Moses (PBUH) A mission forgotten !!!
(Par 1 of 2 Parts )
Praise be to ALLAH.
(Par 1 of 2 Parts )
Praise be to ALLAH.
Our Holy Prophet has to warn his age, i.e., the present, reclaim it from sin, and be a witness for the righteous and against evil, as Moses did his office in his age. For Pharaoh, his arrogance, and his punishment.
"We have sent to you, (O men!) a Messenger, to be a witness concerning you, even as We sent a Messenger to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh disobeyed the Messenger; so We seized him with a heavy Punishment."
[Surah Al Muzzammil 73:15-16]
Pharaoh the earthly king faces Moses (PBUH) the Prophet of ALLAH (Subhana Wa Ta'la). In earthly eyes it was Moses (PBUH) who disobeyed Pharaoh. In spiritual relations, it was Pharaoh who disobeyed Moses. Pharaoh represented an ancient and mighty kingdom, with a long history behind it, and a pride in its learning and science, art, organisation and power. Moses (PBUH) led a depressed people, hewers of wood and drawers of water. But the Might of ALLAH (Subhana Wa Ta'la) was behind him. What became of the wisdom, power and armies of Pharaoh? They were rent asunder when the day came, and the terror and surprise must have been the same as if the heavens had been rent asunder, and children’s hair had turned grey! But formidable revolutions turn children grey-haired in another way. Nations that were as children became wise before they in their turn decayed, and from similar disobedience to the Laws of ALLAH. For ALLAH's law must stand and be fulfilled when all else is swept away.
"Then after them We sent Moses with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they wrongfully rejected them; so see what was the end of those who made mischief. Moses said: "O Pharaoh! I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Worlds-"One for whom it is right to say nothing but truth about ALLAH. Now have I come unto you (people), from your Lord, with a clear(Sign);so let the children of Israel depart along with me. (Pharaoh) said: "If ended thou hast come with a Sign, show it forth-if thou tellest the truth. Then (Moses) threw his rod, and behold! It was a serpent, plain (for all to see)! And he drew out his hand, and behold! It was white to all beholders!
[Surah Al Araf 7:103-108]
Notice that Moses, in addressing Pharaoh and the Egyptians, claims his mission to be not from his God, or his peoples God but from “your Lord". From “the Lord of the worlds." And his missions is not to his people only:" I come unto you (Egyptians people) from your Lord." The spirit of our version is entirely different from the spirit of the same story as told in the Old Testament (Exod, chapters i.to xv). In Exod.iii 18 the mission of Moses is expressed to be as from "the Lord God of the Hebrews."
The Essence of the whole Islamic story is this Joseph's sufferings and good fortune were not merely a story in a romance. Joseph (Yusuf) was a Prophet; his sufferings and his subsequent rise to power and position in Egypt were to be a lesson (a) to his wicked brothers who sold him into slavery, (b) to his people who were stricken with famine and found a welcome in Egypt, and (c) to the Egyptians, who were arrogant over their high material civilisation, but had yet to be taught the pure faith of Abraham. Israel prospered in Egypt, and stayed there perhaps two to four centuries. Times changed, and the racial bigotry of the Egyptians showed its head again, and Israel was oppressed. Moses was raised up with a threefold mission again (a) to learn all the learning of the Egyptians and preach ALLAH's Truth to them as one who had been brought up among themselves, (b) to unite and reclaim his own people, and (c)to rescue them and lead them to a new world, which was to open out their spiritual horizon and lead them to the Psalms of David and the Glories of Solomon.
The ensuing dialogue shows the psychology on the two sides. Pharaoh is sitting in his court, with his ministers and chiefs around him. In their arrogance they are only amused at the effrontery and apparent revolt of the Israelites leaders, and they rely upon their own superior worldly power, aided by the magic which was a part of the Egyptian religion. Confronting them stand two men. Moses with his mission from ALLAH and his brother Aaron who was his lieutenant. They are confident, not in their own powers, but in the mission they had received. The first thing they have to do is to act on the subjective mind of the Egyptians, and by methods which by ALLAH's miracle show that Egyptians magic was nothing before the True power of ALLAH(Subhana Wa Ta'la).
The serpent played a large part in Egyptian mythology. The great sun-god Ra won a great victory over the serpent Apophis, typifying the victory of light over darkness. Many of their gods and goddesses took the forms of snakes to impress their foes with terror. Moses rod as a type of a serpent at once appealed to the Egyptians mentality. The contempt which the Egyptians had entertained in their. minds before was converted into terror. Here was some one who could control the reptile which their great god Ra himself had such difficulty in overcoming!
But the second Sign displayed by Moses was even more puzzling to the Egyptians. Moses drew out his hand from the folds of the garments on his breast, and it was white and shining as with divine light! This was to counter any suggestions of evil, which the serpent might have created. This was no work of evil-of black magic, or a trick or illusion. His hand was transfigured-with a light which no Egyptian sorcerers could produce. In Islam the” white hand” of Moses(PBUH) has passed into a proverb, for a symbol of divine glory dazzling to the beholders.
Holy Quran explains it below:
( Holy Quran , Al Araf, 7 : 103 to 137)
109 Said the Chiefs of the people of Pharaoh: "This is indeed a sorcerer well-versed.
110 "His plan is to get you out of your land: then what is it ye counsel?"
111 They said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while); and send to the cities men to collect-
112 And bring up to thee all (our) sorcerers well-versed."
113 So there came the sorcerers to Pharaoh: They said, "of course we shall have a (suitable) reward if we win!"
114 He said: "Yea, (and more),- for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)."
115 They said: "O Moses! wilt thou throw (first), or shall we have the (first) throw?"
116 Said Moses: "Throw ye (first)." So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them: for they showed a great (feat of) magic.
117 We put it into Moses's mind by inspiration: "Throw (now) thy rod": and behold! it swallows up straight away all the falsehoods which they fake!
118 Thus truth was confirmed, and all that they did was made of no effect.
119 So the (great ones) were vanquished there and then, and were made to look small.
120 But the sorcerers fell down prostrate in adoration.
121 Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,-
122 "The Lord of Moses and Aaron."
123 Said Pharaoh: "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Surely this is a trick which ye have planned in the city to drive out its people: but soon shall ye know (the consequences).
124 "Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on apposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross."
125 They said: "For us, We are but sent back unto our Lord:
126 "But thou dost wreak thy vengeance on us simply because we believed in the Signs of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto thee as Muslims (who bow to thy will)!
127 Said the chiefs of Pharaoh's people: "Wilt thou leave Moses and his people, to spread mischief in the land, and to abandon thee and thy gods?" He said: "Their male children will we slay; (only) their females will we save alive; and we have over them (power) irresistible."
128 Said Moses to his people: "Pray for help from Allah, and (wait) in patience and constancy: for the earth is Allah's, to give as a heritage to such of His servants as He pleaseth; and the end is (best) for the righteous.
129 They said: "We have had (nothing but) trouble, both before and after thou camest to us." He said: "It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you inheritors in the earth; that so He may try you by your deeds."
130 We punished the people of Pharaoh with years (of droughts) and shortness of crops; that they might receive admonition.
131 But when good (times) came, they said, "This is due to us;" When gripped by calamity, they ascribed it to evil omens connected with Moses and those with him! Behold! in truth the omens of evil are theirs in Allah's sight, but most of them do not understand!
132 They said (to Moses): "Whatever be the Signs thou bringest, to work therewith thy sorcery on us, we shall never believe in thee.
133 So We sent (plagues) on them: Wholesale death, Locusts, Lice, Frogs, And Blood: Signs openly self-explained: but they were steeped in arrogance,- a people given to sin.
134 Every time the penalty fell on them, they said: "O Moses! on your behalf call on thy Lord in virtue of his promise to thee: If thou wilt remove the penalty from us, we shall truly believe in thee, and we shall send away the Children of Israel with thee."
135 But every time We removed the penalty from them according to a fixed term which they had to fulfil,- Behold! they broke their word!
136 So We exacted retribution from them: We drowned them in the sea, because they rejected Our Signs and failed to take warning from them.
137 And We made a people, considered weak (and of no account), inheritors of lands in both east and west, - lands whereon We sent down Our blessings. The fair promise of thy Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because they had patience and constancy, and We levelled to the ground the great works and fine buildings which Pharaoh and his people erected (with such pride).
"We have sent to you, (O men!) a Messenger, to be a witness concerning you, even as We sent a Messenger to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh disobeyed the Messenger; so We seized him with a heavy Punishment."
[Surah Al Muzzammil 73:15-16]
Pharaoh the earthly king faces Moses (PBUH) the Prophet of ALLAH (Subhana Wa Ta'la). In earthly eyes it was Moses (PBUH) who disobeyed Pharaoh. In spiritual relations, it was Pharaoh who disobeyed Moses. Pharaoh represented an ancient and mighty kingdom, with a long history behind it, and a pride in its learning and science, art, organisation and power. Moses (PBUH) led a depressed people, hewers of wood and drawers of water. But the Might of ALLAH (Subhana Wa Ta'la) was behind him. What became of the wisdom, power and armies of Pharaoh? They were rent asunder when the day came, and the terror and surprise must have been the same as if the heavens had been rent asunder, and children’s hair had turned grey! But formidable revolutions turn children grey-haired in another way. Nations that were as children became wise before they in their turn decayed, and from similar disobedience to the Laws of ALLAH. For ALLAH's law must stand and be fulfilled when all else is swept away.
"Then after them We sent Moses with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they wrongfully rejected them; so see what was the end of those who made mischief. Moses said: "O Pharaoh! I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Worlds-"One for whom it is right to say nothing but truth about ALLAH. Now have I come unto you (people), from your Lord, with a clear(Sign);so let the children of Israel depart along with me. (Pharaoh) said: "If ended thou hast come with a Sign, show it forth-if thou tellest the truth. Then (Moses) threw his rod, and behold! It was a serpent, plain (for all to see)! And he drew out his hand, and behold! It was white to all beholders!
[Surah Al Araf 7:103-108]
Notice that Moses, in addressing Pharaoh and the Egyptians, claims his mission to be not from his God, or his peoples God but from “your Lord". From “the Lord of the worlds." And his missions is not to his people only:" I come unto you (Egyptians people) from your Lord." The spirit of our version is entirely different from the spirit of the same story as told in the Old Testament (Exod, chapters i.to xv). In Exod.iii 18 the mission of Moses is expressed to be as from "the Lord God of the Hebrews."
The Essence of the whole Islamic story is this Joseph's sufferings and good fortune were not merely a story in a romance. Joseph (Yusuf) was a Prophet; his sufferings and his subsequent rise to power and position in Egypt were to be a lesson (a) to his wicked brothers who sold him into slavery, (b) to his people who were stricken with famine and found a welcome in Egypt, and (c) to the Egyptians, who were arrogant over their high material civilisation, but had yet to be taught the pure faith of Abraham. Israel prospered in Egypt, and stayed there perhaps two to four centuries. Times changed, and the racial bigotry of the Egyptians showed its head again, and Israel was oppressed. Moses was raised up with a threefold mission again (a) to learn all the learning of the Egyptians and preach ALLAH's Truth to them as one who had been brought up among themselves, (b) to unite and reclaim his own people, and (c)to rescue them and lead them to a new world, which was to open out their spiritual horizon and lead them to the Psalms of David and the Glories of Solomon.
The ensuing dialogue shows the psychology on the two sides. Pharaoh is sitting in his court, with his ministers and chiefs around him. In their arrogance they are only amused at the effrontery and apparent revolt of the Israelites leaders, and they rely upon their own superior worldly power, aided by the magic which was a part of the Egyptian religion. Confronting them stand two men. Moses with his mission from ALLAH and his brother Aaron who was his lieutenant. They are confident, not in their own powers, but in the mission they had received. The first thing they have to do is to act on the subjective mind of the Egyptians, and by methods which by ALLAH's miracle show that Egyptians magic was nothing before the True power of ALLAH(Subhana Wa Ta'la).
The serpent played a large part in Egyptian mythology. The great sun-god Ra won a great victory over the serpent Apophis, typifying the victory of light over darkness. Many of their gods and goddesses took the forms of snakes to impress their foes with terror. Moses rod as a type of a serpent at once appealed to the Egyptians mentality. The contempt which the Egyptians had entertained in their. minds before was converted into terror. Here was some one who could control the reptile which their great god Ra himself had such difficulty in overcoming!
But the second Sign displayed by Moses was even more puzzling to the Egyptians. Moses drew out his hand from the folds of the garments on his breast, and it was white and shining as with divine light! This was to counter any suggestions of evil, which the serpent might have created. This was no work of evil-of black magic, or a trick or illusion. His hand was transfigured-with a light which no Egyptian sorcerers could produce. In Islam the” white hand” of Moses(PBUH) has passed into a proverb, for a symbol of divine glory dazzling to the beholders.
Holy Quran explains it below:
( Holy Quran , Al Araf, 7 : 103 to 137)
109 Said the Chiefs of the people of Pharaoh: "This is indeed a sorcerer well-versed.
110 "His plan is to get you out of your land: then what is it ye counsel?"
111 They said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while); and send to the cities men to collect-
112 And bring up to thee all (our) sorcerers well-versed."
113 So there came the sorcerers to Pharaoh: They said, "of course we shall have a (suitable) reward if we win!"
114 He said: "Yea, (and more),- for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)."
115 They said: "O Moses! wilt thou throw (first), or shall we have the (first) throw?"
116 Said Moses: "Throw ye (first)." So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them: for they showed a great (feat of) magic.
117 We put it into Moses's mind by inspiration: "Throw (now) thy rod": and behold! it swallows up straight away all the falsehoods which they fake!
118 Thus truth was confirmed, and all that they did was made of no effect.
119 So the (great ones) were vanquished there and then, and were made to look small.
120 But the sorcerers fell down prostrate in adoration.
121 Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,-
122 "The Lord of Moses and Aaron."
123 Said Pharaoh: "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Surely this is a trick which ye have planned in the city to drive out its people: but soon shall ye know (the consequences).
124 "Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on apposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross."
125 They said: "For us, We are but sent back unto our Lord:
126 "But thou dost wreak thy vengeance on us simply because we believed in the Signs of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto thee as Muslims (who bow to thy will)!
127 Said the chiefs of Pharaoh's people: "Wilt thou leave Moses and his people, to spread mischief in the land, and to abandon thee and thy gods?" He said: "Their male children will we slay; (only) their females will we save alive; and we have over them (power) irresistible."
128 Said Moses to his people: "Pray for help from Allah, and (wait) in patience and constancy: for the earth is Allah's, to give as a heritage to such of His servants as He pleaseth; and the end is (best) for the righteous.
129 They said: "We have had (nothing but) trouble, both before and after thou camest to us." He said: "It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you inheritors in the earth; that so He may try you by your deeds."
130 We punished the people of Pharaoh with years (of droughts) and shortness of crops; that they might receive admonition.
131 But when good (times) came, they said, "This is due to us;" When gripped by calamity, they ascribed it to evil omens connected with Moses and those with him! Behold! in truth the omens of evil are theirs in Allah's sight, but most of them do not understand!
132 They said (to Moses): "Whatever be the Signs thou bringest, to work therewith thy sorcery on us, we shall never believe in thee.
133 So We sent (plagues) on them: Wholesale death, Locusts, Lice, Frogs, And Blood: Signs openly self-explained: but they were steeped in arrogance,- a people given to sin.
134 Every time the penalty fell on them, they said: "O Moses! on your behalf call on thy Lord in virtue of his promise to thee: If thou wilt remove the penalty from us, we shall truly believe in thee, and we shall send away the Children of Israel with thee."
135 But every time We removed the penalty from them according to a fixed term which they had to fulfil,- Behold! they broke their word!
136 So We exacted retribution from them: We drowned them in the sea, because they rejected Our Signs and failed to take warning from them.
137 And We made a people, considered weak (and of no account), inheritors of lands in both east and west, - lands whereon We sent down Our blessings. The fair promise of thy Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because they had patience and constancy, and We levelled to the ground the great works and fine buildings which Pharaoh and his people erected (with such pride).
Moses (PBUH) A mission forgotten !!!
(Part 2 of 2 Parts )
“So this day We shall deliver your (dead) body (out from the sea)”
[ Holy Quran, Younus 10:92]?.
Praise be to ALLAH.
This verse in Soorat Younus comes in the context of describing the attitude of the tyrant Pharaoh towards the Prophet of ALLAH Moosa (Alayhi Assalam) and those of the Children of Israel who believed with him. That was when Moosa (Alayhi Assalam) set out with the believers to migrate to the blessed land, and Pharaoh and his troops pursued them in order to bring them back and punish them. During their lengthy travels, they came to the sea and could not go any further, but ALLAH honoured His Prophet Moosa and the believers who were with him by making the sea dry for them so that they could walk across it, so they crossed over in the sight of their enemies, whilst they were looking on.
The enemy of ALLAH Pharaoh set out in a ship behind Moosa and the people who were with him, but he and those who were with him drowned in the same sea that Moosa and the believers with him had crossed.
Undoubtedly the death of this extreme tyrant in such a manner is one of the greatest signs which demonstrate the consequences of stubbornness, wrongdoing and arrogance. Hence Allaah wanted to establish and confirm this sign, so as to dispel any doubt or confusion. So He decreed that the body of the Pharaoh should appear motionless and dead on the shore, so that his people and those who used to worship him could see him, and that would be the most eloquent lesson to them. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“So this day We shall deliver your (dead) body (out from the sea) that you may be a sign to those who come after you! And verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Ayaat”
[Holy Quran, Younus 10:92]
Ibn Katheer (may ALLAH have mercy on him) said: Ibn ‘Abbaas and others of the salaf said that some of the Children of Israel doubted the death of Pharaoh, so ALLAH commanded the sea to throw out his body, whole but lifeless, wearing his well known armour, onto a raised portion of land, so that they might see that he was indeed dead. Hence Allaah says “So this day We shall deliver your (dead) body” i.e., we will raise you onto a prominent part of the land.
And this is what happened. The Children of Israel saw Pharaoh lying dead with their own eyes, so he was a sign for those who saw him then, and he is a sign for all those who come after him and hear the story of his death.
( Thanks to Sister Sunrise for providing above passages for
part 2 of the post )
Holy Quran pictured the events like this:
[Holy Quran, Surah Yunus 10:75 to 87]
75 Then after them sent We Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our Signs. But they were arrogant: they were a people in sin.
76 When the Truth did come to them from Us, they said: "This is indeed evident sorcery!"
77 Said Moses: "Say ye (this) about the truth when it hath (actually) reached you? Is sorcery (like) this? But sorcerers will not prosper."
78 They said: "Hast thou come to us to turn us away from the ways we found our fathers following,- in order that thou and thy brother may have greatness in the land? But not we shall believe in you!"
79 Said Pharaoh: "Bring me every sorcerer well versed."
80 When the sorcerers came, Moses said to them: "Throw ye what ye (wish) to throw!"
81 When they had had their throw, Moses said: "What ye have brought is sorcery: Allah will surely make it of no effect: for Allah prospereth not the work of those who make mischief.
82 "And Allah by His words doth prove and establish His truth, however much the sinners may hate it!"
83 But none believed in Moses except some children of his people, because of the fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs, lest they should persecute them; and certainly Pharaoh was mighty on the earth and one who transgressed all bounds.
84 Moses said: "O my people! If ye do (really) believe in Allah, then in Him put your trust if ye submit (your will to His)."
85 They said: "In Allah do we put out trust. Our Lord! make us not a trial for those who practise oppression;
86 "And deliver us by Thy Mercy from those who reject (Thee)."
87 We inspired Moses and his brother with this Message: "Provide dwellings for your people in Egypt, make your dwellings into places of worship, and establish regular prayers: and give glad tidings to those who believe!"
[ End of Surah Yunus 10:75 to 87]
This instruction,we may suppose,was given when the sorcerers were brought to confusion,and some of the Egyptians believed. Moses was for a little while to remain in Egypt,so that his Message should have time to work,before the Israelites were led out of Egypt. They were to make their houses into places of prayer(Qiblah),as Pharaoh would not probably allow them to set up public places of prayer,and they were now to be only sojourners in Egypt. The Qiblah was to be symbolical of their later wanderings in Arabia,and the still later restoration of ALLAH's pure worship at the Ka'bah under Al Mustafa. These were the glad tidings(the Gospel)of Islam,which was preached under Noah,Abraham,Moses and Jesus,and completed under Muhammad (Peace be Upon them).
Moses prayed:"Our Lord! Thou hast indeed bestowed on Pharaoh and his Chiefs splendour and wealth in the life of the Present,and so,Our Lord,they mislead(men)from thy Path, Deface,Our Lord,the features of their wealth,and send hardness to their hearts,so they will not believe until they see the grievous Penalty."
[Holy Quran, Surah Yunus 10:88]
Moses prayer,in which Aaron joined,for he was always with him,may be paraphrased thus:"O ALLAH!we understand that the glitter and the wealth of the Egyptians are not to be envied. They are but the ephemeral goods of this life. They are disadvantage,in that in their pride of possessions the Egyptians mislead themselves and others. Let their pride be their undoing! Turn their wealth into bitterness and their hearts into hardness,for they reject Thee,and they will not believe until they actually see the Punishment of their sin!"
A terrible curse! Let their wealth and splendour become so defaced in their features,that instead of being objects of desire,they become object of loathing! The heart is the seat of affections and joy: let it be so hardened by their unbelief that it becomes the seat of hatred and grief! It is when they see the Penalty that they will believe!
89 Allah said: "Accepted is your prayer (O Moses and Aaron)! So stand ye straight, and follow not the path of those who know not."
90 We took the Children of Israel across the sea: Pharaoh and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At length, when overwhelmed with the flood, he said: "I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam)."
91 (It was said to him): "Ah now!- But a little while before, wast thou in rebellion!- and thou didst mischief (and violence)!
92 "This day shall We save thee in the body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee! but verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!"
[Holy Quran,Surah Yunus 10:89,92]
That is,in the One True God. This was deathbed repentance,and even so it was forced by the terror of the catastrophe. So it was not accepted(4:18) in its entirety. Only this concession was made,that the body was saved from the sea,and presumably,according to Egyptian custom,it was embalmed and the mummy was given due rites of the dead. But the story commemorated forever ALLAH's working,in Mercy for His people,and in just punishment of oppressors.
"And remember We divided the Sea for you and saved you and drowned Pharaoh's people within your very sight."
(Holy Quran, Surah Al Baqarah 2:50)
When the Israelites at last escaped from Egypt,they were pursued by Pharaoh and his host
By a miracle the Israelites crossed the Red sea,but the host of Pharaoh was drowned: (Exod.xiv.5:31.)
Authored by : Mrs.Omairah Mohammed Altao.
By: ROAD to Jannah
No comments:
Post a Comment