The ministry: It does not contradict prophethood. Prophets were sent in the same time, and they were commanded to support one another. The meaning is: So they went to them, and they denied both of them, so We destroyed them. As His saying: 'Strike with your staff the sea,' so it split, meaning he struck and it split. He intended to shorten the story, so he mentioned its margins, its beginning and its end, because they are the purpose of the story in its entirety, namely: the obligation of proof by sending the messengers and the deserving of destruction for denying them. And from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, 'So We destroyed them.' And from him: 'So they destroyed them.' And it was read: 'So We certainly destroyed them,' with emphasis by the heavy noon.