openly defied Allah Almighty and His beloved prophet, Sayyiduna Musa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم. They committed sins day and night, due to which, they were afflicted with many terrifying punishments.

Let us hear about the punishments that afflicted them and take heed from them.

Punishments that afflicted the people of Pharaoh

When the people of Pharaoh remained stubborn upon their disbelief and defiance after the magicians brought faith, Allah Almighty began to send them signs one after the other, because Sayyiduna Musa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم had made Du’a to Allah Almighty that, ‘O Lord! Pharaoh has become very defiant in the land and his people have also broken their promise, so afflict them with such an affliction that will be a punishment for them and will become an admonition for my nation and those who come after.’

Thus, Allah Almighty sent a storm. A cloud came, it became dark and it began to rain heavily. The Qibtis’ homes became flooded, to the extent that when they stood in the water, it reached their necks and those who sat down were drowned. They could neither move nor could they do any other work. From one Saturday to the next, for a full seven days, they remained stuck in this calamity. Even though the homes of the Bani Israel were joined to their (i.e. Qibtis’) homes, but water did not enter their (i.e. Bani Israel’s) homes.

When they became helpless, they requested Sayyiduna Musa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم: ‘Make Du’a for us so that this calamity is removed from us. Then we will embrace faith upon you and we will send Bani Israel with you.’

Sayyiduna Musa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم made Du’a for them, the storm subsided and such greenery spread in the land that was not seen before. The crops increased and many trees grew. After witnessing this, the people of Pharaoh began to say: ‘This water was a blessing’, and did not embrace faith.

One month passed peacefully, then Allah Almighty sent locusts that ate the crops, fruits, the leaves of the trees, the doors and roofs of the homes, planks, their possessions and even the metal pegs. They entered the homes of the Qibtis but did not enter the homes of Bani Israel.