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wa-mā nurīhim min ʾāyatin ʾillā hiya ʾakbaru min ʾukhtihā wa-ʾakhadhnāhum bi-l-ʿadhābi laʿallahum yarjiʿūna
We did not show them a sign but it was greater than the other, and We visited on them punishment so that they might come back.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah al-Zukhruf - Verses 48 - 50
48. And not a miracle We showed them but it was greater than another and We seized them with torment in order that they might return [to Monotheism].
49. And they said: “O you sorcerer! Invoke your Lord for us [to remove the torment from us. Then, we] will certainly acknowledge your guidance.”
50. But when [because of Moses’ invocation] We removed the torment from them, they broke their covenant [and disbelieved].
Sending down Divine Guidance precedes chastisement:
Divine Wrath in this world is for people to return to Monotheism). Inasmuch as Pharaoh and his people waxed their disbelief and denial of truth, God Almighty made Moses (as) show them a greater miracle inflicting torments on them, e.g. swarms of locusts descended upon them. Following supplications, they asked for a covenant to the effect that if the affliction be removed from them, they will believe, but after the removal of the affliction, they broke their covenant and persisted in their disbelief.
They were also afflicted with lice, frogs, blood in their water and the like in order that they may acknowledge Moses’ (as) Call and return to Monotheism. Despite the diversity of Moses’ (as) miracles, they all concerned natural phenomena, e.g. animate beings. Likewise, other prophets presented their peoples with miracles. Though the Noble Prophet of Islam (S) presented miracles concerned with extraordinary phenomena but his main miracle is the inimitability of the Holy Qur’an revealing the Divine Dominion and the secrets of His Sovereignty through which man may acquaint himself with intangible worlds thanks to Which human soul and perception of truth may exceed the realm of natural phenomena and find acquaintance with the metaphysical world.
It is an intelligible matter that the world, particularly human species as they follow Allah’s Laws constantly proceeds toward perfection and the Islamic faith is supposed to serve as Divine Guidance for mankind to the Resurrection Day; as a consequence of which Prophetic miracles are supposed to exceed natural and tangible phenomena and beacon man toward spirituality so that he may avail himself of Divine Guidance and everyone may benefit from this inimitable Divine Word on the basis of his faculties and capabilities; however, other prophets’ miracles suited their contemporaries.
Verse 49 says that when Pharaoh’s people were afflicted with torments, they took refuge with Moses (as) and since common people were too ignorant to draw a distinction between miracle and sorcery, they regarded him as a great sorcerer and inquired of him to invoke his Lord and ask Him to remove the torments from them thanks to His covenant with him. The covenant may refer to his prophethood, answering his invocation by his Lord, or the one according to which anyone opposing him will be afflicted with torment.
They asked Moses (as) to invoke his Lord to remove the torment from them so that they believe in his Call and find Guidance. Verse 50 says that when the torments were removed from them thanks to Moses’ (as) invocations, they broke their covenant and persisted in their disbelief. These are all lessons to be taken by Muslims and a consolation to the Noble Prophet (S) to preserver tirelessly despite his opponents’ obduracy and animosity without entertaining hopelessness in his heart.
Muslims may hereby take a lesson from the story of Moses (as) and the Children of Israel who despite hardships attained to victory over Pharaoh and his people. It also serves as a warning to the obdurate enemies of Islam so that they may see the fate of disbelievers and take a lesson from their dire fate.