Tafseer of The Moon · Al-Qamar · 54:42
They denied Our signs, all of them, so We seized them with a seizure of one Exalted in Might and Perfect in Ability.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا كُلِّهَا ("They denied all Our signs") (54:42). He — exalted is His praise — says: the people of Pharaoh denied Our proofs that came to them from Us, and Our arguments that came to them, that there is no god but Allah alone — all of them. فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ أَخْذَ عَزِيزٍ مُقْتَدِرٍ ("then We seized them with the seizing of a Mighty One, a Powerful One"). The Exalted — exalted is His mention — says: then We punished them for their disbelief in Allah with a severe punishment, [as] a Mighty One who is not overcome, a Powerful One over whatever He wills, neither incapable nor weak.
And in accordance with what we have said concerning this, the exegetes have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ أَخْذَ عَزِيزٍ مُقْتَدِرٍ. He says: Mighty in His retribution when He takes retribution.
