THE PROPHETS OF ISLAM Al-Huda Foundation
PRO
The
Birth and Early Life of Musa
The
children of Israil came to Egypt during the days of Yusuf and flourished with
wealth and large progenies. Their growth in wealth and power became a threat to
the rulers of Egypt. The adviser of
the pharaohs devised several ways to reduce this threat. This brought great
hardship to the children of Israil. Around the time of the birth of Musa there
were rumors that a great messiah will be bom t ' hat year amongst these people
and that he will challenge the might of the Pharaoh and liberate the children of
Israil. The Pharaoh ordered all male babies bom to these people to be killed so
that the messiah may never challenge his power.
This was extremely painful for the parents of many ill-fated infants that
were slain as a result of this cruel decree.
Allah
has His Divine Wisdom and no body can avert what He has planned or designed.
Musa
was bom in the house of Imran, in the clan of Lavi (one of the twelve clans of
Banu Israil). Fearful of the
destiny of her child at the hands of the rulers of the time, his mother laid him
in a basket and set on the waters of the mighty Nile.
The
basket drifted towards the gardens surrounding the palace of the Phraoh. The
maids in attendance to queen retrieved the basket and saw a beautiful baby in
it. The queen who had no child of her own developed immediate love for the
baby.She adopted him as her son. He
was named Musa, which, in the old Egyptian language meant "pulled out of
water. "
Allah
has His own ways of protecting and providing for His chosen servants.
The
hungry baby needed to be fed but he did not accept any of the fostered mothers
brought in. The sister of Musa had
followed the basket to the palace. She
offered to bring one of the new mothers whose baby had recently been slain.
She did not reveal her or her mother's association with the baby.
The queen agreed, as she had no other choice.
When the mother of Musa was presented in the palace as one who had been
deprived of her baby, Musa responded immediately to the nursing.
The queen hired her to nurse the baby in the palace and at her own home
as needed. The infant prophet, a
servant of Allah was thus returned to his own mother and household for care and
nurture.
Musa
as a teenager in the palace of Pharaoh
The
Pharaoh saw the intellectual brilliance in this youth and appointed his top
astrologers, magicians, scribes and priests to educate Musa in all aspects of
the royal faculties. He must have intended to appoint Musa as his special advisor,
or high priest, or even his successor. However,
this could also be the Will of Allah to have Musa gain all the secrets of the
Pharaoh that made him so powerful.
Musa
in the service of Sholayb
Musa
was naturally inclined to help his people.
One day, while trying to free an Israilite in a scuffle with an Egyptian,
Musa killed the Egyptian with one blow. This
incidence reached the elite circle of the ruling class who branded Musa as a
friend of the wretched Israilites whom the Egyptians hated from the core of
their hearts. They passed a
unanimous resolution to have a public trial of Musa to get him killed for his
deed against an Egyptian. A noble
person in the clan of the Pharaoh (called Momine Ale-Fir'on in Qur'an)
informed Musa of the plot and he helped him escape into the desert.
The
desert journey was arduous. Musa
reached the city of Midyan. He came to
rest at a well where several shepherds were busy watering their herds.
He saw that there were two young and beautiful women waiting for their
turn to serve their herd. The men
took their turns assertively while the ladies waited patiently.
Musa could not remain passive at the sight. He offered to help the young women by pulling the water from
the well. They told him that their
father was old and since he was unable to do this work, they had no choice but
to come out to serve their herd. Sometimes
it could be quite late in the evening when they returned to their home.
Musa
helped them water their herd expeditiously, and they returned home early.
Their father enquired on their unusual early return.
They told him of the incidence at the well. Sho'ayb recognized the deed to be that of a man of Allah and
sent one of his daughters to bring him home.
Musa had nowhere else to go, so he accompanied the lady to her home.
Sho'ayb asked Musa the details of his travel.
The story of Musa fascinated all in the audience.
Sho'ayb offered Musa to stay with him, and married one of his daughters
to him. He lived in the clan for
about ten years and led an extemely simple life in contrast to the comforts of
the royal Egyptian palace. He
tended the sheep and goats of the family and spent time in the solitude of the
desert. Here he contemplated and
reflected on his past and present experiences.
He had discusssions with his father-in-law, Sho'ayb which enriched him
spiritually. He reflected over the
plight of his people in Egypt and made a firm resolve to free them from the
servitude of the Egyptians.
The
Prophethood of Musa and his return to Egypt
After
living ten years in Midyan, Musa left for Egypt, accompanied by his family.
On their way, one night, they pitched their tents near Mount Sinai.
It was cold and they needed fire for warmth.
He saw what looked like a fire higher up on the mountain.
Musa told the family to stay in the tents while he would go up the
mountain to bring the fire for their comfort.
When
he arrived at the site, instead of fire, he noticed a brilliant light
emanating from a bush. Musa approached the bush cautiously when he heard a voice
calling him to take off his shoes as he was in the presence of his Creator, and
that he was standing on the santified terraine.
It was here that Allah bestowed upon Musa the gifts of miracles to be
used while confronting the mighty Pharaoh.
He was given a brilliant light in his hand (Yadebaiza), and a
staff with miraculous powers. Allah
told him that He would give him other great signs to help accomplish His
mission. Musa was then instructed
to proceed to Egypt immediately.
Musa
said that he was afraid of getting arrested on a previous murder charge, and
also because he could not speak fluently due to his stuttering.
He prayed to Allah to grant him fluency of speech, and have his brother
Harun help him and be a deputy to him in all his tasks ahead.
Allah granted Musa his requests and told him that he could take his
brother along with him, and told him to be gentle in his language and be patient
in all his dealings.
Musa
was overwhelmed at the experience. The
brilliant light emanating from the bush disappeared.
For his own satisfaction, Musa varified the miracles of Yade-baiza and
conversion of his staff into a serpent. He
knew that it was not a dream, and he indeed was in the presence of The Divine
One.
Musa
came down from the mountain, narrated his experience to his wife, who
acnowledged him to be the prophet of Allah and gave him the reassurance and
comfort he needed. They made their
way to Egypt, and to the house of Imran, his father.
He took Harun aside and told him of his appointment as a prophet and his
vicergeant. Harun was pleased and
assured to help his brother in'the task that lay ahead.
The
confrontation with the Pharaoh
Musa
and Harun arrived in the court of the Pharaoh and told him that his claim of
godhood was false, for there is but one God who created the king and the
subject. He controls all that is in
this world and beyond. The only
reason for his return to Egypt was to obtain the release of his people from
their bondage in Egypt.
The
Pharaoh was not pleased with the dialogue, and said that Musa was a fugitive of
their law and was to be hanged for the crime of killing an Egyptian.
Musa said that the final justice was in the hands of Allah and that the
Pharaoh himself was commiting the worst crime in defying his own Creator by
forcing his false godhood over his subjects.
Musa produced the miracle of Yadebaiza, and showed how, with the
Will of Allah, his hand could produce blinding brilliance.
The Pharaoh laughed and said that was nothing but an act of magic.
To impress Musa, his magicians threw strings on the floor which turned
into snakes. Musa threw his staff
to the floor. It became a serpent
and devoured all the wriggling snakes.
Whereas
the magic of the Pharaoh was beaten, he declined to acknowledge the superiority
of Allah over him. As he defiantly
refused to allow Bani Israil to leave Egypt, Musa had to unleash the punishment
of Allah over him and his people. These
punishments came in the form of unseasonal floods that demolished their
dwellings, swarms of locust that destroyed the crop, pestilence of lice that
made life miserable, toads that croaked and sprang everywhere, and the turning
of all driking water into blood. Each
time the Pharaoh was subjected to humiliation, his defiance became pervasive.
Finally, when the first bom sons of all Egyptians started to die from no
apparent cause, including the beloved son of the Pharaoh, he finally gave up his
defiance and most reluctantly agreed Bani Israil to leave Egypt.
The Exodus of Bani Israil from Egypt
Musa
issued specific instructions for his people to collect all their belongings and
leave their homes before sun rise, to gather outside the city periphery.
The remains of Yusuf had already been collected in a coffin box, which
was hauled out of the city, with caution and respect.
As the people had little time to cook their normal food early in the
morning, they could only eat the bread baked from rapidly kneaded dough.
Musa led his people out of the city and headed straight for the shores of
Red Sea. When the day dawned and
the Egyptians saw their city to be devoid of the work force they reported this
to the Pharaoh. He could not
believe that Musa could achieve this mobilisation so fast.
His defiance resurged into a mad rage.
He mounted his fastest chariot and, in the company of his swiftest
horsemen, chased Musa and his people, and caught up with them at the Red Sea.
Miracles of Musa during Exodus
Musa
and his people were sandwitched between the army of the Pharaoh and the Red Sea.
The Pharaoh laughed at the situation, and said that the God of Musa was
not a very clever strategist, and clearly they were at his mercy.
He orderd them to return or be killed on the spot. The faith of Bani Israil wavered, and they started to blame
Musa for their plight. Musa prayed
for help from Allah and hit the waters of Red Sea which created a dry passage
between two walls of water. He
ordered his people to quickly cross over to the other side. When they were half way down the path, the Pharaoh descended
down the same path, in hot pursuit of the fugitives. However, man's designs are no match to that of Allah.
As soon as the last of the fugitives had crossed over to the other side,
the waters returned to fill the gap, and drowned the defiant Pharaoh, his army,
his swift chariot and all their fast horses.
Musa prayed to Allah and thanked Him for His Divine Assistance to him and
his people.
Arrival at Mount Sinai
Musa
led the large caravan through the hot desert of Sinai and arrived at the foot
hills of Mount Sinai. The caravan
was extremely short of water. They
started to moan and blame Musa for having dragged them from the comfort of their
homes into the desert with no water or shelter.
Having been exposed to the style of idol worship under Egyptian
subjugation for generations, they irked to make idols for worship in the old
fasion. Musa scolded them on their
absurd desire. He prayed to Allah
for help and hit a nearby rock with his staff.
A spring of sparkling water gushed out from it.
They all drank from the spring and washed themselves and their clothing
with the plentiful water.
Musa
told his people that he was going up the mountain for a few days and Harun would
act as his deputy in his absence. They
should consider Harun to be their overlord just as he himself was to them, and
that they should be obedient to him just as they were to Musa himself.
Having given them these instructions, he left for the heights of Mount
Sinai.
Revelation of Torah to Musa
Musa
returned to the spot where he had first received his miracles from Allah.
He took off his shoes as before and went down into subjugation to The
Creator and The Sustainer of the universe.
He prayed to Allah for His guidance.
He was given the Ten Commandments at this session. Before leaving, he begged Allah to be revealed to him.
Allah told him that it would not be possible for him to set his eye on
His Divine Radiance. He would
shower just a little of this over the mighty mountain so that he may derive his
satisfaction. No sooner the
communication had ended than a blinding pure white radiance struck the mighty
mountain and instantaneously turned it into ashes.
Musa lost consciousness from the roar that accompanied the lightening.
When he recovered, he went down in total submission and asked forgiveness
of Allah.
Having
thus received the Torah for his people, Musa came down from the mountain and
headed for the camp.
Samry
and the Golden Bull
In
the absence of Musa from the camp, the Israilites defied Harun.
Misguided by Samry, a pagan, they collected their golden jewelery and
quickly wrought a golden colt from it, as they had done for the temples of the
Pharaoh for years. They said that
the God of Musa was no where to be seen, and Musa had abandoned them in the
wilderness. They started
worshipping the Samry's colt, danced around it in sinful pursuits, and indulged
in immoral acts.
When
Musa arrived at the camp, he was infuriated to see his people in clear defiance
of his specific orders. He was very
angry with his brother for letting them indulge in blatent kufr.
Harun told him that they would not listen to him.
Musa admonished Samry and broke and burnt his golden colt.
As a punishment, the sinning people were ordained to kill one another for
atonement of sin.
Banu
Israil demand to see God of Musa
After
the commotion settled, the elders in the camp insisted upon meeting with God.
Musa told them that no one could see Allah but they were adament.
So Musa took seventy selected elders to Mount Sinai.
They were not even close to the mountain when a thundering lightening
struck in their path. The entire
groupof insolent people fell to their knees.
Musa begged Allah for their forgiveness, and brought them back to the
camp. Here they stayed for many days and Musa and his brother Harun
educated the people on the Oneness of Allah, and taught them the method of
worship as prescribed in the Torah. They
sanctified one tent and dedicated it for worship only.
They kept this congregational tent with them for worship until they came
back to the land of Kin'an where they built the first permanent Bait-ul-Muqaddas
(the Holy House).
The
Gift of Mann-o-Salwa
The
caravan had exhausted their food supply in the desert and started grumbling.
They again blamed Musa for all their difficulties.
In his prayers, Musa begged Allah for their relief.
Allah sent the gift of Mann-o-Salwa (the heavenly meals consisting
of meat and sweets) to feed them. They were happy for a short time but started grumbling about
the monotonous diet. Now they
wanted the traditional diet of lentils garnished with garlic etc.
Musa admonished them for their thanklessness.
By this time they had reached Palestine, on the border of Kin'an, where
they erected their tents in the desert.
The
Promised Land
Kin'an
was the land that Allah had promised Musa at the end of their jouney, the land
of their forefathers. They could
see the land from their high perch in the desert.
Musa sent Yusha' bin Nun to gather information.
It was here that Maryam, the sister of Musa passed away.
Yusha'
bin Nun came back and reported that the valley was very fertile with fruit
groves and vineyards. The people were
very tall and strong. Banu Israil refused
to go down to claim the territory and face a strong people in combat.
Musa
became very disheartened at the defiance and insolence of the people and prayed
to Allah for guidance. Allah
ordered Musa to take them back to the desert where they would roam in
wretchedness for forty years and they would never see the promised land.
Hearing this, they agreed to go down to the valley.
However Musa advised them to refrain from doing so since Allah had
already decreed their renewed toils in the desert.
They would not listen, and a large group from amongst them went up the
hills. They were attacked by the inhabitants of the valley and many
of them were killed in their attempt to gain control of the valley.
They had no recourse but to return to the dersert and aimlessly roam
there.
Musa
took his people and travelled south. When
he arrived at Mount Hoor, Harun, his brother passed away.
Musa continued to lead his people for the duration of this suffering.
Yusha'
bin Nun assisted Musa in the tasks that were previously carried out by Harun.
Fort,jr Years in the Desert
Musa
continued the journeys in the desert for forty years as ordained.
During this time many of the older folks, who had originated in Egypt,
died, and a new generation of Banu Israil was raised who believed in Allah and
followed orders inscribed in the Torah. They
were now eager to carry out the biddings of Allah and ' seek their destiny in
the land of Kin'an, the land of their forefathers.
Return
to the Promised Land
Musa
led them north once again and camped on the opposite banks of River Jordan.
He showed them the promised land which their parents had rejected forty
years earlier. He told them that he
would not be accompanying them beyond the banks of the river. He left them in the camp in the care of Yusha' bir,- Nun and
went up the hill for his prayers.
Musa
went up the mountain but never came back. He
died there, and nobody found him or his grave. Musa is known as,Moses in the
Torah.
References: His story has been
told in several forms and contexts in al Qur'an.
The relevant Suras are as follows: Baqarah, Alelmran, Nisaa'.
Maidah, Anam'Anjaal, Yunus, @ud, Raad, Ibrahim, Nahl, Bani Israil, Kahaf,
Maryam, Taha, Anmbiya'. Momin,
Furqan, Shu'ra' ' Qasas, A'nkaboot, Sajdah, Ahzab, Sa Yfat, Haa meem
Sajdah, Dukhan, Mujadelah, Jathiyah, Zariyat, Qamar, Tahreem, Ha'qah, Muzammil,
Nazat, Fajar.