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Parables of the Qur’an II
Episode 26
In the name of Allah, The All-Merciful, The Ever-Merciful. All Prayers and Peace of Allah be upon our Master, the most noble Prophet Muhammad (SAWS).
Let me remind you of our campaign for this Ramadan, “We Will Live by the Qur'an,” and tell you that it is a success. Millions of Khatmahs (complete recitation of the Ever-Glorious Qur'an) have been completed and logged in. We hope to be called by Allah (SWT) on the Day of Judgment and be shaded by his shade, when there is no other shade but His, for being united in love for the recitation of the Ever-Glorious Qur'an for His (SWT) sake.
Today's episode is a continuation of yesterday's episode which tackled the second half of Musa's (AS) life. It addresses seven values. Thirteen years after he crossed the sea, Musa (AS) returned to the same place, Mount Tor, to meet Allah's (SWT). He spoke to Allah and received the Torah and the Ten Commandments. This scene shows Allah's mercy, forgiveness and pardon, and reveals the first value, "love of Allah."
Musa asked Allah (SWT) about the man with the lowest rank in jannah (paradise). Allah 's (SWT) answer was that he is the last man to creep out of hellfire and enter jannah. He thinks that it is full and that there is no place for him there. Imagine how many sins this man must have committed to be the last man to leave hellfire! Allah (SWT) then asks this man if he wishes to have the same property as the greatest of kings. The man thinks that Allah (SWT) is mocking him, but Allah (SWT) tells him that he would have as much as the greatest king and ten folds more until he is satisfied. Musa (AS) was astonished, “Was that the lowest ranking man in jannah?! What about men with the highest rank?” Allah (SWT) said that they are those for whom Allah (SWT) secures happiness with His (SWT) own hands; no one can imagine what Allah (SWT) will grant them.
The story of As-Samiriyy (The Samaritan) and the calf depicts the second value. Man should never humiliate himself for another person, for Satan, for money, for wrong doing or for any other reason whatsoever. Humility darkens, distorts, disfigures and deforms the soul, deep from within. As-Samiriyy took advantage of Musa's (AS) absence and sculpted a calf because he knew the admiration Israelites had for the calf of the Egyptians. He tempted them and they believed his words and acted upon it out of humiliation. Therefore, Musa As-Samiriyy deserves severe punishment—he was expelled, and his “god” was burned and then crushed into powder and thrown into the sea. This story advises you not to humiliate yourself or your children for any reason whatsoever.
Let us continue with the third value. Allah (SWT) ordered Musa (AS) to take the Israelites and enter the Holy Land, Al-Quds, but they refused. Do you recall Mount Nibo? It is the nearest point overlooking the Aqsa mosque, and it is 25 km from the Aqsa mosque. The value of this episode was about your love for the Aqsa mosque. The importance of al-israa and al-mi'ra[7] is to raise the flag for the Aqsa. Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) met all the prophets with Jibril (AS) and led them in prayer in the yard of the Aqsa mosque. Hence, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) and his nation are forever responsible for the Aqsa.
The fourth value is very important. You should know how patient Allah (SWT) is with His Servants. We should also learn how Allah (SWT) deals sometimes mercifully and sometimes strictly to educate us. The scene of Musa's (AS) springs—the springs which flowed when he hit a stone with his cane-- embodies Allah's (SWT) mercy, greatness and patience. These springs are symbolic in that they remind us to trust Allah (SWT) and not worry about sustenance. We will still talk about the second half of Musa's (AS) life, the springs and Mount Nibo. The aim is to recite Surat Al-Baqarah differently and feel the beautiful values and meanings it embodies.
Let us move to the fifth value related to the story of the cow which is narrated in the biggest Surah in Qur'an, and after which the Surah is named. The story embodies many values and depicts the mistakes committed by the Israelites. That is why I asked you to log onto the amrkhaled.net web site and suggest as many values this incident portrays. We can here highlight these mistakes and tell you some of them, mistakes such as: debating with Allah (SWT) and his messengers, being impolite to messengers and temporizing Allah’s (SWT) orders are the most common characteristics of the Israelites.
Value of knowledge is the main lesson of the following scene. Let's go to the sea and recall the story of Musa and the pious man al-Khidr. The story is related in the Qur’an in Surat al-Kahf; It is a reminder for us (to whom the first word revealed by the Qur'an was "Iqraa" (read)) to love knowledge. Additionally, there are many Ahadith reported by al-Bukhary and Muslim signifying the value of knowledge. Education is vital for the renaissance of this nation.
The last scene is the death of Harun (AS) (Aaron) and the seventh value of kinship ties, accompanied with the value of meditating and contemplating upon Allah's (SWT)creations in the five mountains of Basra where Harun is buried.
Harun (AS) was Musa's (AS) soul mate, a man of excellent personality. He (AS) had a message, and he (AS) supported his brother (AS) with a pure soul.
Memories of the Two Brothers
The sweetest moment in the life of Musa (AS) and Harun (AS) probably was when Musa (AS) returned from Madyan and gave Harun (AS) glad tidings of prophethood.
The hardest time was when they confronted Firaawn (Pharaoh) together.
The most difficult situation was standing together before the sorcerers.
The big moment was passing over the sea together.
The strongest memory was living for ten years in the desert together.
They had a unique story of brotherhood, with the faithful Harun (AS) as a hero in the background. Their relation was based on intergration rather than selfishness.
The last memory of Musa (AS) and Harun (AS) together was the last moments in Haron's (AS) life when they were commanded to enter the Holy Land. The Israelites refused, and there was no one willing to obey except Musa (AS) and Harun (AS). Sharing the same message, the death of Harun (AS) indicated that Musa's (AS) term draw near.
Musa (AS) underwent a very hard experience of burying his own brother. It is said that he is buried between two huge mountains of the five mountains of Basra that are united together. This unique scene of the two mountains reflects the special relationship between the two great brothers. This place – known as "Firaawn's keepers" - is a shrine for people of all religions.
This was an overview of the second half of Musa's (AS) life.
Translated by: The English Convoy – Dar al-Tarjama
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