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Parables of the Qur’an II
Episode 15
In the name of Allah, The All-Merciful, The Ever Merciful. All praises be to Allah, all prayers and blessings of Allah be upon our master, the noblest Prophet Muhammad.
Welcome to this episode. We have already reached the middle of Ramadan. The days have passed very quickly, as Allah says what can be translated as, “(The fast is) (for) a prescribed number of days.” (TMQ, 2:184). What have you done in these days? What will you do to be rescued from hellfire? Whoever was negligent in the first half of Ramadan, can compensate for it in the second half. The Night of Determination is still at the end of Ramadan. Maybe some one is now listening to us while his heart moves to redirect his life towards acceptance, mercy, forgiveness, jannah (paradise) and relief from hellfire.
The next point I want to ask about is how many times have you completed reading the Qur'an so far? Do your best in the coming days, for our Prophet (SAWS) urged us to read the Qur'an because it will intercede on behalf of its reader on the Day of Judgment.
The Prophet (SAWS) called Ramadan the month of Qur'an, and our campaign this month is “We live by the Qur'an.” We want 10 million readings of the Qur'an this month. Why? To strengthen ourselves and so we can come on the Day of Judgment carrying this number and saying, “O Allah, we have delivered in Ramadan 2009 ten million readings of Qur'an.”
Lady Aisha used to read Qur'an in Ramadan from dawn till nighttime. When she was asked why? She explained that the month of Ramadan was intended for reading the Qur’an.
The third point in this episode is very delicate and transparent. It brings up the idea of longing for Allah. We long for Allah at night and stand between His hands. Worship is divided into many ranks, one of which is longing for Allah. Prophet Musa (AS) (Moses) at this point in our story is longing for Allah. Are you longing for Him? How many times have you cried out of fear and love for Allah, longing for night prayers, for ’umrah, etc.?
Allah (SWT) promised to meet Musa (AS). The last time He met him was on Mount Tur (Mount Sinai) before the Pharaoh was drowned. Now, and after 15 years, and after the Pharaoh’s death, Allah’s promise to Musa is realized. Allah says what can be translated as, “And We appointed with Mûsa (Moses) thirty nights and We perfected them with ten, so the fixed time of his Lord was perfect for forty nights” (TMQ, 7:142).
Allah told him that if he fasted, prayed and worshipped Him sincerely for 30 nights, He will give him the Torah as a light and guidance. He will bring him very close to Him. Musa fasted for 30 days and Allah ordered him to add 10 more days so that he will be strengthened with belief when meeting Allah.
Musa had appointed Harun (AS) (Aaron) as a leader of the people of Israel during his absence. The people of Israel were not granted this 30-day fast. Allah granted this fast during Ramadan to Muhammad (SAWS) and his ummah (nation) to be a way for bringing them closer to Him. We are so dear to Allah. What Musa was given alone, was granted for all of us, for we have the thirty days of fasting followed by 6 days in the month of Shawwal.
Allah says what can be translated as, “‘And what has made you hasten from your people, O Mûsa?’ He (Mûsa) said, ‘They are those ones upon my track; and I have hastened on to You, Lord, that You may be satisfied (with me)’” (TMQ, 20:83, 84). Here we see him longing to meet Allah, so what happened?
Musa returned to the same place at the exact time to meet Allah (SWT) and receive the gift of the Torah. By the way, the word Torah is derived from the name of the Mount Tur. Musa came to Mount Tur again to affirm that Allah was true to His promise and that Allah never breaks His promise.
He asked Allah many questions. These were some of the questions he asked.
Musa asked Allah who was the most noble man in jannah (paradise). Allah’s answer was that it was the last man to come out of hellfire and enter jannah but had thought that it was full and that there was no place for him there. Imagine how many sins this man must have committed to be the last man to leave hellfire! Allah then asks this man if he wished to have the same property as the greatest of kings. The man thinks that Allah is mocking him, but Allah tells him that he would have as much as the greatest king and ten folds more until he is satisfied. Musa was astonished, “Was that the lowest ranking man in jannah?! What about the men with the highest rank?” Allah said that they were those whom Allah secured their happiness with His own hands; no one can imagine what Allah granted them.
His second question was, “How does slumber not overtake Allah nor sleep”? Allah asked Musa in turn to hold two bottles in his hand, but after some time Musa fell asleep and the bottles fell and broke. Allah then told Musa that if He slept the heavens will collapse on earth. At this point, Musa felt embarrassed and acknowledging Allah’s many blessings he asked Him how he could thank Him. He felt that his thanking Allah is in itself a blessing that he should thank Allah for. Allah’s answer was that if he has come to this realization then he has thanked Him.
Musa asked Allah to teach him a supplication, and Allah taught him, “There is no god to be worshipped but Allah.” If the seven heavens and seven earths were put in one scale and this sentence was put in the other, then its scale will outweigh them.
Then Musa asked Allah (SWT ) about two men from the people of Israeli who both supplicated Allah; one good and the other bad. Allah said to the good man, “Here I come to you,” once and to the bad man, “Here I come to you” thrice. But, why? Because the good man was depending on his good deeds while the bad man was depending on Allah’s mercy.
Then Allah told Musa that some of His bondsmen whom He brings into His jannah and lets them choose from its palaces, fruits and rivers are those who bring delight into believers' homes.
Allah asked Musa if he had done anything for the sake of Allah and Musa answered that he had fasted, prayed and performed charitable deeds. Yet Allah said that prayers will be a light for him, charitable deeds will be a proof for him, all these deeds will be of benefit for him, but has he ever loved anyone for the sake of Allah? Here Musa knew that the highest rank was to love people for the sake of Allah.
Allah asked Musa if he knew why He had chosen him to deliver His message. It was because Allah had searched the inside and outside of hearts in Musa's time but did not find a heart more humble than his, hence He wanted to raise his rank above all people.
Musa asked Allah about an ummah mentioned in the tablets whose one good deed is equal to one hasana, if it is not done and equal to ten hasana, if done and wished it to be his ummah (that of the people of Israel). But Allah said no, that this was the ummah of Prophet Muhammad. Do you see how dear we are to Allah?!
Musa also read in the tablets about an ummah that was the most charitable nation brought to mankind, they command beneficence and forbid malfeasance, and wished them to be his, but again Allah said no they were the ummah of Prophet Muhammad.
After all these questions and wishes, Musa wished to see Allah. Allah said no but that if Musa looked to the mountain; if it settled down then he would see Allah.
When Allah appeared to the mountain, it collapsed and Musa fainted. But why did He pick the mountain? Because it is strong and huge. So what about mankind?! Do you remember when you saw Ka'ba for the first time? I was fortunate enough to pray inside it once. I know many supplications but I forgot them all when I was inside it because I was in awe of the place.
Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) told us that on the Day of Judgment, people will faint. The first one to be revived will be the Prophet (SAWS) who will find Musa clinging to the throne. However, Muhammad (SAWS) will not know if Musa was revived before him or if he was rewarded for his fainting during his meeting with Allah. Do you see our Prophet's humbleness when he mentions Musa in this event?
Translated by: The English Convoy – Dar al-Tarjama
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