Musa (part 14) Exodus and Death (part 1)
Musa and Pharaoh: Exodus from Egypt and the Drowning Of Pharaoh in the Sea
Pharaoh and his inner elite circle resisted the message for years and deserved punishment. They rebelled against Allah, accusing the messenger of insanity as well as of being a liar. Because of their denial, Allah prepared for them a humiliating end. Before this affliction began, Allah commanded the Prophet Musa* to lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt:
We revealed to Moses: "Travel with Our servants by night. You will certainly be pursued." (Surat ash-Shu'ara: 52)
Musa* and his people secretly left Egypt in the night with the promise that they will be chased. And the spies quickly reported back to Pharaoh that perhaps up to a million subjects were leaving Egypt. The flight of Bani Israel was entirely unacceptable to Pharaoh. He saw himself as the sole master of all Bani Israel. In addition, it would mean a loss of manpower that would ultimately diminishment his authority. Therefore, he mobilized his soldiers and set out after them:
Pharaoh sent marshals into the cities: "These people are a small group and they are agitating against us and we constitute a vigilant majority."
We expelled them (Pharaoh and his people) from gardens and springs, from treasures and a splendid situation. So it was! And We bequeathed them to the tribe of Israel. So they (Pharaoh and his troops) pursued them towards the east. (Surat ash-Shu'ara: 53-60)
Like today the Western Leaders claim the Muslims are a small group of extremists yet they are so scared of the Muslims that it always dominates their political agenda.
By the time the Children of Israel had reached a shore, Pharaoh and his soldiers had caught up with them. Panic and despair engulfed some of the people of the Prophet Musa* when they saw Pharaoh and his soldiers approaching. Pharaoh and his soldiers were within just a short distance. There was no room to escape. These people thought they were trapped:
And when the two hosts came into sight of one another Moses' companions said, "We will surely be overtaken!" (Surat ash-Shu'ara: 61)
At that very moment, Musa* tried to reassure the people:
He said, "Never! My Lord is with me and He will guide me." Then, he followed the revelation he received from Allah, "Strike the sea with your staff". And it parted, and each separate part (of that sea water) became like the huge mountain. Then We brought near the others (Pharaoh) to that place. And We saved Musa and all those with him. Then We drowned the others. Verily! In this is indeed a sign (or a proof), yet most of them are not believers. (TMQ 26: 62-66)
Miraculously, Allah divided the waters of the sea leaving a dry path in the middle, which the Children of Israel immediately followed. Pharaoh and his soldiers went so audacious as to chase the Children of Israel into the sea. Here was an apparent miracle; without question, Allah's help and support was with the Prophet Musa* and his followers. Nevertheless, this miracle did not suffice to convince Pharaoh. Together with his soldiers blindly entered the path that divided the sea. However, after the Children of Israel had safely crossed to the other side, the waters suddenly began to close in on Pharaoh and his soldiers and they all drowned. Though, at the last moment, Pharaoh tried to repent, his repentance was not accepted:
We brought the tribe of Israel across the sea and Pharaoh and his troops pursued them out of tyranny and enmity. Then, when he was on the point of drowning, he (Pharaoh) said, "I believe that there is no god but Him in Whom the tribe of Israel believe. I am one of the Muslims." What, now! When previously you rebelled and were one of the corrupters? Today We will preserve your body so you can be a Sign for people who come after you. Surely many people are heedless of Our Signs. (Surah Ta-Ha: 90-92)
There is a very important lesson to draw from Pharaoh's repentance at the very last moment of his life and its rejection by Allah. At the moment of death, a person can clearly sense the reality and proximity of the Hereafter, and bears witness to this truth when he confronts the angels of death. This should act as an especially important warning to all those who believed in "living it up," and postponed their performance of religious responsibilities to their later years in life. The fulfilment of religious obligations, however, should in no way be postponed. Allah informs us about this fact as follows:
Allah only accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and then quickly repent after doing it. Allah will pardon them. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. There is no repentance for people who persist in doing evil until death comes to them and who then say, "Now I repent," nor for people who die unbeliever. We have prepared for them a painful punishment. (Surat an-Nisa': 17-18)
The Fire, morning and night, to which they are exposed; and on the Day the Hour takes place: "Admit Pharaoh's people to the harshest punishment!" When they are squabbling with one another in the Fire, the weak will say to those deemed great, "We were your followers, so why do you not relieve us of a portion of the Fire?" Those deemed great will say, "All of us are in it. Allah has clearly judged between His servants." (Surah Ghafir: 46-48)
Muslims still commemorate this great event (saving of the people of Musa*) by fasting on the day of Ashura. The body of Pharaoh has been preserved by Allah as a sign for us – not as a reason to take selfies!
Main Topic: The Series on Death, the Grave, the Day of Resurrection and the Afterlife
Introduction to the Circles on Death, the Grave, the Day of Resurrection and the Afterlife
Why do we study this?
Death is the only thing for sure we know that is going to happen in life – hence we should know about it! We will be asked a really important series of questions upon death:
1. Man Rabbuka (Who is your Lord) ?
2. Ma Deenuka (What is your religion) ?
3. Ma kunta taqoolu fa haazar rujul (What do you have to say about this person = Muhammed*) ? (Or what is your religion)
5 Pillars of Islam:
1. Shahadah: sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith.
2. Salat: performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day.
3. Zakat: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy.
4. Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan.
5. Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca.
6 Articles of Belief:
1. Belief in God (Unitary)
2. Belief in His Angels
3. Belief in His Books (and Qur’an is the Word of Allah)
4. Belief in His Prophets and Messengers (and Muhammed* is the seal of Prophets)
5. Belief in the Day of Judgment (and Heaven and Hell)
6. Belief in God’s Divine Decree (Al Qadhaa Wal Qadr – the good and bad from Allah)
This is all linked to the Belief Pathway we have talked about in the Study Circle:
3 Fundamental Questions in Life:
1. Why am I here?
2. Where did I come from?
3. Where am I going?
- As Muslims life is about pleasing Allah and getting to Paradise.
- We have, in the Study Circle, covered all these topics in detail except ‘Belief in the Day of Judgment (and Heaven and Hell)’. Hence we will cover this now.
- This is also linked to the concept of Halal and Haraam – which is linked to reward / punishment linked to Heaven / Hell.
This society is built upon escapism / distractions and not addressing the fundamental questions of life. Muslims are encouraged to think often about the ‘Destroyer of Desires’.
We, the human race living on this earth, are under the perception that we belong here and that this is our residence. But we do not belong here. Our home should be Heaven and the ratio of this life to the Afterlife is important. We don’t belong here. We are traveling. That is why the Prophet* said “Be in this world as if you are a traveller.” And he said that the example or the analogy of me in this dunya is as if somebody is traveling in the desert and he saw a tree and he took some shade under this tree and then took some rest. And then he continued traveling. That is dunya: we spend a few moments under this tree, and then we keep on travelling. Hence we need to prepare for death.
Aisha talks about this: “If the first thing revealed in Qur’an was ‘do not drink’, the people would have said ‘we are never going to stop drinking.’ And if the first thing that was revealed in the Qur’an was telling the people to not commit fornication and adultery the people would have said ‘we’re never going to stop committing fornication and adultery!’ The first things that were revealed in the Qur’an were the Surah Al-Mufassal that talked about and mentioned hell fire and paradise. Until the hearts were attached to Allah, THEN the orders for halal and haram came down.” Hence when the verses abolishing alcohol were eventually revealed the Muslims instantly followed – and compare this to ‘The Prohibition’ in 1930s America.
What causes death?
Responses from the audience were: smoking, heart attack, drugs, age, diseases, marriage, obesity, suicide, accidents, war, gunshots, cancer...
These do not CAUSE death !!
The truth is that death is the same and its cause (sabab) is also the same, which is the end of ajal (life-term), and nothing else. As regards to these matters, which take place and due to them death occurs, they are cases in which death occurs and are not causes of death. As regards the incidents of killing and the situations from which death results, they are cases (haalaat) in which death occurs, but are not causes (asbaab). So, they are not the cause (sabab) of death; rather the cause of death is the end of life term (intihaa’ ul-ajal).
Death is something Allah alone causes / controls. This is because the cause (sabab) produces the effect (musabbab) definitely; and that the effect (musabbab) can’t result save from its cause (sabab) alone. This is different to the case (halah), it is a specific circumstance within certain surrounding conditions in which death usually takes place.
“No soul can ever die except by Allah’s leave and at a term appointed.” [TMQ Al-Imran:145]
“My Lord is He Who gives life and causes death.” [TMQ Al-Baqarah: 258]
The Soul (Ruh) upon death
The Prophet* says: “If the believing soul is leaving this world and moving into al-Akhirah [in the interface] angels will descend from the heavens. White, bright faces like the sun. They have with them a coffin from paradise and incense from paradise. So he can see them. And then the angel of death will descend. And then he will sit next to his face/head. He will say, ‘Oh you pure soul, come out to the forgiveness of Allah and His Pleasure.’ This soul will come out so smoothly, like a drop of water rolling out of a jug. For the kaafir, if he is leaving the dunya and approaching akhirah, then dark angels will come down. They are carrying coffins made of harsh materials. The angel of death will come down, sit beside him and say, ‘O you evil soul! Come out to the anger of Allah and His Wrath!’ When the angel of death will make that announcement, this soul will run around in the body. The angel of death will grab the soul and pull it out, as if you are pulling out wet wool from thorny branches.”
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