ভূমিকা

“And certainly We afflicted the clan of Pharaoh with drought and scarcity of fruits, so that they may take admonition.”*** The Arabic word /sinin/ is the plural form of /sanah/ which means ‘year’; but when it is used with the term /’axǒ/ in the Arabic contexts, it often means: ‘to afflict with drought and famine’. The Qur’ān implies that Allah afflicted Pharaoh and his clan with drought and famine because of the indecent manner that they committed.

The verse says: “And certainly We afflicted the clan of Pharaoh with drought…” It also implies that besides famine and drought, Allah afflicted them with scarcity of fruits in order that they be in awe and to become monotheists, but they did not change their way.

Surely the cause of their bad omens is with Allah,but most of them do not know.”*** Whenever they obtained abundance of good, they said that it was for their own due that there had continuously been bounties in their cities, and, therefore, they did not thank Allah. The verse says: “So, when any good came to them, they said: ‘This is our due’...” But when they afflicted famine and starvation, they took Moses and his followers bad omens and said that it was due to them.

In this regard, the verse says: “…and if any evil afflicted them, they took it bad omens due to Moses and those with him…” Their real misfortune was as a result of their own sins and evil deeds. Such things cause the punishment of Allah for them both in this world and the Hereafter. The verse says: “…Be it known! Surely the cause of their bad omens is with Allah…” But most of them do not know it, and do not contemplate to know this fact.