Shyness of the Prophet Moosa
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 616:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "(The Prophet) Moses was a shy person and used to cover his body completely because of his extensive shyness. One of the children of Israel hurt him by saying, 'He covers his body in this way only because of some defect in his skin, either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect.' Allah wished to clear Moses of what they said about him, so one day while Moses was in seclusion, he took off his clothes and put them on a stone and started taking a bath. When he had finished the bath, he moved towards his clothes so as to take them, but the stone took his clothes and fled; Moses picked up his stick and ran after the stone saying, 'O stone! Give me my garment!' Till he reached a group of Bani Israel who saw him naked then, and found him the best of what Allah had created, and Allah cleared him of what they had accused him of. The stone stopped there and Moses took and put his garment on and started hitting the stone with his stick. By Allah, the stone still has some traces of the hitting, three, four or five marks. This was what Allah refers to in His Saying:-- "O you who believe! Be you not like those Who annoyed Moses, But Allah proved his innocence of that which they alleged, And he was honorable In Allah's Sight." (33.69)
Showing posts with label musa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label musa. Show all posts
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Two ladies during the time of Musa alayhi salaam
The Trial of Mashtha and Asiyah (AS)
Two ladies in the time of Musa (AS)
The daughter of Firaun (pharoah ramses the great) had a nurse maid. The name of this nurse maid was Mashtha. There came a day when Mashtha, the nurse maid, was busy combing the hair of the daughter of Firaun. Whilst combing, the comb fell out of her hand onto the floor. In raising and lifting that comb from the floor, this maid of the daughter Firaun, uttered the following words,
"Curses be upon those who reject Allah!"
Immediately the daughter of Firaun turned to her and said,
"Do you believe in a god besides my father?!"
Mashtha, the maid said,
"My Creator, my Allah, and your Allah and your father’s Allah, and the Allah of the heaven’s and the earth, He is one Allah, no partners have He!"
Then the daughter of Firaun said,
"You dare say such a word!"
...and she entered the chambers of her father weeping and crying. (Hadith)
What happened here was in the time of Prophet Musa (AS). Amongst the era of the Israelites, there were many who had accepted an Islam in secret. They had come to him and accepted. They came and accept Islam, the true religion. They accepted the deen of Musa (AS), or Islam. They accepted it, but they remained in secret. Why did they remain in secret? I’ll quote it to you in the first ayah of the Quran. They accepted and remained in secret why???
Firaun was an oppressor!!! He slew their male children and he preserved the females alive for personal use and aggrandizement (glorification). So because he was an oppressor, they were afraid and fearful to reveal their Islam to him. Therefore they held it back. But there were many Muslims in the employ of Firaun. Many, many they were who had accepted the deen.
One of them so happened to be the youthful maid, of the daughter of Firaun who worked in the palace, in the chambers of Firaun.
Firaun with a tremendous power and strength in Egypt (the Quran says) in Surah Zukhruf 43:51-52. And Allah says:
"And Firaun proclaimed among his people. O My People! Does not the land of Egypt belong to me and I am not the possessor, the maker of the land of Egypt and these are the rivers that flow in my property, the Nile and the tributies of the Nile. I have created them. They are my property. They belong to me. There’s no god besides me. Don’t you see am I not better than Musa, who is a disgrace and can’t even express himself clearly?" (Muslimeen, you know the story of Prophet Musa, not being able to utter clearly)
Now what does Firaun? He laughs at Musa,
"This Musa is the Musa that grew up in MY palace. He is trying to bring about change and he is trying to bring about La ilaha illa Allah. Well he is a disgrace! He doesn’t even speak clearly. He doesn’t even have bracelets of gold or angels to attend to him in orderly procession (while Firaun had ALL these armies and parades)."
He (Firaun) said,
"Musa hasn’t got anything!"
In the Egypt, the mark of a man of status was (you’ll see it even now in the idols and so on) they have this golden bracelet around the neck.
"So Musa hasn’t even got any mark of being a man of honor, of status and dignity! He’s got not blue blood! And he’s got no angels or soldiers or armies parading for him!"
That is what Allah tells us. This is how Firaun was. That’s the kind of man he was. Quran tells us in Surah Mu’min 40:25:
"And when the Prophets [Prophet Musa (AS) is meant here] came to them with a troop from us, they said (O these oppressor said), ‘Slay the sons of those who have believed with him [in other words, slay the sons of those who have believed with Musa (AS)] and save their daughters alive for our use. But the strategy of the disbelievers (says Allah) was to end in vain."
We’re coming to our story now…
What did Firaun say?
"Any believer you find in my community and amongst my people, anyone you find who is believing in the deen of Musa (AS), slay their sons (with him) and save their daughters alive."
But the strategy says, all of the believers was to end in vain. Allah (SWT) also says in Surah An-Nazi’at 79:23-27. Allah says (And this Firaun, he called up a big parade on Monday, a big rally he made, and what did he say?),
"And the Firaun gathered his people and he proclaimed, ‘I am your Lord and the Supreme one.’ Therefore (says Allah), Allah chastised him with a punishment of the hereafter and also of the present life (and Allah says), verily here is an example and a lesson for him, that fear of Allah."
The story I am about to tell you. This is the theme of it, "That we must learn to respect, honor our deen and to fear Allah (SWT) all the time."
See now the fear of a maid, in the palace. See now the courage and the bravery of a simple maid, in the palace of this powerful Firaun. Imagine what I’m going to tell you now and reveal to you now, of what is courage of iman and what is bravery of quite conviction.
Here is a girl, young girl, she was a mother, yes. She’s a young girl, she comes from a very poor family. She’s working for a living. She is the comb girl and maid of the daughter of the Firaun. But when iman came into her, look at what iman did to her.
This maid’s name was Mashtha. She was the mother of two. She was the wife of Karkeel, who also had accepted the deen of Prophet Musa (AS), Islam. But Mashtha was an extrovert, meaning that she was a fearless person. Whatever she had to say, she always said it. Remember when she was picking up the comb, she said what she wanted to say. So she was an extrovert type of person. Very brave, very honorable, very courageous. And she admitted to Firaun’s daughter to believing in Allah and said that he is Lord and Creator of the worlds and of Firaun and of the heavens and of the earth.
The daughter of Firaun went and reported this girl Mashtha to her father. Firaun holds court, in other words, like a court proceedings. Firaun holds court and he summons Mashtha. Soldiers, go and bring her, chained as she is. She is brought before the justice of Firaun. She comes however smiling and laughing. And in her heart she says,
"Today is a test of my iman, today is the test of my faith. I, she tells herself, will never succumb because I am ever prepared to meet my maker. Today, let the interrogation begin. Ask me what you will, but you shall not get me to change my faith or to succumb."
So Firaun proceeds.
After establishing her faith, she says she believes in the God of Musa, in the Allah of Musa, in the unity of Allah, Allah is one. Accepting the words which she said in front of the daughter of Firaun. She repeats it bravely and courageous in front of this powerful ruler (where Allah says what his power was, in the Quran recited above). Allah also speaks of his power. He (that said),
"Everything belongs to him."
That man threatens her and he tells hers, and she in front of him, without fear of punishment, she tells him exactly the truth. Then he tells her, he says,
"Look here Mashtha leave your Allah and accept me as your Lord and Creator for who is going to save you now? If you accept me as your God I can save you and release you. But if you have a God, where’s your God? Can He save you now?"
This was his belief. And he said,
"All right Mashtha! I’ll give you a chance. Leave your God. Leave your Allah. Accept me as your Allah, as your God and I will spare your life."
Listen to her reply. Mashtha replies, she says,
"Not on your life! Not on my life! Do your worst you criminal, but me you will never convince! Not til the day of Qiyamah (day of judgment)!!!"
This is the first time where anybody has had this bravery and courage (besides Prophet Musa (AS) of course). This is the first time in the history of Egypt, when Firaun ruled, where a young girl of this kind, a servant girl, stood up in front of Firaun and bravely told him his story. This courage and conviction came from this servant girl.
So Firaun, like Shaytan, also adopted certain strategies and steps to punish people. He orders Mashtha, he orders the soldiers, to take her to the reptile den.
He had a special reptile den. If anybody who is a believer, suspected of belief is brought in front of him, he questions them. He asks them whether they are believers. If they admit they are believers, they are put into a reptile den. That is where the people are made to suffer, where there are reptiles and scorpions, and everything are kept.
So, he orders Mashtha to be taken to the reptile den, and she is told,
"O Mashtha, you will be released to these pythons, reptiles, snakes, and scorpions and they shall feed on you for two months. We warn you before we put you in there. Accept Firaun as your God and we will set you free."
And she replied to the soldiers and she told them,
"You talk of two months? To me, even if you put me in this reptile den for seventy months, that would be too little. With each day of this punishment that I have here in this reptile den, my faith will only increase without going back. Without abating one bit. No matter to what trial and test you face me or force me!"
And she laughed at them in their face!
In Sahih Bukhari there is a Hadith which says,
"The power of iman is such that once it fills the heart of a true believing Mu’min it is impossible to be removed."
Mashtha had two daughters. She’s put into the reptile den. Whatever happened there is not told to us. What period she remained in the reptile den, we don’t know. All we know that she was taken out from there by the soldiers of Firaun UNSCATHED. So, she is removed from there.
Test number two: Mashtha had two daughters. One was a five year old girl and she had a breast-feeding baby. So Firaun orders these two girls, of this young mother, the two daughters must be brought. He first says,
"Take Mashtha and strap her."
Now Firaun had a punishment torture chamber. On this chamber there was a big slab of stone. And on this stone, there were four places (four pegs) jetting out of the ground. And he had these little prongs and anybody he wanted to punish or torture was thrown onto this slab of stone and then they were pegged like a tent. Their two hands and feet were stretched like this and tied down. They were pronged to it.
So he orders Mashtha to be tied down in this matter. This was the custom which was started, this custom of torture was started by Firaun. This is what the Quran says regarding the system of torture which was introduced by Firaun. Firaun said (O to this Mashtha) in the Quran. Firaun tells her (to Mashtha and whatever believers there were) he tells her,
"Have you believed in Him, in this Allah, of Musa before I have given such permission. Verily this is a plot which you have contrived in the city to remove its inhabitants. But you shall soon know that I am the Lord and the Master and the Creator, for I will cause you, your feet and your hands to be cut off on opposite sides and cause you all to be crucified."
So this system of crucification and strapping was introduced (tells the Quran to us), by Firaun. Firaun used to strap those who he suspected of true belief in one Allah and in the deen of Musa (AS) by their hands and feet, to four sticks, fixed on the slab of stone, the torture stone, and then to torture them, torment them.
So Musa saw Mashtha was tied down and prepared for torture and torment. First her eldest five year old daughter is brought, placed over the chest of her mother and in those days the system of torture was if they wanted to kill anybody, all they did was to take a sharp knife and slit their throats, cut it off completely! This was the system of punishment. This little girl is brought, placed over the breast of her mother. And in front of her mother while her mother is looking on, her neck is cut off!
And then Mashtha is told,
"Now listen. O Mashtha get some sense into you. Accept Firaun as your Lord and your God and we will release you. Otherwise we will have to slaughter your little baby."
And she replies (as a mother only can reply),
"If you bring the whole of this world and sacrifice every daughter on my chest, I will not leave Allah, my Rubb, my Rubb."
Firaun then orders, let the baby be brought and slay it across her chest and her bosom.
Her little child is brought. He is placed on her chest. Her body, hands and feet being strapped and fastened as they were, this mother is totally helpless. And they prepare to cut the baby’s neck.
The six month old baby of Mashtha, who had only recently suckled milk from her mother and who was now undergoing the supreme test of faith and iman. The tears flow freely down this mother’s eyes and her baby and her body (the mother’s body) contorts with the emotion of heartbreak and every nerve and tissue, every fiber of her body is wreck by the passionate pain which only a mother experiences, the love which only a mother experiences for a child.
And in this tense and frightful but macabre (gruesome) moment this baby of Mashtha (AS), this six month old baby, of this mother (who should be an example to every living mother of this world) speaks out in a loud and clear tone of voice.
This little baby six month old baby, as the solider holds a knife to slaughter it and to cut off its neck; this little child in a loud voice so that everybody congregated in that chamber (hundreds of them used to congregate in that chamber to see the torture meated out by Firaun ,over those who were believers). This little child in a loud voice where everyone that is present there can hear tells his mother,
"O my beloved mother, why do you cry so? Why do you weep so? I can see Jennah is being prepared for you my mother. O mother! O mother, don’t weep so. When you get to Jennah, you will be blessed with a vision and the noor (light) of Allah. So be in peace, in peace and in peace!"
And as he says so, the neck of this child is cut off. In front of it’s mother. When this is done and these words of the child goes into the ears of the mother, tranquillity and peace descends on her. So the child is slain and on Firaun’s orders, the mother is also then slain. The mother is also, her neck is chopped off. This is what happens in this torture chamber.
But there is another lady and a true believer in the chamber, who is sitting on one side from upstairs, you can say, from her rooms and she is like watching this entire scene. You know who is that? That is the Mother of Musa (AS), if you can call her it. One was his real mother. One was his mother in the palace. She was who? Asiyah (AS).
She is watching this whole seen. She was a believer, even before Mashtha was a believer. She cannot bare it. She cannot tolerate that a girl, a servant girl, has displayed this kind of iman (faith). She cannot tolerate it, and she runs from her room. She is completely overcome with emotion. She is hysterical, and Asiyah (AS) runs down seeks Firaun. She saw this entire proceedings and was overwhelmed.
What convinced her even more to reveal her faith, was not only the courage and conviction of a maid, but what she saw by the Qadar (decree) of Allah. Of the malikahs (angels) descending from the heavens. Allah revealed to her. Allah took away the curtains from her eyes and when Mashtha was killed, Asiyah (AS) by the Qadar of Allah saw the malikahs descending from the heavens with garlands and coffin from Jennah for Mashtha. Wrapping her Ruh in these robes of Jennah and ascending they were. This was too much for her. She could bear it no longer and she became hysterical. She regarded it as contemptible to hide her faith in Allah, any longer. She went (ran about) seeking out her husband and let fly. When she met him, she let fly with these words,
"Have you become so courageous, you worst amongst mankind, you worst amongst men? You have dared to raise your finger towards Mashtha for a simple belief and you have slain her?"
Firaun turns to her and says,
"O Asiyah have you become incensed by it and angered by it? Are you also influenced by her brand of madness, by Mashtha’s brand of madness?"
She replies and she says:
"No! I am no jimun (I am not mad)! But I tell you now (for this is the first time she reveals to Firaun her iman)."
She says,
"But I warn you Firaun and I tell, my Lord, my Creator, My Rubb, My Allah, and your Lord and your Rubb and your Allah, same with Mashtha and youth, and the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth is one Allah and nobody comes near Him. He has no partnership!" (This is not in the Quran I am quoting Hadith)
Firaun was a powerful man. He was not only a genius and a very clever man, he was also a very big man. He had a very big body. He was a very powerful man. He stood up like an enraged bull. He tore her clothes and he beat her to a pulp. And then he summoned her family and her people and he said,
"Talk some sense into her."
He beat her until she was black and blue. Then he called her father, her mother, and her parents, sisters and all and he said,
"Now you talk to this woman! Talk to her and explain to her that if she does not accept me as God and if she continues and persists in belief, believing in the deen of Musa (AS), then I will destroy her!"
So the family, came together. Listen to the families words. This is nepotism. This is what we call booty, booty. They said,
"O Asiyah. Let it be. Leave well alone. But Firaun IS God. He IS All-Mighty. He IS All-Powerful on earth, and he rules as he pleases. What goes on with you? Why are you throwing such golden opportunities away? Where is your pride? Where is your honor? Where is your dignity? We are amazed at your folly and stupidity. Come to your senses, O Asiyah! We plead with you. Look at all these things which Firaun has give us, all these homes and comforts and servants and wonderful presents he has given us, and gifts he has given us. All this we must loose? Asiyah, look at you, you the queen! Everything you want, you desire, you’ve got! Are you going to kick all those wonderful material blessings and pleasures that he has given you? You’re kicking all this aside, for La ilaha illa Allah? And for the deen of Musa (AS). What’s the matter with you, have you become mad?"
And she replies. Listen to the reply of Asiyah, she says:
"Don’t waste your breath any longer, O foolish ones! What moves you, but the selfishness of pride and prejudice, and not the honor of dignity and respect. The affection for glamour and splendor moves you and not the inclination of pardon and submission to Allah, who is the Rubb and the Creator of all things. Even if Firaun were to present me with a glittering crown, the glory of which would be such, that the sun appear in front of me and he put the moon at the rear and the moon is at the rear with the sparkling stars inter-spaced between the two, I will not leave my Allah, who is my Rubb. That is my decision, that is my commitment, that is my conviction!"
This was too much for Firaun and he immediately ordered her torture to begin. So she was strapped and fastened on the SAME slab of stone on which Mashtha had just recently been crucified.
A tray of burning fire, a slab, a stone, he had a heavy stone. One was a stone below, then they placed a stone on her chest. A heavy stone was placed on her chest and on top of this stone, a huge bonfire was lit.
The system was: the top stone was a thinner slab and what happens, you light a big fire on top. The stone is a slow condenser, so it heats up slowly and then it starts burning up the body. Slowly it starts, through heat, the body burns. In other words, if you put fire to the body it will burn immediately.
So he had evolved the strict way. First the big slab of stone, on which you are laid and you are strapped up. Then he had a thin slab of stone, like a tray, which is placed which is quite heavy, which is placed on top of you, and then a huge fire is lit on top of you. The heat of the fire travels upward, but a lot of the heat goes at the bottom and it penetrates, and then starts burning you up and torturing you.
This gives him time, to try and force the believer to say that he (Firaun) is God. Once you say he is God, you are set free. So this was his system of punishment. So on Asiyah, his own wife, he does this. The stone is placed on her and a huge bonfire is lit on top of her, and he tells her,
"O Asiyah, now leave your God alone and accept me as your God, as your Rubb; or I will increase your torture!"
And she replies,
"O Firaun if you punish me, you can only torture this body of mine. But you can never touch the love which I bare for Allah. Nor lessen it in any way. O Firaun! Even if you break my body into pieces and tear it into shreds, for each drop of blood that flows out, will my love for Allah will increase the more, no matter how you batter and bruise me. Reproaching, rebuking, and reviling O Firaun, are superficial complaints, but the love for a beloved, is deep and profound. INSIDE it is unapproachable. Look at me now Firaun, blood flows from every part of my body! A fire is placed on top of me which is beginning to burn and scorch me, but the fire of irreproachable and unlimited love for Allah burns intensely and fiercely within this body!"
These are the words of Queen Asiyah. This lady of Egypt. But in the mean time word of the Queen’s discovery of faith and iman, in one true Allah, has reached Prophet Musa (AS). And Musa who had grown up in this palace, who knows every avenue, every door, every link of the palace of Firaun, he rushes to the palace. He knew the entire, he knew the severity of the test.
Which, this is why he had told Asiyah when she accepted faith at his hands, he told her don’t reveal it to Firaun otherwise he will torture you to death. But now the torture and the test has come. And he rushes in, wondering whether Asiyah could withstand and endure the pain of the torture that Firaun would meat, beat out to her.
However on arriving in the torture chamber, he finds her strapped and tied down in the sacrificial chamber. Blood streaming from cuts and abrasions, lacerations, all over her body. But a great smile of peace and contentment he finds on her face. And she sees Musa coming and she says,
"O Musa, Do you see? I have put on the mantle of departure from this world and I have put on the coat of the hereafter. Tell me, O Musa! Is my Creator satisfied, pleased and happy with me. Or is my Rubb displeased and angry with me?"
And Prophet Musa (AS) replies to her. He said:
"O Asiyah bint Muzahim (daughter of Muzahim), the malikahs of the seven heavens are awaiting you with great pleasure and Allah (SWT) looks forward to the pleasure of meeting you. Allah is pleased to meet you."
This is what the Qur’an has to say about these last, last moments. I am quoting to you from Surah At-Tahrim 66:11. Allah says:
"And Allah sets forth for those who believe the example (the parable) of the wife of Firaun, when she said: "O my Rubb, build for me a house with Thee in Jennah and deliver me from Firaun and his doings and deliver me from these unjust people."
In the heavens Allah (SWT) is indicating to the angels, the nobleness and courage of conviction of a true believing Mu’minaat and of her love for Allah, for which she is prepared to sacrifice so much of wealth, position, and status and to endure so much pain, suffering and anguish. Allah (SWT) in front of the malikahs that are gathered there who are pleading with Allah to save Asiyah, Allah (SWT) is telling them that this is ihsan (the highest level of deeds and worship),
"You see malikahs, when I created him, you said this ihsan is going to do so much public, so much evil and bloodshed in the world and commit so much sin. Do you see what quality I have given to those who believe? Look at this Asiyah, look at that Mashtha, look at this Musa, look at the courage and conviction of faith."
Allah is telling the malikahs this,
"Verily, We created man of a most excellent fabric. So Allah tells about this creation, and in the meantime in suffering and hardship and the trials and tribulations their love and fear for me (says Allah to the malikahs) increases."
Allah is holding his court. Firaun is having his court here. Allah is holding his court with the malikahs. And Allah tells them,
"In suffering and hardship and the trials and tribulations, the love of my true servants and the fear that they have for me, increases. These are the true, the sincere, the devoted, and the faithful ones. ‘O Asiyah, what do you ask for?’"
Allah asks Asiyah in those words,
"O Asiyah what do you want? What do you ask? What do you seek? And you tell me what does a faithful slave ask of Allah in these moments?"
This is what she asks. She says,
"O Allah, you are in Jennah. O Allah, build me a house in Jennah so I can be close to you and near you."
Allah (SWT) orders Gabriel to reveal to her, as her eyes closes, as she is about to die, Gabriel (AS) is ordered to reveal to Asiyah her home in Paradise, in Jennah. And seeing this, she was soon overcome with joy and peace and she passes silently out of this world…
That is the story of Asiyah (AS) and That was the story of Mashtha (AS).
Two ladies in the time of Musa (AS)
The daughter of Firaun (pharoah ramses the great) had a nurse maid. The name of this nurse maid was Mashtha. There came a day when Mashtha, the nurse maid, was busy combing the hair of the daughter of Firaun. Whilst combing, the comb fell out of her hand onto the floor. In raising and lifting that comb from the floor, this maid of the daughter Firaun, uttered the following words,
"Curses be upon those who reject Allah!"
Immediately the daughter of Firaun turned to her and said,
"Do you believe in a god besides my father?!"
Mashtha, the maid said,
"My Creator, my Allah, and your Allah and your father’s Allah, and the Allah of the heaven’s and the earth, He is one Allah, no partners have He!"
Then the daughter of Firaun said,
"You dare say such a word!"
...and she entered the chambers of her father weeping and crying. (Hadith)
What happened here was in the time of Prophet Musa (AS). Amongst the era of the Israelites, there were many who had accepted an Islam in secret. They had come to him and accepted. They came and accept Islam, the true religion. They accepted the deen of Musa (AS), or Islam. They accepted it, but they remained in secret. Why did they remain in secret? I’ll quote it to you in the first ayah of the Quran. They accepted and remained in secret why???
Firaun was an oppressor!!! He slew their male children and he preserved the females alive for personal use and aggrandizement (glorification). So because he was an oppressor, they were afraid and fearful to reveal their Islam to him. Therefore they held it back. But there were many Muslims in the employ of Firaun. Many, many they were who had accepted the deen.
One of them so happened to be the youthful maid, of the daughter of Firaun who worked in the palace, in the chambers of Firaun.
Firaun with a tremendous power and strength in Egypt (the Quran says) in Surah Zukhruf 43:51-52. And Allah says:
"And Firaun proclaimed among his people. O My People! Does not the land of Egypt belong to me and I am not the possessor, the maker of the land of Egypt and these are the rivers that flow in my property, the Nile and the tributies of the Nile. I have created them. They are my property. They belong to me. There’s no god besides me. Don’t you see am I not better than Musa, who is a disgrace and can’t even express himself clearly?" (Muslimeen, you know the story of Prophet Musa, not being able to utter clearly)
Now what does Firaun? He laughs at Musa,
"This Musa is the Musa that grew up in MY palace. He is trying to bring about change and he is trying to bring about La ilaha illa Allah. Well he is a disgrace! He doesn’t even speak clearly. He doesn’t even have bracelets of gold or angels to attend to him in orderly procession (while Firaun had ALL these armies and parades)."
He (Firaun) said,
"Musa hasn’t got anything!"
In the Egypt, the mark of a man of status was (you’ll see it even now in the idols and so on) they have this golden bracelet around the neck.
"So Musa hasn’t even got any mark of being a man of honor, of status and dignity! He’s got not blue blood! And he’s got no angels or soldiers or armies parading for him!"
That is what Allah tells us. This is how Firaun was. That’s the kind of man he was. Quran tells us in Surah Mu’min 40:25:
"And when the Prophets [Prophet Musa (AS) is meant here] came to them with a troop from us, they said (O these oppressor said), ‘Slay the sons of those who have believed with him [in other words, slay the sons of those who have believed with Musa (AS)] and save their daughters alive for our use. But the strategy of the disbelievers (says Allah) was to end in vain."
We’re coming to our story now…
What did Firaun say?
"Any believer you find in my community and amongst my people, anyone you find who is believing in the deen of Musa (AS), slay their sons (with him) and save their daughters alive."
But the strategy says, all of the believers was to end in vain. Allah (SWT) also says in Surah An-Nazi’at 79:23-27. Allah says (And this Firaun, he called up a big parade on Monday, a big rally he made, and what did he say?),
"And the Firaun gathered his people and he proclaimed, ‘I am your Lord and the Supreme one.’ Therefore (says Allah), Allah chastised him with a punishment of the hereafter and also of the present life (and Allah says), verily here is an example and a lesson for him, that fear of Allah."
The story I am about to tell you. This is the theme of it, "That we must learn to respect, honor our deen and to fear Allah (SWT) all the time."
See now the fear of a maid, in the palace. See now the courage and the bravery of a simple maid, in the palace of this powerful Firaun. Imagine what I’m going to tell you now and reveal to you now, of what is courage of iman and what is bravery of quite conviction.
Here is a girl, young girl, she was a mother, yes. She’s a young girl, she comes from a very poor family. She’s working for a living. She is the comb girl and maid of the daughter of the Firaun. But when iman came into her, look at what iman did to her.
This maid’s name was Mashtha. She was the mother of two. She was the wife of Karkeel, who also had accepted the deen of Prophet Musa (AS), Islam. But Mashtha was an extrovert, meaning that she was a fearless person. Whatever she had to say, she always said it. Remember when she was picking up the comb, she said what she wanted to say. So she was an extrovert type of person. Very brave, very honorable, very courageous. And she admitted to Firaun’s daughter to believing in Allah and said that he is Lord and Creator of the worlds and of Firaun and of the heavens and of the earth.
The daughter of Firaun went and reported this girl Mashtha to her father. Firaun holds court, in other words, like a court proceedings. Firaun holds court and he summons Mashtha. Soldiers, go and bring her, chained as she is. She is brought before the justice of Firaun. She comes however smiling and laughing. And in her heart she says,
"Today is a test of my iman, today is the test of my faith. I, she tells herself, will never succumb because I am ever prepared to meet my maker. Today, let the interrogation begin. Ask me what you will, but you shall not get me to change my faith or to succumb."
So Firaun proceeds.
After establishing her faith, she says she believes in the God of Musa, in the Allah of Musa, in the unity of Allah, Allah is one. Accepting the words which she said in front of the daughter of Firaun. She repeats it bravely and courageous in front of this powerful ruler (where Allah says what his power was, in the Quran recited above). Allah also speaks of his power. He (that said),
"Everything belongs to him."
That man threatens her and he tells hers, and she in front of him, without fear of punishment, she tells him exactly the truth. Then he tells her, he says,
"Look here Mashtha leave your Allah and accept me as your Lord and Creator for who is going to save you now? If you accept me as your God I can save you and release you. But if you have a God, where’s your God? Can He save you now?"
This was his belief. And he said,
"All right Mashtha! I’ll give you a chance. Leave your God. Leave your Allah. Accept me as your Allah, as your God and I will spare your life."
Listen to her reply. Mashtha replies, she says,
"Not on your life! Not on my life! Do your worst you criminal, but me you will never convince! Not til the day of Qiyamah (day of judgment)!!!"
This is the first time where anybody has had this bravery and courage (besides Prophet Musa (AS) of course). This is the first time in the history of Egypt, when Firaun ruled, where a young girl of this kind, a servant girl, stood up in front of Firaun and bravely told him his story. This courage and conviction came from this servant girl.
So Firaun, like Shaytan, also adopted certain strategies and steps to punish people. He orders Mashtha, he orders the soldiers, to take her to the reptile den.
He had a special reptile den. If anybody who is a believer, suspected of belief is brought in front of him, he questions them. He asks them whether they are believers. If they admit they are believers, they are put into a reptile den. That is where the people are made to suffer, where there are reptiles and scorpions, and everything are kept.
So, he orders Mashtha to be taken to the reptile den, and she is told,
"O Mashtha, you will be released to these pythons, reptiles, snakes, and scorpions and they shall feed on you for two months. We warn you before we put you in there. Accept Firaun as your God and we will set you free."
And she replied to the soldiers and she told them,
"You talk of two months? To me, even if you put me in this reptile den for seventy months, that would be too little. With each day of this punishment that I have here in this reptile den, my faith will only increase without going back. Without abating one bit. No matter to what trial and test you face me or force me!"
And she laughed at them in their face!
In Sahih Bukhari there is a Hadith which says,
"The power of iman is such that once it fills the heart of a true believing Mu’min it is impossible to be removed."
Mashtha had two daughters. She’s put into the reptile den. Whatever happened there is not told to us. What period she remained in the reptile den, we don’t know. All we know that she was taken out from there by the soldiers of Firaun UNSCATHED. So, she is removed from there.
Test number two: Mashtha had two daughters. One was a five year old girl and she had a breast-feeding baby. So Firaun orders these two girls, of this young mother, the two daughters must be brought. He first says,
"Take Mashtha and strap her."
Now Firaun had a punishment torture chamber. On this chamber there was a big slab of stone. And on this stone, there were four places (four pegs) jetting out of the ground. And he had these little prongs and anybody he wanted to punish or torture was thrown onto this slab of stone and then they were pegged like a tent. Their two hands and feet were stretched like this and tied down. They were pronged to it.
So he orders Mashtha to be tied down in this matter. This was the custom which was started, this custom of torture was started by Firaun. This is what the Quran says regarding the system of torture which was introduced by Firaun. Firaun said (O to this Mashtha) in the Quran. Firaun tells her (to Mashtha and whatever believers there were) he tells her,
"Have you believed in Him, in this Allah, of Musa before I have given such permission. Verily this is a plot which you have contrived in the city to remove its inhabitants. But you shall soon know that I am the Lord and the Master and the Creator, for I will cause you, your feet and your hands to be cut off on opposite sides and cause you all to be crucified."
So this system of crucification and strapping was introduced (tells the Quran to us), by Firaun. Firaun used to strap those who he suspected of true belief in one Allah and in the deen of Musa (AS) by their hands and feet, to four sticks, fixed on the slab of stone, the torture stone, and then to torture them, torment them.
So Musa saw Mashtha was tied down and prepared for torture and torment. First her eldest five year old daughter is brought, placed over the chest of her mother and in those days the system of torture was if they wanted to kill anybody, all they did was to take a sharp knife and slit their throats, cut it off completely! This was the system of punishment. This little girl is brought, placed over the breast of her mother. And in front of her mother while her mother is looking on, her neck is cut off!
And then Mashtha is told,
"Now listen. O Mashtha get some sense into you. Accept Firaun as your Lord and your God and we will release you. Otherwise we will have to slaughter your little baby."
And she replies (as a mother only can reply),
"If you bring the whole of this world and sacrifice every daughter on my chest, I will not leave Allah, my Rubb, my Rubb."
Firaun then orders, let the baby be brought and slay it across her chest and her bosom.
Her little child is brought. He is placed on her chest. Her body, hands and feet being strapped and fastened as they were, this mother is totally helpless. And they prepare to cut the baby’s neck.
The six month old baby of Mashtha, who had only recently suckled milk from her mother and who was now undergoing the supreme test of faith and iman. The tears flow freely down this mother’s eyes and her baby and her body (the mother’s body) contorts with the emotion of heartbreak and every nerve and tissue, every fiber of her body is wreck by the passionate pain which only a mother experiences, the love which only a mother experiences for a child.
And in this tense and frightful but macabre (gruesome) moment this baby of Mashtha (AS), this six month old baby, of this mother (who should be an example to every living mother of this world) speaks out in a loud and clear tone of voice.
This little baby six month old baby, as the solider holds a knife to slaughter it and to cut off its neck; this little child in a loud voice so that everybody congregated in that chamber (hundreds of them used to congregate in that chamber to see the torture meated out by Firaun ,over those who were believers). This little child in a loud voice where everyone that is present there can hear tells his mother,
"O my beloved mother, why do you cry so? Why do you weep so? I can see Jennah is being prepared for you my mother. O mother! O mother, don’t weep so. When you get to Jennah, you will be blessed with a vision and the noor (light) of Allah. So be in peace, in peace and in peace!"
And as he says so, the neck of this child is cut off. In front of it’s mother. When this is done and these words of the child goes into the ears of the mother, tranquillity and peace descends on her. So the child is slain and on Firaun’s orders, the mother is also then slain. The mother is also, her neck is chopped off. This is what happens in this torture chamber.
But there is another lady and a true believer in the chamber, who is sitting on one side from upstairs, you can say, from her rooms and she is like watching this entire scene. You know who is that? That is the Mother of Musa (AS), if you can call her it. One was his real mother. One was his mother in the palace. She was who? Asiyah (AS).
She is watching this whole seen. She was a believer, even before Mashtha was a believer. She cannot bare it. She cannot tolerate that a girl, a servant girl, has displayed this kind of iman (faith). She cannot tolerate it, and she runs from her room. She is completely overcome with emotion. She is hysterical, and Asiyah (AS) runs down seeks Firaun. She saw this entire proceedings and was overwhelmed.
What convinced her even more to reveal her faith, was not only the courage and conviction of a maid, but what she saw by the Qadar (decree) of Allah. Of the malikahs (angels) descending from the heavens. Allah revealed to her. Allah took away the curtains from her eyes and when Mashtha was killed, Asiyah (AS) by the Qadar of Allah saw the malikahs descending from the heavens with garlands and coffin from Jennah for Mashtha. Wrapping her Ruh in these robes of Jennah and ascending they were. This was too much for her. She could bear it no longer and she became hysterical. She regarded it as contemptible to hide her faith in Allah, any longer. She went (ran about) seeking out her husband and let fly. When she met him, she let fly with these words,
"Have you become so courageous, you worst amongst mankind, you worst amongst men? You have dared to raise your finger towards Mashtha for a simple belief and you have slain her?"
Firaun turns to her and says,
"O Asiyah have you become incensed by it and angered by it? Are you also influenced by her brand of madness, by Mashtha’s brand of madness?"
She replies and she says:
"No! I am no jimun (I am not mad)! But I tell you now (for this is the first time she reveals to Firaun her iman)."
She says,
"But I warn you Firaun and I tell, my Lord, my Creator, My Rubb, My Allah, and your Lord and your Rubb and your Allah, same with Mashtha and youth, and the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth is one Allah and nobody comes near Him. He has no partnership!" (This is not in the Quran I am quoting Hadith)
Firaun was a powerful man. He was not only a genius and a very clever man, he was also a very big man. He had a very big body. He was a very powerful man. He stood up like an enraged bull. He tore her clothes and he beat her to a pulp. And then he summoned her family and her people and he said,
"Talk some sense into her."
He beat her until she was black and blue. Then he called her father, her mother, and her parents, sisters and all and he said,
"Now you talk to this woman! Talk to her and explain to her that if she does not accept me as God and if she continues and persists in belief, believing in the deen of Musa (AS), then I will destroy her!"
So the family, came together. Listen to the families words. This is nepotism. This is what we call booty, booty. They said,
"O Asiyah. Let it be. Leave well alone. But Firaun IS God. He IS All-Mighty. He IS All-Powerful on earth, and he rules as he pleases. What goes on with you? Why are you throwing such golden opportunities away? Where is your pride? Where is your honor? Where is your dignity? We are amazed at your folly and stupidity. Come to your senses, O Asiyah! We plead with you. Look at all these things which Firaun has give us, all these homes and comforts and servants and wonderful presents he has given us, and gifts he has given us. All this we must loose? Asiyah, look at you, you the queen! Everything you want, you desire, you’ve got! Are you going to kick all those wonderful material blessings and pleasures that he has given you? You’re kicking all this aside, for La ilaha illa Allah? And for the deen of Musa (AS). What’s the matter with you, have you become mad?"
And she replies. Listen to the reply of Asiyah, she says:
"Don’t waste your breath any longer, O foolish ones! What moves you, but the selfishness of pride and prejudice, and not the honor of dignity and respect. The affection for glamour and splendor moves you and not the inclination of pardon and submission to Allah, who is the Rubb and the Creator of all things. Even if Firaun were to present me with a glittering crown, the glory of which would be such, that the sun appear in front of me and he put the moon at the rear and the moon is at the rear with the sparkling stars inter-spaced between the two, I will not leave my Allah, who is my Rubb. That is my decision, that is my commitment, that is my conviction!"
This was too much for Firaun and he immediately ordered her torture to begin. So she was strapped and fastened on the SAME slab of stone on which Mashtha had just recently been crucified.
A tray of burning fire, a slab, a stone, he had a heavy stone. One was a stone below, then they placed a stone on her chest. A heavy stone was placed on her chest and on top of this stone, a huge bonfire was lit.
The system was: the top stone was a thinner slab and what happens, you light a big fire on top. The stone is a slow condenser, so it heats up slowly and then it starts burning up the body. Slowly it starts, through heat, the body burns. In other words, if you put fire to the body it will burn immediately.
So he had evolved the strict way. First the big slab of stone, on which you are laid and you are strapped up. Then he had a thin slab of stone, like a tray, which is placed which is quite heavy, which is placed on top of you, and then a huge fire is lit on top of you. The heat of the fire travels upward, but a lot of the heat goes at the bottom and it penetrates, and then starts burning you up and torturing you.
This gives him time, to try and force the believer to say that he (Firaun) is God. Once you say he is God, you are set free. So this was his system of punishment. So on Asiyah, his own wife, he does this. The stone is placed on her and a huge bonfire is lit on top of her, and he tells her,
"O Asiyah, now leave your God alone and accept me as your God, as your Rubb; or I will increase your torture!"
And she replies,
"O Firaun if you punish me, you can only torture this body of mine. But you can never touch the love which I bare for Allah. Nor lessen it in any way. O Firaun! Even if you break my body into pieces and tear it into shreds, for each drop of blood that flows out, will my love for Allah will increase the more, no matter how you batter and bruise me. Reproaching, rebuking, and reviling O Firaun, are superficial complaints, but the love for a beloved, is deep and profound. INSIDE it is unapproachable. Look at me now Firaun, blood flows from every part of my body! A fire is placed on top of me which is beginning to burn and scorch me, but the fire of irreproachable and unlimited love for Allah burns intensely and fiercely within this body!"
These are the words of Queen Asiyah. This lady of Egypt. But in the mean time word of the Queen’s discovery of faith and iman, in one true Allah, has reached Prophet Musa (AS). And Musa who had grown up in this palace, who knows every avenue, every door, every link of the palace of Firaun, he rushes to the palace. He knew the entire, he knew the severity of the test.
Which, this is why he had told Asiyah when she accepted faith at his hands, he told her don’t reveal it to Firaun otherwise he will torture you to death. But now the torture and the test has come. And he rushes in, wondering whether Asiyah could withstand and endure the pain of the torture that Firaun would meat, beat out to her.
However on arriving in the torture chamber, he finds her strapped and tied down in the sacrificial chamber. Blood streaming from cuts and abrasions, lacerations, all over her body. But a great smile of peace and contentment he finds on her face. And she sees Musa coming and she says,
"O Musa, Do you see? I have put on the mantle of departure from this world and I have put on the coat of the hereafter. Tell me, O Musa! Is my Creator satisfied, pleased and happy with me. Or is my Rubb displeased and angry with me?"
And Prophet Musa (AS) replies to her. He said:
"O Asiyah bint Muzahim (daughter of Muzahim), the malikahs of the seven heavens are awaiting you with great pleasure and Allah (SWT) looks forward to the pleasure of meeting you. Allah is pleased to meet you."
This is what the Qur’an has to say about these last, last moments. I am quoting to you from Surah At-Tahrim 66:11. Allah says:
"And Allah sets forth for those who believe the example (the parable) of the wife of Firaun, when she said: "O my Rubb, build for me a house with Thee in Jennah and deliver me from Firaun and his doings and deliver me from these unjust people."
In the heavens Allah (SWT) is indicating to the angels, the nobleness and courage of conviction of a true believing Mu’minaat and of her love for Allah, for which she is prepared to sacrifice so much of wealth, position, and status and to endure so much pain, suffering and anguish. Allah (SWT) in front of the malikahs that are gathered there who are pleading with Allah to save Asiyah, Allah (SWT) is telling them that this is ihsan (the highest level of deeds and worship),
"You see malikahs, when I created him, you said this ihsan is going to do so much public, so much evil and bloodshed in the world and commit so much sin. Do you see what quality I have given to those who believe? Look at this Asiyah, look at that Mashtha, look at this Musa, look at the courage and conviction of faith."
Allah is telling the malikahs this,
"Verily, We created man of a most excellent fabric. So Allah tells about this creation, and in the meantime in suffering and hardship and the trials and tribulations their love and fear for me (says Allah to the malikahs) increases."
Allah is holding his court. Firaun is having his court here. Allah is holding his court with the malikahs. And Allah tells them,
"In suffering and hardship and the trials and tribulations, the love of my true servants and the fear that they have for me, increases. These are the true, the sincere, the devoted, and the faithful ones. ‘O Asiyah, what do you ask for?’"
Allah asks Asiyah in those words,
"O Asiyah what do you want? What do you ask? What do you seek? And you tell me what does a faithful slave ask of Allah in these moments?"
This is what she asks. She says,
"O Allah, you are in Jennah. O Allah, build me a house in Jennah so I can be close to you and near you."
Allah (SWT) orders Gabriel to reveal to her, as her eyes closes, as she is about to die, Gabriel (AS) is ordered to reveal to Asiyah her home in Paradise, in Jennah. And seeing this, she was soon overcome with joy and peace and she passes silently out of this world…
That is the story of Asiyah (AS) and That was the story of Mashtha (AS).
Pharoah (Ramses The Great) as mentioned in the quran
As for your question, the term Pharaoh (Firawn) is not a name of any particular person, but it is a title for the rulers of the Coptic nation. Here under is a list of titles for rulers of various parts of the world mentioned in history.
Amir al-Mu’mineen (أمير المؤمنين) - The ruler of the Muslims
Firawn (فرعون) - The ruler of the Coptics
Najashi (نجاشى) - The ruler of the Abyssinians
Kisra (كسرى) - The ruler of the Persians
Qaysar (قيصر) - The ruler of the Romans
Khaqan (خاقان) - The ruler of the Turks
‘Aziz (عزيز) - The ruler of the Egyptians
(Sharah Muslim of Nawawi 1/309 Maktaba-e-Thanvi, Deoband)
قال العلماء والنجاشى لقب لكل من ملك الحبشة وأما أصحمة فهو اسم علم لهذا الملك الصالح الذي كان في زمن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم قال المطرز وبن خالويه وآخرون من الأئمة كلاما متداخلا حاصله أن كل من ملك المسلمين يقال له أمير المؤمنين ومن ملك الحبشة النجاشي ومن ملك الروم قيصر ومن ملك الفرس كسرى ومن ملك الترك خاقان ومن ملك القبط فرعون ومن ملك مصر العزيز ومن ملك اليمن تبع ومن ملك حمير القيل
The story of Musa (AS) and the Pharaoh is quiet lengthy and spread out in the Qur’an. We will reproduce a brief account of the story in light of the Qur’an.
The Israelites were living a life of slavery under the rule of the Pharaoh where hardship and oppression was part and parcel of their life. Once the Pharaoh saw an unusual dream for which he asked his royal wise man to interpret. They gave the meaning that a boy will be born in the family of the Israelites who will liberate them from this slavery and who will destroy the Pharaoh’s empire. Not being able to handle this devastating news, he ordered his men that all new born male children must be murdered. His men went to the Israelites’ villages and started to brutally murder all the new born male children. Musa (AS) was born at such distressing times. The mother of Musa (AS) fearing the life of her child was very perplexed on what to do. However, Allah had already destined the future of this child and had decreed that he will survive and the same Pharaoh who ordered the killing, will raise him. Allah Ta’ala describing the incident in the Qur’an says:
طسم (1) تِلْكَ آَيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ (2) نَتْلُوا عَلَيْكَ مِنْ نَبَإِ مُوسَى وَفِرْعَوْنَ بِالْحَقِّ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ (3) إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَائِفَةً مِنْهُمْ يُذَبِّحُ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيِي نِسَاءَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ (4) وَنُرِيدُ أَنْ نَمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ الْوَارِثِينَ (5) وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنُرِيَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَحْذَرُونَ (6)وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى أُمِّ مُوسَى أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِي وَلَا تَحْزَنِي إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ (7) فَالْتَقَطَهُ آَلُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِيَكُونَ لَهُمْ عَدُوًّا وَحَزَنًا إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا كَانُوا خَاطِئِينَ (8)
Tā Sīn Mīm. These are verses of the clear Book. We recite to you a part of the story of Mūsā and Pharaoh with truth for a people who believe. Indeed, Pharaoh had become high-handed in the land, and had divided its people into different groups; he used to persecute a group of them, slaughtering their sons and keeping their women alive. Indeed he was one of the mischief-makers, while We intended to favor those who were held as weak in the land, and to make them leaders and make them inheritors, and give them power in the land, and to show Pharaoh, Hāmān and their armies the very thing they were fearing from them. We inspired the mother of Mūsā saying, Suckle him (Mūsā). Then once you fear about him, cast him in the river, and do not fear, and do not grieve. Surely We are going to bring him back to you and appoint him one of (Our) messengers. (Al-Qasas)
The mother upon being inspired by Allah put the child in a basket and set him off in the river. She sent her daughter to look and see what will be the fate the child. The basket went and reached the house of the Pharaoh. The wife of the Pharaoh fell in love with the child as soon as her gazed fell upon him and intended to raise the child. Allah Ta’ala continuing with the story says:
فَالْتَقَطَهُ آَلُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِيَكُونَ لَهُمْ عَدُوًّا وَحَزَنًا إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا كَانُوا خَاطِئِينَ (8) وَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ قُرَّةُ عَيْنٍ لِي وَلَكَ لَا تَقْتُلُوهُ عَسَى أَنْ يَنْفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ (9) وَأَصْبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَى فَارِغًا إِنْ كَادَتْ لَتُبْدِي بِهِ لَوْلَا أَنْ رَبَطْنَا عَلَى قَلْبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (10) وَقَالَتْ لِأُخْتِهِ قُصِّيهِ فَبَصُرَتْ بِهِ عَنْ جُنُبٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ (11)
So the family of Pharaoh picked him up, so that he becomes for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief. Indeed Pharaoh, Hāmān and their armies were mistaken. And the wife of Pharaoh said, (to Pharaoh about Mūsā), He may be a delight of eye for me and you. Do not kill him. It is hoped that he will be of benefit to us, or we will adopt him as a son. And they were not aware (of what was going to happen). And the heart of the mother of Mūsā became restless; indeed she was about to disclose this (the real facts about Mūsā), had We not strengthened her heart to remain among those who have firm belief (in Allah‘s promise). She said to his sister, Keep track of him. So she watched him from a distance, while they were not aware. (Al-Qassas)
Allah had decreed that Musa (AS) will be returned to his mother. Naturally it was such that when the time came to feed the child, he would not accept milk of any woman. Upon seeing this, the sister of Musa (AS) presented herself and stated that there is a pious woman from the Israelites who might be able to breastfeed the child. Allah Ta’ala says:
وَحَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَرَاضِعَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَقَالَتْ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَكْفُلُونَهُ لَكُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُ نَاصِحُونَ (12) فَرَدَدْنَاهُ إِلَى أُمِّهِ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ وَلِتَعْلَمَ أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (13)
And We had already barred him (Mūsā) from (accepting) any suckling women, so she (his sister) said (to Pharaoh‘s people), Shall I point out to you a family who will nurse him for you, and they will be his well-wishers? Thus We brought him back to his mother, so that her eye might have comfort and she might not grieve, and so that she might know that Allah‘s promise is true, but most of them do not know. (Al-Qassas)
Musa (AS) grew up in the house of the Pharaoh with royal treatment until he was a strong young man. Upon reaching adulthood, Allah bestowed him with wisdom and knowledge. Allah says:
وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَاسْتَوَى آَتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَكَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ (14)
And when he reached his maturity and became perfect, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. This is how We reward those who are good in their deeds. (Al-Qassas)
While growing up, he realized that he is from the Israelites and does not have any relationship to the Pharaoh or any of the Coptics. Seeing the oppression of the Coptics upon the Israelites, he had a soft heart for the Israelites and would help them out to easy their difficulties. Once upon entering the city he saw a Coptic man quarreling with an Israelite. While helping the Israelite, he clouted the Coptic. Musa (AS) was given the strength of the Prophets. The Coptic not being able to bear the clout from Musa (AS) fell dead. Realizing what had happened, Musa (AS) repented to Allah and asked his forgiveness. Allah Ta’ala says:
وَدَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ عَلَى حِينِ غَفْلَةٍ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ هَذَا مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ وَهَذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ فَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الَّذِي مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ فَوَكَزَهُ مُوسَى فَقَضَى عَلَيْهِ قَالَ هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ مُضِلٌّ مُبِينٌ (15) قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَغَفَرَ لَهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ (16) قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَا أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ فَلَنْ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرًا لِلْمُجْرِمِينَ (17)
Once he entered the city at a time when its people were heedless; so he found in it two men fighting each other: This one was from his own group, and that one from his enemies. So the one from his own group called him for help against the one who was from his enemies. So Mūsā gave him a blow with his fist and finished him off. (Then) He (Mūsā) said (out of remorse), ‘This is some of Satan‘s act. He is indeed a clear enemy who misleads (people).’ He said, ‘O my Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.’ So He forgave him. Indeed He is the most Forgiving, Very-Merciful. He (Mūsā) said, O my Lord! As You have favored me, I will never be a supporter of the sinners. (Al-Qassas)
The news of the Coptic’s murder spread in the city but none knew who had killed him. The next day Musa (AS) again went around roaming the city and coincidently the same Israelite was quarreling with another Coptic. The Israelite was calling Musa (AS) to assist him. Musa (AS) told the Israelite that you are a mischief-maker and went to help him. The Israelite thought Musa (AS) is coming to hit him and revealed that Musa (AS) was the one who killed the Coptic the previous day. Allah Ta’ala says:
فَأَصْبَحَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي اسْتَنْصَرَهُ بِالْأَمْسِ يَسْتَصْرِخُهُ قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى إِنَّكَ لَغَوِيٌّ مُبِينٌ (18) فَلَمَّا أَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَبْطِشَ بِالَّذِي هُوَ عَدُوٌّ لَهُمَا قَالَ يَا مُوسَى أَتُرِيدُ أَنْ تَقْتُلَنِي كَمَا قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا بِالْأَمْسِ إِنْ تُرِيدُ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ جَبَّارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ (19)
Then next morning he was fearful in the city, waiting (for what comes next) when the man who sought his help the day before, shouted to him for help (again). Mūsā said to him, you are surely a clear trouble-maker. Thereafter when he intended to grasp at the one who was an enemy to both of them, he (i.e. the Israelite) said, O Mūsā, do you want to kill me as you have killed a person yesterday? Your intention is only to become a tyrant in the land, and you do not intend to be one of the peace-makers. (Al-Qassas)
Upon hearing this, the Coptic fled and informed the Pharaoh that the unknown killer of the Coptic was in fact Musa (AS). The Pharaoh passed the verdict that Musa should be captured. From the people present in the assembly of Pharaoh was a man who was a close friend of Musa. He came and informed Musa of the verdict to capture him and advised him to flee the city. Allah Ta’ala says:
وَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْعَى قَالَ يَا مُوسَى إِنَّ الْمَلَأَ يَأْتَمِرُونَ بِكَ لِيَقْتُلُوكَ فَاخْرُجْ إِنِّي لَكَ مِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ (20)
And there came a man running from the farthest part of the city. He said, ‘The chiefs are counseling each other about you, so that they kill you. So, leave (the city). I am one of your well-wishers. (Al-Qassas)
Musa (AS) acted upon his friend’s advice and left the city and proceeded toward the city of Madyan.
فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ (21) وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَاءَ مَدْيَنَ قَالَ عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ (22)
So, he went out of it (the city), looking around in a state of fear. He said, O my Lord, save me from the cruel people. When he set out towards Madyan, he said, I hope my Lord will guide me to the straight path. (Al-Qassas)
The story of Musa (AS) continues in Madyan, where he marries the daughter of Shu’ayb (AS). We will omit all the details since it is not directly related to the Pharaoh. Once, while travelling with his with his family, they got lost. At night he saw some light on the Mount Tur and proceed that maybe he might get some information or at least get some fire. Allah Ta’ala says:
فَلَمَّا قَضَى مُوسَى الْأَجَلَ وَسَارَ بِأَهْلِهِ آَنَسَ مِنْ جَانِبِ الطُّورِ نَارًا قَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ امْكُثُوا إِنِّي آَنَسْتُ نَارًا لَعَلِّي آَتِيكُمْ مِنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ جَذْوَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ (29)
So, when Mūsā completed the term and set forth with his wife, he noticed a fire from the direction of (the mount) Tūr, he said to his wife, ‘Stay here; I have noticed a fire. May be I bring to you some information or an ember from the fire, so that you may warm yourself. (Al-Qassas)
On the mount he received prophethood and was ordered to go to the Pharaoh and warn him about his actions and to liberate the Israelites. Almighty Allah also bestowed him with miracles as proofs to show Pharaoh and made his brother Harun (AS) also a prophet to aid him. Allah Ta’ala says:
فَلَمَّا أَتَاهَا نُودِيَ مِنْ شَاطِئِ الْوَادِ الْأَيْمَنِ فِي الْبُقْعَةِ الْمُبَارَكَةِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ أَنْ يَا مُوسَى إِنِّي أَنَا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ (30) وَأَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ فَلَمَّا رَآَهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ وَلَّى مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ يَا مُوسَى أَقْبِلْ وَلَا تَخَفْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الْآَمِنِينَ (31) اسْلُكْ يَدَكَ فِي جَيْبِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ وَاضْمُمْ إِلَيْكَ جَنَاحَكَ مِنَ الرَّهْبِ فَذَانِكَ بُرْهَانَانِ مِنْ رَبِّكَ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ (32) قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي قَتَلْتُ مِنْهُمْ نَفْسًا فَأَخَافُ أَنْ يَقْتُلُونِ (33) وَأَخِي هَارُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّي لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِيَ رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِي إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ يُكَذِّبُونِ (34) قَالَ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجْعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلْطَانًا فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيْكُمَا بِآَيَاتِنَا أَنْتُمَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكُمَا الْغَالِبُونَ (35)
So when he came to it, he was called by a voice coming from a side of the right valley in the blessed ground, from the tree, saying, O Mūsā, I AM ALLAH, the Lord of the worlds, and saying, Throw down your staff. So when he saw it moving as if it were a snake, he turned back in retreat, and did not look back. (Allah said to him), O Mūsā come forward and do not fear; you are one of those in peace. Insert your hand into your bosom, and it will come out white without any evil (disease), and press your arm to your side for (removing) fear. Thus these are two proofs from your Lord (sent) to Pharaoh and his chiefs. Indeed they are transgressing people. He said, My Lord, I have killed a person from them, therefore I fear that they will kill me. And my brother Hārūn is more eloquent than me in speech; so send him with me as a helper to bear me out. I am afraid, they will give the lie to me. He (Allah) said, We will strengthen your arm with your brother, and will give both of you such a power that they will have no access to you (to cause any harm) because of Our signs. You and your followers will be the victors. (Al-Qassas)
Thereafter, Musa (AS) and Harun (AS) were commanded to go to the Pharaoh and invited him towards the true religion and say to him to set free the Israelites. Upon this a dialogue took place between Musa (AS) and the Pharaoh. Allah says in the Qur’an:
فَأْتِيَا فِرْعَوْنَ فَقُولَا إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (16) أَنْ أَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ (17) قَالَ أَلَمْ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدًا وَلَبِثْتَ فِينَا مِنْ عُمُرِكَ سِنِينَ (18) وَفَعَلْتَ فَعْلَتَكَ الَّتِي فَعَلْتَ وَأَنْتَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ (19) قَالَ فَعَلْتُهَا إِذًا وَأَنَا مِنَ الضَّالِّينَ (20) فَفَرَرْتُ مِنْكُمْ لَمَّا خِفْتُكُمْ فَوَهَبَ لِي رَبِّي حُكْمًا وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ (21) وَتِلْكَ نِعْمَةٌ تَمُنُّهَا عَلَيَّ أَنْ عَبَّدْتَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ (22) قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَا رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ (23) قَالَ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُوقِنِينَ (24) قَالَ لِمَنْ حَوْلَهُ أَلَا تَسْتَمِعُونَ (25) قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ آَبَائِكُمُ الْأَوَّلِينَ (26) قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ الَّذِي أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ لَمَجْنُونٌ (27) قَالَ رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ (28) قَالَ لَئِنِ اتَّخَذْتَ إِلَهًا غَيْرِي لَأَجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ الْمَسْجُونِينَ (29)
So go, both of you, to Pharaoh and say, We both are messengers of the Lord of all the worlds, (sent with the message) that you must send the children of Isrā‘īl with us. He (Pharaoh) said, Did we not nourish you among us as a child? And you remained amidst us for years, and you did the blunder you did; still you are ungrateful. He said, I did that at a time when I was mistaken. Then I fled away from you when I feared you. Thereafter my Lord granted wisdom to me, and made me one of the messengers. As for the favor with which you are obliging me, it is that you have enslaved the children of Isrā‘īl. Pharaoh said, what is the Lord of the worlds? He (Mūsā) said, Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever there is between them, if you are to believe. He (The Pharaoh) said to those around him, are you not hearing? He (Mūsā) said, Your Lord and the Lord of your early forefathers. He (Pharaoh) said, your messenger who is sent to you is a mad man indeed. He (Mūsā) said, Lord of the East and the West and whatever lies between them, if you are to understand. He (Pharaoh) said, If you adopt a God other than me, I will certainly put you to prison. (Al-Shu’ara)
Upon this Musa (AS) said what if we have brought forward clear and apparent proofs? The Pharaoh said, bring forth if you are from the truthful. Allah says:
قَالَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكَ بِشَيْءٍ مُبِينٍ (30) قَالَ فَأْتِ بِهِ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ (31) فَأَلْقَى عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُبِينٌ (32) وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ بَيْضَاءُ لِلنَّاظِرِينَ (33) قَالَ لِلْمَلَإِ حَوْلَهُ إِنَّ هَذَا لَسَاحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ (34) يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُخْرِجَكُمْ مِنْ أَرْضِكُمْ بِسِحْرِهِ فَمَاذَا تَأْمُرُونَ (35) قَالُوا أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَابْعَثْ فِي الْمَدَائِنِ حَاشِرِينَ (36) يَأْتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَحَّارٍ عَلِيمٍ (37)
He (Mūsā) said Will you (do this) even if I bring to you something evident? He said, Then bring it, if you are truthful. So, he threw down his staff, and in no time it was a serpent, clearly visible, and he drew out his hand, and right then it was a white light to the onlookers. He (Pharaoh) said to the chiefs around him, this man is certainly an expert sorcerer. He wants to expel you from your land with his sorcery. So what do you suggest? They said, Leave him and his brother alone for some time, and send heralds to the cities, so that they bring to you every highly expert sorcerer. (Al-Shu’ara)
The Pharaoh challenged Musa (AS) and decided to call upon his best sorcerers and they decided that they the challenge will be on a festival day in broad daylight.
فَلَنَأْتِيَنَّكَ بِسِحْرٍ مِثْلِهِ فَاجْعَلْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَا نُخْلِفُهُ نَحْنُ وَلَا أَنْتَ مَكَانًا سُوًى (58) قَالَ مَوْعِدُكُمْ يَوْمُ الزِّينَةِ وَأَنْ يُحْشَرَ النَّاسُ ضُحًى (59)
We will, then, bring to you a similar sorcery. So, make an appointment between you and us for an even place, not to be backed out, neither by us nor by you. He (Mūsā) said, your appointment is the festival day, and the people should be assembled at forenoon. (Ta-Ha)
The festival day came and people from throughout the land had gathered to see the competition. On the day, the sorcerers approached the Pharaoh and asked that what will be in turn for us for winning the match? The Pharaoh promised them gifts and high status. Allah says:
فَجُمِعَ السَّحَرَةُ لِمِيقَاتِ يَوْمٍ مَعْلُومٍ (38) وَقِيلَ لِلنَّاسِ هَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُجْتَمِعُونَ (39) لَعَلَّنَا نَتَّبِعُ السَّحَرَةَ إِنْ كَانُوا هُمُ الْغَالِبِينَ (40) فَلَمَّا جَاءَ السَّحَرَةُ قَالُوا لِفِرْعَوْنَ أَئِنَّ لَنَا لَأَجْرًا إِنْ كُنَّا نَحْنُ الْغَالِبِينَ (41) قَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِنَّكُمْ إِذًا لَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ (42)
So the sorcerers were assembled for the appointed time of a known day, [26:39] and it was said to the people, would you assemble, so that we may follow the sorcerers if they are victorious? So, when the sorcerers came, they said to Pharaoh, Will there be a sure reward for us, if we are the victorious? He said, yes, and of course, you will then be among the closer ones. (Al-Shu’ara)
The match began where the sorcerers said to Musa (AS) either you go first or we will go first. Musa (AS) told them to proceed with their magic. Allah says:
قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى إِمَّا أَنْ تُلْقِيَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ نَكُونَ نَحْنُ الْمُلْقِينَ (115) قَالَ أَلْقُوا فَلَمَّا أَلْقَوْا سَحَرُوا أَعْيُنَ النَّاسِ وَاسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَاءُوا بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍ (116) وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ (117) فَوَقَعَ الْحَقُّ وَبَطَلَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ (118) فَغُلِبُوا هُنَالِكَ وَانْقَلَبُوا صَاغِرِينَ (119)
They said, O Mūsā, would you throw (first) or are we to throw? He said, You throw. So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and made them frightened, and produced great sorcery. We revealed to Mūsā, Throw your staff. Then of a sudden, it began to swallow all that they had concocted. Thus the truth prevailed, and what they were doing became a nullity. So, they were overcome then and there and turned humiliated. (Al-A’raf)
The sorcerers realized that this is no magic but something divine from Almighty Allah. They accepted his religion. The Pharaoh, shocked and displeased, threatened the sorcerers of prosecution and torture. Allah says:
وَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سَاجِدِينَ (120) قَالُوا آَمَنَّا بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (121) رَبِّ مُوسَى وَهَارُونَ (122) قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ آَمَنْتُمْ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ آَذَنَ لَكُمْ إِنَّ هَذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَكَرْتُمُوهُ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوا مِنْهَا أَهْلَهَا فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ (123) لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ مِنْ خِلَافٍ ثُمَّ لَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ (124) قَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا مُنْقَلِبُونَ (125) وَمَا تَنْقِمُ مِنَّا إِلَّا أَنْ آَمَنَّا بِآَيَاتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَاءَتْنَا رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ (126)
The sorcerers could not but fall in prostration. They said, we believe in the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of Mūsā and Hārūn. Pharaoh said, you have believed in him before my permission. Undoubtedly, this is a plot you have designed in the city, so that you may expel its people from it. Now you shall know (its end). I will cut off your hands and your legs from opposite sides. Then I will crucify you all together. They said, we have surely to return to our Lord. For what fault would you punish us except that we have believed in the signs of our Lord when they appeared to us? O our Lord, pour out patience upon us, and cause us to die as Muslims (those who submit to you.) (Al-A’raf)
The Pharaoh still did not accept and continued to reject Allah and his Prophet Musa (AS). Allah Ta’ala had granted Musa (AS) many signs. These signs were a means to break the tyranny of the Pharaoh so he may accept the One Allah and set free the Israelites. Each sign was greater than the previous sign. Whenever the Pharaoh and his men were afflicted with one of these signs, they came to Musa (AS) and asked him to supplicate to Allah to remove them from this hardship. Upon removing the sign, they use to return to their heedlessness. Allah Ta’ala says:
وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا آَلَ فِرْعَوْنَ بِالسِّنِينَ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ (130) فَإِذَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْحَسَنَةُ قَالُوا لَنَا هَذِهِ وَإِنْ تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَطَّيَّرُوا بِمُوسَى وَمَنْ مَعَهُ أَلَا إِنَّمَا طَائِرُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (131) وَقَالُوا مَهْمَا تَأْتِنَا بِهِ مِنْ آَيَةٍ لِتَسْحَرَنَا بِهَا فَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ (132) فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الطُّوفَانَ وَالْجَرَادَ وَالْقُمَّلَ وَالضَّفَادِعَ وَالدَّمَ آَيَاتٍ مُفَصَّلَاتٍ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا مُجْرِمِينَ (133) وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّجْزُ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِنْدَكَ لَئِنْ كَشَفْتَ عَنَّا الرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ (134) فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْزَ إِلَى أَجَلٍ هُمْ بَالِغُوهُ إِذَا هُمْ يَنْكُثُونَ
And We seized the people of Pharaoh with years of famine and poor production of fruits, so that they may learn a lesson. When good times came to them, they said, this is our right. And if an evil touched them, they took it as an ill omen of Mūsā and those with him. Listen, their ill omen lies with Allah only, but most of them do not know. They said, whatever sign you bring to us to enchant us with, we are not going to believe in you. So We sent upon them the storm and locusts and lice and frogs and blood, as signs distinct from each other. Yet they showed arrogance, and they were a guilty people. Whenever a scourge befell them, they said, O Mūsā, pray for us to your Lord by the covenant He has made with you. If you remove the scourge from us, we will truly believe in you, and will send the children of Isrā‘īl with you. But when We removed the scourge from them for a term they had to reach, in no time they started to break their promise. (Al-A’raf)
Finally the time came when Allah revealed to Musa (AS) to take the Israelites and escape from the land of Egypt. Allah says:
وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِي إِنَّكُمْ مُتَّبَعُونَ (52) فَأَرْسَلَ فِرْعَوْنُ فِي الْمَدَائِنِ حَاشِرِينَ (53) إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ لَشِرْذِمَةٌ قَلِيلُونَ (54) وَإِنَّهُمْ لَنَا لَغَائِظُونَ (55) وَإِنَّا لَجَمِيعٌ حَاذِرُونَ (56) فَأَخْرَجْنَاهُمْ مِنْ جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ (57) وَكُنُوزٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ (58) كَذَلِكَ وَأَوْرَثْنَاهَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ (59) فَأَتْبَعُوهُمْ مُشْرِقِينَ (60) فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَى الْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَابُ مُوسَى إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ (61) قَالَ كَلَّا إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ (62) فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى أَنِ اضْرِبْ بِعَصَاكَ الْبَحْرَ فَانْفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَالطَّوْدِ الْعَظِيمِ (63) وَأَزْلَفْنَا ثَمَّ الْآَخَرِينَ (64) وَأَنْجَيْنَا مُوسَى وَمَنْ مَعَهُ أَجْمَعِينَ (65)
And We revealed to Mūsā saying, Make My servants travel at night. You will be pursued. So Pharaoh sent into the cities (his) men to muster (people) saying, these are a small band, and indeed they are enraging us, and we are a host, well-armed. Thus We expelled them (i.e. the people of Pharaoh) from gardens and springs, and from treasures and a noble abode. Thus it was. And We made the children of Isrā‘īl inherit all such things. So they (the people of Pharaoh) pursued them (the people of Mūsā) at the time of sunrise. And when the two hosts saw each other, the companions of Mūsā said, surely we are overtaken. He said, Never! Indeed with me is my Lord. He will guide me. So We revealed to Mūsā saying, Strike the sea with your staff. So it was severed apart, and each part became like a big mountain. Then We brought others close to that place. And We saved Mūsā and all those with him. (Al-=Shu’ara)
When seeing the Israelites passing the sea, the Pharaoh and his men also went into the separated sea in their pursuit. However, the sea united itself and drowned the Pharaoh and his army. The Pharaoh at the throws of death realized that his life is about to end and the unseen things of the hereafter became apparent to him. In one breath he states thrice his belief in Allah, but alas, it is too late and was doomed for eternity. Allah says:
وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا حَتَّى إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ آَمَنْتُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آَمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ (90) آَلْآَنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنْتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ (91) فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آَيَةً وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ عَنْ آَيَاتِنَا لَغَافِلُونَ (92)
“And We let the children of Isrā‘īl cross the sea. So, Pharaoh and his troops chased them in transgression and hostility, until when he was about to drown, he said, I believe that there is no god but the One in whom the children of Isrā‘īl believe, and I am among those who submit to Allah. (Allah said,) is it now (that you have come to believe) while you were rebellious all along, and you were among the mischief-makers? So, today, We shall save your body, so that you may become a sign for those after you. And many of the people are heedless of Our signs.” (Yunus)
The story of the Israelites continues in the Qur’an, however the part dealing with the Pharaoh end here.
As stated before, the Qur’an is not a book of history where it takes it upon itself to discuss the names and dates of all the events. The name of the Pharaoh at the time of Musa (AS) is neither mentioned in the Qur’an nor in any narration of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam). Therefore, Shari’a does not confirm or negate any name the archeologist may present.
Regarding the facts described in the Qur’an, then there are 100% true and we have firm belief in them. The archeologists of today’s time deny many aspects of the story of Musa (AS). For example, they deny the departing of the sea for which they claim there is no proof. Some archeologists even deny that the Israelites were ever in Egypt. The whole story of Musa (AS) and the Pharaoh is questionable to them since there is ‘no proof’ for it. For the Muslims, the Qur’an, the Word of Allah, is the biggest proof and all other facts and research are rejected when in contradiction with the Qur’an.
We make dua Allah safeguard our Iman, take us from this world with Iman, and on the day of Qiyamah resurrect us with those that have perfect Iman, Ameen.
For more information on the story of Musa (AS) and the Prophet you may read:
•Qasas al-Anbiya of Ibn Kathir
•Qasas al-Quran of Mawlana Muhammad Hifz al-Rahman
•Ma’arif al-Quran of Mufti Shafi
And Allah knows best
Wassalam
Ml. Ehzaz Ajmeri : Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by: Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah
**The body of Fir’aun***
The Quran has explicitly recorded about what has become of the body of Fir’aun. “This day We save therein your body so that you become a sign for those who come after you. But verily, many among mankind are heedless of our signs......” (10:92).
In this verse, the God's intention of bringing the body of Pharaoh out of water rather than leaving it decaying or being eaten by the sea animals is to give a lesson to future generations.
What is amazing that when the Quran was transmitted to man by the Prophet, the bodies of all the Pharaohs were in their tombs in the Necropolis of Thebes, on the opposite side of the Nile from Luxor. At the time however, absolutely nothing was known of this fact, and it was not until the end of the nineteenth century that they were discovered there.
As the Quran states, the body of the Pharoah (Fir’aun) of the Exodus was in fact rescued: visitors may see him in the Royal Mummies Room of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. How did the Prophet, who lived in Arabian desert came to know that the body of Fir’aun would be rescued for future generations to learn a lesson?
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Shyness of the ptophet Musa alayhi salaam
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 616:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "(The Prophet) Moses was a shy person and used to cover his body completely because of his extensive shyness. One of the children of Israel hurt him by saying, 'He covers his body in this way only because of some defect in his skin, either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect.' Allah wished to clear Moses of what they said about him, so one day while Moses was in seclusion, he took off his clothes and put them on a stone and started taking a bath. When he had finished the bath, he moved towards his clothes so as to take them, but the stone took his clothes and fled; Moses picked up his stick and ran after the stone saying, 'O stone! Give me my garment!' Till he reached a group of Bani Israel who saw him naked then, and found him the best of what Allah had created, and Allah cleared him of what they had accused him of. The stone stopped there and Moses took and put his garment on and started hitting the stone with his stick. By Allah, the stone still has some traces of the hitting, three, four or five marks. This was what Allah refers to in His Saying:-- "O you who believe! Be you not like those Who annoyed Moses, But Allah proved his innocence of that which they alleged, And he was honorable In Allah's Sight." (33.69)
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "(The Prophet) Moses was a shy person and used to cover his body completely because of his extensive shyness. One of the children of Israel hurt him by saying, 'He covers his body in this way only because of some defect in his skin, either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect.' Allah wished to clear Moses of what they said about him, so one day while Moses was in seclusion, he took off his clothes and put them on a stone and started taking a bath. When he had finished the bath, he moved towards his clothes so as to take them, but the stone took his clothes and fled; Moses picked up his stick and ran after the stone saying, 'O stone! Give me my garment!' Till he reached a group of Bani Israel who saw him naked then, and found him the best of what Allah had created, and Allah cleared him of what they had accused him of. The stone stopped there and Moses took and put his garment on and started hitting the stone with his stick. By Allah, the stone still has some traces of the hitting, three, four or five marks. This was what Allah refers to in His Saying:-- "O you who believe! Be you not like those Who annoyed Moses, But Allah proved his innocence of that which they alleged, And he was honorable In Allah's Sight." (33.69)
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