The Pharaoh who drowned in pursuit of Moses in the Red Sea

“We delivered the Children of israel across the sea. Pharaoh and his troops pursued them, aggressively and sinfully. When drowning became a reality for him, he said, “I believe there is no god except in the One whom the Children of israel have believed; I am a submitter. Too late! For you have rebelled already, and chose to be a transgressor. Today, we will preserve your body, to set you up as a lesson for future generations. Verily, many among mankind are totally oblivious to our signs.” (Holy Quran, from 10:90 to 10:92)

One of the most intriguing predictions made by the Qur'an concerns a Pharaoh of Egypt, called Merneptah, who was the son of Rameses II. According to historical records, this king was drowned in pursuit of Moses in the Red Sea. When the Qur'an was revealed, the only other mention of Pharaoh was in the Bible, the sole reference to his having drowned being in the book of Exodus; 'And the waters returned, and covered the 'chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.'

Amazingly, when this was all the world knew about the drowning of Pharaoh, the Qur'an produced this astounding revelation: Today, we will preserve your body, to set you up as a lesson for future generations. .

How extraordinary this verse must have appeared when it was revealed. At that time no one knew that the Pharaoh's body was really intact, and it was nearly 1400 hundred years before this fact came to light. It was a Professor Loret who, in 1898, was the first to find the mummified remains of the Pharaoh who lived in Moses' day. For 3000 years the corpse had remained wrapped in a sheet in the Tomb of the Necropolis at Thebes where Loret had found it, until July 8, 1907, when Elliot Smith uncovered it and subjected it to proper scientific examination.

In 1912 he published a book entitled The Royal Mummies. His research had proved that the mummy discovered by Loret was indeed that of the Pharaoh who 'knew Moses, resisted his pleas, pursued him as he took flight, and lost his life in the process.' His earthly remains were saved by the will of God from destruction to become a sign to man, as is written in the Qur'an.

In 1975, Dr. Bucaille made a detailed examination of the Pharaoh's mummy which by then had been taken to Cairo. His findings led him to write in astonishment and acclaim:

Those who seek among modern data for proof of the Holy Scriptures will find a magnificent illustration of the verses of the Qur'an dealing with the Pharaoh's body by visiting the Royal Mummies Room of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo!

Allah revealed to Musa that he should strike the sea with his rod. Upon this, “it divided, and each separate part became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain.” (Surat ash-Shuara: 63) In ordinary circumstances, at the moment when Fir’awn saw such a miracle, he should have understood that there was something extraordinary about the situation, and that he was seeing Divine intervention. The sea opened for the people whom Fir’awn wanted to destroy. Moreover, there was no guarantee that the sea would not close back after they passed across. Still, he and his army followed the Children of Israel into the sea. Most probably, Fir’awn and his soldiers had lost their ability to think reasonably because of their insolence and spite, and were unable comprehend the miraculous nature of the situation.

The Qur’an describes the last moments of Fir’awn as follows:

We took the Children of Israel across the sea: Fir’awn and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At length, when overwhelmed with the flood, he said: “I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam).” (Surah Yunus: 90)

Here, it is possible to see another miracle of Musa. Let us remind ourselves of the following verse:

Musa prayed: “Our Lord! Thou hast indeed bestowed on Fir’awn and his chiefs splendour and wealth in the life of the present, and so, Our Lord, they mislead (men) from Thy Path. Deface our Lord, the features of their wealth, and send hardness to their hearts, so they will not believe until they see the grievous penalty.”

Allah said: “Accepted is your prayer (O Musa and Harun)! So stand ye straight, and follow not the path of those who know not.” (Surah Yunus: 88-89) 

It is clearly understood from this verse that Musa was thus informed in answer to his supplication that Fir’awn would believe in Allah at the time he faced the painful punishment. Indeed, Fir’awn said that he believed in Allah when the waters started to cover. Yet, it was very clear that his behaviour was insincere and false. Fir’awn most probably said so to save himself from dying. 

Certainly, the last-moment acceptance of faith of Fir’awn, and his asking for forgiveness were not accepted by Allah. Fir’awn and his army could not be saved from death by drowning. 

(It was said to him): “Ah now!- But a little while before, wast thou in rebellion!- and thou didst mischief (and violence)! This day shall We save thee in the body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee! but verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!” (Surah Yunus: 91-92)

We are also informed that his men, as well as Fir’awn himself, received their share of the punishment. Since the soldiers of Fir’awn were men of “insolence and spite” (Surah Yunus: 90), “men of sin” (Surat al-Qasas: 8), “did wrong” (Surat al-Qasas: 40), and “thought that they would not have to return to Allah” (Surat al-Qasas: 39) just like Fir’awn, they well deserved the punishment of Allah. Thus, Allah seized both Fir’awn and his hosts and flung them into the sea. (Surat al-Qasas: 40)

So Allah exacted retribution from them and drowned them in the sea, because they rejected His signs and failed to take warning from them. (Surat al-Araf: 136)

Allah describes in the Qur’an in the following verses, all that happened after the death of Fir’awn:

And We made a people, considered weak (and of no account), inheritors of lands in both east and west, - lands whereon We sent down Our blessings. The fair promise of thy Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because they had patience and constancy, and We levelled to the ground the great works and fine buildings which Fir’awn and his people erected (with such pride). (Surat al-Araf: 137).

As early as the seventh century A.D., the Qur'an had asserted that the Pharaoh's body was preserved as a sign for man, but it was only in the 19th century that the body's discovery gave concrete proof of this prediction. What further proof is needed that the Qur'an is the Book of God? Certainly, there is no book like it, among the works of men.