Surah Al-A'raf Ayah 130

And indeed We punished the people of Fir'awn with years of drought and lack of fruits (crops), that they might remember (take heed)(130)But whenever good came to them, they said: "This is for us." And if evil afflicted them, they considered it an omen about Musa and those with him. Be informed! Verily, their omens are with Allah but most of them know not (131)

Fir'awn and His People suffer Years of Drought

Allah said,

وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ

(And indeed We punished the people of Fir'awn) We tested and tried them,

بِالسِّنِينَ

(with years of drought) of famine due to little produce,

وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ

(and lack of fruits), which is less severe, according to Mujahid. Abu Ishaq narrated that Raja' bin Haywah said, "The date tree used to produce only one date!"

لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ - فَإِذَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْحَسَنَةُ

(That they might remember (take heed). But whenever good came to them) such as a fertile season and provisions,

قَالُوا لَنَا هَٰذِهِ

(they said, "This is for us."), because we deserve it,

وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ

(and if evil afflicted them) drought and famine,

يَطَّيَّرُوا بِمُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُ

(they considered it an omen Musa and those with him.) saying that this hardship is because of them and what they have done.

أَلَا إِنَّمَا طَائِرُهُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ

(Verily, their omens are with Allah) 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas commented on the Ayah,

أَلَا إِنَّمَا طَائِرُهُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ

(Verily, their omens are with Allah) "Allah says that their afflictions are with and from Him,

وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

(but most of them know not.)"