May 1st: Prophet Musa (Part 1)

Prophet Musa (Part 1)

Birth:
- Mentioned in more than 30 surahs and he was mentioned 124 times.
- From the lineage of Ibrahim
- Aya: “We relate to you the story of Moses and Pharaoh in truth, for people who believe. Surely, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and divided its people into sections , one of which he oppressed , killing their sons and sparing their women, indeed, he was a corruptor. And We wish to be gracious to those who were oppressed in the land, and to make them leaders, and to make them inheritors. And to establish them in the land, and to show Pharaoh and Haman and their soldiers what they feared” (28: 1-6
- The dream: A fire coming out from Jerusalem and this fire swept through Egypt and destroyed everyone except for the children of Israel.
- His people used to spy on any pregnant woman from the children of Israel… if she delivered a boy he would be slaughtered right away.
- Eventually the people complained to Pharaoh because the children of Israel were getting less in number and soon there would be no one to serve them. So Pharaoh decided to spare the boys one year and slaughter them in the next one.
- Haroon was born in a year when the males were spared.
- When Musa’s mother became pregnant with him, it was during a year that the boys would be killed. She concealed her pregnancy.
- After she delivered Musa.
- Aya: “ And We inspired the mother of Musa: ‘Suckle him, and when you fear for him, cast him into the river, and do not fear nor grieve, We shall return him to you, and We shall make him one of the Messengers’
- This is a strong inspiration because no mother would throw her newborn child into a flowing river. (The Nile river is very wide and strong).
- She put her trust in Allah and she believed that He will take care of her child more than she will.
- The above verse has 2 dos, 2 don’ts and 2 promises: breastfeed him, throw him in the river. Don’t be afraid, don’t have any sorrow. Promise: We will return him to you, and We will make him a messenger.
- She breastfed her child, she put him in a wooden box into the river and she let him go. Just to fulfill the promise of Allah.
- She followed Allah’s orders to attain His promise. What about us? Do we fulfill Allah’s orders in order to receive what He has promised us?
- People used and still do live on the banks of the Nile river. Egypt is a desert and has no rain so people would live next to the river.
- Out of all the houses that were around, the wooden box stops at the Palace of Pharaoh.
- She threw him into the river to get him away from Pharaoh, yet Allah wants this baby to go right to the palace of Pharaoh.
- Aya: “the family of Pharaoh picked him up, that he may become for them an enemy and a cause of sorrow”
- Some servants found the box, they took him not Pharaoh but to Asiya, his wife.
- She fell in love with the child. Allah put the love of this righteous child into the heart of this righteous woman.
- It is said that Asiya and Maryam will be amongst the Prophet’s wives in jannah.
- When Pharaoh came and saw him, he wanted to kill him but she asked him if she could keep the boy and she said he will be “a comfort of the eye for me and you, don’t kill him perhaps he can be of benefit for us or we can adopt him as a son”.
- Allah put support for Musa in Pharaoh’s palace. Allah can do whatever He wants.
- Pharaoh said “he will be a comfort for your eyes but I don’t want him to be a comfort for my eyes”.
- Aya: “And the heart of the mother of Musa became empty”
- She was drained, she didn’t know where her son was.
- Aya: “She (the mother of Musa) was about to disclose her case”…. She was about to go and look for him…
- Aya: “But We strengthened her heart so she might remain as one of the believers”… nothing can fill an empty heart but iman… that kept her quiet.
- Musa’s mother asked his sister to go and follow the box to see where it ends up. She knew where it was.
- Allah didn’t allow Musa to suckle from any woman…Aya: “And We had ordained that he would refuse to be suckled by any foster mother…”
- Musa’s sister goes to the Palace and she tells them “Shall I show you to a family who will look after him for you and look after him sincerely”
- They said ok we’ll try.
- They took the child to the mother of Musa and he immediately started to breastfeed.
- Asiya invites Musa’s mother to come live in the palace and feed Musa.
- Musa’s mother now sets the terms… she said no I have a husband and home to take care of so you have to bring the child to me so I can breastfeed him.
- Musa is now leaving the palace of Pharaoh with royal guards and going to the house of his parents and his mother is being paid to take care of her child.
- If she had kept the child with her, he would have been killed. But because she fulfilled Allah’s command, her child is now protected and he’s become a source of income for his family.
- “So did We return him to his mother that she might be delighted and that she might not grieve, and so that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them don’t know”
- When you depend on Allah, no matter how weak you are He can provide you with the most strength.

Musa Kills:
- Musa is now a grown young man and Allah has blessed him with knowledge and wisdom.
- Musa was described as being very large, well built, dark skinned, curly hair, had a very strong presence and personality.
- Aya: “…he entered the city at a time when its people were at noon rest”… “and he found two people fighting there, one of them from his own people and the other from his enemy. The one from his own people leaded for him to help against his enemy”
- Musa went to help the man and all he did was push the other one with his stick. But the other man fell dead. Musa didn’t mean to kill him. It was unintentional murder.
- The next day Musa saw the same man from the children of Israel fighting with another Egyptian.
- Musa rushed ahead… the man got scared and he said “do you want to kill me like you killed someone yesterday”
- Until that moment no one knew who killed the Egyptian.
- This wasn’t a regular murder, it was a political issue… someone from the high class was killed in defense of someone from the low class.
- Pharaoh was angered by this issue and wanted to kill Musa.
- Aya: “A man came running from the farthest part of the city, saying: ‘O Moses! The chiefs are conspiring to slay you, so depart this place, I am your sincere advisor”

Musa goes to Madyan:
- Musa left immediately without packing or taking anything with him
- He walked until his shoes fell apart and he ate anything he found.. tree leaves, etc.
- He finally arrived at Madyan.
- He saw a group of men standing by some wells, drinking and giving water to their cattle while two women were standing with their cattle on the side.
- Musa is tired and in bad shape yet he cannot see something wrong taking place without helping out.
- He went up to the women and asked them what’s the matter.
- They said: “We cannot draw water until the shepherds have gone away, and our father is a very old man”
- So he drew water for them
- Then he went and sat in the shade and said: “My Lord! I am in need of any good that You may send to me”
- He’s asking Allah to give him anything… “Oh Allah whatever You can bestow on me, I need it”
- When the two women came home their father was surprised at their early return, they told him what happened and he sent one of them back to get him.
- Aya: “Then one of the two women came to him, walking shyly. She said: “My father invites you that he may reward you for drawing water for us”
- Allah describes her as having “7aya2”… a quality that is needed in both men and women…
- Musa went back with her… he walked infront of her and told her to toss him a rock to let him know if she wanted him to move left or right.
- Musa started narrating the story of his life. The old man told him not worry anymore, because he was now outside of Egypt and safe from them.
- One of the daughters went to her father and said “O my father, hire him. The best man to hire are the strong and trustworthy”.
- Her father asked her how did you know that he is strong and trustworthy and she told him about his physical strength that she saw while he watered their cattle. And she knew he was trustworthy because he walked infront of her…
- The father said to Musa: “I intend to give you one of these two daughters of mine in marriage, provided you serve me for eight years. However, if you complete ten, that will be from your grace. I do not want to place any hardship upon you. If Allah wills, you shall surely find me a righteous man”
- So the dowry for the marriage was that he’d work for him for 8 years.
- Musa clarified that the deal is settled and that he is free to fulfill either of the terms.
- Musa fulfilled the term of ten years.
- Up until this point Musa is not a prophet yet.
- We learn that Musa was a shepherd.. the Prophet told us that every Prophet was a shepherd.
- Being a shepherd teaches patience, it also makes the shepherd alert so he can guard the weak sheep.

Musa and Mount Tur:
- After Musa fulfilled the term of ten years, he left with his wife heading back to Egypt.
- He was feeling homesick and wanted to see his family in Egypt and decided to go visit them secretly.
- The journey happened to be in the night while it was cold.
- They lost their way and they couldn’t see anything.
- Musa spotted a fire near mount Tur. He said to his wife: “Stay here, I see a fire”
- It seems like he was the only one who was able to see the fire.
- “I hope that I can bring you from there some directions or some burning fire so that you may warm yourself”
- He went to receive guidance and so he did…
- He got there and now Allah tells us about the amazing conversation that took place.
- Aya: “So when he came to it, he was called: ‘O Moses! Indeed I am your Lord, take off your shoes, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed. Indeed I am Allah, there is no God worthy of worship but I, therefore worship Me, and establish prayer for My remembrance. Certainly the Hour is coming, I have almost concealed it so that every soul may be recompensed for its deeds. Therefore, let not him who disbelieves in it, and follows his own lusts divert you from it lest you perish”
- When Musa got to the valley he saw a green tree, with a fire burning inside of it… and the more the fire burned the greener the tree became… it was actually not fire but a light. The light was extending up to the heavens.
- Allah spoke to Musa directly.
- Musa went to the fire because he wanted guidance… a direction to Egypt… but he received guidance for humanity.
- The first order was tawheed… the oneness of Allah
- The second order was to establish prayer.
- The third thing was that people need to believe in the after life.
- Aya: “And O Moses! What is this in your right hand?”
- Musa knows his stick very well… so he answered according to his knowledge
- Aya: “This is my stick, whereon I lean and I beat down leaves with to feed my sheep, and in it I fend other uses”
- Allah tells Musa to throw the stick
- Musa throws his stick and it started to shake and turned into a huge snake, with a big jaw and it was moving very quickly.
- Allah is the creator of everything…
- This is unusual for Musa so when he saw that he started running and did not look back… he had a normal human reaction.
- Allah wants to train Musa to get rid of this natural human fear because he is going to have to face many difficult situations in his life.
- Allah stopped him saying: “O Moses! Come back and fear not, for you are secure”
- Musa came back and Allah commanded him to hold the snake saying: “Take it, and do not fear, We shall restore it to its former state”
- As soon as Musa held the snake it turned back into the stick.
- Then Allah tells him: “And put your hand underneath your arm, and it will come out shinning white without stain, and draw your hand close to your side to be free from fear”
- Musa was dark skinned… when he pulled out his hand it was white and shinning like the moon. When he put it back it returned to its natural color.
- These are 2 of nine signs that Allah gave to Musa.
- The first action that Musa is ordered to do is “Go to Pharaoh, for he is a tyrant.”
- Musa was chosen by Allah for his strength and iman.
- He asked Allah to help him, he said: “Oh Allah open up my chest, and make my mission easy, and make loose the defect from my tongue so they may understand what I see”
- Musa had a problem with speech.
- “…and give me a helper from my family, Harun my brother, add to my strength through him, and make him share my task, so that we may glorify You and remember You frequently, surely, You are All-Seeing of us’ Allah said: ‘You are granted your request O Musa”
- Aishah heard a man saying to people while they were on their way to hajj: “who did the greatest favor to his brother?”. Aishah responded and said “Musa, he did the biggest favor upon his brother Harun because he asked Allah to make his brother a prophet”
- Musa said to Allah “My Lord! I have killed one of them, and I fear that they will kill me. And my brother Harun is more eloquent in speech than I. So, send him with me so he may support me. Surely, I fear they will reject me.’ He said: ‘We will certainly strengthen your arm with your brother, and We shall give you both such an authority that they will not be able to harm you.”
- Allah says : “Go both of you to Pharaoh… and speak to him softly...”
- Allah wants them to be gentle with Pharaoh.