Tafseer of The Enshrouded One · Al-Muzzammil · 73:16
But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger, so We seized him with a ruinous seizure.
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.
"But Firʿawn disobeyed the Messenger" — the one whom We had sent to him — "and We seized him with a severe seizing" — He says: and We seized him with a harsh seizing, and We destroyed him and all who were with him together. This (wabīl) is derived from their expression: "kalaʾ mustawbal," when there is pasturage (vegetation) that does not agree with one; and likewise with respect to food.
In accordance with what we have said about this, the people of interpretation spoke.
* Mention of who said that:
ʿAlī related to me, saying: Abū Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His words: "a severe seizing (akhdhan wabīlan)," he said: a harsh (seizing).
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us; and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us, both on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning His words: "a severe seizing (akhdhan wabīlan)," he said: a harsh (seizing).
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His words: "and We seized him with a severe seizing," that is: a harsh (seizing).
Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda: "a severe seizing (akhdhan wabīlan)," he said: a harsh (seizing).
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said, concerning His words: "and We seized him with a severe seizing," he said: al-wabīl is evil; and the Arabs say of someone upon whom evil accumulates in succession: "laqad ūbila ʿalayhi," and they say: "ūbiltu ʿalā sharrika." He said: and Allah was not content that he should merely be drowned and punished, until he was established in an abiding punishment, until he will be raised up to the Fire on the Day of Resurrection; he means Firʿawn.
