All about The Prophet Musa
The man warned his people and gave them of his love and best counsel.
The man who believed said: ‘О my people, follow me. I will guide you in the path of guidance.’ (40: 38)
He knew that the people were intoxicated with the life of this world and that Pharaoh was dazzled by his kingdom and power. But the life of this world is nothing but a dream, a fading shadow.
This man knew what kept people from following Musa. It was because they were drunk with the pleasures of this life. The drunkard, when he is drunk, is not afraid, and he is not aware. That is why these people could not hear Musa’s voice. But the man still wanted to call their attention to this heedlessness. He said: ‘О my people, the life of this world is only a brief enjoyment. The Next World is the Lasting Abode.’ (40: 39)
Those of his people who were ignorant began to call him back to unbelief and idol-worship, back to the religion of their ancestors. When he said to them, ‘Come to Allah,’ they said, ‘Return to the religion of your ancestors.’
They insisted so much that he said to them: ‘О my people, how is it that I call you to salvation while you call me to the Fire? You call me to reject Allah and associate with Him that of which I have no knowledge, while I call you to the Mighty, the Forgiving.’ (40: 41-2) He asked them: ‘What Prophet has come from your gods? What book has been sent down? Who has called you to what you believe? These are names you have named, you and your fathers. Allah has not sent down any authority for them. (53: 23)
‘It is the Messengers of Allah who call to Allah. Among them were Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and Yusuf. And Musa is the Prophet of Allah.
‘There is a sign of Allah in every thing, a call to Him in every place. While there can be ‘no doubt that what you call me to does not have any claim, either in this world or in the Next World.’ (40: 43)
When the man despaired of guiding them and was exasperated with their stupidity, he left them, saying, ‘You will remember what I told you. I entrust my affair to Allah. Allah sees His slaves.’ (40: 44)
The people of Pharaoh became angry and wanted to kill him, but Allah protected him and destroyed his enemies.
Allah guarded him against the evils they devised and an evil punishment encompassed the people of Pharaoh. (40: 45)
Pharaoh believed that he was the master of people’s minds in the same way that he was of their bodies, that he had power over people’s hearts as he had power over their tongues. No-one in Egypt was allowed to believe anything or accept anything without his permission.
When anyone believed in Musa, even in the furthest part of his kingdom, Pharaoh became furious. He leapt to his feet and sat down again, he thundered and raged. He would say: ‘How can he believe in Musa before I have given him permission! He lives in comfort in my kingdom and now he rebels against me! He consumes my provision and now he is ungrateful to me! I have a better right to every single man in Egypt than the man himself has!’
Pharaoh forgot that he was living in comfort in Allah’s kingdom and yet he was rebelling against Him. He was consuming Allah’s provision and yet was ungrateful to Him.
Allah showed him a sign in his own house, within his own family. Allah showed him that He alone is the King of people’s minds in the same way that He is the King of their bodies, that He alone has power over people’s hearts as He has power over their tongues. Allah can come between a man and his family, between a man and his heart.
Belief entered Pharaoh’s house without him being aware of it, showing that he was not in control of anything. Pharaoh’s wife believed in Allah and rejected Pharaoh. She believed in Musa in spite of her husband, the King of Egypt. She knew Pharaoh better than anyone else, and Pharaoh loved her better than anyone else, but she believed in Musa and in the message he brought from Allah.
Pharaoh’s guards could not do anything; they were unaware of this event. Indeed, Pharaoh, who was closest to the Queen, was himself unaware of it. Even if Pharaoh had known, what could he have done? He owned people’s bodies, but not their minds. He had power over people’s tongues, but no power over their hearts.
A woman should obey her husband, but no-one should obey a creature who is in rebellion against his Creator. Children should obey their parents and be dutiful to them, but they do not have to obey them in the associating of things with Allah: If they try to make you associate with Me what you have no knowledge of do not obey them. Keep their company in this world kindly and follow the path of the one who turns to Me. Then you will return to Me and I will tell you what you were doing. (31: 15)
Pharaoh’s wife was correct in her belief. She worshipped Allah in the house of Allah’s enemy. She declared to Allah that she was innocent of what Pharaoh was doing. Allah was pleased with Pharaoh’s wife and saved her from Pharaoh and his actions. Allah made her an example for the believers through her faith and courage.
Allah made an example of Pharaoh’s wife for those who believe when she said\ ‘My Lord, build me a house with You in the Garden and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the unjust people.’ (66: 11)
As people knew that Pharaoh was hostile to the Israelites, they sided with him and displayed their hostility towards them also. Their children were rude to the Israelites and their dogs chased them. Every day brought a new trial. Every night brought a new disaster.
Musa consoled his people and advised them to be patient. He told them: ‘Pray for Allah’s help and be patient. The land belongs to Allah. He will bequeath it to whomever of His slaves He wills. The final outcome belongs to those who fear Allah. ‘(7:128)
The Israelites disliked this trial and persecution and told Musa: ‘You haven’t helped us at all! You haven’t spared us anything! We were harmed before you came to us and after you came to us. ‘(7:129)
But Musa was not alarmed. He did not despair. He said, ‘Perhaps your Lord will destroy your enemy and will appoint you successors in the land, so that He can see how you act.’
Musa said: ‘О my people, if you believe in Allah, you must trust in Him, if you have surrendered yourselves to Him.’
They said: ‘We have put our trust in Allah, our Lord. Do not make us a temptation for the wrong-doing people. Save us by Your mercy from the people of the unbelievers.’ (10: 84-6)
Pharaoh had forbidden the Israelites from worshipping Allah. He was angry when he saw them worshipping Him or praying to Him. He had forbidden them from making mosques for Allah in his land. It enraged him to see Allah being worshipped in his land.
How ignorant of Allah he was! The land belongs to Allah, not to any Pharaoh. Who could be more unjust than someone who forbids Allah’s slaves from worshipping Allah in Allah’s land. Who could be more unjust than someone who calls on people to worship himself in Allah’s land?
But Pharaoh could not keep people from doing whatever they liked in their own homes! Allah commanded
the Israelites on the tongue of Musa: ‘Make your houses a direction for men to pray, and perform the prayer.’ (10: 87) ^ ‘
Pharaoh and his guards were powerless to prevent the Israelites worshipping Allah. Who can come between a slave and his Lord? Who can come between a Muslim and the worship of Allah?
As Pharaoh became more tyrannical and heedless, Allah wanted to warn him. Allah does not like His slaves to disbelieve. He does not like corruption in the land.
Pharaoh was very silly. Wise words and warnings were wasted on him. Certain donkeys do not take any notice until they are beaten. Allah wanted to make Pharaoh take notice.
Egypt was a green, fertile land, a land of blessings and fruits, a land where grain grew in abundance. You remember how Egypt helped distant lands in the years of famine during the time of Yusuf and how Egypt helped the people of Syria and Canaan. The Nile gives water to Egypt and irrigates its crops. It is a source of joy and blessing to the people of that land.
Pharaoh and the Egyptian people thought that the Nile was the key to their provision and the Nile made Egypt so rich that it did not need rain or anything else. They did not know that the keys of provision are with Allah and that Allah gives provision to whoever He wills, and withholds it from whoever He wills. They did not know that the Nile flows and floods at Allah’s command.
Allah commanded the Nile, and its waters receded and disappeared into the ground. Without those waters how could the crops of the Egyptian people be irrigated? The fruits of the land disappeared and its grain dwindled. There was famine after famine.
Pharaoh was seen to be powerless. Haman was seen to be powerless. Pharaoh’s guards were seen to be unable to devise any plot. Then the people of Egypt knew that Pharaoh was not their Lord and that provision was in the hands of Allah. But that did not benefit Pharaoh or his people, it did not wake them up. Satan was able to come between them and the warning lesson they had been given. They decided: These famines and bad years are bad luck which come from Musa and his people.’
How strange an excuse! Had Musa not been there before? Had not the Israelites been there for a long time? It was bad luck brought about by their own actions, their own unbelief. But Pharaoh and his people were stubborn and said: ‘We will not submit to this magic. Whatever sign you bring to us to bewitch us, we will not believe you.’ (7: 132)
Allah then sent them another sign. He sent rains and the Nile overflowed. It rained and rained until the fields were so flooded that the crops were washed away. The rain became a curse. The people complained about the lack of it and now they were complaining about too much.
Then Allah sent locusts which devoured the crops and fields and stripped the trees. They left nothing behind. The armies of Pharaoh could not fight the army of Allah. How could they fight them when neither swords nor spears were of any use against them?
The people of Egypt saw that Pharaoh was weak and that Haman was powerless and that the plots of the guards were of no use. But they did not reflect! They did not take note!
Allah then sent another army, an army of lice. He gave the lice power over them. We seek refuge with Allah! Lice in their beds, in their clothes, on their heads, in their hair! They spent sleepless nights looking for lice and cursing them until morning. How could they fight them, when neither swords nor spears affected them. Their armies and guards could not save them.
Then Allah sent frogs. There were frogs in their storage vessels for food and drink. They found frogs even in their clothes. The frogs made their lives a misery. The frogs multiplied and were found all over their houses. They croaked all night. One jumped here and another hopped there. Whenever they killed one, ten more appeared. The guards were powerless against the frogs.
Allah then sent a fifth sign against them: blood. Their noses bled and this enfeebled and exhausted them. Their doctors were unable to treat them. No medicine helped.
Whenever they saw a sign, they said to Musa: ‘Ask your Lord to remove this affliction from us. We repent and believe, and we will send the Israelites away with you.’ But when Allah removed the affliction from them, they broke their promise.
So we let loose on them the flood and the locusts and lice•, the frogs and the blood, distinct signs. But they became proud and were a sinful people. (7: 133)
The Israelites realized that they could not live any longer in Egypt. Though it was a vast land, what use could they make of its fertility and blessings while they were in prison suffering all sorts of torment and humiliation? How long could they be patient? Were they not human beings suffering injury and pain?
Allah revealed to Musa that he should lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Pharaoh’s guards heard of this and informed Pharaoh.
One night Musa led the twelve tribes of Israelites, each with its own leader, out of Egypt towards the Holy Land. The road to Syria was direct and well-known. It went between the two lands. Musa had already travelled it when he wentto Midian, and again when he returned to Egypt.
But Musa meant to go one way while Allah intended him to go another. What Allah wanted was what happened. In the darkness Musa took the wrong road and, when Musa made this mistake, what Allah willed to happen happened. Musa intended to take the Israelites to the north. However, they found themselves heading towards the east. They found themselves on the shores of the Red Sea.
‘O Protector! О Veiler! Where are we?’
The answer was: ‘We are on the seashore.’
As the dawn broke, they looked back and saw a huge cloud of dust. Coming after them was a great army which filled the horizon. Voices were raised, saying, ‘Son of ‘Imran! What did you have against us to make you plot to kill us? You have brought us to the edge of the sea so that Pharaoh can kill us here like rats, when there is no way of escape.
‘We know of no wrong that we have done to you, so why are you taking revenge like this? Wasn’t the hardship and affliction we have already endured enough for you without you bringing us here? We have the sea in front of us and the enemy behind us. There is no outcome for us but death.’
Then the Israelites were seized by despair and their voices were stilled. Everyone was afraid. Even firm mountains would have had the right to tremble.
But Musa’s faith in his Lord was not shaken. The people heard a voice filled with the majesty of prophethood: ‘No, but my Lord is with me. He will guide me.’ (26: 62) Then Allah commanded Musa to strike the sea with his staff. He struck it and the sea divided. The waters rose up like mountains one on either side. There were twelve paths, one for each tribe. The people crossed unharmed and reached the land of safety and peace.
Pharaoh saw how the Israelites had crossed the sea in safety. He said to his armies, ‘Look how the sea divides freely at my command so that I can catch these fugitives.’
Pharaoh advanced with his armies and the Israelites were in fear once again. ‘Here is the enemy, the tyrant, intending to cross over to us! Nothing will keep him from us! He will catch us and take us back to Egypt in captivity or slaughter us as exiles in the desert!’
Musa thought to strike the land with his staff so that it would once more become sea as it had been before. But Allah revealed to him: ‘Leave the sea alone. They are a drowned army.’ (44: 24)
When Pharaoh and his armies reached the middle of the path through the sea, the sea flooded back over them. Only now, with the waves crashing around him, did Pharaoh face up to the truth. Until, when drowning overtook him, he said, 7 believe that there is no god except the One in whom the Israelites believe, and / am one of the believers. ‘(10: 90)
How deep he was in error! Allah will not turn towards those who do wrong actions until, when one of them is near death, he says, 7 repent now.’ (4: 18) The day that certain of the signs of your Lord do come, no good will it do to a soul to believe in them then, if it believed not before, nor earned righteousness through its faith. (6: 158)
Pharaoh was told: ‘Now? When you rebelled before and were one of the corrupters!’ (10: 91)
Pharaoh drowned in the sea.
The tyrant who had ordered the deaths of thousands of children was dead. The tyrant who had had thousands of people killed, cruelly and without mercy, was dead. The King of Egypt died far away from his throne, far away from his power, without anyone to console him or anyone to weep for him.
Some of the Israelites, aware of Pharaoh’s great power began to doubt if he had really died: ‘Perhaps Pharaoh is not dead. Did we not use to see him go for days without eating or drinking.’ Then the sea cast up Pharaoh’s body on the shore and they were sure that he was dead.
Allah the Exalted said to Pharaoh: ‘Today We will deliver you with your body so that you will be a sign for those after you.’ (10: 92) The body of Pharaoh was a sign for those who are able to see, a lesson for those who are capable of learning a lesson.
Pharaoh’s army drowned to the last man. They had left Egypt behind them and did not find a cubit for burial in all its vast land.
How many gardens and fountains they left behind, sown fields, and how noble a station, and what blessings they delighted in! Just like that, and We bequeathed them to another people. Neither the heaven nor the earth wept for them and they were not given a reprieve. (44: 25—9)
The Israelites reached the land of security and peace and breathed its air as noble and free men. There were neither Pharaoh nor Haman nor their guards to fear. They walked in safety, fearing none but Allah.
But they were city people and the sun in the desert was too hot for them. They did not have tents which could shelter them from the sun. Yet they were the guests of Allah, and His generosity is greater than any other’s generosity. Allah commanded the clouds to give them shade. The clouds went with them wherever they went and stopped whenever they stopped.
Thd Israelites were thirsty and there was no water in the desert, no river or well. They went to Musa and complained to him as a child complains to its mother and asks for her help. They complained of their thirst.
Musa called on his Lord. To whom else could he turn? Allah said: ‘Strike the rock with your staff.’ Twelve springs gushed forth from it. AH the people knew their drinking-place. (2: 60)
The Israelites were hungry and complained to Musa as a child complains to its mother and asks for her help. They said: ‘You brought us out of Egypt, the land of fruits and produce, the land of blessings and good things. Who will give us food in this desert?’
Musa called on his Lord. Who else did he have besides Him? Allah sent down food on them. He sent down sweet things for them onto the leaves of the trees and He sent birds to them which could easily be taken from the trees. These things were manna and salwa, Allah’s hospitality to the Israelites in the desert.
The ingratitude of the Israelites
But the tastes and morals of the Israelites had become corrupted by their long enslavement. They could not make up their minds about anything, and were constantly discontented. They were like spoilt children. They showed little gratitude and had many complaints. They were quick to become bored, wanting what they were forbidden and hating what they were given. It was not long before they told Musa: ‘We don’t like only having one kind of food. We do not like this meat and this sweet stuff. We want vegetables and green herbs. Musa, we will not endure one sort of food. Ask your Lord to bring forth for us of what the earth produces of its green herbs, cucumbers, corn, lentils and onions. (2: 61)
Musa was amazed at this strange request and said in a voice filled with disapproval: ‘Would you take what is inferior in exchange for what is better?’ (2: 61)
Are herbs and vegetables better than birds and sweets that no human hand has touched? Is the food of peasants better than the food of kings?
But the Israelites continued to ask for vegetables and green herbs. Then Musa said: ‘What you ask for exists in every village and city. Get down to a township. There you will have what you ask for.’ (2: 61)