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Parables of the Qur’an – Part II
Episode 12
In the name of Allah, The All-Merciful, The Ever-Merciful. All prayers and peace of Allah be upon our master, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS).
Almost half of the month has passed by now. Are you satisfied with your relationship with Allah? If you haven’t yet exerted as much effort as you should, then do. Ramadan can be likened to winter, for the creatures, during summer, suffer from dehydration. This state ends with the coming of winter, with its rain, which supplies the creatures with enough food and drink for the rest of the year. Similarly, Ramadan supplies us with spiritual energy, love to Allah and values enough for the rest of the year, until the next Ramadan.
Actually, I have a dream. I dream of Egyptian youth with the traits of the true Egyptian spirit. My dream extends to the young people in the entire Arab World. They should have ten traits: to have much experience and knowledge of life; cultured; to know the history of their country and benefit from it; smart and wise; devoted to his country; positive; have the ability to present and introduce themselves using different approaches; courageous when it comes to speaking the truth; believers. Most people think that being religious only means to be a believer. However, it is a combination of those ten traits.
What has taken place on the sorcerers’ day resulted in two things: first, Israelites were, strongly, influenced by the leading, honest, courageous, rational character of Musa (AS) who is, completely, devoted to his message; Second, many Egyptians believed in Musa’s (AS) message, but kept it as a secret. Some were remarkable figures and others were simple and poor. Among the latter was the hairdresser of Pharaoh’s daughter. While she was combing the girl’s hair, the comb fell from her hand, and she, unconsciously, uttered the name of Allah.
“You mean father, don’t you?” asked the girl.
“No, Allah is my God as well as yours and your father’s,” replied the hairdresser, and, being affected by Musa (AS) as well as following the sorcerers’ example, she spilled out all that she has kept secret.
Immediately, the girl told her father, Pharaoh, about this. Consequently, he ordered for her four children to be fetched. Then he asked her, “Do you have another god besides me?”
“Allah is my God as well as yours,” she would reply. He kept asking her the same question before he burned each of her first three children alive, and she would give the same reply. Until the youngest one, who was a baby, was left. She was about to revert when her baby spoke out and told her she is on the right path and she shouldn’t be afraid. Then, they burned them both. Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) narrates that, as he was making al-mi’raj, he smelt the sweetest scent ever. When he asked Jibril (AS) (Gabriel) about it, he told him that it’s the scent of Pharaoh’s daughter’s hairdresser and her four children. Put in mind, young people, that on hearing these stories, you should act rationally and courageously, yet think wisely before making any move.
Although it might seem that, after killing the simple hairdresser, Pharaoh had got rid of such troubles, he never knew that he had a much bigger danger awaiting him- Asya believed in Musa’s (AS) message as well. It seems that Pharaoh started to torture her for it is mentioned in the Qur'an what can be translated as, “Lord! Build for me a house in your Providence in the Garden, and safely deliver me from Pharaoh and his deed (s), and safely deliver me from the unjust people!”(TMQ, 66:11). What makes her great is that she was not dazzled by the luxuries of life like most women are, and chose Allah’s path over all these. Many women do want to get veiled and be on the right path. However, they are too attracted by fashion, brands and lights to be on the right path.
Sensing the growing danger towards him, Pharaoh says, as mentioned in the Qur’an, “Leave me (alone) (i.e., Keep away from me) to kill Musa, and let him invoke his Lord.” (TMQ, 40:26). In this very moment, a new character appeared in the story. He is Pharaoh’s cousin as well as one of his chief counselors. He believed in Musa’s (AS) message long ago, but thought it was not the right thing to speak up the truth until this moment came. His name was not mentioned in the Qur’an, but he was described as a “believer” to draw our attention to this trait of his.
Being cornered, Pharaoh orders that Musa (AS) should be sentenced to death. At this very moment, the believer took a step forward and says what can be translated as, “Will you kill a man for that he says, ‘My Lord is Allah,’ and he has come to you with the supreme evidence (s) from your Lord? And in case he is a liar, then his lying is upon himself, and in case he is sincere, some of that which he promises you will alight on you. Surely Allah does not guide him who is extravagant, a constant liar.” (TMQ, 40:28). He uses the rational approach to provide a powerful reason for not killing Musa (AS).
After that, the believer moved to a different approach. He said what can be translated as, “O my people, today the kingdom is yours, you being topmost in the land; yet who will vindicate us against the violence of Allah in case it comes upon us?” (TMQ, 40:29). He is speaking in terms of patriotism. Thus, it is not true, as some may think, that religion contradicts patriotism. Having a very good historical background, he warned them against the consequences of killing the innocent, for this, according to history, always leads to the fall of nations. In other words, he was, indirectly, telling them that they should put an end to Pharaoh’s tyranny.
Thus, Pharaoh thought that taking the people’s opinion concerning killing Musa (AS) is, no longer, a good idea. He says what Allah narrates and can be translated as, “In no way would I let you see except what I see, and in no way do I guide you except in the way of right-mindedness.”(TMQ, 40:29). The believer, however, ignored him and started to use the emotional approach. He said what can be translated as, “O my people, surely I fear for you the like of the Day of the (allied) parties. The like of the steadfast manner of the people of Nuh, (Noah) and Aad, and Thamûd and the ones even after them; and in no way does Allah will an injustice for (His) bondmen” (TMQ, 40:30, 31).
After that, he speaks in terms of belief in the Day of Judgment, for the Egyptians believed in it. He says what can be translated as, “And O my people, surely I fear for you the Day of Summoning. The Day you turn away, withdrawing; in no way would there be a safeguard for you from Allah; and whomever Allah leads into error, then in no way would anyone be a guide for him.”(TMQ, 40:32, 33). In other words, he is telling them, politely and indirectly, that when that say comes, Pharaoh will never bother turning to them. Similarly, if you want to make an objection about somebody’s opinion or words, you should not do it in an uncivilized way by publishing it on the web or anything of the sort.
Then, the believer shifts to the historical approach. He says what can be translated as, “And indeed Yusuf (Joseph) already came to you earlier with the supreme evidence (s), yet in no way did you cease being in doubt concerning what he came to you with, until, when he perished, you said, ‘Allah will never send forth (any) Messenger even after him.’ Thus Allah leads into error him who is extravagant and (always) suspicious.”(TMQ, 40:34). He wanted to tell them that there is no difference between Musa (AS) and Yusuf (AS), for both came with the same message.
In an attempt to draw the peoples’ attention, Pharaoh said what can be described as, “O Haman, build for me a tower that possibly I would reach the means (of ascension); The means of the heavens, (and) so view the God of Musa, and surely I expect him to be a liar indeed.” (TMQ, 40: 36-37). On the other hand, the believer found that this was the perfect time to speak about himself and declare his belief in Musa’s (AS) message. He said what can be translated as, “And he who believed said, ‘O my people, closely follow me; I will guide you in the way of right-mindedness… Then you will soon remember what I say to you; and I confide my Command (Or: my affair) to Allah. Surely Allah is Ever-Beholding (His) bondmen.’ So Allah protected him against the odious (things) of their scheming, and an odious torment redounded on the house of Pharaoh.”(TMQ, 40:38-45)
The price which the believer paid in return to this was that he lost his position among Pharaoh and his opponents. Unfortunately, some people are not ready to sacrifice for the sake of saying the truth. However, Allah protected him from Pharaoh and his soldiers, who attempted to kill him. Some might ask why he stayed alive, while the hairdresser died. Allah may want to tell us from this that we should do right thing and leave the rest to Allah. Tomorrow we will see how both Pharaoh and Musa (AS) are going to react. It seems that Musa’s (AS) residence in Egypt is about to come to an end. Pharaoh will never dare, after that day, to threaten to kill Musa (AS). On the other hand, Allah, as well as Musa (AS), has a surprise for Pharaoh. Don’t forget to login to www.amrkhaled.net, where you can download the believer’s traits. See you tomorrow. peace and Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you.
Translated by: The English Convoy – Dar al-Tarjama
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