such a way, that it shall be painful for them and serve as admonition for my nation and those after me!

Thus, Allah Almighty sent a storm. A cloud appeared, became dark, and cast down extremely heavy rain. The homes of the Egyptians (Copts) filled with water, to the point they had to stand to avoid it. The water then rose to their collarbones, and whoever sunk into it drowned.

They were unable to move or do anything. From one Saturday to the next, they remained trapped in this calamity for seven days. Amazingly, although the homes of the Banī Isrāˈīl were adjacent to theirs, no water entered therein.

When the Egyptians became desperate, they pleaded with Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم and said, “Pray for this calamity to be removed. We will believe in you and let the Banī Isrāˈīl depart with you.” Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم made dua and the storm subsided. The land then became lush and green, to an extent never seen before. Crops flourished and trees bore abundant fruit. Seeing this, the Egyptians said, "This water was a blessing," but still did not become believers.

A month passed in peace, before Allah Almighty sent a plague of locusts. These consumed  crops, fruits, leaves of trees, doors of houses, roofs, wood, and even iron nails. They filled the homes of the Egyptians, but did not enter the homes of the Banī Isrāˈīl.

Once again, the Egyptians requested Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم to pray for them, promising to believe afterwards. After seven days of this locust plague, one Saturday to another, Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم made dua and this too subsided. Yet, seeing the remaining crops and fruits, the Egyptians said, "This is enough for us; we will not leave our religion." They did not believe and resumed their evil deeds.

Another month of peace passed. and then Allah Almighty sent a plague of qummāl. Exegetes of the Quran differ in opinion regarding what this