Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One)

15. We have sent unto you a Messenger to be a witness over you as We did send a Messenger to Pharaoh.

16. But Pharaoh disobeyed the Messenger and We chastised him severely.

The Noble Prophet (S) witnesses the deeds in this world and bears witness to the same on the Day of Resurrection.

The blessed Verse 15 compares the Noble Prophet’s (S) call and the animosity of the Arab chiefs against him and the rise of the Prophet Moses (as) against the people of the Pharaoh, saying:

“We have sent unto you a Messenger (S) to be a witness over you [whose obligation is to guide you and watch over your deeds] as We did send a Messenger (as) to Pharaoh [to guide him and his people and watch over their deeds].”

Thus, the Qur’anic Verses and the traditions reflect that the Noble Prophet (S) and the Infallible Imams (as) witness all our deeds. Fulfillment of the call entails supervision and the Noble Prophet (S) supervises all the deeds of his community and bears witness to the same.

The blessed Verse 16 is saying that Pharaoh rose against the Messenger of Allah (as) and God Almighty inflicted severe torments on him. Neither his enormous army, nor his vast realm, nor his power, nor the possessions of his people could impede Divine torments and they were all drowned in the raging waves of the Nile in which they took pride. Now, you are far inferior to them in terms of means and number. How could you be deceived by your meager means and number?

The Arabic nominal form wabil originally denotes heavy shower, but it connotes any heavy and severe thing, particularly torments. The blessed Verse in question implies the severity of the torment that it showers upon the sinners like a heavy downpour of rain. Disobedience to the commands of Allah’s Messenger entails torments and entanglements.