رکوع 137 ركوع ١٣٧

We inflicted years of drought and crop failure on Pharaoh’s people, so that they might take heed,

then, when something good came their way, they said, ‘This is our due!’. When something bad came, they ascribed it to the evil omen of Moses and those with him, but their ‘evil omen’ was really from God, though most of them did not realize it.

They said, ‘We will not believe in you, no matter what signs you produce to cast a spell on us,’

and so We let loose on them the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, blood- all clear signs. They were arrogant, wicked people.

They would say, whenever a plague struck them, ‘Moses, pray to your Lord for us by virtue of the promise He has made to you: if you relieve us of the plague, we will believe you and let the Children of Israel go with you,’

but when We relieved them of the plague and gave them a fixed period [in which to fulfil their promise]- lo and behold!- they broke it.

And so, because they rejected Our signs and paid them no heed, We exacted retribution from them: We drowned them in the sea

and We made those who had been oppressed succeed to both the east and the west of the land that We had blessed. Your Lord’s good promise to the Children of Israel was fulfilled, because of their patience, and We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people were making and what they were building.

We took the Children of Israel across the sea, but when they came upon a people who worshipped idols, they said, ‘Moses, make a god for us like theirs.’ He said, ‘You really are foolish people:

[the cult] these people practise is doomed to destruction, and what they have been doing is useless.

Why should I seek any god other than God for you, when He has favoured you over all other people?’

Remember how We saved you from Pharaoh’s people, who were subjecting you to the worst of sufferings, killing your male children, sparing only your females- that was a mighty ordeal from your Lord.