۞ أَوَلَمۡ

يَسِيرُواْ

فِي

ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

فَيَنظُرُواْ

كَيۡفَ

كَانَ

عَٰقِبَةُ

ٱلَّذِينَ

كَانُواْ

مِن

قَبۡلِهِمۡۚ

كَانُواْ

هُمۡ

أَشَدَّ

مِنۡهُمۡ

قُوَّةٗ

وَءَاثَارٗا

فِي

ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

فَأَخَذَهُمُ

ٱللَّهُ

بِذُنُوبِهِمۡ

وَمَا

كَانَ

لَهُم

مِّنَ

ٱللَّهِ

مِن

وَاقٖ

٢١

Have they not travelled throughout the land to see what was the end of those ˹destroyed˺ before them? They were far superior in might and ˹richer in˺ monuments throughout the land. But Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no protector from Allah.

That was because their messengers used to come to them with clear proofs, but they persisted in disbelief. So Allah seized them. Surely He is All-Powerful, severe in punishment.

Indeed, We sent Moses with Our signs and compelling proof

to Pharaoh, Hamân, and Korah. But they responded: “Magician! Total liar!”

Then, when he came to them with the truth from Us, they said, “Kill the sons of those who believe with him and keep their women.” But the plotting of the disbelievers was only in vain.

And Pharaoh said, “Let me kill Moses, and let him call upon his Lord! I truly fear that he may change your traditions or cause mischief in the land.”

Moses replied, “I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant person who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning.”

A believing man from Pharaoh’s people, who was hiding his faith, argued, “Will you kill a man¹ ˹only˺ for saying: ‘My Lord is Allah,’ while he has in fact come to you with clear proofs from your Lord? If he is a liar, it will be to his own loss. But if he is truthful, then you will be afflicted with some of what he is threatening you with. Surely Allah does not guide whoever is a transgressor, a total liar.

O  my people! Authority belongs to you today, reigning supreme in the land. But who would help us against the torment of Allah, if it were to befall us?” Pharaoh assured ˹his people˺, “I am telling you only what I believe, and I am leading you only to the way of guidance.”

And the man who believed cautioned, “O my people! I truly fear for you the doom of ˹earlier˺ enemy forces—