDING TO SOME VERSES THE WICKED WILL BE CONDEMNED WITHOUT BEING PERMITTED TO PUT FORWARD THEIR LAME EXCUSES, WHEREAS OTHER STATE THAT SOME OF THE WICKED WILL ACCUSE THEIR LEADERS FOR MISLEADING THEM.

There is no contradiction. In fact there are several varying stages in the intermediary period as well as in the final phase. The examination of every soul according to its individual deeds may differ from the accountability of its social behaviour.

±  A man may be condemned as an individual BUT on account of his attachment to the divinely chosen wasilah (support and influence), he may be redeemed. The Qur’an, in many places, asserts the effectiveness of intercession, THEREFORE, THE NEGATION HERE EITHER REFERS TO A PARTICULAR CONDITION OR TO THE FACT THAT NO INTERCESSION OFFERED BY A SOUL ON ITS OWN BEHALF SHALL BE ACCEPTED. ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AUTHORISED BY ALLAH (SWT) SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO INTERCEDE.

The wavering between belief and disbelief by the Bani Israil is also visible among the followers of other prophets. All the messengers of ALLAH (SWT) patiently put up with this kind of attitude in order to check desertion in the early stages of the propagation of the faith. Drift from the truth and reversion to falsehood was discouraged, and the doors of repentance were kept open, but only a few took advantage of the leniency.

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(2:48) And guard yourselves against the Day when no one shall avail anyone anything; nor shall intercession be accepted from anyone; nor shall anyone be acquitted for any (amount of) ransom; nor shall the guilty ones be helped from any quarter. *63

*63. A major reason for the degeneration of the Israelites was the corruption of their beliefs about the Hereafter that since they were related to those venerable saints and pious men who had dedicated themselves entirely to the service of God in the past, the, would be forgiven by the grace of those great men. They believed that once they had bound themselves firmly to those men of God, it would become imposible for God to punish them. Such false reliance made them negligent of true religious piety and enmeshed them in a life of sin and wickedness. Hence, as well as reminding the Children of Israel of God's favour upon them, it was necessary to refute all the false ideas which they cherished. 

وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَاكُمْ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُمْ بَلَاءٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ {2:49}

[Q2:49] Wa iz najjainaakum min Aali Fir'awna yasoomoonakum sooo'al azaabi yuzabbihoona abuaaa'akum wa yastahyoona nisaaa'akum; wa fee zaalikum balaaa'um mir Rabbikum 'azeem.

[Q2:49] And when We delivered you from Firon's people, who subjected you to severe torment, killing your sons and sparing your women, and in this there was a great trial from your Lord.
[Q2:49] Dan (kenangkanlah) ketika Kami selamatkan kamu dari Firaun dan orang-orangnya, yang sentiasa menyeksa kamu dengan seksa yang seburuk-buruknya; mereka menyembelih anak-anak lelaki kamu dan membiarkan hidup anak-anak perempuan kamu; sedang kejadian yang demikian itu mengandungi bala bencana dan cubaan yang besar dari Tuhan kamu.

Specifically, this verse reminds the Bani Israil of the miseries the Fir-awns inflicted upon them and how they were saved. IN GENERAL, IT IS A REMINDER TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED FROM PAST AFFLICTIONS AND GIVEN THE KNOWLEDGE OF WISDOM ARISING FROM SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES.

The details of their sorry plight under the Fir-awns have been given in the Old Testament:

ò  So they (Egyptians) treated their Israelite slaves with ruthless severity, and made life bitter for them with servitude setting them to work on clay and brick-making, and all sorts of work in the fields. In short they made ruthless use of them as slaves in every kind of hard labour. Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives: "When you are attending the Hebrew women in childbirth, watch as the child is delivered and if it is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live." (Exodus 1: 13 to 16)

ALLAH (SWT) kept them safe from the King's designs:

ò  But they were ALLAH (SWT)-fearing women. They did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do, but let the boys live. So he summoned those Hebrew midwives and asked them why they had done this and let the boys live. They told Firawn that Hebrew women were not like Egyptian women. When they were in labour they gave birth before the midwife could get to them. So ALLAH (SWT) made the midwives prosper, and the people (Israelites) increased in number and in strength. (Exodus-1: 17 to 20)

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(2:49) Recall *64 the time when We delivered you from the slavery of Pharaoh's people. *65 They had inflicted a dreadful torment on you: they killed your sons and let your daughters live. And in this there was a hard trial for you from your your Lord *66.

*64. From here on, through the several sections that follow, reference is made to the best 
*65. We have rendered 'Al Fir'awn' as 'Pharaoh's people'. This includes the members of the Pharaonic family as well as the aristocracy of Egypt.
*66. The test was whether they would emerge from the crucible of persecution as pure gold, or as mere dross. The test also lay, in whether or not, after their miraculous deliverance from so great a calamity, they would become grateful servants of God. 

وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ الْبَحْرَ فَأَنْجَيْنَاكُمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَأَنْتُمْ تَنْظُرُونَ {2:50}

[Q2:50] Wa iz faraqnaa bikumul bahra fa anjainaakum wa agh-raqnaaa Aala Fir'awna wa antum tanzuroon.
[Q2:50] And when We parted the sea for you, so We saved you and drowned the followers of Firon and you watched by.

[Q2:50] Dan (kenangkanlah) ketika kami belahkan laut (Merah) untuk kamu lalui (kerana melarikan diri dari angkara Firaun), maka Kami selamatkan kamu dan Kami tenggelamkan Firaun bersama-sama tenteranya, sedang kamu semua menyaksikannya.

THE CLEAVING OF THE (RED) SEA WAS A REAL OCCURRENCE. In this way ALLAH (SWT) saved the Bani Israil BECAUSE AT THAT TIME they were in submission to the truth.

A detailed account of the event is given in the Old Testament. Please refer to Exodus 14: 1 to 31.

To escape from the pursuing Fir-awn and his army, Musa and his followers reached the Red Sea. Fir-awn was almost upon them when the Jews looked up and saw the Egyptians close behind. THEN ALLAH (SWT) commanded Musa to strike the water with his rod, as there were no boats to carry them across the sea. Musa did as was told. A dry path appeared. They easily reached the other side.  

After their crossing Fir-awn with his army followed the same path but in midway the water in the sea again began to flow and the pursuing enemy was drowned, while the Bani Israil were watching from the shore. Also refer to verse 10:90 of Yunus.

Since a self-appointed prophet, the founder of the Ahmadi School, could not rise above the level of ordinary human beings, he tried to deprive every genuine prophet of ALLAH (SWT) of the special honours ALLAH (SWT) had bestowed upon His chosen representatives. To him there is no extraordinary (miraculous) aspect in this occurrence. He and his followers do not believe in the divinely endowed spiritual strength of the true prophets of ALLAH (SWT). They say that bahr means a river, not sea (which is not true according to Arabic literature); and that at the time when Musa and his followers crossed, it was shallow, but the army of Firawn was swept away by a tide.

In the line of wilful misinterpretation it is forgotten that the tide which saved Musa and his followers from the pursuit of the Firawn's army was a miracle, else how could the coming of tide in shallow waters be justified, unless it is attributed to the will of ALLAH (SWT).

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(2:50) Remember the time when We parted the sea to make way for you and let you pass safely through it and then drowned Pharaoh's people before your very eyes.