فَاسْتَخَفَّ قَوْمَهٗ فَاَطَاعُوْهُ اِنَّهُمْ كَانُوْا قَوْمًا فٰسِقِيْنَ (54) فَلَمَّاۤ اٰسَفُوْنَا انْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَاَغْرَقْنٰهُمْ اَجْمَعِيْنَ (55) فَجَعَلْنٰهُمْ سَلَفًا وَّمَثَلًا لِّلْاٰخِرِيْنَ (56)
Quran Ayah Data not found….for Surah:43, Ayah:54 and Translation:24
Quran Surah:43 Ayah:54-56
“Thus he made fool of his people, and they obeyed him. Surely they were a sinful people. So, when they provoked Our anger, We took vengeance on them, and drowned them all together, and made them a people of the past, and an example for the later generations.”
In the verses appearing above, there has been mentioned the conducts of Pharaoh and his people besides bringing home their factors and consequences.
First and foremost thing described in these verses is that Pharaoh فَاسْتَخَفَّ قَوْمَهٗ‘Thus, he made fool of his people’. He considered them of no value and looked down upon them. Neither he would respect them nor took their dignity into consideration, rather, behaved them with cruelty. In other words, he turned them to be the outsiders just like that of Super Power country of these days is doing in Iraque, Afghanistan and Palestine or like those of ruling classes are doing with downtrodden people and Muslim community in our own country.
Further, it is said فَاَطَاعُوْهُ‘his people obeyed him’ i.e. they would approve whatever Pharaoh had been doing and continued to be in his favour. Instead of opposing him against his cruelties, they kept silent and supported him while they openly witnessed that all it was nothing but wrong as these days is the conduct of the Super Power country with downtrodden countries like Iraque, Afghanistan and Palestine. Though everyone take it as a wrong thing but none dares to raise a voice against it. None takes an initiative measure to stop the cruelties – so-to-speak – all of them are practically in its support.
The same case is with the masses of our country, India. They see with their open eyes that the oppression is rampant everywhere be it is the violences taking place in Gujarat or in other states. Presently, a recent verdict concerning Babri mosque given by the court is nothing but a worst example of injustice and cruelty, but none is there who can dare to raise a voice against it or restore the rights to the oppressed ones. Thus, it does imply here that all of them are a silent spectator despite knowing that it is absolutely wrong. We find no movement active with regard to rectify this mistake.
Here arises a question as what are the main factors behind it? Why the whole community has grown so senseless or why does happen so? The same thing has been addressed in the following part of the verse as Allah, the Almighty says:
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ
Indeed, they
were
a people
defiantly disobedient.
Quran Surah:43 Ayah:54
The word ‘fisq’ means going against something despite knowing that it is right, be it is based on cowardice, avarice or under certain pressure. A man is supposed to do so only when he falls victim to self-interest, in other words, his interest is dearest of all to him. As a result, he overlooks everything when it comes to his interest.
Generally, the well-to-do classes of society are mostly inflicted with this decease. Since they lead a comfortable life, they do not dare to raise a voice against these cruelties fearing a threat to their luxurious life hence they deem it better to keep silent and continue supporting the present government no matter what happens to other people. We can easily notice the presence of such a gravest senselessness everywhere we go.
It is the time when Allah’s wrath is provoked,as a result, the people of Pharaoh-like nature and their disciples are wiped off from the surface of the earth as also pointed out in the following verse:
فَلَمَّآ اٰسَفُوْنَا انْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَاَغْرَقْنٰهُمْ اَجْمَعِيْنَ
“We took vengeance on them, and drowned them all together.”
The only reason behind it is that when no one pays heed towards an oppressed, it is only Allah alone who proves to be his refuge. When an oppressed complains about the injustice and cruelty, it does mean proclaiming Allah’s attribute of justice, then how can’t He do justice with him? Therefore, it is said that there is no veil or hurdle between Allah and the oppressed one, hence it is warned to protect oneself from the imprecation of an oppressed.
When Allah’s wrath is flared up, it causes not only destruction, rather it make one to be an object of warning to others – so that others can also take a lesson from him as also said in the following verse:
فَجَعَلْنٰهُمْ سَلَفًا وَّمَثَلًا لِّلْاٰخِرِيْنَ
“And made them a people of the past, and an example for the later generations.”
In fact, the way we are subject to cruelties these days like those of inflicted by Pharaoh globally and the way the downtrodden classes are falling victims to the oppressions, but, there is no movement found active against it neither on international level nor there is any awakening and effective steps taken on national level, rather everyone is struck dumb before the Pharaoh of time nor there is anyone who can take care of the oppressed, it does imply that all of us are gradually being considered to be the victims in the sight of Allah, the Almighty which may cause to provoke and invite His wrath. (May Allah protect us against it!)