Prophet Mousa (2)

Prophet Moosaa PBUH(2)

After Moosaa PBUH was weaned and he no longer needed his mother's milk, she returned him to the palace. As time passed by, Moosaa PBUH grew up in the king's palace as a prince. The awe of kings, emperors and the wealthy was thus erased from his heart. He saw with his own eyes the luxury that Pharaoh and his family enjoyed.

Prophet Moosaa PBUH

Prophet Moosaa PBUH

He also saw how the Israelites were oppressed for the sake of that luxury. He realized how the Israelites were made to toil like donkeys, how they were abused and humiliated. Moosaa PBUH witnessed this everyday, but he remained silent. This made him angry. How could he not feel anger and grief at the humiliation of his people and his household when they were the sons of Prophets?

Prophet Moosaa PBUH

Moosaa PBUH lived in the king's palace as a prince. Moosaa PBUH was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He lived a royal lifestyle and was honoured and respected by all. A handsome young man, clad in princely attire! He often went to the land where the Children of Israa'eel lived. He himself saw the harsh treatment meted out to them by the king's Coptic officers. When Moosaa PBUH reached manhood, Allah bestowed upon him wisdom and knowledge.

Moosaa PBUH hated injustice. He always supported the weak and those who were wronged and oppressed. In fact, every prophet was like that! Once, he entered the city when most of its people were resting in their houses, unaware of what was going on in the streets. The words 'entered the city' used by the Qur'an (Surat al-Qasas, 28:15) suggest that the royal palaces were outside the city; since Moosaa PBUH lived in one of these palaces, it is thus appropriate to say that he entered the city.

Moosa PBUH Hated miustice

In the city he encountered two men fighting with each other; one of them was from his own people (Israelites) while the other of his enemy (Coptic). The Israelite pleaded with Moosaa PBUH to help him against his enemy. Moosaa PBUH struck him with his fist and killed him. He did not intend to kill him. He only wanted to restrain him and rebuke him. That is why Moosaa PBUH exclaimed, "This is of Satan's doing! Surely, he is a plain misleading enemy." (Surat al-Qasas, 28:15)

Moosaa PBUH Kills an Egyptian

Satan had planned the mischief which prompted Moosaa PBUH to act violently. Satan's purpose was to raise a storm of enmity against Moosaa PBUH . By killing a Copt in the course of helping an Israelite, the storm was directed not only against Moosaa PBUH but against all the Israelites.

Moosaa PBUH Kills an Egyptian

Moosaa PBUH was filled with regret. He then turned to Allah and prayed, "My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me." Allah forgave him and blessed him. Moosaa PBUH vowed never to help wrongdoers. This clearly suggests that the Israelite whom Moosaa PBUH had helped was in the wrong. Moosaa PBUH resolved never to support the guilty.

Moosaa PBUH Kills an Egyptian

Moosaa PBUH Kills an Egyptian

The dead Copt was one of Pharaoh's servants. The guards began to search for his killer. Moosaa PBUH was afraid he would be caught and taken before the tyrant Pharaoh. Pharaoh was an arrogant and extremely unjust disbeliever who deliberately suppressed the truth in order to arrogate to himself the rights and powers that are properly Allah's. He sought to rule in his own name and stubbornly ignored the divine laws of Heaven.

Moosaa PBUH Kills an Egyptian

The dead man became the talk of the town, but nobody knew who had killed him. Only Moosaa PBUH and the Israelite knew what had happened. Pharaoh was furious about the killing of his servant. He told the guards that they must find out the man responsible for this killing. When Moosaa PBUH got back to the palace he found that the story was being whispered everywhere.

Moosaa PBUH Kills an Egyptian

The next day, Moosaa PBUH again saw the same Israelite involved in a fight with another Coptic Egyptian. The Israelite again cried out to Moosaa PBUH for help. Moosaa PBUH hurried to try to part them. He said to the Israelite, "You are a misleading fellow indeed." When Moosaa PBUH saw the same person engaged in fights, he became convinced that the Israelite was a quarrelsome person. He regularly picked on others. A day before he had quarrelled with one person, and the next day he was quarrelling with another.

Moosaa PBUH Kills an Egyptian

Moosaa PBUH wanted to stop the two men from fighting. After scolding the Israelite, when Moosaa PBUH turned to strike the Egyptian, the Israelite thought that Moosaa PBUH was going to hit him so he cried out,"O Moosaa! Would you kill me as you killed another man yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in this land and you do not wish to set things aright." Thus the Israelite foolishly let the secret out. Moosaa PBUH, however, did not support him. He had taken a pledge not to support the wrongdoers.

Moosaa PBUH Kills an Egyptian

In the meantime, the Copt ran away and told the guards what had happened. When the news reached Pharaoh, he became wild with anger and yelled, "Is this the same boy who was our foster son in the palace and who was brought up by the queen?" Moosaa PBUH had not meant to kill the Egyptian, but Pharaoh and his guards were not prepared to accept any excuse from Moosaa PBUH. Allah , however, wanted to rescue Moosaa PBUH from the tyrant king and his soldiers. He willed that Pharaoh would lose his kingdom and to rescue the Children of Israa'eel through Moosaa PBUH . He willed that Moosaa PBUH would bring the Children of Israa'eel out of the worship of tyrants into the worship of Allah the One.

Moosaa PBUH Kills an Egyptian

When Pharaoh's ministers held a council and resolved to have Moosaa PBUH put to death, a man came running from the farthest end of the city and said, "O Moosaa! The nobles are deliberately about you that they may put you to death. So go away from here. I am one of your well-wishers." Soon after hearing this, Moosaa PBUH departed in a state of fear. He accepted the man's advice. He looked around dreadfully and prayed, "My Lord, save me from the unjust people." (Surat al-Qasas, 28: 21)

Allah revealed to Moosaa PBUH to go to Madyan (English Median). In those days, Madyan was not a part of Pharaoh's kingdom. Egypt did not have control over the entire Sinai Peninsula but only over its western and southern parts. The region of Madyan extended from the present-day Gulf of ' Aqabah westwards deep into the Sinai Peninsula and to the mountains of Moab, east of the Dead Sea. Its inhabitants were Arabs of the Amorite group of tribes and were not under Egyptian control.

Moosaa goes to Madyan

This is why Moosaa PBUH headed towards Madyan, by Allah's leave, which was the nearest territory independent of the Egyptian territory. But to reach there, he had to pass through the country of Egypt and had to cross various checkpoints mounted by the cruel Pharaoh. He, therefore, earnestly prayed to Allah to lead him to the path, which would safely take him to Madyan. He said, "It may well be that my Lord will guide me to the right path!" (Surat al-Qasas,28: 22)

Moosaa goes to Madyan

Allah guided Moosaa PBUH to the right way leading to Madyan. However, even though the terrible journey was over, Moosaa PBUH did not know anyone in Madyan. Where could he then find shelter or spend the night? He was very worried. He was sure, however, that Allah would come to his help. Not far away a few palm trees showed that there was a well. Moosaa PBUH was tired and thirsty. The trees would give a welcome shelter from the scorching heat. So he made his way towards it. At some distance from the well, he saw two girls holding back their goats and sheep and waiting for the others to finish watering their flocks so that they could have their turn.

In Madyan (Median)

In Madyan (Median)

According to Arab traditions, the place where Moosaa PBUH had arrived was a few miles south of Magna on the Western Coast of the Gulf of 'Aqabah. It is precisely called al-Bad'. Sheikh Abul-A'laa Mawdoodee writes, " visited it in December 1959 on my way to 'Aqabah from Tabook. The residents of the town told me that they had heard from their elders that this is where ancient Mayan was located... About a mile or a mile and a half away, there are a few ruins among which we saw two dirty wells. The locals told us, though with some uncertainty, that one of the two wells was located at the spot where Moosaa had watered the animals."(Towards Understanding the Quran, Vol. VII p. 209, the Islamic Foundation, UK)

In Madyan (Median)

In other words, they were weak and so they could not be involved in any dispute with the shepherds in securing water for their flocks. Furthermore, their father was too old to water the animals and there was no male member in the family. Moosaa's heart was filled with compassion and tenderness. So he watered their flocks for them, and then he withdrew into the shade and prayed earnestly, "My Lord! I am in need of any good which you may bestow upon me." (Surat al-Qasas, 28: 24)

Moosaa PBUH asked the two women, 'What is the matter with you?'The women answered, 'We cannot water our flocks until the shepherds drive theirs home, and our father is a very old man.'" (Surat al-Qasas, 28: 23)

Moosaa PBUH had left Egypt suddenly without taking any provisions, and the journey he had made had taken several days. Therefore, he was hungry, thirsty and worn out. He was a stranger in Madyan where he had no friends or relatives, nor any shelter. So he prayed to Allah for help. According to In Katheer, the journey on foot between Egypt and Madyan was eight days long, as far as between Koofah and Basrah.

In Madyan (Median)

Meanwhile, when the two women returned home with their flocks sooner than expected, their father was surprised. When he asked them why they were home so early that day they related the incident to him. He then realized that it must have been a noble stranger who offered to help his daughters, and so he asked one of them to go and bring him home.

In Madyan (Median)

Soon thereafter one of the two women went to Moosaa PBUH , walking modestly. Her face was covered with a part of her outer garment. She said, "My father invites you so that he may duly reward you for your having watered our flock for us." Moosaa PBUH was in dire need of compassion and a kind person to provide him with protection and shelter. Moosaa PBUH, therefore, did not hesitate to go to that man's house even after hearing that he would receive some reward for the little service he had rendered. He realized that Allah had answered his prayer. So he made his way towards the house, walking ahead of the woman out of modesty.

In Madyan (Median)

When Moosaa PBUH later reached the old man's home and met him, he told him about himself and narrated to him his story. The old man listened intently. When Moosaa PBUH had finished, the old man said, "Do not be afraid; you are now safe from those evildoers."

In Madyan (Median)

Moosaa PBUH sayed with the old man as an honoured guest who treated Moosaa PBUH like his own son. One of his daughters suggested to her father to hire him as he was both strong and trustworthy. After some time, the father said to Moosaa PBUH, "I intend to give you one of these two daughters of mine in marriage provided that you serve me for eight years. However, if you complete ten years, that would be an act of grace from you, for I do not want to impose any hardship on you. I assure you that you will find me, if Allah so wills, a righteous man in all my dealings." Moosaa PBUH agreed and said, "This is agreed between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I fulfil, let there be no injustice to me, and Allah is witness to all that we say."

Moosaa's Marriage

Moosaa PBUH agreed to the terms of the agreement. He knew that Allah would surely bless it for him. Hasan ibn 'Ali ibn Abee Taalib said, "Moosa PBUH completed ten instead of eight years." 'Abdullaah ibn 'Abbaas narrated that the Prophet PBUH said, "Moosaa PBUH completed the longer of the two terms and the one that was more agreeable to his father-in-law i.e. ten years)." (al-Bukhaaree) There are various popular traditions which identify the father-in-law of Moosaa PBUH with Prophet Shu'ayb PBUH. However, there is nothing in the Qur'an directly or indirectly, which would justify such identification. The Traditions, which mention Shu'ayb PBUH in Prophet Moosaa's story are not sound!

Moosaa's Marriage

1. The Copt was in the wrong 2. No one knew about the secret of the killing except Moosaa PBUH and the Israelite 3. Moosaa PBUH was a stranger in Madyan4. The kind man in Madyan, who sheltered Moosaa PBUH, was Prophet Shu'ayb5.Moosaa PBUH stayed in Madyan for 10 years

A.State whether these statements are true (T) or false (F).

Timeline

3. "My Lord, save me from the unjust people."

2. "You only want to be a tyrant in this land..."

1. "This is of Satan's doing! Surely, he is a plain misleading enemy."

C.Refer to context

Who is Ibn Katheer?

D. Think-up

Thanks!

What kind of a king was Pharaoh? Explain in detail.

How did Allah's help eventually come to Moosaa PBUH?

What do the Qur'anic words 'entered the city' mean?

How did Moosaa PBUH help the women?

Why did Allah choose Madyan for Moosaa PBUH to travel?