Prophet Mūsā: Part 3 — The Signs, the Sea and the End of Firʿawn
Section 26 of 30 · Lives of the Prophets
I Believe — When It Was Too Late
And now, the fulfilment of the duʿāʾ of Mūsā. When Firʿawn saw the punishment of Allah, Firʿawn raised his finger and said:
۞ وَجَـٰوَزْنَا بِبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَدْرَكَهُ ٱلْغَرَقُ قَالَ ءَامَنتُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَامَنَتْ بِهِۦ بَنُوٓا۟ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَأَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
“And We let the children of Isrā’īl cross the sea. So, Pharaoh and his troops chased them in transgression and hostility, until when he was about to drown, he said, “I believe that there is no god but the One in whom the children of Isrā’īl believe, and I am among those who submit to Allah.”” (10:90)
I believe that there is no god but the God of the children of Israel, and I am a Muslim. He believed in Islam — but he believed when it was too late.
Because the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) says: taʿarraf ilā Allāhi fī al-rakhāʾ yaʿrifka fī al-shiddah — remember Allah (swt) in moments of ease, and Allah will remember you in moments of difficulty. Firʿawn did not remember Allah in moments of ease. He had wealth, and he did not remember Allah. He had health, and he did not remember Allah. He had life, and he did not remember Allah. He had power, and he did not remember Allah. He had youth, and he did not remember Allah. But now, when he was facing death, when he was seeing the angels of Allah (swt) descending on him, he said: I believe.
ءَآلْـَٔـٰنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ فَٱلْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ ءَايَةً ۚ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا لَغَـٰفِلُونَ
“(Allah said,) “Is it now (that you have come to believe) while you were rebellious all along, and you were among the mischief-makers? So, today, We shall save your body, so that you may become a sign for those after you. And many of the people are heedless of Our signs.”” (10:91–92)
Allah (swt) said: now? When you have committed corruption before — when you have disbelieved before and committed corruption, now you want to believe? We will save your body and preserve it today, so that you may be a sign for the people after you. And most people are unaware of Our signs. Allah (swt) said: your tawbah is not accepted. When the soul is already coming out and you see the angels in front of your eyes, it is too late.