Al-A'raaf (The Heights)

130. “And certainly We afflicted the clan of Pharaoh with drought and scarcity of fruits, so that they may take admonition.”

The Arabic word /sinin/ is the plural form of /sanah/ which means ‘year’; but when it is used with the term /’axǒ/ in the Arabic contexts, it often means: ‘to afflict with drought and famine’. The Qur’ān implies that Allah afflicted Pharaoh and his clan with drought and famine because of the indecent manner that they committed. The verse says:

“And certainly We afflicted the clan of Pharaoh with drought…”

It also implies that besides famine and drought, Allah afflicted them with scarcity of fruits in order that they be in awe and to become monotheists, but they did not change their way. The verse continues saying:

“…and scarcity of fruits, so that they may take admonition.”