Ghafir (The Forgiver)

45. Therefore Allah saved him from the evils that they plotted [against him], while an evil torment encompassed Pharaoh’s people.

It is through Divine Grace that the life and faith of believers are saved from conspiracies and conspirators and plotters are destroyed. The blessed Verse in question says that God Almighty did not leave this believing and struggling servant alone but protected him from their vicious plots.

The expression:

“the evils that they plotted”

reveals that they probably hatched plots against him. What were these plots? The nature of these plots is not explicitly mentioned herein; however, they were naturally different punishments, torments, and finally execution.

The important point is that Divine Grace rendered all those plots ineffective. A number of Qur’anic exegets maintain that the believing man took an opportunity to reach Moses and the Children of Israel and crossed the Nile with them.

It is also said that when the decision was made as to his execution, he escaped to a mountain and no one could see him anymore.¹ The twain interpretations are not inconsistent. It is probable that he hid somewhere without the city to join the Children of Israel later on and cross the Nile with them.

Some of the plots in question were probably the imposition of idolatry and convincing him to abandon monotheism but God Almighty saved him from these plots as well and made him to proceed more firmly on the Path of faith, monotheism, and fearing God Almighty.

Au contraire, severe torments were sent down on the people of Pharaoh.

Divine chastisements and torments are all excruciating but the expression:

“an evil torment”

reflects that God Almighty condemned them to a more excruciating torment which is mentioned in the following Verse.