﴿يَوْمَ نَبْطِشُ الْبَطْشَةَ الْكُبْرَى إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ ﴾

(On the Day when We shall strike you with the great Batshah. Verily, We will exact retribution.) Ibn Mas`ud interpreted this to mean the day of Badr. This is also the view of a group who agreed with Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, about the meaning of the smoke, as discussed above. It was also narrated from Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, in a report related to him from Al-`Awfi and from Ubayy bin Ka`b, may Allah be pleased with him. This is possible, but the apparent meaning is that it refers to the Day of Resurrection, although the day of Badr was also a day of vengeance. Ibn Jarir said, "Ya`qub narrated to me; Ibn `Ulayyah narrated to me, Khalid Al-Hadhdha' narrated to us, from `Ikrimah who said, `Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said that "the great Batshah'' is the day of Badr, and I say that it is the Day of Resurrection.'' This chain of narration is Sahih to him. This is also the view of Al-Hasan Al-Basri and of `Ikrimah according to the more authentic of the two reports narrated from him. And Allah knows best.

﴿وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَجَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ كَرِيمٌ - أَنْ أَدُّواْ إِلَىَّ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ - وَأَن لاَّ تَعْلُواْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنِّى ءَاتِيكُمْ بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ - وَإِنِّى عُذْتُ بِرَبِّى وَرَبِّكُمْ أَن تَرْجُمُونِ - وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُواْ لِى فَاعْتَزِلُونِ - فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنَّ هَـؤُلاَءِ قَوْمٌ مُّجْرِمُونَ - فَأَسْرِ بِعِبَادِى لَيْلاً إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ - وَاتْرُكِ الْبَحْرَ رَهْواً إِنَّهُمْ جُندٌ مُّغْرَقُونَ - كَمْ تَرَكُواْ مِن جَنَّـتٍ وَعُيُونٍ - وَزُرُوعٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ - وَنَعْمَةٍ كَانُواْ فِيهَا فَـكِهِينَ - كَذَلِكَ وَأَوْرَثْنَـهَا قَوْماً ءَاخَرِينَ - فَمَا بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّمَآءُ وَالاٌّرْضُ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُنظَرِينَ - وَلَقَدْ نَجَّيْنَا بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ الْمُهِينِ - مِن فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَالِياً مِّنَ الْمُسْرِفِينَ - وَلَقَدِ اخْتَرْنَـهُمْ عَلَى عِلْمٍ عَلَى الْعَـلَمِينَ - وَءَاتَيْنَـهُم مِّنَ الاٌّيَـتِ مَا فِيهِ بَلَؤٌاْ مُّبِينٌ ﴾

(17. And indeed We tried before them Fir`awn's people, when there came to them a noble Messenger.) (18. Saying: "Deliver to me the servants of Allah. Verily, I am to you a Messenger worthy of all trust.'') (19. "And exalt not yourselves against Allah. Truly, I have come to you with a manifest authority.'') (20. "And truly, I seek refuge with my Lord and your Lord, lest you should stone me.'') (21. "But if you believe me not, then keep away from me and leave me alone.'') (22. So he (Musa) called upon his Lord (saying): "These are indeed the people who are criminals.'') (23. (Allah said): "Depart you with My servants by night. Surely, you will be pursued.'') (24. "And leave the sea as it is (quiet and divided). Verily, they are a host to be drowned.'') (25. How many of gardens and springs that they (Fir`awn's people) left behind, (26. And green crops (fields) and goodly places,) (27. And comforts of life wherein they used to take delight!) (28. Thus (it was)! And We made other people inherit them.) (29. And the heavens and the earth wept not for them, nor were they given respite.) (30. And indeed We saved the Children of Israel from the humiliating torment,) (31. From Fir`awn; verily, he was arrogant and was of the excessive .) (32. And We chose them above the nations (Al-`Alamin) with knowledge,) (33. And granted them signs in which there was a plain trial.)