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Parables of the Qur’an II
Episode 19
The Wilderness
Today we are at Mount Nebo near the Dead Sea and at the environs of Jerusalem. Although it is an area of 6-7 kilometers, it was the location of the 40-year wanderings of the Israelites through the vast and barren wilderness of Sinai. During these years they committed many mistakes. Almost one third of the Noble Qur'an narrates this not as a matter of joking and ridiculing, but rather as a lesson by which we should live and through which we should learn how Allah (SWT) deals sometimes mercifully and sometimes strictly to educate us. Our ummah (muslim nation) should be aware that such wilderness wanderings can be moral or psychological. In the midst of such fierce materialism people can be wandering in the wilderness unwarily.
Today's Lessons
Let us start with today's main lessons: 1) have a solid belief in the unseen and follow the principle of ihsan (doing one's best), that is, to worship Allah as though you see Him, and while you cannot see Him, know that He truly sees you and 2) never choose what you like of Allah's orders and reject what you do not like.
To Believe or not to Believe
Once the Israelites reached this place Prophet Musa (Moses) (AS) divided them into 12 tribes and started teaching them the Decalogue (Ten Commandments)[3]. The obligations seemed heavy to them and they wanted to accept what they liked and reject what they did not like. However, such choice was not up to them. Allah says what can be translated as, "Do you then believe in some (parts) of the Book and disbelieve in other parts? So in no way is the recompense of whoever of you performs that (anything) except disgrace in the present …. and on the Day of the Resurrection they are to be turned back to the strictest torment." (TMQ, 2:85)
Are we like the Israelites? Do you cover your hair, sister, and wear tight clothes? Do you stop drinking wine, brother, and keep on addicting to drugs? “And in no way should a male believer or a female believer, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a Command, have the choice in their Command. …” (TMQ, 33:36)
Beware or you will be like the Israelites. Our Prophet (SAWS) said that none of us has believed until his desires are in accordance with what he (i.e. the Prophet) has come to us with. This refers to the perfection of our obedience and of our desire to obey.
Materialism versus the Unseen
In order to let them accept all His Commandments, Allah "agitated the mountain above them as if it were an overshadowing (awning) and they expected it was going to fall down on them: “Take powerfully what We have brought you, and remember what is in it, that possibly you would be pious." (TMQ, 7:71) It was a miracle and they accepted. It was not coercion, but a warning of Allah's Wrath.
What about us? Why does not Allah do that to us in order to believe? Our ummah (nation) is better and more mature in that we are not that materialistic and Allah trusts that we can believe in the unseen. When Quraysh asked Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) to give them tangible miracles, he refused and said "All Extolment be to my Lord! Have I been anything except a mortal, as Messenger?" (TMQ, 17:93) Therefore, be pious and follow Allah's orders in their entirety.
The Chosen Seventy versus the Chosen Ummah
Afterwards, Prophet Musa (AS) decided to choose seventy men of his people and take them with him to Allah on a fixed time to apologize for the sins of the Israelites. This was the second appointed time as the first was for Musa alone for 30 days. Our ummah is better in that as well. All of it and not only seventy thereof, have an appointed time with Allah for 30 days in Ramadan. Fast, supplicate and observe night prayers in Ramadan so that Allah would grant you forgiveness and manumission from Hellfire.
The chosen seventy could hear Musa as he prays for forgiveness but they could not hear Allah. Once Musa returned to them, he was astonished: they wanted to see Allah openly to believe. It is again materialism and insolence. So the (stunning) thunderbolt took them. Never be insolent with Allah. Although we do not ask to see Allah openly, we sometimes are among those who commit a sin openly or disclose their sins to the people.
Prophet Musa (AS) was now in a difficult situation. The Noble Qur'an narrates that he said what can be translated as, "Lord! If you had so decided, You would have caused them to perish earlier and me. Would You cause us to perish for what the foolish ones of us have performed? Decidedly it is (nothing) except Your temptation, whereby You lead to error whomever You decide, and You guide whomever You decide." (TMQ, 7:155)
Repentance, Mercy and Giving
However, there was the other side of the coin. It was not all the time firmness and strength. Allah gave the Israelites from his bounties in order to draw them near to Him.
When they felt thirsty, Prophet Musa preformed the prayer for rain and supplicated for long to Allah but no rain fell. Allah told him that the reason was that among them was a man who insisted on committing sins for 40 years and there would be no rain unless he repents. Fearing to be exposed, the concerned person prayed in secret to Allah and repented and then rain fell. It is another lesson for our ummah: “sins beget misfortune”. Let us repent now.
Trust in Allah
Again there was no water and Allah ordered Prophet Musa to strike the stone with his staff and there gushed forth from it twelve springs one for each tribe. This was trust in Allah: it was once sea-cum-stone to escape Pharaoh and here it was stone-cum-water to drink. Glorified be Allah. If you have trust in Allah you will get rid of any worry about your sustenance and future. These springs are now 3000 years old and still gushing. They are a symbol to remind us to trust Him. For lack of trust, the Israelites did not enter the Holy Land.
Successive Miracles
As for food, Allah sent down manna and quails on a daily basis to teach the Israelites satisfaction. Sustenance was given daily just as our lives are given back to us daily when we wake up. Everyone should ask himself: am I satisfied with Allah? Do I have enough trust? Do I really love Allah as I should?
Along with water and food Allah gave the Israelites shade. For every tribe there was a cloud in such a scorching desert.
Before all these miracles, you should say that there is no god but Allah with all your might. Stop being materialistic; stop choosing among Allah's orders; wear hijab today; stop bad deeds today; prostrate to Allah and feel his love. It might help you to sit down and write on a piece of paper what you recall of your sins and in the opposite page write down some of Allah’s bounties.
Say, we accept and are pleased with Allah as our Lord, and Islam as our religion and with our Master Muhammad as Messenger and Prophet and with the Qur'an as our book and Allah is the Trustee on what we say. Learn from today's stories to depend on Allah and drink from His Mercy, Love, Affection and Compassion. Live by the Qur'an, trust Allah and have complete peace of mind.
Translated by: The English Convoy – Dar al-Tarjama
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