Prophet Mousa (1)

Prophet Moosaa (1)

Prophet Ya'qoob PBUH and his sons came to Egypt from Can'aan at the invitation of Yoosuf PBUH, who was the then ruler of Egypt. Yoosuf PBUH warmly welcomed them and was extremely delighted to see them. The people of Egypt had also welcomed the family of their noble king. They loved this noble family because they loved Yoosuf. They had known Yoosuf PBUH to be a very compassionate man gave them good counsel, took great care of them and looked after their needs well. They had also seen that Ya'qoob PBUH was a noble and generous person.

Prophet Ya'qoob and his sons move to Egypt

Ya'qoob PBUH enjoyed great respect in Egypt whose people were to him like his own children. Indeed, the people of Egypt were pleased that Ya'qoob PBUH and his sons had come to settle down in Egypt. Banu Israa'eel lived peacefully in Egypt. However, after the death of Yoosuf PBUH , things began to change.The morals of the Israelites became corrupted and they stopped worshipping Allah and calling other people to worship Him. They fell into the evil ways of the world. The Egyptians also changed their behaviour towards the Children of sraa'eel. They began to look at them in a different way.

Prophet Ya'qoob and his sons move to Egypt

Israa'eel, which means 'servant of Allah', was the name that Allah had given to Prophet Ya'qoob PBUH. His children, therefore, were called Banu Israa'eel (the Children of Israa'eel). They were the descendants of Prophet Is-haag and Prophet Ibraaheem.

The Egyptians believed that they were the people of the land and that Egypt belonged to them alone. Some of them considered Yoosuf PBUH a foreigner who had been brought from Can'aan after having been purchased by the Azeez of Egypt. They thought it was not right that a Canaanite had become the ruler of Egypt.

Prophet Ya'qoob and his sons move to Egypt

Now, there arose a new Pharaoh who feared and hated the Children of Israa'eel. He made their life miserable with harsh labour. He passed terrible laws to keep them in slavery. 'The Children of Israa'eel are in great number. They are strong and perhaps one day they will rise against us and drive us out of our land,' thought Pharaoh.

Pharaoh's Persecution of the Children of Israa'eel

The kings of Ancient Egypt, who came to the throne to rule the nation, were called pharaohs, the plural of pharaoh, or Fir'awn. Many years had gone by since Yoosuf PBUH passed away, and the Children of Israa'eel, as his household was called, had prospered and increased.

The Pharaohs of Egypt

Pharaoh had a dream that a fire had come from the direction of Jerusalem and burnt all the Coptic people and their houses and did not harm the Israelites. When he woke up, he was very frightened that he gathered all priests, soothsayers and sorcerers and asked them about the interpretation of this dream. They said, "There will be born a boy from these people who will destroy the people of Egypt." The Pharaoh then ordered that all newborn baby boys be killed and baby girls be spared.

EGYPT

The Killing of their NewbornBaby Boys

He bore a deep hatred towards the Children of Israa'eel. He thought that his people, the Copts, were far better than the Children of Israa'eel. The Copts, he thought, were a kingly race and that they were there only to rule while the Children of Israa'eel were a race of slaves who were only there to serve. Fir'awn (Pharaoh) was an arrogant tyrant. He believed that no one was higher than him. He did not believe in Allah. He used to say, "I am your most exalted lord." He was dazzled by his vast kingdom and the plentiful provisions which Almighty Allah had bestowed upon him.

The Killing of their NewbornBaby Boys

He ordered his people to worship him and to prostrate before him, and they obeyed. But the Israelites refused to do so. They believed in Allah and His Messengers. The Pharaoh therefore became very angry indeed with Banu Israa'eel. The Pharaoh made them into slaves. He made them to toil all day in the scorching desert heat. If someone fainted or lagged behind in their work, the cruel task-masters would severely whip them to drive them on. Many people died under the scorching heat and the terrible beatings.

The Killing of their NewbornBaby Boys

The Killing of their NewbornBaby Boys

By giving orders to his soldiers to kill every baby boy born among the Children of Israa'eel, he hoped to make certain that no baby boys were allowed to grow up into men who might then fight against him. There was mourning among the children of Israa'eel when Pharaoh's orders were carried out. The Pharaoh thought that he was the people's lord and master who could put to death whomever he pleased and let alive whomever he pleased!

The Killing of their NewbornBaby Boys

His soldiers searched out throughout Egypt, and whenever they learnt that a baby boy had been born among the Israelites, they would seize him and kill him right away.Hundreds of children were killed in front of their mothers and fathers. Indeed, the day on which a baby boy was born to the Israelites was a day of great grief and sorrow. Sometimes hundreds of baby boys were killed on the same day.

But Allah willed that what the Pharaoh dreaded and had been warned about would happen. The child that Allah had destined to destroy the Pharaoh's kingdom and to bring people out of darkness of idol-worship into light of true faith was born. In spite of Pharaoh's arrogance and the cruelty of his strong armies, Moosaa ibn 'Imraan PBUH was born and survived. He was a lovely child, and his mother felt she had to try to save him; so she told no one of his birth and warned her children not to speak of their baby brother.

The Birth of Moosaa PBUH

Allah the Almighty then inspired her, "Suckle him for a time, but when you fear for his life, cast him into the river and do not fear nor grieve; indeed, We will bring him back to you and make him one of the messengers." (Surat al-Qasas, 28:7)

For a couple of months, Moosaa's mother managed to keep him safely hidden. Then she became afraid. The baby boy was getting older. Any day someone might hear him crying and would then tell the soldiers about him. What could she do? She became frightened. She had seen the soldiers dragging scores of baby boys from their mothers' laps. How could she hide her gorgeous baby from the eyes of the cruel guards?

Baby Moosaa PBUH survives

Baby Moosaa PBUH survives

It was not Allah's Command that the child be cast into the river immediately. Instead, until there was a real threat to the child's life, he was to be suckled by his mother. Only when she feared that Moosaa's birth was known to the enemy either by his crying or through some informer, was she to put the baby into a chest and cast it into the river. Thereafter, she should have no fear or worry! Moosaa's mother put her trust in Allah. Her household was not able to protect the child any more. There were soldiers and guards everywhere. There were spies seeking out the newborn baby boys.

So Moosaa's mother did what Allah had commanded her to do. She put her lovely child into a chest. When she realised that no one was about, she went down to the Nile River, laid the chest with Moosaa PBUH in it on the water and set it floating on the Nile River. She was very anxious, but then she grew calm because she had put her trust in Allah Most High and knew that Allah would not disappoint her. She had been assured that by doing so she would not expose her baby to any danger, for Allah would certainly restore her baby to her and make him one of His messengers.

Moosaa's Extraordinary Survival as a Baby

The chest went on with baby Moosaa inside it until it passed by the Pharaoh's palace. One of Pharaoh's slave-girls saw it and picked it up. When it was brought before Pharaoh's wife Aasiyah, she opened it and, to her great amazement, she saw a very handsome boy with a radiant face whom she loved instantly.

In the Palace of Pharaoh

When Pharaoh found out about the new baby boy, he commanded that he be killed, but his virtuous wife looked at the child, her heart filled with love and affection, wrapped her hands around him and began to kiss him. She pleaded with the king, "[He will be] a comfort of the eye for you and me! Do not kill him, for he may well be of use to us, or we may adopt him as a son." (Surat al-Qasas, 28:9) Thus Moosaa PBUH entered Pharaoh's palace and survived in spite of Pharaoh's opposition and his soldiers' cruelty. Allah willed that Pharaoh bring up the very baby at whose hands his kingdom would be lost. How wrong he and his chief advisor Haamaan were!

Pharaoh's Wife adopts Moosaa PBUH

Moosaa's mother was very worried, but Allah gave her comfort. He gave her heart enough strength to keep alive her faith in Allah's promise. Moosaa's elder sister had kept an eye on the floating chest. She had done so while walking along the bank of the river. She kept the chest in view without giving any hint that her walk along the bank had anything to do with the chest. The chest was floating on the river. Moosaa's sister was probably ten or twelve of age at that time. She was intelligent. She successfully traced her brother's arrival into the palace of Pharaoh.

Distress of Moosaa's Mother

Pharaoh's wife looked for a wet nurse to suckle the child. She called several wet nurses but the baby would not take milk from any of them. In fact, Allah had from the very beginning caused him to refuse the breasts of Egyptian wet nurses, and so they looked for someone who could foster the baby. Moosaa PBUH, however, did not take milk from any foster mother. They sent him with wet nurses and in the escort of other women to the market, so that they might find someone who could possibly breastfeed him.

Who will suckle the Baby?

Who will suckle the Baby?

While they were waiting there, Moosaa's sister spotted him. Without giving any hint that she was his sister, she said to them, "Shall I direct you to a family that might rear him for you, and look after him in a good manner?" They readily accepted it and went to her house. When Moosaa's mother took him and put him to her breast, he immediately started suckling. They felt overjoyed and sent a messenger to inform Aasiyah. Aasiyah soon summoned her to her palace and offered her to stay in it, but she refused. She said that she had a husband and children. She could not stay in the palace to suckle him with her. Aasiyah agreed and sent the baby with her along with all the expenses for him. Moosaa's mother happily returned home with her baby, knowing full well that Allah's promise always comes true.

The result of Allah's grand plan was that Moosaa PBUH did not become a Pharaonic prince in the true sense of the expression. Rather he spent his early childhood among his own kith and kin. However, it was agreed that Moosaa PBUH would be brought to the palace whenever the queen wanted to see him. Allah's promise was thus fulfilled and Moosaa PBUH returned to his mother safely.

Who will suckle the Baby?

1. Banu Israa'eel means 2. Banu Israa'eel were the descendants of Prophet and Prophet 3.Allah caused Moosaa PBUH to refuse the milk of 4. was Pharaoh's wife.

A. Fill in the blanks.

B. Answer the following questions.

a. and put her trust in Allah b. Haamaan c. the rulers of ancient Egypt d. an eve on the chest e. what Pharaoh dreaded

1.Pharaohs2.Allah wanted 3.Moosaa's mother grew calm 4.The Pharaoh's chief advisor 5.Moosaa's sister kept

C. Match the following.

THANK YOU!

What do you think made Pharaoh spare Moosaa's life even though he was bent on killing him?

Why did Moosaa's mother wait for two months before casting him into the river?

In what way was Pharaoh an 'arrogant' tyrant?

Why were the Egyptians fearful of Banu Israa'eel?

How were the Israelites tortured at the hands of Pharaoh?

Why was Pharaoh particularly hateful towards the Israelite baby boys?

Who was Israa'eel ? What does the name mean?

How did Allah fulfil His Promise to Moosaa's mother?