سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ

Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 136

The Heights · Meccan · Juz 9 · Page 166

فَٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَكَانُوا۟ عَنْهَا غَـٰفِلِينَ ﴿136﴾
So We took retribution from them. We drowned them in the sea, because they belied Our Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and were heedless about them.
فَٱنتَقَمْنَا fa-intaqamnā So We took retribution
مِنْهُمْ min'hum from them
فَأَغْرَقْنَـٰهُمْ fa-aghraqnāhum and We drowned them
فِى in
ٱلْيَمِّ l-yami the sea
بِأَنَّهُمْ bi-annahum because they
كَذَّبُوا۟ kadhabū denied
بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا biāyātinā Our Signs
وَكَانُوا۟ wakānū and they were
عَنْهَا ʿanhā to them
غَـٰفِلِينَ ghāfilīna heedless

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

The tafsir of this verse may be read with the following verses.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

136. 1 Despite such great signs, they were not ready to believe nor to awaken from the sleep of heedlessness; eventually, they were drowned in the sea, the details of which are present at various places in the Noble Quran.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

So We took retribution from them and drowned them in the sea [131] because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them.

[131]
The Drowning of the People of Pharaoh:

When the Children of Israel reached the shore of the sea, they learned that Pharaoh was pursuing them. They became extremely anxious, thinking that if they fell into his hands now, there would be no hope for them. In this distressing and delicate situation, Allah revealed to Musaؑ to strike the sea with his staff. As soon as he struck the sea with his staff, by Allah’s command, the water on one side stood still and the water on the other side stood still, as if huge, motionless mountains were standing. A dry path was formed in between. When the Children of Israel crossed to the other side of the sea by this dry path, the people of Pharaoh also arrived there and drove their horses onto the same dry path. When this army reached the very middle, Allah commanded the water to come together. In this way, Pharaoh, along with his entire army, met that evil end which Musaؑ had warned him about many times.