Musa (Moses) (pbuh) - (1)

The Prophets of Allah
based on the narrations by Ibn Kathir

The Story of Musa: Section One

The Firun (Pharaoh) who ruled Egypt was a tyrant who oppressed the descendants of Ya`qub (Jacob) (PBUH), known as the children of Israel (Bani Israel). He used every means to demean and disgrace them. They were kept in bondage and forced to work for him for small wages or nothing. Under this system the people obeyed and worshiped the Firun (Pharaoh), and the ruling class carried out his orders, thereby authorising his tyranny and crazy whims.

The Firun (Pharaoh) wanted the people to obey him only, and to believe in the gods of his invention. Perhaps, during that time, there were many classes of people who did not believe in or practice polytheism; however, they kept this to themselves and outwardly did as they were expected to do, without revolting or revealing themselves to anyone.

Thus, successive dynasties came to Egypt and assumed that they were gods or their representatives or spokesmen.

Years passed, and a despotic king, who was adored by the Egyptians, ruled Egypt. This king saw the children of Israel multiplying and prospering. He heard them talking about a vague vision that one of Israel's sons would dethrone the Firun (Pharaoh) of Egypt. Perhaps this vision was only a daydream that persisted within the hearts of the persecuted minority, or perhaps it was a prophecy from their books.

[Another tradition states that it was Firun (Pharaoh) himself who had the vision.] Ibn 'Abbas narrated: "Firun saw in his vision a fire which came from Jerusalem and burned the houses of the Egyptians, and all Copts, and did not do harm to children of Israel. When he woke up, he was horrified. He then gathered his priests and magicians and asked them about this vision. They said: 'This means a boy will be born of them and the Egyptian people will perish at his hands.' That is why Firun commanded that all male children of the children of Israel be killed."

Either way, this vision reached the ears of the Firun (Pharaoh). He then issued a decree to slay any male child that would be born to the children of Israel.

This was carried out until the experts of economics said to Firun (Pharaoh): "The aged of the children of Israel die and the young are slaughtered. This will lead to their annihilation. As a result, Firun (Pharaoh) will lose the manpower of those who work for him, those whom he enslaves, and their women whom he exploits. It is better to regulate this procedure by initiating the following policy: males should be slaughtered in one year but spared to live the next year." Firun (Pharaoh) found that solution to be safer economically.

Musa's (Moses's) mother was pregnant with Harun (Aaron) (PBUH) in a year that boys were to be spared; thus she gave birth to the child publicly and safely. During a year in which boys were to be slain, she gave birth to Musa's (Moses) (PBUH); thus his birth caused her much terror. She was afraid he would be slain, so she nursed him secretly.

Allah the Almighty revealed: «These are Verses of the manifest Book (that makes clear truth from falsehood, good from evil, etc.). We recite to you some of the news of Musa and Firun in truth, for a people who believe (those who believe in this Qur'an, and in the Oneness of Allah). Verily, Firun exalted himself in the land and made its people sects, weakening (oppressing) a group (i.e. children of Israel) among them, killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the Mufsideen (i.e., those who commit great sins and crimes, oppressors, tyrants, etc.).

And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak (and oppressed) in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors, and to establish them in the land, and We let Firun and Haman and their hosts receive from them that which they feared. And We inspired the mother of Musa, (saying): "Suckle him (Musa), but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily! We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers."» Surah 28: 2-7

No sooner had the divine revelation finished than she obeyed the sacred and merciful call. She was commanded to make a basket for Musa (Moses). She nursed him, put him into the basket, then went to the shore of the Nile and threw it into the water. Her mother's heart, the most merciful one in the world, grieved as she threw her son into the Nile. However, she was aware that Allah was much more merciful to Musa (Moses) than to her, that He loved him more than her. Allah was his Lord and the Lord of the Nile.

Hardly had the basket touched the water of the Nile than Allah issued His command to the waves to be calm and gentle while carrying the child would one day be a prophet.

She instructed her daughter to follow the course of the basket and to report back to her. As the daughter followed the floating basket along the river bank, she found herself right in the palace grounds and saw what was unfolding before her eyes.

The basket came to rest at the river bank which skirted the king's palace. The palace servants found the basket with the baby and took it to the Firun (Pharaoh) and his queen. When the queen beheld the lovely infant, Allah instilled in her a strong love for this baby. Firun's (Pharaoh's) wife was very different from Firun (Pharaoh). He was a disbeliever; she was a believer. He was cruel; she was merciful. He was a tyrant; she was delicate and good-hearted. She was sad because she was infertile and had hoped to have a son. Hardly had she held the baby than she kissed him.

Firun (Pharaoh) was much amazed when he saw his wife hugging this baby to her breast. He was much astonished because his wife was weeping with joy, something he had never seen her do before. She requested her husband: "Let me keep the baby and let him be a son to us."

Almighty Allah said: «Then the household of Firun picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief Verily! Firun, Haman and their hosts were sinners. And the wife of Firun said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be of benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son." And they perceived not (the result of that).» Surah 28, Ayah 9

The queen summoned a few wet nurses to suckle the baby Musa (Moses), but he would not take any of their breasts. The queen was distressed and sent for more wet nurses. Musa's sister was also worried, as her baby brother was without milk for a long time. Seeing the queen's anxiety, she blurted that she knew just the mother who would suckle the child affectionately.

They asked her why she was following the floating basket. She said she did so out of curiosity. Her excuse sounded reasonable, so they believed her. They ordered her to rush and fetch the woman she was talking about. Her mother also was waiting with a heavy heart, worried about the fate of her baby. Just then her daughter rushed in with the good news. Her heart lifted and she lost no time in reaching the palace.