Lives of the Prophets: Musa* and Bani Israel
Events in the promised land do not have chronology documented but there are numerous important events. Upon the departure of the Children of Israel from Egypt, Allah promised them a homeland in which to dwell. Bani Israel were saved from Pharaoh and free from Slavery but they just were not up to controlling their own destiny (more on this later) despite being shaded and being given food and water:
And (remember) when Musa said to his people: "O my people! Remember the Favour of Allah to you, when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the 'Alamin (mankind and jinn, in the past)."
"O my people! Enter the holy land (Palestine) which Allah has assigned to you, and turn not back (in flight) for then you will be returned as losers." They said: "O Musa! In it (this holy land) are a people of great strength, and we shall never enter it, till they leave it; when they leave, then we will enter." Two men of those who feared (Allah and) on whom Allah had bestowed His Grace said: "Assault them through the gate, for when you are in, victory will be yours, and put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed." They said: "O Musa*! We shall never enter it as long as they are there. So go you and your Lord and fight you two, we are sitting right here."
He [Musa] said: "O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother, so separate us from the people who are the Fasiqun (rebellious and disobedient to Allah)!" (Allah) said: "Therefore it (this holy land) is forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction they will wander through the land. So be not sorrowful over the people who are the Fasiqun." (5: 20-26)
Such a strange response from Bani Israel who were told not to turn their back during the fight – they even refused to fight and would only accept Jerusalem if the people living their left! They then wanted Musa* to fight alone and deliver it to Bani Israel! This upset Musa* and then Bani Israel were denied the Promised Land for 40 years – until that entire generation that refused had died. Only 2 from Bani Israel actually wanted to fight for the land Allah promised them. One other narration states that Musa* asked the Angel of Death to take his soul as he flew over the Promised Land.
During the Battle of Badr the Sahabae reassured the Prophet* that they would fight with the Prophet* and not be like Bani Israel with Musa*!
Main Topic: Slavery & Slave Mentality
In order to understand how Bani Israel reacted to their ‘freedom’ and how they dealt with Musa* we need to study the collective mentality of people in slavery. Below are characteristics of slaves or peoples who have been born into slavery. Although these are generalisations, there is sociological evidence to support these attitudes. It does not mean all slaves have all of these but taken together most people in hereditary slavery have elements of these.
People in slavery tend to:
- have low self esteem (some self loathing/self-hate)
- be extremely selfish
- be driven by self-preservation and protecting themselves, and personal survival
- lack a sense of ambition
- not involve themselves in long-term planning
- focus on very little items / issues / joys
- have a sense of admiration for their oppressors
- have a perverse sense of ‘justice’ and will accept most punishment, sometimes as being deserved
- be scared of running their own lives / decisions (having autonomy)
- not be risk-takers
- have a negative interpretation of their own collective history / past and buy into the oppresssors’ views of themselves
- believe that their masters will take care of them and so don’t want to put in extra effort to do things
- believe they are entitled to things and expectations are set by their masters
- collectively lack creativity, innovation and inventiveness
There is a lot of research and philosophy around this phenomenon, which includes:
Friedrich Nietzsche's Master–slave morality essay (On the Genealogy of Morality) where he argued that there were two fundamental types of morality: 'Master morality' and 'slave morality'. Slave morality values things like kindness, humility and sympathy, while master morality values pride, strength, and nobility (the morality of the strong-willed). Master morality weighs actions on a scale of good or bad consequences unlike slave morality which weighs actions on a scale of good or evil intentions. Unlike master morality which is sentiment, slave morality is literally re-sentiment—revaluing that which the master values. This strays from the valuation of actions based on consequences to the valuation of actions based on "intention". As master morality originates in the strong, slave morality originates in the weak - as such, it is characterized by pessimism and cynicism.
Many Muslim social commentators would say that modern Muslims are still enslaved by their former colonial masters both physically, culturally and mentally; just like many commentators would say the Afro-American community is still under a form of slavery. Points to discuss...
Death and AfterLife (part 3)
Al-Ihtidaar
There is a period before death called al-ihtidhaar. It is preparation for death and the soul may fluctuate between life and death. During this stage, the angels descend. Allah says: “Until when death approaches one of you. Our Messengers take his soul and they never neglect their duty.” 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.”
During this stage, there may be some discomfort for the believing soul. Allah gives comfort to the believer. He says: “Verily, those who say that there Lord if Allah and then they stay firm. On them the angels will descend, saying ‘Fear not, nor grieve, but receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised.’” (41:30) They did not say that ‘Allah is our Lord’ and then go on a crooked path. Not fasting one day and then drinking alcohol the next day. These people stayed firm, and the angels will give them glad tidings.
For the disbeliever, Allah says, “And if you could see when the angels take away the souls of those who disbelieve. They smite their faces and their backs, saying ‘Taste the punishment of the blazing fire. This is because of that which your hands forwarded. Verily, Allah is not unjust to His slaves.” Allah is not committing injustice to you. It is your actions that caused you this.
One person was asking the Prophet* wen the last hour was and the Prophet* asked him what had he done to prepare for it!
Ataa’ ibn Rabah says: “There are three benefits of remembering death:
- Ta’jeel at-tawbah: hastening repentance. You would prepare for akhirah and you would repent.
- Ar-Rida bil Qaleel: content with the minimum. You will be happy with whatever Allah has given you because you know it is a temporary residence. This is not where we belong, therefore you wouldn’t give it much concern and attention.
- Not fight and compete with people of this world over this world. And that would cause you to have tranquility in you heart. What makes people anxious and obnoxious is competing over material things. This world is large and our desires are large. The Prophet* says that if the son of Adam has a valley of gold he would request another one and nothing would please the son of Adam except dirt. Nothing would satisfy this greed except the dirt. When you go back to the dirt, it will close all of those desires. This world is not worth fighting.
No comments:
Post a Comment