Surah Yunus (Jonah) 10 : 90

Overview (Verses 90 - 93)
 
When Accepting the Faith Means Nothing

The next scene depicts the event as it actually happened: “And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea; but Pharaoh and his legions pursued them with tyranny and aggression. But as he was about to drown, Pharaoh said: I have come to believe that there is no deity other than Him in whom the Children of Israel believe, and to Him I surrender myself.’ [But God said:] ‘Only now? But before this you were rebelling [against Us], and you spread corruption in the land. But today We shall save only your body, so that you may become a sign to those who will come after you; for a great many people do not heed Our signs.” (Verses 90-92)

This is a highly decisive point in the story of defiance and rejection of truth. It is shown here only very briefly, because the purpose of mentioning it in this sūrah is to demonstrate the result of the dispute. What is shown is the fact that God protects the believers and punishes those who choose to be His enemies, paying little attention to the signs and messages that call on them to believe in Him. They persist in disbelief until they are overwhelmed by God’s punishment, when believing is of no avail. This was also explained earlier in the sūrah:

And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea; but Pharaoh and his legions pursued them with tyranny and aggression. But as he was about to drown, Pharaoh said: I have come to believe that there is no deity other than Him in whom the Children of Israel believe, and to Him I surrender myself’ [But God said:] ‘Only now? But before this you were rebelling [against Us], and you spread corruption in the land. But today We shall save only your body, so that you may become a sign to those who will come after you; for a great many people do not heed Our signs. (Verses 90-92)

The story is meant, then, to confirm and assert the warnings: “And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea.” (Verse 90) They managed to cross it under Our guidance and protection. This statement, coming at this point, and attributing the guidance to God alone, is highly significant. “But Pharaoh and his legions pursued them with tyranny and aggression.” (Verse 90) They were not chasing them to follow their suit and accept divine guidance, nor was the chasing in defence of any rightful claim they might have had, but was rather an act of aggression and tyranny. Then, in no time at all, the story moves from a scene of brute tyrannical force to one of drowning: “But as he was about to drown,” staring death in the eye, “Pharaoh said. I have come to believe that there is no deity other than Him in whom the Children of Israel believe, and to Him I surrender myself’” His masks had now fallen away. He was no longer the mighty ruler whose wishes were instantly obeyed. He had shrunk and looked humiliated. Not only did he declare that he believed in God, in whom the Children of Israel believed; he went further to submit himself in total surrender. “[But God said:] ‘Only now? But before this you were rebelling [against Us], and you spread corruption in the land. But today We shall save only your body, so that you may become a sign to those who will come after you; for a great many people do not heed Our signs.”‘ (Verses 91-92)

But the response he received came as a total shock, as God said to him: “Only now? But before this you were rebelling [against Us], and you spread corruption in the land.” (Verse 91) You believe now, when you no longer have any choice or means of escape? You have been arrogant in your disbelief, rejecting all messages and warnings. “But today We shall save only your body.” (Verse 92) His body would remain intact, uneaten by sharks or other sea creatures. It would not be allowed to drift with the waves, but would be saved so that his end would be known to all and sundry: “So that you may become a sign to those who will come after you.” (Verse 92) It may be that when others see your body they will take heed and realize that defying God and His warnings brings certain doom. The fact is that “a great many people do not heed Our signs.” (Verse 92) They do not turn to them with open hearts and minds, nor do they consider their significance, be they evident in the great universe or within their own selves.

The final scene in this tragedy of corruption, defiance, disobedience and tyranny is clearly shown and the curtains are drawn. The sūrah then continues with a brief statement of what happened to the Children of Israel over several generations: “We settled the Children of Israel in a most goodly abode and We provided for them sustenance out of the good things of life. It was not until knowledge was given them that they began to disagree among themselves. Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection regarding that on which they differed.” (Verse 93)

For ‘abode’ the Arabic statement uses a term which signifies security, but adds to it a description of sincerity. This gives the added connotation of a secure settlement which is not easily threatened. Sincerity and truth do not experience the sort of unease that are associated with lying and invention. The Children of Israel were settled in their secure abode after several experiences that are not mentioned here because they do not relate to the purpose of the sūrah. They further enjoyed goodly provisions until they started to disobey God, at which time these provisions were forbidden them. The sūrah only states that they started to argue about matters of religion as well as worldly matters. These disputes were not the result of ignorance. They only began after knowledge of the truth had been given to them. But they used that knowledge to arrive at false interpretations of religious matters.

Since the context here is one of giving support to those who accept the faith and ensuring the defeat of tyranny, the sūrah does not dwell on what the Children of Israel perpetrated after that, nor does it give any account of their disputes. It turns the page, leaving judgement on all this to God alone: “Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection regarding that on which they differed.” (Verse 93) The story thus maintains its seriousness and the effect is in no way diminished.