And Moses said: “Our Lord, indeed, You have given Pharaoh and his folks splendor and wealth in the worldly life; our Lord, that is to stray people from Your path; our Lord, you wipe out their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment”.
At first, Lord sent Moses to Pharaoh to tell him: Would you purify yourself; and let me guide you to your Lord so that you would become fearful as told in verses 79: 17-19. It is told in verses 20: 42-44: You and Haroon approach Pharaoh with My Signs and you don’t slacken in My remembrance. Both of you go to Pharaoh, indeed, he has aggressed all bounds. And you speak to him with a gentle speech so that he may be reminded or He may fear Lord. But when Pharaoh and his folks became transgressors even after witnessing the Signs, Lord commanded Moses to pray as told in this verse. The Impartial Lord will not destroy a people unless they become wrongdoers, transgressors, Mujirims and mischief-makers by hiding and rejecting the Guidance—Adhikr—as explained in verses 6: 47; 10: 54 and 74.
Today since there is no group of believer anywhere in the world, the odd believer is commanded to do great Jihad with Adhikr—the Strong Weapon—against the hypocrites and Kuffar as explained in verse 9: 73. See the explanation 2: 61, 74; 9: 80-82 and 10: 75.