although every sign We showed them was greater than the one before.1 Ultimately, We seized them with torments so that they might return ˹to the Right Path˺.2
43:48
˹Then˺ they pleaded, “O ˹mighty˺ magician! Pray to your Lord on our behalf, by virtue of the covenant He made with you.1 We will certainly accept guidance.”
43:49
But as soon as We removed the torments from them, they broke their promise.
43:50
And Pharaoh called out to his people, boasting, “O my people! Am I not sovereign over Egypt as well as ˹all˺ these streams1 flowing at my feet? Can you not see?
43:51
Am I not better than this nobody who can hardly express himself?1
43:52
Why then have no golden bracelets ˹of kingship˺ been granted to him or angels come with him as escorts!”
43:53
And so he fooled his people, and they obeyed him. They were truly a rebellious people.
43:54
So when they enraged Us, We inflicted punishment upon them, drowning them all.
43:55
And We made them an example and a lesson for those after them.
43:56
When the son of Mary was cited as an example ˹in argument˺, your people ˹O Prophet˺ broke into ˹joyful˺ applause.1
43:57
They exclaimed, “Which is better: our gods or Jesus?” They cite him only to argue. In fact, they are a people prone to dispute.
43:58
He was only a servant We showed favour to, and made as an example for the Children of Israel.
43:59
Had We willed, We could have easily replaced you ˹all˺ with angels,1 succeeding one another on earth.
43:60