Surah al-A`raf (The Elevated Places) 7 : 134

Explanatory Note

Each time one of these plagues afflicted them, they rushed to Moses imploring him to pray to his Lord to save them. Every time they promised to let the Children of Israel go with him, if he would only relieve their affliction. They recognized that they themselves had no means of lifting their hardship: “Whenever a plague struck them, they would cry: ‘Moses, pray to your Lord for us on the strength of the covenant He has made with you. If you lift the plague from us, we will truly believe in you, and we will let the Children of Israel go with you.’” (Verse 134) Every time they broke their promise and resorted to their same ways and practices before the plague had smitten them. But the plague was lifted only in accordance with God’s will so as to let them alone for a while until their appointed term had come.

When Moses asked Pharaoh to release to him the Children of Israel, Pharaoh refused. God plagued Pharaoh’s people with flooding rain. When they feared that it might have been a penalty, they said to Moses: “Pray to your Lord to cause this rain to cease, and we will send the Children of Israel with you.” He prayed to his Lord, and the rain stopped, but they, nevertheless, refused to believe in him. And did not let the Children of Israel go with him.