28 December 2014 - The Death of Musa

28 December 2014 - The Death of Musa

The Slander, the Death and the Greatness of Musa* (Moses).
 
The Jews breach the Sanctity of the Sabbath
And ask them (O Muhammad SAW) about the town that was by the sea; when they transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday): when their fish came to them openly on the Sabbath day, and did not come to them on the day they had no Sabbath. Thus We made a trial of them, for they used to rebel against Allah’s Command (disobey Allah). And when a community among them said: "Why do you preach to a people whom Allah is about to destroy or to punish with a severe torment?" (The preachers) said: "In order to be free from guilt before your Lord (Allah), and perhaps they may fear Allah."  So when they forgot the remindings that had been given to them, We rescued those who forbade evil, but We seized those who did wrong with a severe torment because they used to rebel against Allah's command (disobey Allah). So when they exceeded the limits of what they were prohibited, We said to them: "Be you monkeys, despised and rejected." (TMQ 7:163-166)‬
And (O Children of Israel, remember) when We took your covenant and We raised above you the Mount (saying): "Hold fast to that which We have given you, and remember that which is therein so that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious). Then after that you turned away. Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allah upon you, indeed you would have been among the losers. And indeed you knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday). We said to them: "Be you monkeys, despised and rejected." So We made this punishment an example to their own and to succeeding generations and a lesson to those who are Al-Muttaqoon (TMQ 2:63-66)
This relates to Allah sending His torment on the village that disobeyed Him and broke their pledge and their covenant to observe the sanctity of the Sabbath. They began using deceitful means to avoid honouring the Sabbath by placing nets, ropes and artificial pools of water for the purpose of fishing before the Sabbath. When the fish came in abundance on Saturday as usual, they were caught in the ropes and nets for the rest of Saturday. During the night, the Jews collected the fish after the Sabbath ended. When they did that, Allah changed them from humans into monkeys, the animals having the form closest to humans. Their evil deeds and deceit appeared lawful on the surface, but they were in reality wicked. This is why their punishment was compatible with their crime. These people were turned into howling monkeys with tails, after being men and women‬. However, the monkeys and pigs (swine) that exist now are not the descendants of those that were transformed‬! ‫Those who violated the sanctity of the Sabbath were turned into monkeys, then they perished without offspring. Hence, today it is not appropriate for one to call people of the Jewish tradition “pigs and apes” or “sons of pigs and apes” since, besides being extremely rude, it is not correct.

Moses' Suffering
Moses* suffered terribly from his people and endured much for the sake of Allah. Abdullah Ibn Umar narrated: "Once the Prophet Muhammad* distributed something (among his companions). A man said: "This distribution has not been done (with justice) seeking Allah's Countenance.' I went to the Prophet* and told him of that. He became so angry that I saw the signs of anger on his face. Then he said: 'May Allah bestow His Mercy on Moses, for he was harmed more (in a worse manner) than this; yet he endured patiently.'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
The children of Israel mistreated Moses* a lot. His agony was not limited to mutiny, stupidity, chattering, ignorance, and idolatry; it exceeded this and went as far as inflicting personal harm on him. Almighty Allah commanded: "O you who believe! Be not like those who annoyed Moses, but Allah cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was honorable in Allah's sight! (TMQ 33:69). This is explained below:

Allah Clears Moses of False Rumors
Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah's Messenger Muhammad* said: "Prophet Moses was a shy person and used to cover his body completely because of his extensive shyness. One of the children of Israel hurt him by saying: 'He covers his body in this way only because of some defect in his skin, either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect.'
Allah wished to clear Moses of what they said about him, so one day while Moses was in seclusion, he took his clothes and put them on a stone and started taking a bath. When he had finished the bath, he moved towards his clothes so as to take them, but the stone took his clothes and fled. Moses picked up his stick and ran after the stone saying: 'O stone! Give me my garment!' till he reached a group of children of Israel who saw him naked then, and found him in the best shape of what Allah had created, and Allah cleared him of what they had accused him of. The stone stopped there, and Moses took and put on his garment and started hitting the stone with his stick. By Allah, the stone still has some traces of the hitting, three, four, or five marks. In another narration it is stated that the stone began to cry!

The Death of Harun* (Aaron)
Aaron* died shortly before Moses*. His people were still wandering in the wilderness when he died.
 
The Death of Musa* (Moses)
Abu Hurairah narrated: "The Angel of Death was sent to Moses*. When he came to Moses, Moses slapped him on the eye. The Angel returned to his Lord and said: 'You have sent me to a slave who does not want to die.' Allah said: 'Return to him and tell him to put his hand on the back of an ox and for every hair that will come under it, he will be granted one year of life.' Moses said: 'O Lord! What will happen after that?' Allah replied: 'then death.' Moses said: 'Let it come now!' Moses then requested Allah to let him die close to the Holy Land so that he would be at a distance of a stone's throw from it." Abu Hurairah added: "Allah's Messenger* said: 'If I were there, I would show you his grave below the red sandhill on the side of the road.'" (Sahih Al Bukhari)
An-Nawawi said: "It is also possible that Allah did not send the angel of death when he wanted to terminate his life. It might have been only a test. Prophet Musa might have slapped the man because he was a stranger who got into his house without his consent, ignoring that he was in fact the angel of death. It is lawful in Sharia to take out the eye of the person who looks inside your house without your consent. It is known that the angels came in the form of men to Prophets Ibrahim* and Lut* and they did not recognize them. Prophet Ibrahim* presented them something to eat before they told him who they were. Prophet Musa* also might not have recognized the Angel. But when he come the second time with his eye in its place Prophet Musa* recognized him and submitted himself to Allah's Will.
It is also suggested that Prophet Musa* was wanting to fulfil his mission to take his people to the Promised Land and so felt unfulfilled and honestly believed he would be given the honour to take them there. But then he realised that is was not Allah’s plan so he accepted Death on his second visit.
Moses*, Prophet of Allah and the one to whom Allah spoke to directly, met his death with a contented soul and a faithful heart that looked forward to righteousness and made haste to meet with Him Who bore tidings of peace.
We also talked about the virtues and greatness of Prophet Musa* and how we should, as Muslims, respect and honour all Prophets. Although our Prophet is the greatest we should not enter into competitions with other people about who is the best Prophet in case they say bad about our Prophets, or they become tribal and don’t listen to reason.

Isra and Mi'raj
During his Night Journey, Prophet Muhammed* is known to have led Musa* along with Jesus*, Abraham* and all other prophets in prayer. Musa* is mentioned to be among the prophets which Prophet Muhammed* met during his ascension to heaven (Mi'raj) alongside Jibreel. Musa* and Prophet Muhammed* are reported to have exchanged greeting with each other and he is reported to have cried due to the fact that the followers of Prophet Muhammed* were going to enter Heaven in greater numbers than his followers. When Allah enjoined fifty prayers to the community to Prophet Muhammed* and his followers, Prophet Muhammed* once again encountered Musa, who asked what had been commanded by Allah. When Musa* was told about the fifty prayers, he advised Prophet Muhammed* to ask a reduction in prayers for his followers. When Prophet Muhammed* returned to Allah and asked for a reduction, he was granted his request. Once again he met Musa, who again inquired about the command of Allah. Despite the reduction, Musa* again urged Prophet Muhammed* to ask for a reduction. Prophet Muhammed* again returned and asked for a reduction. This continued until only five prayers were remaining. When Musa* again told Prophet Muhammed* to ask for a reduction, Prophet Muhammed* replied that he was shy of asking again. Therefore, the five prayers were finally enjoined upon the Muslim community.