And when the letter 'waw' does not imply a sequence, it does not necessitate that this act occurs after the revelation of the Book as is the case. He arranged for it his saying: ﴿So We said﴾, meaning after We made him a minister. And since the intended purpose here from the story is consolation and warning, he mentioned its introduction and conclusion, which are the establishment of proof and destruction. So he said: ﴿Go to the people﴾, meaning those who have strength and ability to endure what they face, and they are the Copts ﴿who denied Our signs﴾, meaning the visible and audible signs from the previous prophets before your coming in the knowledge of testimony, and the visible and audible signs from you both after your coming in Our knowledge. So they went to them, and they denied both of them regarding what they showed them and informed them of the signs, for We had sealed them with a seal that predisposes them to that.

And when the context is for warning of the criterion, their matter was concealed except in their punishment. So he said: ﴿So We destroyed them﴾, meaning for that ﴿destruction﴾ by drowning them all at the hands of Musa (peace be upon him) in the sea. We did not leave any of them, along with what We afflicted them with before that from calamities, despite Musa's (peace be upon him) efforts in reviving them with faith, which would have necessitated their remaining in both abodes, contrary to what We did with Musa (peace be upon him) by saving him from destruction by casting him into the sea, and preserving him with those who endeavored to eliminate him. And We made for each of them a share from his sea: 'This is salty and bitter,' which is the covering of Hell, 'and this is sweet and fresh,' its element is from Paradise. So let those whom you call beware of similar things if they do as those did.