"So Allah seized him with an exemplary punishment," meaning: a retribution, "the latter and the former." Mujahid said: The latter is his statement: "I am your most exalted lord," and the former is his statement: "I have not known of any god for you other than me." Thus, Allah punished him for it in this world with drowning, and He will punish him in the Hereafter with the Fire.
﴿فَأَخذه الله نكال﴾ أَي: عُقُوبَة ﴿الْآخِرَة وَالْأولَى﴾ قَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ: الْآخِرَةُ قَوْلُهُ: ﴿أَنَا ربكُم الْأَعْلَى﴾ وَالْأُولَى قَوْلُهُ: ﴿مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُمْ من إِلَه غَيْرِي﴾ فَعَذَّبَهُ بِهِ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا بِالْغَرَقِ، وَيُعَذِّبُهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ بِالنَّارِ.
