Parables of the Qur’an – Part II

 Episode 7

        Having departed from Egypt, Musa (AS) (Moses) set up his mind to go to Madyan to be out of the reach of Pharaoh.  On his way, Musa (AS) faced some obstacles: he had to walk 1000 km on his bare feet for eight days, not to mention that this was the first time for him to leave Egypt.  This is mentioned in the Quran, “And as soon as he (turned) his face towards Madyan, he said, “It may be that my Lord will guide me on the level way.” (TMQ[1], 28:22).

      Although Musa (AS) was most likely to get lost, he had strong faith in Allah.(SWT)[2]  Firstly, he left Egypt all of a sudden, without even saying goodbye to his mother.  Secondly, he left without his brother, Harun (AS) (Aaron).  Thirdly, he was a prince in Egypt, but nothing more than a poor warrior when he left it.  However, he knew very well that since he was doing all this for the sake of helping the poor, he would never get lost.  I will keep repeating this over and over again: you always have to help the poor and sympathize with them whenever they need you.  This is what made Allah (SWT) honor Musa (AS) by making him “the Addressor of Allah”. 

       From this time on, Musa (AS) never settled in one place for the rest of his life.  He kept migrating from one place to another for 70 years only for the sake of the poor.  Today, there are millions of poor people in our countries.  What have you done to help them?

     On the other hand, the situation in Egypt were upside down.  Pharaoh could not find Musa, so  he ordered his soldiers to look for him everywhere in Egypt; they even searched the houses of Israelites, tormenting and killing its people. Pharaoh would do anything to prevent Musa from dethroning him as he had seen in the vision.  However, the soldiers never thought, for once, about extending their search outside the boundaries of Egypt. There was nothing but a limitless desert out there.  No one could enter this desert without riding an animal or a guide, otherwise he would definitely die.

    Disappointed and sad, Musa (AS) left Egypt as he was not able to help the poor in his country or guide Israelites to Judaism. Yet, it never occurred to him that this was because Allah (SWT) loves him and is preparing him for something much better. He would not have become “the Addressor of Allah” nor a prophet if he hadn’t left the life of princes and tasted the bitterness of life. Allah even says in the Noble Quran, addressing Musa (AS), “And I had you worked out for Myself.” (TMQ, 20:41).

    What happened to Musa (AS) is typical of the saying: “Allah could give you something but prevent you from having another better thing, and he could prevent you from getting something in order to give you a better one instead.”  You always have to trust in Allah when this happens; if you are sure that you are doing the right thing- helping the poor- as it was with Musa (AS) but some difficulties encounter you, never be affected. Instead, you have to believe that you are on the right path and that through these difficulties and obstacles, Allah is preparing you for a greater thing.

    Please visit:  www.amrkhaled.net, list five things which happened to you, that you later on found that it was a preparation from Allah for you to do something for Islam whether helping the poor or anything else.

       Another lesson to learn is that our fates belong only to Allah.  This was the second time for Musa (AS) to escape from death at the hands of Pharaoh.  Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)[3] even said, that Jibril (AS) (Gabriel) told him that no one would die except after he had been given everything which Allah had kept for him.  Thus, do not hesitate to help anyone who needs you, for your fate has already been determined by Allah, and it will never change.

      During his journey, Musa (AS) was fighting death as he had neither food nor drink, not to mention scorpions which  were everywhere.  Similarly, we should exert some effort for the sake of Allah, just as we do for leading a better life.  Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) was also badly injured in his feet in al-Taif.  He says that the more religious one is, the tougher Allah’s trial to him is.  When the Prophet (SAWS) was asked about who gets the toughest trials, he said, 'The prophets, then the most similar to them in their acts'.  If you are toughly tested by Allah, be patient, for Allah says in the Noble Quran, “Surely (the) patient will only be paid their reward in full without reckoning.” (TMQ, 39:10).

       Being alone, Musa (AS) started practicing a new form of worship: being in Allah’s company.  Try this in Ramadan, everyone. For example, pray two Raka’as[4] instead of wasting hours talking on the phone, watching TV or playing computer games.  Allah says in a Hadith Qudsy[5] that He is with  his slave as long as his lips are murmuring words about Him.

      Finally, Musa (AS) reached Madyan.  Allah made him choose Madyan in particular for a specific purpose; He wanted Musa (AS) to know that Shu'ayb (AS) faced the same obstacles from his people- the people of Madyan.  Allah had sent Shu'ayb (AS) to them, but they gave him a deaf ear.  Being the Ever-Forbearing, Allah gave them several chances.  However, at the end, when they refused to change, Allah, the Almighty, destroyed them.  Allah, thus, wanted to tell Musa (AS) that He did not make Pharaoh triumph over him, as Musa (AS) might think. Instead, Allah (SWT) is just giving him chances.

        Musa (AS) directly headed towards the well of Madyan.  In the ancient times, it was a habit for strangers to go to the place where people gather to collect water so as to find someone helping or inviting them to stay at his house.  After a long eight-day journey, with neither food nor water, it was natural for Musa (AS) to look for water. However, he did not do so. He noticed two girls standing away from other shephards, waiting for them to finish so that they would get water from the well.  Thus, he decided to bring water for them.  Since the bottom of the well is muddy, the later one is, the more mud he will find in its water.  The strongest would first use the well and then the weaker, and so on.  Thus, these people were strong, not merciful; none of them thought of helping the girls.

       What would you do if you were in Musa's situation?  Being the strongest, and at the same time dead-tired, you would launch like a rocket in the direction of the well, pushing men, and immersing your head in the well to drink.  You may also sit in a corner hiding your blood-covered hands, or pretend not to have seen the girls in the first place.  We all keep saying that we want to enter paradise, but what have we, actually, done to gain paradise?  How many widows, orphans, or poor people have you helped?

       Since those men are ruled by strength, Musa (AS) decided to deal with them in the same way.  Thus, he made his way through the men, watered the two girls’ sheep, and brought water to them. His great love for helping the poor even made him forget to drink although he was about to die from dehydration.  Some say that when other men saw how powerful he was, they blocked the entrance to the well with a rock which cannot be lifted by less than ten men.  However, Musa (AS) lifted it himself and put it out of the way. This is why the girl would later tell her father, as it is mentioned in the Quran: “O my father, hire him; surely the most charitable (man) you (can) hire is the one powerful…” (TMQ, 28:26).

     Here, I have to give a warning to the young men: do not ever make your muscles your first priority, never go bragging about them everywhere to harrase girls.  Also do not use your muscles and strength as a means of fighting others. Instead, use it as a means to help the weak as Musa (AS) did.

    Your practical task today is to look for any weak or poor person and help him in any way.  Just help him.  This one may be inside your own house; perhaps your mother, your wife, or your daughter.

    Allah wanted to test Musa to see if he would still assist the weak people even after what had happened to him when he stood by the weak man’s side in Egypt.  Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) taught us that helping a muslim brother is better for one than to seclude oneself in his mosque-in Madina..  Instead of secluding yourself in the mosque in the last ten days of Ramadan, you could better help a poor family in your village by setting up a project that would help them lead a better life.  Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) also told us that Allah helps and supports His slave as long as the slave is assisting his muslim brother.

    One of the companions considers it a disaster and a consequence of his bad deeds if a day passes without a poor knocking on his door asking for help.  If this day is over, without you finding a poor asking your help, you have to know, then, that you are deprived of a great blessing.

   After what Musa (AS) did with the shepherds, he became all alone.  He prefered helping the two girls to winning the shepherds to his side.  His only companion now was Allah.

   Please read, today, Surat[6]  Al Qasas.  Also go to www.amrkhaled.net, download the sticker of the campaign “We will live by the Qur'an”, and stick it in as many places as possible.  We want the spectators of the program to finish reading the Quran 10,000,000 times.

Translated by: The English Convoy – Dar al-Tarjama

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