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Parables of the Qur’an – Part II
Episode 11
In the name of Allah, The All-Merciful, The Ever-Merciful. All prayers and peace of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad (SAWS).
Last episode, we stopped when Musa (AS) (Moses) defied Pharaoh alone; he was so strong in his belief, brave and self-confident. They agreed on an appointment on the Adornment Day (Easter - Sham Elnesim Day) at noon. In this episode, Musa (AS) and Harun are going to confront 10.000 Egyptian magicians. What is going to happen?
The Glorious Quran depicts this confrontation in surat Ta-Ha and ash-Shu'ara. Allah says in the Glorious Quran what can be translated as, "He (Musa) said, “Your appointment shall be upon the adornment day, (i.e., the feast day) and let the multitudes be mustered at the forenoon.” (TMQ, 20:59). Why did Musa choose Adornment Day in particular? He did so as it was a national feast. Musa (AS) here declares a significant point: I'm with Egyptians celebrating with them in their national feasts. Religion is not against patriotism and loving one's country. The point here is that Musa(AS) even with his different beliefs is still celebrating with all Egyptians in their feasts.
Our value today is that of what is one's right. Right is stronger than all materialistic powers. If you have a right, you will be the strongest. We are not here to depict a scene or narrate a story. If you have a right, declare it. The right of someone is very powerful. So, live for the sake of your rights; never be cawardly. Don’t be afraid, never. If right is in one side and your personal interests are on the other side, never prefer your own interests over what is right. Say the truth in your job, your town, and your city as well as your country; say it with your wife. Devote your life for the sake of the truth. Don't let yourself utter a false testimony or tell lies. Our parable says right is victorious. Allah makes right triumph over vanity. If right has not been acieved, vanity will continue; if right does not prevail, vanity will replace another vanity.
Let's now open surat Ta-Ha starting from the ayah no.59. Do you remember how Omar Ibnul-Khattab converted to Islam? Reading the first aya of surat Ta-Ha, Omar responded to right as he loved everything that was right.
How foolish was it for the Pharoah to gather hundreds of thousands of people to see Musa's miracle, in a place similar to the Roman Theatre. Imagine a stage where Pharaoh, his wife Assya, and cousin- who will believe in Allah later- magicians, Musa (AS) and Harun as well as the crowded spectators are all gathered to see an interesting scene: Pharoah and his 10.000 magicians are challenged by just one person of Israilities. What an exciting scene!
Pharoah ordered his magicians as mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an, "So gather your plotting, (and) there- after come up in ranks; (i.e., in battle, ranks) and whoever seeks exaltedness today will readily prosper.” (TMQ, 20:64). Apparently, the Pharoah was not ashamed of his vanity. Hence, never be ashamed of your commitment to your religion, to your veil, my sister.
Musa (AS) entered the stage beside his brother Harun confronting 10.000 magicians. He was not scared, as he believed that Allah has called himself The Truth and will reveal the truth. On the other hand, Magicians were dreaming of their gifts, high positions and authorities as Pharoah promised them. Pharoah started to provoke magicians to defend their career; otherwise Musa (AS) will have the upper hand in magic and let them idle. The Glorious Quran depicts Pharoah's and Haman's speech to magicians speaking about Musa and Harun as follows, "They said, “Decidedly these two (men) are indeed (both) sorcerers; they would (like) to drive you out of your land by their sorcery, and go away with your exemplary mode (of life). So gather your plotting, (and) there- after come up in ranks" (TMQ, 20:63). Therefore, Pharaoh threatened to dismiss the magicians in case they did not do what he ordered them.
Pharaoh began to address Musa, as mentioned in Qur'an, "He said, “Have you come to us to drive us out of our land by your sorcery, O Musa? (TMQ, 20:57). In this moment, Musa attempted to gave a piece of advice to the magicians warning, " Musa said to them, “Woe to you! Do not fabricate a lie against Allah (or) then He will eradicate you with a torment; and whoever fabricates (a lie) is readily disappointed.” (TMQ, 20:61). Musa (AS) started saying the word of the truth by advice. He was not afraid to do so. Never be ashamed of telling the truth and declaring right.
Musa's words excited arguments and doubts among magicians. Allah says, "Then they contended among themselves their command, (Or: their affair) and they conferred in secret" (TMQ, 20:62). (i.e., in battle, ranks) and whoever seeks exaltedness today will readily prosper.” (TMQ, 20:64)
When the magicians saw Musa, they believed that this was not the face of a magician. Once, a jew came to Madina to ask our prophet Muhammad (SAWS) some questions and make sure of his prophecy. When he saw his face, he knew he was truthful.
In the very beginning of the confrontation, Musa (AS) began speaking to the magicians. He chose to let them throw first. He was not afraid as he was on the right side. "They said, “O Musa, either you will cast, or we will be the first to cast. He said, “No indeed, you cast!” Then only then, their ropes and their staffs were made to appear to him, by their sorcery, to be gliding along. (TMQ, 20:65-66). Musa (AS) imagined as if their ropes were walking like a snake. Of course, the spectators uttered in a high voice, "Woo" affected by their magic.
The following ayah confirms Musa (AS) is a human being, who feels and fears like all of us. "So Musa entertained a fright within himself" (TMQ, 20:67). Are we like Musa (AS) or the Israelites? We have the miracle of Qur'an: do we have fear like Musa? Some of the magicians were real magicians and the others were scientists who brought pipes full of hot mercury to heat and move on a hot land, throwing 10.000 ropes, pipes, and sticks.
In this moment, Allah says, "We said (to Musa), “Do not fear (anything); surely you (yourself) are the most exalted" (TMQ, 20:68). It was narrated that Jibril (AS) (Gabriel) came to Musa saying to him; "Be patient to these magicians: they are Allah's pious righteous men; they will be with you from noon to the afternoon, and then will enter paradise". Therefore, we do have hope that Allah will have mercy on us to enter paradise. When we prostrate, we get nearer to paradise despite our sins, as Allah is merciful.
Then, Allah ordered Musa, "And cast down what is in your right (hand). It will gulp what they have worked out; surely what they have worked out is only the plotting of a sorcerer; and the sorcerer will not prosper where he comes up.” (TMQ, 20:69). In no time, Musa's stick turned into a snake, which swallowed and devoured their ropes. Therefore, right devoured what they brought 10.000 ropes: it is a real miracle, as they would not have any tools to continue challenge; Musa's snake swallowed all their tools, so they have nothing to present in this challenge.
As a result, the magicians surrendered and believed in Allah. The Glorious Qur'an narrates this scene, "Then the sorcerers were (all) cast down constantly prostrating. They said, “We believe in The Lord of Harun and Musa.” (TMQ, 20:70). The magicians looked as if they were pulled by a magnet. This is exactly what happened to Omar; when he listened to surat Ta-Ha; he believed at once. Musa thanked Allah. The Israelites said, 'There is no god but Allah'. They looked at the Pharaoh as if they were saying to him, "You are not a god. Perhaps, his wife Assya said I believe in Allah; 10.000 Egyptian noble magicians declared they would live for what they believe in, no matter what the consequences would be."
Pharaoh claimed that the magicians conspired with Musa to do so and threatened to punish the magicians and torture them saying, "He (pharaoh) said, “Have you believed him before I gave permission (to do so)? Surely he is indeed your great (master) who has taught you sorcery; so indeed I will definitely cut off (The from of the verb implies an action done repeatedly or to great extent or high degree. Of surat Yusuf 31) your hands and legs, alternately; and indeed I will definitely crucify you upon the trunks of palm-trees; and indeed you will definitely know whichever of us is more strict in torment and more enduring.” (TMQ, 20:71).
The magicians shouted constantly, “We will never prefer you over the supreme evidences that have come to us, nor over Him Who originated us; so decree whatever you will decree; surely you will only decree touching this present life (Literally: this lowly life, i.e., the life of this world). Surely we believe in our Lord that He may forgive us our sins and the sorcery you have compelled us to (practice); and Allah is The Most Charitable and The Most Enduring. Surely whoever comes up to his Lord a criminal, then surely for him will be Hell wherein he will neither die nor live. And whoever comes up to Him a believer, having already done deeds of righteousness, then those, for them are the exalted degrees. Gardens of Adn, (Eden) from beneath which rivers run, eternally (abiding) therein, and that is the recompense of him who has cleansed (himself). (TMQ, 20:72-76).
All of us will die; it does not matter to put an end to our life as long as Allah is pleased with us. We all have hope in the mercy of Allah; whatever sins and vices you have committed, you can repent to Allah at any time and Allah will forgive and eradicate all your sins.
Pharoah ordered his soldiers to kill all magicians; a trully criminal act. Why did the magicians die? Why didn't Allah save them like Musa? They should have been killed by Pharoah so that Israeilties would believe in Allah. As for Musa (AS), he should live to complete his mission.
Please read, today, suratTa-Ha and ash-Shu'ara. Also log into 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. Let's live for the truth. What will Egyptians do? We will see in the next episode, insha'Allah.
Translated by: The English Convoy – Dar al-Tarjama
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