The Second Possibility

The Second Possibility: Pharaoh's faith occurred after he descended to the seabed to pursue the children of Israel, but before the water engulfed and drowned him.

This is correct. Pharaoh and his soldiers had gone down to the seabed and pursued the children of Israel. But when they pursued the children of Israel, God commanded the wind to hit the surface of the water, causing some of it to collapse on Pharaoh and his soldiers. He noticed that he was moving between two mountains of water which could engulf him at any moment. He touched the mountains of water with his hand, and the signs that he and his soldiers would perish became clear when he realized this miracle was a compelling one, and it couldn’t be explained as being magic or anything else. At this point, {he said, "I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who submit"}.

Faith has ranks. The first is: attestation. These words of Pharaoh were attestation, and no one can deny that since the Almighty of the heavens and the earth narrated it in His holy book. After mentioning the words, the Almighty confirmed them with His saying: {Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters?} Quran Chapter “Jonah” 10:91

In other words, you believe now after the compelling miracle drove you to do so, but before this you refused to believe {And you had disobeyed [Him] before}. Also, in a way that any person will understand, why would Pharaoh say "I believe" unless he wanted God to save him in this temporal world and in the hereafter? Or at least, as some people have understood, in this temporal world only and specifically from the drowning? How can he hope for God Almighty to save him without believing that He exists?

Pharaoh's faith (attestation) cannot be denied under any circumstances. Actually, the Imams have confirmed his faith (attestation), which did not help him, in several religious accounts. In Wasail Al-Shia [The Means of Access for the Shia], it has been narrated on the authority of Musa Ibn Jafar ^PBUH: “. . . have you not heard that God says: {until when the drowning caught up to him, he said, "I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who submit"} God did not accept his faith and said, {“Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters?”}^[7]

In fact, at the beginning of Moses' ^PBUH dispatch to Pharaoh (may God curse him), God Almighty pointed out that he will remember and fear, though this remembrance and fear of God did not help him since it was due to a compelling miracle that drove him to faith (attestation).

[In a religious account] narrated by Muhammad son of Umara, through his father, through Sufyan son of Saeed, he said: “I have heard from Abu Abdullah Jafar son of Muhammad Al-Sadiq ^PBUH-I swear he was truthful as he was called . . .”^[8] Sufyan said: “I said to him: Son of the Messenger of God, is it possible that God, the Mighty and Majestic, gives his servants hope of something but it doesn't happen?" He said, “No.” I said, "Then how did God, the Mighty and Majestic, say to Moses and Aaron ^PBUT {perhaps he will remember or fear [God]}, when he knew that Pharaoh wouldn’t remember or fear?” He said, “Pharaoh remembered and feared, but at the time he saw the punishment, when faith did not benefit him. Haven’t you heard the Almighty’s saying: {until when the drowning caught up to him, he said, "I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who submit"}. God the Mighty and Majestic did not accept his faith and He said: {Now? And you had disobeyed before and were of the corrupters? ✶ Today We will save you in body that you may be a sign to those who succeed you}. He said, “We will cast you on a plateau of land that you may be a sign and a lesson for those who succeed you.”^[9]

The punishment that Pharaoh saw was mentioned by Imam al-Kazim ^PBUH , who said: “It did not befall him. Until the moment he said, ‘I believe . . .’ the punishment had not befallen him.” It was the compelling miracle that drove him to believe, it was the two mountains of water surrounding him. Pharaoh caught on that he would perish, once they collapsed: {until when the drowning caught up to him, he said, “I believe”}.

Had it not been for Pharaoh’s touching of the compelling miracle, which drove him to believe, God Almighty would have accepted his faith, removed the punishment from him, and let him out of the sea in safety. At the very least He would have just accepted his faith, for God Almighty accepts repentance from a person until the last moment of his life.

We should also note that Pharaoh had listened to Moses ^PBUH and accepted debating Moses ^PBUH regarding what he ^PBUH came with from God Almighty. So Pharaoh is a lot less evil than the pharaohs and tyrants of this age, may God curse them and humiliate them in this world and the hereafter.

{Moses said, "O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds [Who is] obligated not to say about God except the truth. I have come to you with clear evidence from your Lord, so send with me the Children of Israel." ✶ [Pharaoh] said, "If you have come with a sign, then bring it forth, if you should be of the truthful." ✶ So Moses threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent, manifest. ✶ And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers. ✶ Said the eminent among the people of Pharaoh, "Indeed, this is a learned magician ✶ Who wants to expel you from your land [through magic], so what do you instruct?" ✶ They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers ✶ Who will bring you every learned magician"} Quran Chapter “The Heights” 7:104-112.

Not accepting repentance, faith, or the acknowledgement of the guardianship of the guardian and Proof (Hujjah) of God over His creation at the time of a compelling, inexplicable miracle, such as worldly punishment, is mentioned in the Quran. It is mentioned not only in regards to the faith of Pharaoh and not accepting his faith, but also in several other places. Here are several examples:

{Do they [then] wait for anything except that the angels should come to them or your Lord should come or that there come some of the signs of your Lord? The Day that some of the signs of your Lord will come no soul will benefit from its faith as long as it had not believed before or had earned some good through its faith. Say, "Wait. Indeed, we [also] wait"} Quran Chapter “The Cattle” 6:158.

{Say, [O Muhammad], "On the Day of Conquest the faith of those who had disbelieved will not benefit them, nor will they be reprieved"} Quran Chapter “The Prostration” 32:29.

{And when they saw Our punishment, they said," We believe in God alone and disbelieve in that which we used to associate with Him" ✶ But never did their faith benefit them once they saw Our punishment. [It is] the established way of God which has preceded among His servants. And the disbelievers thereupon lost [all]} Quran Chapter “The Forgiver” 84-85.

The question here is: Why is it that {no soul will benefit from its faith as long as it had not believed before or had earned through its faith some good. Say, "Wait. Indeed, we [also] wait"} Quran Chapter “The Cattle” 6:158, whereas it is stated in religious accounts that God accepts a servant's repentance until he sees [death] with his own eyes.

Abu Abdullah ^PBUH said that the Messenger of God ^PBUHAF said, “God will accept the repentance of whoever repents a year before their death.” Then he said, “A year is too much. God will accept the repentance of whoever repents a month before their death.” Then he said, “A month is too much. God will accept the repentance of whoever repents a week before their death.” Then he said, “A week is too much. God will accept the repentance of whoever repents a day before their death.” Then he said, “A day is too much. God will accept the repentance of whoever repents before they see it [death] with their own eyes.“^[10]

In a religious account narrated by Muawiya ibn Wahab: “There was an old man among the opposers. His nephew presented the Guardianship (of Ahl al-Bayt) to him at the time of his death and he acknowledged it. Then he breathed his last and died. We went to visit Abu Abdullah ^PBUH and Ali Ibn al-Sarri told him what happened. He ^PBUH said: "He is a man from the people of paradise." Ali Ibn al-Sarri said to him, 'He only knew about that in his last hour!' He ^PBUH said: “What do you want from him? By God, he has entered paradise.”^[11]

Al-Sadooq said: Al-Sadiq ^PBUH was asked about the saying of God Almighty: {But repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until when death comes to one of them, he says, "Indeed, I have repented now"}. He ^PBUH said: “This is if he saw something from the hereafter.”^[12]

The answer to the previous question is clear and can be found in the above verse itself. The Almighty said: {. . . the Day that some of the signs of your Lord will come no soul will benefit from its faith as long as it had not believed before or had earned through its faith some good. Say, "Wait. Indeed, we [also] wait"} Quran Chapter “The Cattle” 6:158.

When will the time be that: {No soul will benefit from its faith as long as it had not believed before or had earned through its faith some good. Say, "Wait. Indeed, we [also] wait"}??

The answer is: {The Day that some of the signs of your Lord will come}.

It is now clear that with the coming of certain Divine signs, namely some miracles, faith will be of no benefit. The truth is that it is not accepted because it is compulsion, driving to faith and surrendering to fact rather than faith, resigning oneself, and submission. This is because these miracles are compelling and inexplicable ones. As for the other Divine miracles and signs, faith is accepted even after they appear, because they leave room for believing in the unseen. Both the staff of Moses ^PBUH and his white hand could be explained away by those who attempted to, even though Moses had bested the magicians. {They said, "[They are but] two works of magic supporting each other, and indeed we are, in both, disbelievers"} Quran Chapter “The Stories” 28:48, and also Pharaoh said: {. . .Indeed, he is your master who has taught you magic. . .} Chapter “Ta Ha” 20:71, and “The Poets” 26:49. Thus, there was room left for faith in the unseen with the coming of the miracle.

But when Pharaoh believed while he was between two mountains of water, there was no room left for faith in the unseen. It was 100% material faith (attestation) due to the compelling power he saw that split the sea into two halves. He didn't just see it with his eyes such that it could be called magic, but he also went down to the seabed and touched the two mountains of water with his hand. Therefore, this miracle could not be explained by Pharaoh while he was in that position of knowing about and being convinced of it. He stood in the middle of the sea at a loss and could only find faith and attestation to save him. But Pharaoh's faith was not accepted, because it was 100% materialistic faith and attestation, and God only accepts faith in the unseen.

{Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them . . .} Quran Chapter “The Cow” 2:3.

{Who fear their Lord unseen, while they are of the Hour apprehensive} Quran Chapter “The Prophets” 21:49.

{You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen} Quran Chapter “The Originator” 35:18.

{You can only warn one who follows the message and fears the Most Merciful unseen. So give him glad tidings of forgiveness and noble reward} Quran Chapter “Ya Sin” 36:11.

{You can only warn one who follows the message and fears the Most Merciful unseen. So give him glad tidings of forgiveness and noble reward} Quran Chapter “Ya Sin” 36:11.

{Who feared the Most Merciful unseen and came with a heart returning} Quran Chapter “Qaf” 50: 33.

{We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that God may make evident those who support Him and His messengers in the unseen. Indeed, God is Powerful and Exalted in Might} Quran Chapter “The Iron” 57: 25. {Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and great reward} Quran Chapter “The Sovereignty” 67: 12.

It will be beneficial here to quote several lines written by the hand of this servant, in need of the mercy of his Lord, from the book Striving, the Door to Paradise in regards to the confusion about miracles:

. . . . .

I will discuss just one aspect of miracles that supports the prophets, due to its importance and the obliviousness of people regarding it, which is: the confusion about miracles and their purpose.

People know about one of the miracles of Moses ^PBUH, the staff that turned into a serpent, which occurred at a time when magic was widespread. One of Jesus' ^PBUH miracles was healing the sick at a time when medicine was widespread. One of Muhammad's ^PBUHAF miracles was the Quran at a time when eloquence was widespread. At this point, a person ignorant of the truth would say the reason for the similarity of the miracle to what is widespread at the time is to just outdo the magic, medicine, and eloquence to establish the miracle. But the truth hidden from the people, though mentioned in the Quran, is that the materialistic miracle appears as such to confuse those who know nothing but the material. This is because God Almighty is not satisfied with faith being materialistic, rather it must be faith in the unseen:

– {Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them} Quran Chapter “The Cow” 2:3.

– {You can only warn one who follows the message and fears the Most Merciful unseen. So give him glad tidings of forgiveness and noble reward} Quran Chapter “Ya Sin” 36:11.

– {Who feared the Most Merciful unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance]} Quran Chapter “Qaf” 50:33.

– {We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that God may make evident those who support Him and His messengers in the unseen. Indeed, God is Powerful and Exalted in Might} Quran Chapter “The Iron” 57:25. Faith in the unseen is required and God Almighty wants it. A miracle sent by the Almighty must leave something for faith in the unseen, that is why it will have some confusion in it. Hence, most of the time it is similar to what's widespread at the time it is sent. {And if We had made him an angel, We would have made him [appear as] a man, and We would have covered them with that in which they cover themselves} Quran Chapter “The Cattle” 6:9.

Materialistic people and those who know nothing but the material find an excuse for their failure in the similarity: {But when the truth came to them from Us, they said, "Why was he not given like that which was given to Moses?" Did those not disbelieve in that which was given to Moses before? They said, "[They are but] two works of magic that support each other and indeed we are, in both, disbelievers"} Quran Chapter “The Stories” 28:48.

Similarity became an excuse for them to say: {[They are but] two works of magic that support each other} and {indeed we are, in both, disbelievers."}. In describing a hypocrite, the Prince of Believers ^PBUH said: “. . . he uses similarity as an excuse for his mistakes”.^[13]

On the other hand, if the miracle is compelling and it has no similarity then there isn't any room left for faith in the unseen, and it becomes coercion and compulsion to faith. This isn't faith or submission. It is surrender, which is unsatisfactory, and God does not want or accept it: {We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until when the drowning caught up to him, he said, "I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the those who submit"} Quran 10:90. Pharaoh believes and submits, or let's say he surrenders, before he dies, but God is not satisfied and does not accept this faith and submission. God Almighty responds to him with this reply {Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters?} Quran Chapter “Jonah” 10:91.

This is because it is faith as a result of a compelling miracle-one that doesn't leave those who know only this material world any room to explain it or doubt those believing it. Accordingly, there's no room left for the unseen that God wants us to believe in and to believe through. At this level, faith is not accepted because it is coercion and compulsion, not faith {Do they [then] wait for anything except that the angels should come to them or your Lord should come or that there come some of the signs of your Lord? The Day that some of the signs of your Lord will come, no soul will benefit from its faith as long as it had not believed before or had earned through its faith some good. Say, "Wait. Indeed, we [also] wait"} Quran Chapter “The Cattle” 6:158, and {Say, [O Muhammad], "On the Day of Conquest the belief of those who had disbelieved will not benefit them, nor will they be reprieved"} Quran Chapter “The Prostration” 32:29.

Had God wanted to coerce and compel people to faith, He would have sent compelling miracles with the Prophets that leave no room for anyone to say: {[They are but] two works of magic supporting each other} or {"[The revelation is but] a mixture of false dreams; rather, he has invented it; rather, he is a poet. So let him bring us a sign just as the previous [messengers] were sent [with miracles]."} Quran Chapter “The Poets” 21:5. God Almighty said: {And had your Lord willed, those on the earth would have believed - all of them entirely. Then, will you compel the people in order that they become believers?} Chapter “Jonah”. God Almighty also said: {And if their aversion is difficult for you, then if you are able to seek a tunnel into the earth or a stairway into the sky to bring them a sign, [then do so]. But if God had willed, He would have united them upon guidance. So never be of the ignorant} “The Cattle” 6:35.

Praise be to God who is satisfied with faith in the unseen, and has made faith within and through the unseen. And He is not satisfied with material faith, nor has He made it within or through the material. This is in order to differentiate the people of living hearts and sharp discernment from those of blurred vision and sealed hearts . . . “^[14]

Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.

I ask God Almighty to guide those who (have) read these few words, and to give them knowledge of the truth and the (success) to support it. He is my supporter, and He supports the righteous.

Ahmed Al-Hasan

2008 (Muharram 1429 AH)