Musa (15) and Bani Israel, and Death (part 2)
Life of Musa* Recap:
Musa part 1-14: Birth
then thrown in the Nile to escape being killed but ends up in Pharaoh’s palace.
Adopted but looked after by his family he later accidentally kills an Egyptian
the flees to Madian and marries after working 10 years for a family. Being
homesick travels back but encounters the Burning Bush and Allah speaks to him
and his mission is to free Bani Israel and to get Pharaoh to believe in Allah.
Musa* asks for Harun to be made a Prophet and they both visit Pharaoh who is not
impressed by their miracles and challenges them to a magician face-off where
the stick of Musa* turns into a snake and devours the other sticks – whereupon the
magicians pledge their Islam and are martyred as a result. Then follows other Signs
(Ayats) from Allah: famine, drought, flood, locusts, lice, frogs and blood but
Pharaoh insists on disbelief despite promising to accept the conditions of
Musa*. Then Bani Israel flee in the night but are pursued by Pharaoh and his
army who follow Musa* through the parted waves of the Red Sea but Allah causes
them to perish. After doing the story of Karun (below) we start the second half
of the story of Musa*….
Musa* and the arrogance of Karun
and his punishment
Karun was rich and
powerful. He had been given position, patronage and power in Egyptian society.
Like some rich, powerful Muslims in the West who are made Lords / Knighted and do
the utmost to be westernised and disown their background/heritage and deen; and
who think their success is self-made and that they are superior to the others. He
loved this world and did not consider his deen important. Many from Bani Israel
looked up to (idolised) Karun and wanted to be like him or have his
position/power/wealth. This story is a lesson for them…
‘Israel’ = another
name for Yaqub (Jacob) and so Bani Israel refers to the 12 tribes from the 12 children
of Yaqub. The Qur'an informs us that Karun was the owner of great possessions
in Egypt despite being a descendant Yaqub. In the following verse Allah
indicates that Karun opposed the Prophet Musa* together with Pharaoh:
Karun was one of the
people of Moses but he lorded it over them. We gave him treasures, the keys
alone to which were a heavy weight for a party of strong men… (Surat al-Qasas:
76)
We sent Moses with
Our Signs and clear authority to Pharaoh, Haman and Karun. But they said,
"A lying magician." (Surah Ghafir: 23-24)
Verily, Karun was of Musa*’s
people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the
treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong
men. Remember when his people said to him: "Do not gloat (with riches,
being ungrateful to Allah). Verily Allah likes not those who show off with
arrogance. (76)
But seek, with that
(wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget
not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allah has
been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not
the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers,
corrupters). (77)
He said: "This
has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess." Did he not know
that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him
in might and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected? But the
Mujrimûn (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) will not be questioned
of their sins. (78)
So he went forth
before his people in his pomp. Those who were liked the life of the world, said:
"Ah, would that we had the like of what Karun has been given! Verily, he
is the owner of a great fortune." (79)
But those who had
been given (religious) knowledge said: "Woe to you! The Reward of Allah
(in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds,
and this none shall attain except those who are As-Sabirun (the patient in
following the truth)." (80)
So We caused the
earth to swallow him [Karun] and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or
party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save
themselves. (81)
And those who had
desired (for a position like) his position the day before, began to say:
"Know you not that it is Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it
to whomsoever He pleases of His slaves. Had it not been that Allah was Gracious
to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up (also)! Know you not
that the disbelievers will never be successful. (82)
Hence, wealth and
deen are tests for people. The more wealth we have the harder the tests from
Allah. Allah does not care for the wealth but the deeds. There is another
lesson the story of Karun teaches us: not to be taken by the allure of the
temporary riches of this world and of those who possess them. The ones a
believer should be inclined to are those who withstand hardships in the way of
Allah, those who spend their possessions, and live for the cause of Allah, and
those men of faith and wisdom, whose hearts are full of love for Allah. As the
Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) said "Allah
does not look at your forms and possessions, but He looks at your hearts and
your deeds." (Muslim)
Do not let their
wealth and Children impress you. Allah merely wants to punish them by them
during their life in the world and for them to expire while they are
unbelievers. (Surat at-Tawba: 55)
Musa
and Bani Israel
Musa* is on the other side and free from Pharaoh! The
first thing Bani Israel did after being saved by Musa* was to ask for
gods/idols to worship – as they were imitating their society, and there are
lessons for us in all these stories. The dangers of imitation and integration
as they wanted to be like to successful people because this is what the people
did in society. A similar story in the life of the Prophet Muhammed with Dhat
Anwaat - a tree where pagan Arabs hung their sword and slaughtered animals
beneath.
And We made the people who were considered weak to
inherit the eastern parts of the land and the western parts thereof which We
have blessed. And the fair Word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of
Israel, because of their endurance. And We destroyed completely all the great
works and buildings which Pharaoh and his people erected (7:137)
And We brought the Children of Israel (with safety)
across the sea, and they came upon a people devoted to some of their idols (in
worship). They said: "O Musa! Make for us a god as they have gods."
He said: "Verily, you are a people who know not (the Majesty and Greatness
of Allah and what is obligatory upon you, i.e. to worship none but Allâh Alone,
the One and the Only God of all that exists)." (7:138)
[Musa added:] "Verily, these people will be
destroyed for that which they are engaged in (idols-worship). And all that they
are doing is in vain." He said: "Shall I seek for you a god other
than Allah, while He has given you superiority over the 'Alamîn (mankind and
jinn)." And (remember) when We rescued you from Pharaoh’s people, who were
afflicting you with the worst torment, killing your sons and letting your women
live. And in that was a great trial from your Lord. (7:139-141)
In addition, Allah commanded the Prophet Musa* to divide Bani
Israel into twelve separate tribes, and shaded them in the desert by a cloud,
and provided heavenly food:
We divided them up
into twelve tribes. We revealed to Moses, when his people asked him for water:
"Strike the rock with your staff." Twelve fountains flowed out from
it and all the people knew their drinking place. (7:160)
And We shaded you with
clouds and sent down manna and quails to you: "Eat of the good things We
have provided for you." They did not wrong Us; rather it was themselves
they were wronging. (2: 57)
Main topic: Death (part 2)
Allah has fixed our
Ajal (lifespan) and Rizq (wealth). We shouldn’t obsess about eternal youth or
money ~ although wealth is fixed the way we earn our Rizq (actions) is in our
control – halal or haram earnings. Also, remember the blessing in the money
(Barakah) which is intangible.
Al-Khansaa’s story
and how belief changes your perspective on death (the only certainty in life):
‘The rising of the
sun reminds of Sakhr, I remember him at every sunset, If it were not for the
number of those weeping around me, for their brothers, I surely would have
killed myself, they do not cry for anyone as dear as my brother, but I console
myself by weeping for him, for I have said farewell to the day we separated,
father of Hassan, with it my pleasures and happiness, how my sorrows go out to
him and my mother, for him to awake in his grave and then to rest at night?’
With these phrases
and others like them, Al-Khansaa’ mourned the death of her brother, Sakhr, and
cried for him until she lost her eye-sight, falling into anguish, disparity and
wishing for death. This is how Al-Khansaa’ saw death and this is how she handled
it. In the battle of Al-Qadisiyyah, in an honourable stance of life and death,
Al-Khansaa’ stood with her four sons and said to them: “You became Muslim and
did not apostatise, and you emigrated and did not turn back, then you came to
your old mother and placed her in the hands of the people of Persia. You are
the sons of one man, as you are the sons of one woman. I did not betray your
father, nor did I disgrace your uncle. Go, and be witnesses of the battle from
the beginning to its very end.” All four of her sons were martyred, and when
the news reached her she said her famous words: “All praise be to Allah, who
honoured me with their death. I ask Him, glory be to He, to join me together
with them, in the dwellings of his mercy.”
Our relationship with
death and how we react to it are important for Muslims and know that this
society discourages people to think/talk about death – and provides ample
distractions to the mind (of people).
Other stories about
death include:
In Riyadh: It is said
that there was a construction that fell down from the seventh floor. He fell on
solid concrete. Passers-by were amazed to see that he stood up He jumped up,
happy that Allah didn’t take his life. People were amazed. He was so happy that
he told everyone, “I’m going to buy you some drinks.” He was crossing the
street, disoriented, and a car hit him and killed him. Why didn’t he die from
the seventh story? Allah had appointed for him a specific spot and a specific
time of day. Allah wanted to bring him to his place of death. Now, this man,
when he stood up, he thought that he was given a long life. The last thought on
his mind was that he would die in the next moment. If he was saved from that
death, then he must have a long life ahead of him.
Also, after every
major earthquake in poor countries there are stories of many people dying but
the occasional person being pulled from the rubble (barely alive) perhaps an
week or two later.
Umm Habibah (the wife
of RasulAllah) made a du’a. She said, “O Allah, give me pleasure by giving a
long life to my husband RasulAllah and to my father Abu Sufyan and my brother
Mu’awiyah.” The Prophet* said to her: “You are supplicating towards Allah in
regards to fixed terms and counted days and ordained provisions that are
already divided. If you would have asked Allah to save you from the Hell Fire
and the punishment of the fire, that would have been better for you.” (Muslim)
The journey of the Soul after death
Al-Bara reported: We
went out with the Messenger of Allah*, for the funeral of a man from among the
helpers. We came to the grave and when he was placed in the ground, the
Messenger of Allah sat down and we sat around him, quiet as if there were birds
on our heads. In his hand he had a stick with which he was scratching the
ground. Then the Prophet raised his head and said, “Seek refuge with Allah from
the torment of the grave,” two or three times. Then he said, “When the
believing servant is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, angels
down to him from heaven with white faces like the sun, and they sit around him
as far as the eye can see. They bring with them shrouds from Paradise and
perfumes from Paradise. Then the angel of death comes and sits by his head, and
he says: O good soul, come forth to forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure.
Then it comes out easily like a drop of water from the mouth of a pitcher (jug).
When he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before they
take it and put it in a shroud with that perfume, and there comes from it a
fragrance like the finest musk on the face of the earth. Then they ascend and
they do not pass by any group of angels but they say: Who is this good soul?
They say: It is so-and-so the son of so-and-so, calling him by the best names
with which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest heaven. They
ask for it to be opened and it is opened for them, and the soul is welcomed and
accompanied to the next heaven by those who are closest to Allah, until they
reach the seventh heaven. Then Allah says: Record the book of My servant in the
noble book in the seventh heaven, and return him to the earth; from it I created them, to it I will return
them and from it I will bring them forth once again. So his soul is returned to
his body and there come to him two angels who make him sit up and they say to
him: Who is your Lord? He says: Allah. They say: What is your religion? He
says: My religion is Islam. They say: Who is this man who was sent among you?
He says: He is the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. They say: What did
you do? He says: I read the Book of Allah and I believed in it. Then a voice
calls out from heaven: My servant has spoken the truth, so prepare for him a
bed from Paradise and clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a gate to
Paradise. Then there comes to him some of its fragrance, and his grave is made
wide as far as he can see; and then there comes to him a man with a handsome
face, handsome clothes and a good fragrance, who says: Receive the glad tidings
that will bring you joy this day. He says: Who are you? Your face is a face
which brings glad tidings. He says: I am your righteous deeds. He says: O Lord,
hasten the Hour so that I may return to my family and my wealth.
However, when the
disbelieving servant is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter,
angels come down to him from heaven with black faces, bringing sackcloth, and
they sit around him as far as the eye can see. Then the angel of death comes
and sits by his head, and he says: O evil soul, come forth to the wrath of
Allah and His anger. Then his soul disperses inside his body and comes out
cutting the veins and nerves, like a skewer passing through wet wool. When he
seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before they take it
and put it in that sackcloth, and there comes from it a stench like the foulest
stench of a dead body on the face of the earth. Then they ascend and they do
not pass by any group of angels but that they say: Who is this evil soul? They
say: It is so-and-so the son of so-and-so, calling him by the worst names by
which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest heaven. They ask
for it to be opened and it is not opened for them.” Then the Messenger of Allah
recited the verse, “For them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they
will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle
(7:40).” He continued, “Then Allah says: Record the book of My servant in the
evil book in the lowest earth, and return him to the earth; from it I created
them, to it I will return them and from it I will bring them forth once again.
So his soul is cast down.” Then the
Messenger of Allah recited the verse, “Whoever assigns partners to Allah, it is
as if he had fallen from the sky and the birds had snatched him, or the wind
had thrown him to a far off place (22:31).” He continued, “Then his soul is
returned to his body, and there come to him two angels who make him sit up and
they say to him: Who is your Lord? He says: Oh, oh, I don’t know. They say:
What is your religion? He says: Oh, oh, I don’t know. Then a voice calls out from
heaven: Prepare for him a bed from Hell and clothe him from Hell, and open for
him a gate to Hell. Then there comes to him some of its heat and hot winds, and
his grave is constricted and compresses him until his ribs interlock. Then
there comes to him a man with an ugly face, ugly clothes, and a foul stench,
who says: Receive the bad news, for this is the day that you were promised. He
says: Who are you? Your face is a face of evil. He says: I am your evil deeds.
He says: O Lord, do not let the Hour come! Do not let the Hour come!”
[Musnad Ahmad]
