Prophet Moses (AS) - Part 1

THE STORY OF THE ISRAELITES

    As we saw in Prophet Joseph's (AS) story, when his brothers recognised him, he ordered them to return to Canaan to bring the whole family back to him. So Jacob (AS) and his family went to Egypt. Joseph (AS) asked the king to grant them a fertile land where they could settle with their sheep and camels, and engage themselves in farming and raising animals. It is believed that Joseph ‘P.B.UH) requested this land in order to prevent, as much as possible, the offspring of Jacob (P.B.UH) from mingling with the Egyptians, who were idolaters. In this manner, he hoped to protect their monotheistic religion.

    Jacob (AS) and his offspring settled in the land that the king of Egypt had granted them and began a new life there. According to the Old Testament, at that time, the number of Israelites was seventy persons, and increasing day by day. After residing in that land for seventeen years, Jacob (AS) passed away. As was his will, Jacob's (AS) body was carried to Palestine and buried there.

    After Jacob's (AS) death, the Israelites came under the guardianship of Joseph (P.B U.H.)As their population increased, they occupied more lands in the area. However, the Israelites did not remain in peace and comfort for long because after Joseph (AS) died, the times were changed.

    The Pharaohs who came to power after the death of Joseph (AS), were worried about the large number of Israelites, and they feared that the Israelites would unite with the enemies of Egypt and rise in revolt against them. So the Pharaohs gradually cut them off from important positions and began to kill, torment and scatter them; they allowed all manner of disrespect and molestation of them.

    The Pharaoh in whose time Moses (AS)was born, was more arrogant and more eager for superiority than the others. As soon as he came to power and saw that the people speak of worshipping God, he claimed superiority, saying, "I am God on earth. I am-the Lord and master of you all. The command is my command".

    A group of flattering and ignorant people gathered around Pharaoh and began honouring him in order to benefit from his power.

    The Israelites, however, did not submit to Pharaoh's pretension, because they worshipped the One and Only God. For this reason, Pharaoh increased the persecution and molestation of the Israelites. He killed their babies and sought to annihilate them all. He ordered that all the arduous and toilsome jobs be turned over to them. He assigned some agents to engage them in continuous work and to not permit them, even for a moment, peace and rest. Whenever a servant was needed for base and toilsome labour, they chose one from among the Israelites. Every low and difficult job was forced on the Israelite men and women, including the preparation of the soil for farming and cultivation. These insults, torments and tortures are mentioned in numerous chapters (suras) of the Holy Qur'an. One of the bounties that God bestowed on the Israelites was rescuing them from those intolerable conditions.


PHARAOH'S MOTIVE FOR THIS HARSH TREATMENT

    One night, Pharaoh dreamed that a fire came from the direction of Jerusalem and surrounded the houses of the Egyptians and Coptics; it burned and destroyed them all, but did not damage any of the houses of the Israelites.

    The next morning, Pharaoh summoned astrologers, sorcerers and dream-interpreters. He narrated his dream to them and asked them to interpret it. They told him, "From among the Israelites, a child will be born who will cause your downfall; the time of his birth is at hand."

    Upon hearing this, Pharaoh summoned all the midwives of Egypt and commanded them to kill all the baby boys born among the Israelites, but to spare the lives of the baby girls. In order to enforce his command, he assigned some agents to oversee this job.


THE BIRTH OF MOSES (AS)

    Imran was an Israelite man who was a descendant of Prophet Jacob (AS); he worshipped God. He lived in Egypt, and earned his living by raising animals. Imran's wife became pregnant with Moses (AS).

    With each passing day, the birth of the saviour of the Israelites drew closer; however, by the will of God, no one realised that Imran ‘s wife was pregnant. On the night that Moses was born, nobody was aware of his birth except his sister.

    Moses' mother secretly suckled her child until she feared lest the agents should become aware because of the baby's cry and kill him. She and her family gave this matter much thought. At last, God inspired her to put her child in a chest and release it on the river Nile; to entrust him to God and to be sure that God would protect him. So, Moses' mother wrapped him in a piece of cloth and placed him in a chest. In the cover of darkness, she went to the bank of the river Nile and released the chest on the river. The river's waves carried the chest away and Moses' mother watched with anxiety; she appealed to God to help her baby.

    Nobody can exactly imagine the emotions of this mother in these sensitive moments, but the Persian poetess, Parvin Etesami, has, to an extent, brought this scene to life in her beautiful, sentimental poem:

    When Moses' mother, Moses into the Nile threw, For the glorious Lord had ordered her to,

    From the riverside, with grief, she did stare; "O, my little innocent babe", she did declare,

    "If the Mercy of the Lord, you forgets, How will you be saved from this boat, pilotless?

    "If the Immaculate God remembers you not, The water will suddenly put you to nought."

    Inspiration came, "What a wrong thought! Our wayfarer already home We've brought.

    "That which you threw, We caught; The Hand of Truth you saw, but knew not.

    "Within you is but motherly love and affection; Justice and Kindness from Our direction.

    "Don't lose your calm, jest is not God's way; We will return that which We carried away."


MOSES IN THE PALACE OF PHARAOH

    Pharaoh had a wife named Asieh who worshipped God, but hid her faith. She had no children. One spring she asked Pharaoh to erect a pavilion in the bank of the river Nile in order to enjoy the spring weather on the riverside. Pharaoh ordered that a pavilion be built, and he and Asieh stayed there.

    One day Asieh was looking at the beauty of the river Nile when suddenly she caught sight of a chest which was being carried along by the water. She called upon some servants to get the chest from the water. When they opened the chest, they saw a fair baby therein. Upon seeing the baby, Pharaoh's wife was filled with love for him. She took him out of the chest, put him in her lap and said, "This is my son". Asieh took the baby to Pharaoh and asked him not to kill the baby; rather, to adopt him as his child.

    Pharaoh said, "/o woman! I fear that this child is the very person whom we are afraid of. Let's kill him and put our worries to rest." Asieh replied, "Don't fear. Isn't it a pity that all the people have a child while you, with all this glory and power, have none? The water has brought this child as a gift for us. We can adopt him as our own child and educate him however we wish."

    Pharaoh grudgingly accepted. They named the child Moses and sought a wet nurse to feed him. Several women volunteered to feed Moses, but he would not take any breast and would not drink milk.

    Meanwhile, Moses' mother had sent her daughter after Moses to - see what would happen to him. She secretly watched, and Pharaoh's people did not notice her. When she saw that Pharaoh's agents were looking for a wet nurse for Moses (AS), she came forward and said, "May I show you a family who can nurse him for you with kindness?"

    They accepted and Moses' mother went to Pharaoh's palace. They brought the baby to her, and she took him into her arms. She began feeding him, and the baby drank with complete delight.


GOD'S PROMISE FULFILLED

    When Pharaoh's wife saw that the baby accepted the woman's milk, she asked Pharaoh to provide a salary for the woman - who was, in fact, Moses' mother - so that she would stay in their palace to feed and care for the baby. Moses' mother, who had become assured of the promise of God at the sight of her child, declined to stay in the palace. She told them, "I have a husband and children; I can't leave my home and husband and children in order to nurture this baby. If you wish, I will take the baby to my home and care for him there."

    Pharaoh's wife agreed; so, although Pharaoh was against her being wet nurse for the baby, Moses' mother brought her beloved child home and, with peace of mind, began caring for him.

    Days and months passed and Moses (AS)grew in the lap of his mother and brightened the life of his family. During this time, Moses (AS)wa5 sometimes taken to Pharaoh's palace so that they could see him. And so it was until Moses' period of nursing was over and he was taken back to Pharaoh's palace.


RETURN TO PHARAOH'S PALACE

    It was the will of Almighty God that Moses (AS) be raised in the home of his worst enemy - the enemy who, in order to annihilate Moses (AS), had slaughtered thousands of innocent babies and had ripped the stomachs of pregnant women. So Moses (AS.) was again taken to Pharaoh's palace, and Pharaoh's wife, with the deep affection for Moses (AS.) that God had put into her heart, became in charge of his guardianship and education. So Moses passed the first days of his childhood in comfort and riches in the home of his worst enemy.

    In Pharaoh's palace, Moses (AS) was respected and cherished by Pharaoh's family and companions. But Moses (AS) always tried to make his presence in Pharaoh's court beneficial to the Israelites; he was always kind to slaves, and promised to rescue them.

    When Moses (AS) became matured and grew to manhood, God, the High, granted him wisdom; thus, Moses was rewarded by God for his good deeds.


WHY MOSES LEFT EGYPT?

    From the prophecies that their ancestors had handed down to them about the advent of Moses (AS) and from the signs that they saw in him, the Israelites little by little came to know that the time of their affliction and wretchedness was drawing to an end. They came to know that, God, the High, has willed to deliver them from under the yoke of the oppression and torture of Pharaoh's people and the Coptics by way of Moses (AS) - the very same strong, brave young man who grew up in Pharaoh's palace. For this reason, whenever the Israelites saw Moses (AS), they honoured him and related their sufferings to him, asking him for help. On various occasions, Moses (AS) went to the Israelites and made them hopeful about the future. Whenever he found an opportunity, he would take action in their support and remove aggression from them.

    One day as Moses (AS) was walking around the city, far from the sight of Pharaoh's agents, he saw an Israelite-who was fighting with a Coptic. The Coptic was trying to impose a job on the Israelite and wanted to force him to do it. The Israelite did not want to do the job, so they were fighting. When the Israelite caught sight of Moses (P.B.UH., he called on him to help. Moses (AS) went forth to prevent the Coptic from coercing and oppressing others. The Coptic resisted; so, in defence of the Israelite, Moses (AS) struck him in the chest. The Coptic fell to the ground and died.

    Moses (AS) was full of regret and repentance. He prayed, "O my Lord! I have wronged my soul. Forgive me!" And God forgave him. Moses (AS) said, "O Lord! Because you have bestowed Your Grace on me, I shall never be a help to those who sin.

    Worried and frightened, Moses (AS) passed the night in a haven. In the meantime, the story of the killing of the Coptic man spread through the city. Everyone knew that he was killed by an Israelite, but no one knew who the killer was - except the Israelite man whom Moses (AS) had helped. The news of the killing of the Coptic also reached Pharaoh, and he scattered a number of agents around the city to find the killer.

    The next morning, Moses (AS) was walking around the city in fear lest he should be recognised and arrested. Suddenly, he saw the same Israelite fighting with another Coptic. Moses (AS), upset about the incident of the day before, reproached the Israelite, saying, "It is clear that you are truly a quarrelsome person!"

    When Moses (AS) went forward to lay hold of the Coptic, the Israelite, imagining that Moses intended to punish him, became frightened and said, "Do you want to kill me as you killed that man yesterday? Your intention is none other than to become a tyrant in the land, and not to be one who sets things right!"

    The Coptic then understood that Moses (AS.) was the killer that they were looking for, and he informed Pharaoh's agents, who tried to find and arrest him. At this time, Pharaoh's treasurer, who believed in God and worshipped Him in secret, went to Moses and said, "O Moses, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you to slay you. I sincerely advise you to leave the city."


MOSES' DEPARTURE FROM EGYPT

    Moses (AS) left the city with fear and anxiety; he asked God to help him and protect him from the unjust people. For a person like Moses (AS), who had never travelled, this Journey was very difficult. Besides this, he did not even have any provisions with himself. He began walking, not knowing which way to go, until by the help of God, he set out in the route which led to the city of Midian. Moses (AS)walked for several days and lived on desert herbs until, wearied and fatigued, he arrived at the city gates of Midian. Near a well, he rested under a tree.

    While resting, Moses (AS) saw a group of people gathered around the well drawing water for their sheep. He saw two women who were standing aside with their sheep, waiting for the men to finish watering; then, if any water remained at the bottom of the watering hollow, they would water their own sheep. When all the men had watered their sheep and gone from the well, no water remained in the hollow. The two women were standing, perplexed; they were not strong enough to draw water for their sheep. Moses' sense of honour and feeling for protecting the weak did not allow him to sit by and watch. Although he was exhausted, he went forth, drew water from the well, and watered the women's sheep. Then he returned to his place. Overcome by hunger, he said, "0 Lord, truly I am in need of any good that You send me!"

    The two women were Prophet Shu'aib's daughters. When they returned home, they told their father about the kindness of Moses ‘PB.U.H.). Shu'aib told one of-them, "Bring that man to me so that I may reward him for his good deed."

    The girl went to Moses (AS) and said, "My father has invited you and wants you to go to see him." Moses (AS) accepted Shu'aib'5 invitation and set out. The girl was walking in front, and Moses (AS) was following. After going a few steps, Moses (AS) said, "I will go in front; you come behind me and tell me which way to go."

    Guided by the girl, Moses (AS) arrived at Shu'aib'5 house. Shu'aib ordered that food be brought. Then he asked Moses (AS) out himself and Moses narrated his story. Shu'aib consoled him and said, "Do not be afraid. Now you are secure from the unjust people."


MOSES' MARRIAGE

    Upon hearing Moses' life story and seeing his virtues and good manners, Shu'aib wished to somehow keep Moses (AS) with himself and to make use of him in the supervision of his wealth. He consulted his older daughter, Zipporah, about the matter; she encouraged him to do so. Therefore, Shu'aib told Moses (AS), "I want to marry one of my daughters to you, provided that you serve me for eight years; but if you serve for ten years, it will be a grace from you. But I do not want to place you under a difficulty. God willing, you will find me a righteous person."

    Moses (AS) accepted Shu'aib's offer and said, "Let it be a binding contract between you and I: whichever of the two terms I fulfil, let there be no ill-will to me. God be a witness to what we say." Thus, Moses (AS) married the daughter of Shu'aib, and with complete sincerity, began serving Shu'aib.

    As Moses (AS) had promised, he stayed with Shu'aib for ten years. When the ten years were over, he told Shu'aib, "I must return to my own country and visit my mother, brother and family". Shu'aib agreed to Moses' return and gave him a number of sheep and the rod' which he had inherited from his forebears. Moses (AS), with his wife and sheep, set out for Egypt.


THE TUR VALLEY

    Fearing lest he should be captured by the rulers of Syria, Moses (AS) took a by-way, trying to stay away from cities and towns. On a cold winter night, they lost their way; perplexed, they remained where they were. The desert in which they had stopped was the Desert of Tur which lies south of Jerusalem.

    Moses (AS) tried to find a fire from which to get an ember. He was looking all around when suddenly he saw a fire in the direction of Mount Tur. He said to his family, "Wait here. I see a fire. I hope to bring you some news from there, or a burning ember so that you may warm yourselves."

    Moses (AS) then went hastily toward the fire. When he approached it, a voice was heard from the right side of the valley, from a flaming tree, saying, "0 Moses! Verily I am your Lord. Take off your shoes; you are in the holy valley of Tuwa. I have chosen you as my Messenger. Listen, then, to the revelation: I am God; there is no God but I. So, worship only Me and establish regular prayer for remembrance of Me." Then God said, "O Moses, what is in your right hand?" Moses (AS) replied, "It is my rod." God said, "Throw it, 0 Moses."

    Moses (AS) threw it and suddenly he saw that it was a serpent in motion. God said, "Seize it and do not fear; We will return it to its original form." Then He said, "Now place your hand into the clothes at your bosom; it will come forth white and shining without harm, as another sign to show you two of Our greater signs. Go to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed all bounds."

    Moses (AS) said, "O my Lord! I have slain a man among them, and fear lest they slay me. My brother Aaron is more eloquent in speech than I, so send him with me as a helper to confirm and strengthen me; for I fear that they may accuse me of falsehood."

    God said, " We will certainly strengthen you through your brother, and grant you both with authority so they shall not dare to touch you. With Our signs, you shall triumph: you two as well as those who follow you."

    In this way, Moses (AS) was appointed as a Prophet of God, and, for the first time, he spoke with God; thus, he was called "Kalim-ollah", the one who speaks with God.


FULFILLING THE DIVINE MISSION

    After receiving the Divine mission, Moses (AS) returned to his wife and, after a few days, sent her and his new-born baby back to Midian; he headed for Egypt. Moses (P.B.UH) recounted the command of God to Aaron. So, Moses (AS) and Aaron, encouraged by the promise of God, prepared themselves and, with an iron will, headed for Pharaoh's palace. With reliance on God, they entered the palace and met with Pharaoh.

    Pharaoh was surprised to see Moses (AS), and asked, "What do you want and why have you come here?" Moses (AS) replied, "My brother and I are prophets and we have come, by the order of God, to invite you and your nation to desist from your improper claim; to leave off worshipping idols; and to worship the Wise, Great, and Unique God. Also, you must release the Israelites from slavery and the yoke of oppression and tyranny."

    Pharaoh was surprised to hear this, and said, "Didn't we cherish you as a child among us, and didn't you stay in our midst many years of your life? And when you killed that Coptic man, you escaped from here. Now you have come to invite us to worship the ‘Unique God' among the gods of Egypt."

    Moses (AS) replied, "The Unique and Powerful God is he who created the Universe, the earth and sky, human beings and all creatures. In His hand are life and death."

    "As for the day that I killed the Coptic, I wasn't aware of what the result of my action would be, and my Lord forgave me because the cause of that incident was the oppression which you permitted against the Israelites."

    Pharaoh was perplexed by Moses answer and asked him to present a clear proof of his Prophethood. Moses (AS) said, "My proof is in my hand; this is a sign of the power of the Great God." Then he threw his rod to the ground. The rod turned into a huge serpent. Pharaoh and those around him became terrified. Moses (AS) caught the serpent and it turned back into the same rod. Then he said, ‘This is another sign," and he drew his hand out from his bosom; a light glowed from it that dazzled the eyes.

    All those present were astounded; they were seeing things that they had never seen before. Pharaoh was greatly afraid, and did not know what to do in the face of these miracles. Those around Pharaoh, who saw their Lord so weak and overpowered, told him, "Hold Moses and his brother off for a while, and send some men to the cities to collect and bring all the skilful sorcerers to you."

    Pharaoh told Moses (AS), "Have you come to drive us out of our land with your magic? But we can surely produce magic to match yours! So make a contest between us and you - which we shall not fail to keep - at an appointed time and place."

    Moses (AS) accepted and set the day of the contest with Pharaoh's sorcerers for the Festival Day. Pharaoh, without delay, sent agents all over his country to bring the skilful sorcerers.


THE ASSEMBLY OF SORCERERS

    On the appointed day, a large number of skilful sorcerers gathered in Pharaoh's court. Pharaoh encouraged them, promising that he would reward them well if they won the contest with Moses (AS). Then Moses and Aaron entered and Pharaoh said, "O Moses, that day you performed some acts and considered them as a sign of your Prophethood, while my slaves and servants can also do such acts; you cannot deceive people in this way."

    Moses (AS) replied, "God, the Great, has chosen me as a prophet, and no one can fight the Will of God." Pharaoh said, " We shall try. People have intelligence and will understand everything."

    Moses (AS) replied, "Yes, if the people did not have intelligence, they would not have responsibility either." Then, at Pharaoh's command, the sorcerers gathered and brought forward the devices which they had prepared. They said, "O Moses, will you begin, or shall we begin?"

    Moses (P.B.UH) replied, "You begin." Upon hearing this, the sorcerers said, "By the might of Pharaoh, it is we who will certainly win," and they set into motion a multitude of magic tricks which were very astonishing for the people; sticks and ropes turned into serpents and began jumping and leaping. This bizarre spectacle bewitched the people's eyes and struck terror in their hearts.

    Then Moses (AS) declared, "Now behold the Power of God, "and threw his rod to the ground. The rod turned into a great serpent, swallowed up all their magic tricks, and attacked the people around Pharaoh. Moses (AS) reached out and caught hold of the serpent, and it turned back into a rod.

    At this time, an uproar arose from the people. The sorcerers fell down in prostration, saying, "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, the Lord of Moses and Aaron." Thus, the sorcerers were the first people to believe, and they confessed their incapability and weakness in the face of the Power of God.

    Pharaoh was enraged by this event. In order to cover up his defeat and helplessness, he furiously said to the sorcerers, "Do you believe in him before I permit you? Surely he was your master and has taught sorcery to you!"

    Pharaoh threatened them with the most terrifying tortures, but they said in reply to Pharaoh, "Never will we prefer you to these miracles, which have been sent for us, and the God Who has created us. So decree whatever you desire to decree; you can only decree as regards to the life of this world. As for us, we will return to our Lord!"

    Pharaoh ordered that they all be arrested and thrown into prison, and that the Israelites be treated more severely. And, he said, "I will think of something for destroying Moses!"