[2434] Their insisting on pressing ahead with their groundless charge, shows how adamant they were and how hard they were set on Denying (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr; for a fuller discussion of this episode cf. 7: 104-112 and the explanatory notes of these).
[2435] His utterance of these words, in such a greatly unnerving situation, is testimony to the firmness of Moses’ Faith. Its mention as such here is meant as a lesson for those who pay heed (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[2436] “Allah wanted to confirm the Truth with His Words, and utterly wipe out the Deniers; *to establish the Truth and abolish falsehood, even to the acrimony of the criminals” (8: 7-8).
[2437] The immediate aftermath of this stand-off is described here in light of the great show of force Pharaoh displayed to the seeing eyes of the public. Moses’ firm leadership and unwavering Faith are further highlighted here via the facts provided in this passage.
[2438] Dhurriyyah are one’s posterity (cf. al-Sijjistānī, Gharīb al-Qur’ān, al-Iṣfahānī, al-Mufradāt). These are the youngsters who dared to attend the gathering (cf. Ibn Kathīr) and Believed in Moses (عليه السلام) no sooner than he emerged victorious over his enemy (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[2439] The Israelite chieftains, who could not resist Pharaoh’s authority, succumbed to his will and obeyed his bidding (c.f. al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, Ibn Kathīr).
[2440] That is to try to drive them away from following the Truth by inflicting hardship on them (c.f. al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, Ibn Kathīr).
[2441] This could have two meanings: 1) they prayed for God not to try the Deniers by making them overrun the Believers and, hence, fall into the misconception of taking this as a sign of their rightfulness and the Believers’ wrongfulness; thus giving falsehood the upper hand over the Truth (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Wajīz, Ibn Kathīr); and 2) that they should not be tried through the Deniers overpowering of them and making them revert from the right path to Denial (cf. Abū Ḥayyān, al-Baiḍāwī, al-Qāsimī).
[2442] In this passage, the Israelites are told to ready themselves for exodus since it has become clear that the Deniers will never Believe in Divine Signs, numerous as they were (cf. 17: 101), and that their persecution of the Believers will know no end.
[2443] These are different from their then current homes. This is by way of readying them physically for a departure which could happen expeditiously en masse (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[2444] The phrase wa-jʿalū buyūtakum qiblatan (lit. make your houses into a Qiblah), can have a number of meanings since in essence it is metaphorically employed to impress upon the children of Israel that their only salvation lay in God-consciousness and unceasing devotion to Him. Most exegetes are of the opinion that here it is a command for them to turn their houses into places of worship (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Wajīz, al-Qāsimī, al-Saʿdī), however others, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās (عليه السلام) (cf. Ibn Kathīr, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah), interpret it as: “direct your homes towards the Qiblah” as Moses himself used to pray facing it (cf. al-Baiḍāwī). Ibn ʿĀshūr reports on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās (عليه السلام) that Moses used to face al-Kaʿbah for Prayer; that is to purify their Faith by reverting to the pristine creed of facing Makkah (Bakkah) for Prayer (for a discussion of this cf. 2: 96 and the corresponding footnote).
[2445] “Seek help in patience and Prayer; indeed they are hard save for the dedicated. *Those who firmly Believe that they will be meeting their Lord and that they are returning to Him” (2: 45-46).
[2446] Moses’ praying so is not to be misunderstood as vindictiveness on his side (cf. al-Qurṭubī), but it might be taken as a statement for making a firm stand and a clear-cut announcement of departure away from the Deniers once and for all. He did the same as Noah (عليه السلام) did when God told him that none of his people, besides those who already did so, will ever Believe (cf. 11: 36), so he prayed for them to be utterly wiped out (cf. 71: 27).