Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey ) 17 : 101

Explanatory Note

Miracles do not initiate faith in hardened hearts. Moses, for example, was given nine such clear signs, but Pharaoh and his people denied them until they suffered God’s punishment.

“To Moses We gave nine clear signs. Ask the Children of Israel [about what happened]. When he came to them, Pharaoh said to him, ‘Indeed, Moses, I think that you are bewitched. ‘[Moses] said, ‘You know full well that none other than the Lord of the heavens and the earth has revealed these eye-opening signs. Indeed, Pharaoh, I think that you are utterly lost.’ So he resolved to wipe them off the face of the earth, but We caused him and all those who were with him to drown. Then We said to the Children of Israel, Dwell in the land. When the promise of the Last Day shall come to pass, We will bring you all together.” (Verses 101-104)

This part of the history of Moses and the Children of Israel is mentioned here because it fits with the context of the sūrah. It started by mentioning the Aqşā mosque in Jerusalem, and it then related a part of the history of the Israelites with Moses. This is followed by mentioning the hereafter when Pharaoh and his people will be brought forward. This also fits with the scene of the hereafter and the one showing the end of those who deny resurrection, mentioned a little earlier in the sūrah.

Moses’ nine clear signs to which the sūrah refers were his hand turning white, his staff, and the tests to which Pharaoh’s people were subjected, such as drought, shortage of fruit, floods, locusts, ants, frogs and blood. “Ask the Children of Israel’ about what happened. They were witnesses to what took place between Moses and Pharaoh: “When he came to them, Pharaoh said to him: Indeed, Moses, I think that you are bewitched.” (Verse 101) Thus the word of truth assigning divinity to God alone, and the call to abandon all injustice and tyranny cannot he uttered, according to the tyrant, except by someone bewitched, unable to realize the meaning of what he says. Indeed tyrants like Pharaoh cannot imagine that anyone in his right senses could ever adopt such an attitude or give expression to such demands.