The End of the Arrogant After Pharaoh

It is the Sunnah (divine law) of Allah Almighty that there be punishment for the oppressive and arrogant. Allah Almighty has mentioned historical evidence of this punishment in His Book, as He says:

“So We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them were some on whom We sent Hasiban (a violent wind with shower of stones) [as the people of Lout (Lot)], and of them were some who were overtaken by As-Saihah [torment - awful cry, etc. (as Thamud or Shu'aib's people)], and of them were some whom We caused the earth to swallow [as Qarun (Korah)], and of them were some whom We drowned [as the people of Nuh (Noah), or Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and his people]. It was not Allah Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.” (Al-Ankabut: 40).

Specifically concerning the arrogant, these magnificent verses came in Surat Al-Fajr:

“Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with 'Aad -  (6) [With] Iram - who had lofty pillars, (7) The likes of whom had never been created in the land? (8) And [with] Thamud, who carved out the rocks in the valley? (9) And [with] Pharaoh, owner of the stakes? (10) [All of] whom oppressed within the lands (11) And increased therein the corruption. (12) So your Lord poured upon them a scourge of punishment. (13)” (Al-Fajr).

However, anyone who examines the end of these oppressive and arrogant individuals will notice two stages. The first includes Pharaoh and those before him, and the second is the stage of those who came after him. Regarding the first, Allah Almighty says:

“  [Theirs is] like the custom of the people of Pharaoh and of those before them. They disbelieved in the signs of Allah, so Allah seized them for their sins. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and severe in penalty.” (Al-Anfal: 52).

The turning point was the encounter between Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and Pharaoh. The punishment of Allah for the arrogant oppressors, Pharaoh and those before him, was through divine planning without the participation of Allah's righteous believing servants. It culminated in Pharaoh's drowning.

Then the second stage began; It is God’s imposition of jihad on the Children of Israel when God inspired Moses and addressed the Children of Israel:  “O my people, enter the Holy Land which Allah has assigned to you and do not turn back [from fighting in Allah 's cause] and [thus] become losers.” (Al-Ma’idah: 21), until the Almighty’s saying: (They said, “O Moses, we will never enter it as long as they are within it. So go, you and your Lord, and fight. Indeed, we are sitting right here” (Al-Ma’idah: 24).  

This marked the beginning of the obligation and legislation of jihad. The success of the first objective in this stage came at the hands of Joshua son of Nun (peace be upon him), who waged jihad and triumphed over the giants, conquering Jerusalem, followed by those who came after him.

Therefore, we see this clearly in the story of Talut (Saul) and Goliath, when the verses began with Allah Almighty's saying:

“Have you not considered the assembly of the Children of Israel after [the time of] Moses.” (Al-Baqarah: 246).

This emphasizes that the punishment of the oppressive and arrogant after Moses must be at the hands of believing, struggling, patient, and steadfast mujahideen, as if they are Allah Almighty's army that He unleashes upon the criminals.

Imam Ibn Kathir answers the wisdom behind making the downfall of oppressive and arrogant individuals at the hands of believers, stating: "The killing of disbelievers by believers is a greater humiliation for the disbelievers and a cure for the chests of the believers, as Allah Almighty said to the believers of this Ummah:

“Fight them; Allah will punish them by your hands and will disgrace them and give you victory over them and satisfy the breasts of a believing people.” (At-Tawbah: 14).

"Therefore, the killing of the chieftains of Quraysh at the hands of their enemies, who looked upon them with disdain, was more painful for them and more satisfying for the hearts of the party of faith. Thus, the killing of Abu Jahl in the heat of battle and conflict was a greater humiliation for him than his death in his bed from an illness or a lightning strike or similar."

He continued: "As in His saying:

“Indeed, We will support Our messengers and those who believe during the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand.” (Ghafir: 51).

"He is 'Wise' in what He legislated regarding fighting disbelievers, despite His ability to destroy and annihilate them by His might and power."

Understanding this great divine law of Allah Almighty in destroying the arrogant motivates believers to be Allah Almighty's instrument in fulfilling this law, and to compete to be used by Allah Almighty in establishing justice and eliminating oppression and injustice.

To correct the Ummah's vision in this era regarding how the criminal Zionist entity will vanish in light of what we mentioned earlier, its demise will be at the hands of patient, steadfast, and calculating mujahideen who believe that they are Allah Almighty's army who will disfigure the faces of the oppressors, as the Holy Quran indicated at the beginning of Surat Al-Isra.

Therefore, we are with a true promise that the oppression of the arrogant Zionists will vanish at the hands of the patient mujahideen, and the Ummah today is witnessing its practical and direct precursors in the ongoing jihad of our brothers in Gaza the Honored.

O Allah, hasten Your victory and relief, and heal the hearts of a believing people, soon, not later, O Lord of the Worlds!