Life of Musa (part 13)
Titles of Egyptian Rulers In The Qur'an
In the stories of the Prophet Musa* and the Prophet Joseph* in the Qur'an highlight an important difference: the Egyptian ruler at the time Yusuf* the word "malik" (the King): The King (Malik) said, "Bring him (Yusuf) to me straight away! So I may draw him very close to me." When he had spoken with him, he declared, "Today you are trusted, established in our sight." (Surah Yusuf: 54)
In the time of the Prophet Musa*, however, the Egyptian ruler is referred to as the "Pharaoh": We gave Moses nine Clear Signs. Ask the tribe of Israel about when he came to them and Pharaoh said to him, "Moses, I think you are bewitched." (Surat al-Isra': 101)
Historical records now explain that in ancient Egypt, the term "pharaoh" originally referred to the royal palace. During the reign of the ancient kingdoms, the rulers did not hold such a title. The word "pharaoh" came to be used as a synonym for the Egyptian king under the New Kingdom (starting in the 18th dynasty, 1539-1292 B.C.), and by the 22nd dynasty (c. 945-c. 730 B.C.) it had been adopted as an epithet of respect.
The history of Ancient Egypt was completely forgotten by the 4th century, since hieroglyphic writing was not deciphered until the 19th century (Rosetta Stone).
A Man Of Faith (Mu’min) In The Palace
Read Surah Ghafir: 23-45
We sent Moses with Our Signs and clear authority to Pharaoh, Haman and Karun. But they said, "A lying magician." When he brought them the truth from Us they said, "Slaughter the sons of those who have faith with him but let their women live." The stratagems of the unbelievers are nothing but errors. Pharaoh said, "Let me kill Moses and let him call upon his Lord! I am afraid that he may change your religion and bring about corruption in the land." Moses said, "I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every proud man who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning." (Surah Ghafir: 23-27)
A man among Pharaoh's people who had faith, but kept his faith concealed, said, "Are you going to kill a man for saying 'My Lord is Allah' when he has brought you Clear Signs from your Lord? If he is telling a lie, be it on his own head. But if he is telling the truth, then some of what he is promising you will certainly happen to you. Allah does not guide any unbridled inveterate liar. My people! The kingdom is yours today, as masters in the land, but who will help us against Allah's violent force, if it comes upon us?"
Pharaoh said, "I only show you what I see myself and I only guide you to the path of rectitude."
The man who had faith said, "My people! I fear for you a fate like that of the factions (of old), the same as happened to the people of Noah and 'Ad and Thamud and those who followed after them. Allah does not want any injustice for His servants. My people! I fear for you the Day of Calling Out, the Day when you will turn your backs in flight, having no one to protect you from Allah. Whoever Allah misguides will have no guide. Joseph brought you the Clear Signs before, but you never stopped doubting what he brought to you to the extent that when he died, you said, 'Allah will never send another Messenger after him' That is how Allah misguides those who are unbridled and full of doubt."
Those who argue about the Signs of Allah without any authority coming to them do something hateful in the Sight of Allah and in the sight of the people who believe. That is how Allah seals up the heart of every arrogant oppressor. (Surah Ghafir: 28-35)
Pharaoh said, "Haman, build me a tower so that perhaps I may gain means of access, access to the heavens, so that I can look on Moses' God. Truly I think he is a liar." That is how Pharaoh's evil actions were made attractive to him and he debarred others from the path. Pharaoh's scheming led to nothing but ruin. (Surah Ghafir: 36-37)
The man who believed said, "My people! Follow me and I will guide you to the path of rectitude. My people! The life of the earth is only fleeting enjoyment. It is the Hereafter, which is the abode of permanence. Whoever does an evil act will only be repaid with its equivalent. But whoever acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, such a person will enter Paradise, provided for in it without any reckoning. My people! How is it that I call you to salvation while you call me to the Fire? You call me to reject Allah and to associate something with Him about which I have no knowledge, while I call you to the Almighty, the Endlessly Forgiving. There is no question that what you call me to has no foundation neither in the world nor the Hereafter, that our return is to Allah, and that the profligate will be Companions of the Fire. You will remember what I say to you. I consign my affair completely to Allah. Truly Allah sees His servants."
So Allah safeguarded him from the evil things they plotted and a most evil torment engulfed Pharaoh's people. (Surah Ghafir: 38-45)
Summary –
- don’t kill Musa because if he is a liar he will get his comeuppance but if he is true we Egyptians are in trouble
- who else can we ask to stop these punishments if he is really sent from Allah
- Pharaoh rejected this argument and wants a tower built to heaven
- the Mu’min talks to the inner circle then the population: you all know about the punishment of previous civilisations so take heed (Noah, Aad, Thamud)
- Allah saved the Mu’min from the punishment to the other people as he was doing Dawah (enjoining the Good and forbidding the Evil) and not being quite
- we talked about Allah destroying the town with a worshipper: It is reported that Malik ibn Dinar, one of the successors, said: "Almighty Allah revealed to an angel to destroy one of the villages. So the angel wondered: 'O my God, there is this slave of yours who has not disobeyed you for a single moment and he lived there.' Almighty Allah said to him: 'Start with him, for he has never moved upon seeing other people violating my prohibitions.'"
The Period Of Disasters And The Folly Of Pharaoh
Recap: We talked about most of the signs:
1. Snake / Staff
2. White Hand
3. Years of drought
4. Scarcity of fruits*
5. Floods
6. Locusts
7. Lice / ticks / fleas
8. Frogs
9. Blood
One after another, Allah tried Pharaoh and his subjects with various disasters, a people obstinate in denial. First, there began a period of extreme drought in Egypt. Water was terribly crucial for the Egyptians, the drought directly threatening their very livelihood. As a result, agricultural products diminished in availability and famine ensued:
We seized Pharaoh's people with years of drought and scarcity of fruits so that hopefully they would pay heed. (Surat al-A'raf: 130)
We revealed to Moses and his brother: "Settle your people in houses in Egypt and make your houses places of worship (masajid) and establish prayer and give good news to the believers." (Surah Yunus: 87)
Whenever a good thing came to them, they said, "This is our due." But if anything bad happened to them, they would blame their ill fortune on Moses and those with him. No indeed! Their ill fortune will be with Allah. But most of them did not know. (Surat al-A'raf: 131)
"'My people, does the kingdom of Egypt not belong to me? Do not all these rivers flow under my control? Do you not then see?" (Surat az-Zukhruf: 51)
Pharaoh criticised Musa* for:
- not speaking properly
- not being rich and wearing gold
- not enslaving angels
Much like how people criticise Muslims now as being terrorists, not winning enough Nobel Prizes, not having proper technology industries... And how The West lauds itself like ‘American Exceptionalism’ which states the USA is different due to its special character as a uniquely free nation based on democratic ideals and personal liberty and has been chosen by God to be the leader of the world. Hence, they were blind to the message:
They said, "No matter what kind of Sign you bring us to bewitch us, we will not have faith in you." (Surat al-A'raf: 132)
These later signs were not just for Pharaoh but for the whole Egyptian population. If they thought about it and not taken in by the propaganda, they should (as a people) believed in Musa*. Pharaoh had a choice and he rejected the message, the magicians had a choice and believed, the people had a choice but rejected. So, they too are blameworthy. People do not need to be taught that oppression is wrong, and that punishments (of Pharaoh or drone bombs) are oppressive and what constitutes ‘natural justice’.
So We sent down on them floods, locusts, lice, frogs and blood, Signs, clear and distinct, but they proved arrogant and were an evildoing people. (Surat al-A'raf: 133)
Whenever the plague came down on them they said, "Moses, pray to your Lord for us by the contract He has with you. If you remove the plague from us, we will definitely believe in you and send the tribe of Israel away with you." But when We removed the plague from them—for a fixed term which they fulfilled—they broke their word. (Surat al-A'raf: 134-135)
The final sign of ‘Blood’ is not clear. But the scholars say that either the Nile became as blood or that when the Egyptians drew water (from the Nile or a well) it soon became blood before they could drink it – whereas if Bani Israel drew water it would stay as water.
Despite all these signs – people rejected Musa* and his message. So, Musa* was told to ‘mark the houses of the believers’ to get ready for the next sign.
In Moses, too, there was a sign. We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority. But he turned away with his forces... (Surat adh-Dhariyat: 38-39)
Rebuffed by this firm refusal, the Prophet Musa* prayed to our Lord to inflict torment upon this rebellious nation:
Moses said, "Our Lord, You have given Pharaoh and his ruling circle finery and wealth in the life of the world, Our Lord, so that they may be misguided from Your Way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they do not have faith until they see the painful punishment."
He (Allah) said, "Both your request is answered, so go straight and do not follow the way of those who have no knowledge." (Surah Yunus: 88-89)
‘Both’ refers to Musa* and Haroon* saying ‘Ameen’. Hence, the importance of saying ‘Ameen’ to correct du’a.
Main Topic: Introduction to the next series of topics on Death and the journey to the Afterlife
InshaAllah, topics to be covered will be:
- What is the point of studying about all this
- Death
- Punishment of the Grave
- The final hour
- Resurrection
- What happens on the Day of Judgment
- Path to Hellfire
- Path to Jannah
- Descriptions of Hellfire
- Descriptions of Jannah
- Death of Death
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