Mūsa (Moses) (peace be upon him)
There emerged later an arrogant despot in Egypt, called Pharaoh. He claimed to be divine and commanded people to worship him. He used to slaughter and wrong anyone as he wished. Allah Almighty informs us about him saying:{Indeed, Pharaoh arrogantly elevated himself in the land and divided its people into different factions; oppressing one group of them, slaughtering their sons and sparing their women alive. He was truly one of those who spread corruption. But We wanted to bestow favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and inheritors [of the land],and to establish them in the land, and to show Pharaoh, Hāmān and their soldiers that which they feared. We inspired the mother of Moses, “Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river, and do not fear or grieve. We will surely return him to you
and will make him one of the messengers.”1Then the household of Pharaoh picked him up, so that he may become an enemy to them and a source of grief. Indeed, Pharaoh, Hāmān and their soldiers were wrongdoers. Pharaoh’s wife said, “He is a source of joy for me and you. Do not kill him; he will probably benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.” They were unaware [of the consequences].The heart of Moses’ mother became restless; she was about to disclose it, had We not reassured her heart so that she would maintain her faith [in Allah’s promise].She said to his sister, “Keep track of him.” So, she watched him from a distance, without them noticing. We had already forbidden for him all wet-nurses, then she said, “Shall I direct you to a household who will nurse him for you and take good care of him? «Then We returned him to his mother, so that she would be comforted and not grieve, and so that she would know that Allah’s promise is true. Yet most of them do not know. When he reached his full strength and maturity, we gave him wisdom and knowledge. This is how We reward those who do good. Once he entered the city unnoticed by its people and found two men fighting: one of his own people and the other of his enemies. The one from his own people called him for help against his enemy, so Moses struck him with his fist, causing his death. Moses said, “This is of Satan’s work; he is a sworn enemy who mislead people. «He said, “My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me,” Then He forgave him, for He is indeed the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. He said, “My Lord, because of the blessings that You have bestowed upon me, I will never be a supporter to the wicked. «Then he became fearful and vigilant in the city; suddenly the one who sought his help the day before cried out to him again for help. Moses said to him, “You are clearly a troublemaker. «When he was about to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he said, “O Moses, do you want to kill me as you killed that person yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land, and you do not want to be one of those who put things right! «Then there came a man rushing from the farthest end of the city, and said, “O Moses, the chiefs are conspiring to kill you, so leave. I am giving
1 His mother put him in a casket and threw him into the river.
you a sincere advice. «So, he left the city, fearful and vigilant. He said, “My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people. «When he headed towards Midian, he said, “My Lord will surely guide me to a straight way. «When he arrived at the well of Midian, he found a crowd of people watering [their flocks] and found apart from them two women holding [their flocks] back. He said, “What is the matter with you?” They said, “We cannot water [them] until the shepherds take [their flocks] away, and our father is a very old man.”So he watered [their flocks] for them, then he turned to the shade and said, “My Lord, I am desperately in need of whatever good You may send down to me.”Then one of the two women came to him, walking modestly. She said, “My father is inviting you so that he may reward you for watering [our flocks] for us.” When he came to him and told him the whole story, he said, “Have no fear. You are now safe from the wrongdoing people. «One of the two daughters said, “O dear father, hire him; the best one you can hire is the strong and trustworthy. «He said, “I would like to give you one of these two daughters of mine in marriage, provided that you serve me for eight years; if you complete ten, it will be of your own free will. I do not want to make things difficult for you. You will find me, if Allah wills, from among the righteous. «Moses said, “Let that be the agreement between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I complete, there will be no further obligation on me, and Allah is Witness over what we say. «When Moses had completed the term and was traveling with his family, he spotted a fire in the direction of Mount Tūr. He said to his family, “Stay here; I have spotted a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there some news or a brand of fire so that you may warm yourselves. «But when he came to it, he was called from the tree in the sacred ground on the right side of the valley: “O Moses, I am Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Throw down your staff.” But when he saw it slithering as if it were a snake, he turned and ran away without looking back. [Allah said], “O Moses, come back, and have no fear; you are perfectly safe. Put your hand into your garment, it will come out shining white without blemish; and draw your arms tight to you to calm your fear. These are two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his chiefs, for they are indeed a rebellious people. «Moses said, “My Lord, I have killed one of their men,
and I fear that they may kill me.My brother Aaron is more eloquent than me in speech, so send him with me as a helper to confirm my words, for I fear that they may reject me.”Allah said, “We will strengthen you through your brother and give you both power, so they cannot harm you. With Our signs, you and your followers will prevail.”}[Surat al-Qasas: 4-35]
Moses and his brother Hārūn (Aaron) went to Pharaoh, the arrogant king, and called him to worship Allah, the Lord of the worlds:{Pharaoh said, “What is ‘the Lord of the worlds’? «Moses said, “The Lord of the heavens and earth and all that is between them, if only you had sure faith. «Pharaoh said to those around him, “Did you hear [what he just said]?”Moses said, “Your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers. «Pharaoh said, “Your messenger who has been sent to you is truly insane! «Moses said, “Lord of the east and west and all that is between them, if only you had sense! «Pharaoh said, “If you take any god other than me, I will throw you into prison. «Moses said, “What if I bring you a clear proof? «Pharaoh said, “Bring it then, if you are truthful! «So, he threw down his staff, and suddenly it was a real serpent. And he drew out his hand, and it was glowing white to the beholders. Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him, “This is indeed a learned magician! He wants to drive you out of your land with his magic. What do you suggest? «They said, “Let him and his brother wait and dispatch heralds to the citiesto bring you every learned magician. «So, the magicians were assembled at an appointed time on a known day. And it was said to the people, “Will you join the gathering, so that we may follow the magicians if they are victorious? «When the magicians came, they said to Pharaoh, “Will there be a reward for us if we are victorious? «He said, “Yes, and then you will surely be of those who are close to me.”Moses said to them, “Throw whatever you wish to throw. «So, they threw their ropes and staffs, and said, “By the glory of Pharaoh, it is we who will be the victorious! «Then Moses threw his staff, and at once it swallowed up all objects of their illusion. So, the magicians fell down in prostration. They said, “We believe in the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of Moses and Aaron. «Pharaoh said, “How dare you believe in him before I give you permission. Indeed, he is your master who taught you magic, but
you will soon come to know. I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, then I will crucify you all. «They said, “No harm; we will surely return to our Lord. We hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, as we are the first of the believers. «We inspired Moses, “Leave with My slaves by night; you will surely be pursued. «So, Pharaoh sent heralds to the cities, saying, “These are but a small band, and they have enraged us, but we are all well-prepared. «Thus, did We drive them out of their gardens and springs, and their treasures and splendid dwellings. So it was; and We made the Children of Israel to inherit them. They pursued them at sunrise. When the two groups saw each other, the companions of Moses said, “We are surely overtaken! «Moses said, “Certainly not! My Lord is with me; He will guide me.”Then We inspired Moses, “Strike the sea with your staff,” so it parted, each part became like a huge mountain. Then We brought the others [pursuers] close to that place, and We saved Moses and all those who were with him, then We drowned the others. Indeed, there is a sign in this, yet most of them would not believe. Indeed, your Lord is the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful.}[Surat ash-Shu‘arā’: 23– 68]When Pharaoh was about to drown, he said: I believe that there is no god but the One in Whom the children of Israel believe. Thereupon, Allah Almighty says:{Now [you believe]? You had always been disobedient and were one of the mischief-makers! So today We will preserve your body, so that you will be an example for those who come after you, yet most people are heedless of Our signs.} [Surat Yūnus: 91-92]
Then, Allah made the people of Moses, who had been wronged, inheritors of the eastern and western parts of earth which Allah blessed, and He destroyed what Pharaoh and his people had done.
Allah then revealed to Moses the Torah, a book containing guidance for people and light to lead them to what Allah loves and what pleases Him and elucidating the lawful and unlawful to be observed by the children of Israel (the people of Moses).
After Moses (peace be upon him) had passed away, Allah Almighty sent numerous prophets to his people – the children of Israel – guiding them to the right path. Whenever a prophet died, another would succeed him.
Allah Almighty mentioned to us some of these prophets, such as Dāwūd (David), Sulaymān (Solomon), Ayyūb (Job), and Zakariya (Zechariah), and many others were not mentioned. Then, He sealed those prophets with ‘Isa (Jesus), the son of Mary, whose life abounded with miraculous signs, starting with his birth and ending with his ascension to heaven.
The Torah, revealed by Allah Almighty to Moses, went through distortions and alterations over time at the hands of the Jews, who alleged to be the followers of Moses, while Moses is disassociated from them. The Torah they hold now is no longer the Book that Allah sent down, as they added thereto things not appropriate to come from the Creator and ascribed to Allah therein attributes of deficiency, ignorance, and weakness, far exalted be Allah above what they say. Allah Almighty says describing them:{So woe to those who write the Scripture with their own hands, and then say, “This is from Allah,” in order to trade it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.}[Surat al-Baqarah: 79]
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