IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
We discuss last week on the first 3 parts of the life of Prophet Musa (AS), and we discussed the lessons we have gained:
Prophet Musa (AS) was sent to a nation which has magic as the main speciality in the community. The pharaoh himself was surrounded by numerous sorcerers and magicians. In the time of prophet Isa (AS) the special element of that nation was medicine and in the time of prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) it was poetry in Saudi Arabia. However, in order to assist these prophet on their da’wah works, especially in order to persuade the people to understand about Allah and His Greatness, Allah Gave them a mu’jizat (miracle) that surpasses the abilities of the people. This mu’jizat cannot come or originate from a human being but from a Higher Being.
In the time of Isa (AS), Allah Granted him with the ability to cure the lepers, make the blind have sight again and even to make the dead come to life, all with Allah’s Will and Power. Allah Explained to us in the following verses of the Qur’an – 3: 49 and 5: 110 – that was the mu’jizat that was given to Prophet Isa (AS) by Allah.
In the time of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), the mu’jizat was even better than any poetry of the Arabs. Allah Revealed verses of the Qur’an in a very refined, unparallel and highest form of Arabic language – which is preserved today in its original form. Allah even challenged the Arabs to come up with a similar verse of the same quality, but everyone failed to achieve this.
وَإِن كُنتُم في رَيبٍ مِمّا نَزَّلنا عَلىٰ عَبدِنا فَأتوا بِسورَةٍ مِن مِثلِهِ وَادعوا شُهَداءَكُم مِن دونِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُم صادِقينَ
فَإِن لَم تَفعَلوا وَلَن تَفعَلوا فَاتَّقُوا النّارَ الَّتي وَقودُهَا النّاسُ وَالحِجارَةُ ۖ أُعِدَّت لِلكافِرينَ
“And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur’an) to Our slave (Muhammad Peace be upon him ), then produce a Surah (chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allah, if you are truthful. But if you do it not, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.” 2: 23-24
In the time of Prophet Musa (AS), when Allah Ordered him to return to Egypt in order to give da’wah to the pharaoh and the people of Egypt to come to the Truth, Allah Granted him mu’jizat – which defeated the magic and falsehood which dominated their lifestyle. The pharaoh was surrounded by sorcerers which performed magic to please the pharaoh. In fact, the pharaoh himself was delusional and ordered everyone to treat him as God.
“Fir’aun (Pharaoh) said: “O chiefs! I know not that you have an ilah (a god) other than me, so kindle for me (a fire), O Haman, to bake (bricks out of) clay, and set up for me a Sarhan (a lofty tower, or palace, etc.) in order that I may look at (or look for) the Ilah (God) of Musa (Moses); and verily, I think that he [Musa (Moses)] is one of the liars. And he and his hosts were arrogant in the land, without right, and they thought that they would never return to Us.” 28: 38-39
So with this background, we now continue with the story of prophet Musa (AS) as he returned to Egypt.
Musa (AS) fulfilled the agreement he made with his father-in-law that he would stay in Madyan for 8-10 years. The agreement was made before he married his wife.
So, after ten years in Madyan, he travelled with his family heading towards Egypt. It was during this journey that Allah ennobled him with Revelation and spoke to him directly.
وَرُسُلًا قَدْ قَصَصْنَاهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًا لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ ۚ وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَىٰ تَكْلِيمًا
“And We sent messengers about whom We have related their stories to you before and messengers about whom We have not related to you. And Allah spoke to Mūsā directly.” (An-Nisā 4:164)
Allah commanded him to go to Pharaoh with signs and the proofs. Allah said to him: “O Mūsā, I am the Lord of the worlds. Throw down your staff. So, when he saw it quivering like a snake, Mūsā fled. ‘O Mūsā! Come back and fear not for you are in safety. Put your hand in your pocket and it will come out shining white without blemish and draw your hand close to your side to be free from fear. These are the two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his chiefs for indeed they are a wicked people.’” (Al-Qasas: 28:30-32) The Pharaoh, however, was an arrogant and haughty man who would say, “I am your Lord, Most High.” Mūsā (‘alaihis-salām) came to him and invited him to worship Allah:
“Pharaoh said, ‘And what is the Lord of the worlds?’”
قَالَ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ
“Mūsā said, ‘The Lord of the heavens and earth and whatever is between them if you should be convinced with certainty.’”
“Pharaoh said to those around him, ‘Do you not hear?’” So Mūsā responded again:
“Mūsā said, ‘He is your Lord and the Lord of your ancient forefathers.’” Pharaoh was dumbfounded and responded with an insult:
“Indeed, your ‘messenger’ who has been sent to you is mad.” So Mūsā replied to him again:t
“Mūsā said, ‘He is the Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them if you could only understand!’” So, when he was defeated, he threatened Mūsā:
“Pharaoh said, ‘If you take a god other than me, I will surely place you among those who are imprisoned.’”
But Mūsā (‘alaihis-salām) did not stop. He brought more and more verses and signs, each one greater than the previous. The Pharaoh tried hard to extinguish the call (da’wah) of Mūsā (‘alaihis-salām). He was arrogant, haughty and certain of his strength and power. He would not let-up on Mūsā (‘alaihis-salām) nor did he ease his tyranny on the Children of Israel, the Muslims. He said, “Am I not better than him who carries no respect and yields no power – who can hardly express himself in speech.” (Az-Zukhruf 43: 52)
Pharaoh gathered all the great magicians of the kingdom of Egypt – and Egypt at that time was land renowned for the sciences of magic and the greatest magicians were in the service of the Pharaoh. The chiefs accused Mūsā (‘alaihis-salām) and his brother, the Prophet Hārūn (‘alaihis-salām) of being magicians, “Verily! These are two magicians. Their object is to drive you out from your land with magic and overcome your chiefs and nobles. So, devise your plot, and then assemble in line. And whoever overcomes this day will be indeed successful.” (Tāhā: 62-63) Pharaoh said, “Have you come to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Mūsā! We shall also bring magic to match yours. So, make between us and you an appointment, which we will not fail to keep and neither will you, in a place assigned.” Mūsā (‘alaihis-salām) responded, “Let the encounter be on the Day of the Festival of Adornment, and let the people be assembled after the sun has arisen.” (Tāhā: 57-59) This was the best day for Mūsā (‘alaihis-salām) because all of the people would be gathered in one place. So, they gathered in great numbers with the Pharaoh, his ministers and his people.
So, it began! “The magicians of the Pharaoh said, ‘O Mūsā! Either you throw first, or shall we be the first to throw?’ He said, ‘Rather, you throw.’ And suddenly by their magic, their ropes and staffs seemed to him they were moving [like snakes].’ So, Mūsā sensed a fear in himself. Allah said, ‘Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand.’ Throw that which is in your right hand! It will swallow up that which they have made. That which they have made is only a magician’s trick, and the magician will never be successful, no matter whatever amount of skill he may attain.’” (Tāhā: 65-69) So the truth was established. When Mūsā (‘alaihis-salām) cast down his staff it turned into a huge snake such that the people started to flee. His staff came to the ropes and sticks of the magicians and started devouring them with short quick movements, one by one. The people were in shock and the magicians left in bewilderment. “The magicians of Pharaoh fell down in prostration and said, ‘Now we believe in the Lord of Hārūn and Mūsā.’ Pharaoh called out, ‘You dare believe in him before I have given you permission! Surely, he is your chief who taught you the magic. I shall cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides of your body and I will have you crucified on the trunks of palm trees. And then you will certainly know which of us is more severe in punishing, and more lasting.’” (Tāhā: 70-71)
Sa’īd Ibn Jubayr, Ikrimah and Al-Awzā’ee stated: When the magicians fell in prostration in Allah’s worship, they were shown their palaces and homes in Paradise being made ready and decorated for them, so they were not frightened by the threat of the Pharaoh.
Ibn ‘Abbās said: They started the day as magicians and they were martyred in the last part of the day as innocent souls.
Then Allah sent to the disbelievers a host of trials and afflictions, “So We sent upon them the flood and locusts and lice and frogs and blood as distinct signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people.” (Al-A’rāf 7:133)
The locusts did not spare any of their crops, nor their fruits. Sa’īd Ibn Jubayr said that the lice were tiny black insects. The frogs were found everywhere; in their food, water and dishes; even as they lifted food to put it in their mouths. All their water was mixed with blood, even when they drew it from the Nile. Yet none of these trials afflicted the Muslims, the Children of Israel. This was another proof of the truthfulness and Prophethood of Mūsā and his brother Hārūn.
None of this was enough for the arrogant Pharaoh and his evil followers. So, when the affair reached its limits, and the Pharaoh persisted in his persecution, tyranny and rejection of the truth, Allah revealed to Mūsā (‘alaihis-salām) that he was to leave Egypt by night with all of Banī Isrā’īl (Children of Israel). So, they left out heading to Shām.
Al-Hākim reports from Abu Mūsā Al-Ash’arī (radiyallāhu ‘anhu) that Allah’s Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam) stopped off on a journey and was hosted by a Bedouin (i.e. a dweller of the desert) who honoured him and looked after him. So, the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam) said to him, “O dweller of the desert, ask of me for your needs.” The man replied, “O Messenger of Allah, just a camel to ride and a goat that my family can milk.” He repeated it twice. So, Allah’s Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam) said to him, “You were not able to be like the old woman among the Children of Israel.” The Companions (radiyallāhu ‘anhum) asked, “Who is the old woman among the Children of Israel?” He replied, “Mūsā intended to lead the Children of Israel quickly away [in the night] but he got lost on the way. So, the scholars among the Children of Israel said, ‘We will narrate to you that the Prophet Yūsuf (‘alaihis-salām) took from us a covenant by Allah that we were not to leave from Egypt (Misra) unless we take his bones with us.’ Mūsā asked, ‘Which of you knows where the grave of Yūsuf is?’ They answered, ‘No one knows where the grave is except an old woman from the Children of Israel.’ So, they sent him to her. He said, ‘Show me the grave of Yūsuf (‘alaihis-salām).’ She replied, ‘By Allah, I will not tell you until I know that I will be with you in Paradise.’ Mūsā was not pleased with what he was being asked. So, it was said to him, ‘Give her what she has requested.’ So, he did that, and she went to a small lagoon or lake. She said, ‘Drain away this water.’ When they had done that, she said, ‘Dig here.’ When they dug, they found the bones of Yūsuf. After they lifted out his bones, their path was as clear as the brightness of the day.” [ Reported by Al-Hākim in Al-Mustadrak 2/624, no. 4088. He stated, “This hadith has an authentic chain of transmission though Bukhāri and Muslim did not report it.”]
When Pharaoh realised what had happened, he became enraged. He gathered his army in order to hunt down and kill every last one of the Children of Israel. He called upon all the townships, sending messengers to them saying, “They are small in number and they have made us furious.” So, they left out in pursuit of the Children of Israel and finally caught up with them as the Sun was setting. By that time the Children of Israel had reached the sea and when they turned they saw the army of Fir’awn (the Pharaoh) – and nothing remained for them in their minds except their own slaughter.
“And when the two hosts saw each other, the people of Mūsā said, ‘We are sure to be overtaken.’” (Ash-Shu’arā 26:61) That is because they had come to the end of their path at the shores of the sea. There was nowhere for them to go: An ocean in front of them, a vast army behind them, mountains to their right and left so they complained to Mūsā in desperation, “We are sure to be overtaken.” Meaning: we are going to be killed. So, their Messenger, the truthful, the trustworthy and believed said to them:
قَالَ كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ
“No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.” (Ash-Shu’arā 26:62) And Allah, the Most High, said:
“Then We inspired Musa saying, ‘Strike the sea with your staff.’ And it parted, and each separate part of that sea water became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain.” (Ash-Shu’arā 26:63)
So when he struck the sea with his staff, it parted into twelve paths, one for each of tribes of Banī Isrā’īl, that led straight through to the other side of the sea with water as high as a mountain on each of the sides. From the mercy of Allah upon them, there was not left on the seabed even a puddle or slippery mud. They walked through quickly and in haste. Pharaoh and his army hesitated in amazement and then followed – the arrogance of these unbelievers was still not humbled in the face of this great miracle.
When Mūsā (‘alaihis-salām) exited from the other side along with the last of his people, and the whole army of the Pharaoh was still on the path on the seabed, Allah collapsed the mountains of the sea-water upon them and drowned them all. And then He continued to punish them in the Barzakh, and then He will punish them even more severely in the Hereafter.
النَّارُ يُعْرَضُونَ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوًّا وَعَشِيًّا ۖ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ أَدْخِلُوا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَشَدَّ الْعَذَابِ
“They are exposed to the Fire morning and evening. And the Day the Judgement it will be said, ‘Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment.’” (Ghāfir 40:46)
When the drowning overtook Pharaoh, he called out. Allah said:
“And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and drowning overtook him, he said, ‘I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims.’” (Yunus 10:90) Allah responded:
“Now O Pharaoh?! While you had surely disobeyed Him before and were of the corrupt ones?” (Yunus 10:91)
The Prophet Muhammad (salallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam) said: “Jibreel said to me, ‘If only you could have seen me when I took the mud from the seabed and shoved it into his mouth fearing that the Mercy of Allah might still save him.” But the fate of the Pharaoh was already sealed and inscribed into the Preserved Tablet 50,000 years before the creation of the Heavens and Earth, and Allah knew he would be a wicked, unbelieving tyrant.
Look at this amazing story and look at the lessons therein, may Allah have mercy on you. Look at what occurred and how the aid of Allah came to the believers who trusted in Him and remained patient. Allah made manifest truth over falsehood.
That was the tenth day of Muharram. And this was the day of ‘Āshoorā’, the day that Mūsā (‘alaihis-salām) was given victory over Pharaoh. Bukhāri reported from Ibn ‘Abbās (radiyallāhu ‘anhu) that:
When the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam) arrived in Madinah, the Jews were observing the fast of ‘Āshoorā’ (on the 10th of Muharram) and they said, “This is the day when Mūsā became victorious over Pharaoh,” So, the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam) said to his Companions, “You Muslims have more right to Mūsā than them, so observe the fast on this day.” [Bukhāri, no. 4680]
So, it is recommended to fast this day in gratitude to Allah, the Most High. Mūsā (‘alaihis-salām) fasted on this day in gratitude to Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (salallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam) fasted it and he informed his Companions that they should fats this day. He (salallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam) said, “I hope/anticipate that Allah will forgive the sins of the year that has passed.” [Muslim, no. 1162]
Muslim, however, should also fast the day before it so as to differ from the Jews. The Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam) said, “If I remain alive till next year, surely, I will [also] fast on the ninth.” [Muslim, no. 1134, 134] And in a narration reported by Ahmad and Ibn Khuzaymah, he (salallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam) said, “Fast a day before it or after it and differ from the Jews.”
LESSONS TO BE LEARNT
“And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear Allah.” 20: 44
رَبَّنا أَفرِغ عَلَينا صَبرًا وَتَوَفَّنا مُسلِمينَ
“…Our Lord, Grant us patience and make us die as Muslims.”
“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 Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs , revelations, etc.).” 10: 92
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