3RD MAY 1998 7TH MUHARRAM 1419.
بسم الله الرّحمن الرّحيم
ربّ اشرحلي صدري ويسّرلي أمري واحلل عُقدة مّن لُّلساني يفقهو قولي
الحمد لله ربّ العالَمين والعاقبة اللمتّقين والصّلوةُ والسّلام على رسولك سيّدنا محمّد
وأاله وأصحابه وأهل بيته وأهل طاعتك أجمعين - أمّا بعد
أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرّجيم
بسم الله الرّحمن الرّحيم
ذَلِكَ أَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا غَافِلُونَ
6.131 (The messengers were sent) thus, for thy Lord would not destroy for their wrong-doing men's habitations whilst their occupants were unwarned.
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا الْقُرُونَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَمَا كَانُوا لِيُؤْمِنُوا كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
10:13. Generations before you We destroyed when they did wrong: their Apostles came to them with Clear Signs but they would not believe! Thus do We requite those who sin!
One of the most effective examples is the life of - Phir’aun (Phir’aun (Pharaoh)).
Mufassiroons say that the worst of the enemies of mankind was from two of Allah's creations one was from among the Jinns and the other from among man.
Among the Jinns was Shaithaan who refused to bow down to Adam (A) and swore that he will be an enemy to man.
The second of those enemies was Phir’aun who arrogantly proclaimed himself as "I am your Lord most high"
فَأَرَاهُ الآيَةَ الْكُبْرَى
79.20 Then did (Moosa) show him the Great Sign.
فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَى
79.21 But (Phir’aun (Pharaoh)) rejected it and disobeyed (guidance);
ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَى
79.22 Further, he turned his back, striving hard (against Allah).
فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَى
79.23 Then he collected (his men) and made a proclamation,
فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الأعْلَى
79.24 Saying, "I am your Lord, Most High".
فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الآخِرَةِ وَالأولَى
79.25 But Allah did punish him, (and made an) example of him, - in the Hereafter, as in this life.
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ مُوسَى بِآيَاتِنَا إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ فَظَلَمُوا بِهَا فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
7.103 Then after them We sent Moosa with Our signs to Phir’aun (Pharaoh) and his chiefs, but they wrongfully rejected them: So see what was the end of those who made mischief.
وَقَالَ مُوسَى يَا فِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّي رَسُولٌ مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
7.104 Moosa said: "O Phir’aun (Pharaoh)! I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds,-
Notice that Moosa, in addressing Phir’aun (Pharaoh) and the Egyptians, claims his mission to be not
from his God, or his people's God but from "your Lord," from "the Lord of the Worlds." And his mission is not to his people only:
"I come unto you (Egyptian people) from your Lord."
"The spirit of our version is entirely different from the spirit of the same story as told
in the Old Testament (Exod. chapters i. to xv.).
In Exod.iii. 18, the mission of Moosa is expressed to be as from
"the Lord God of the Hebrews."
Ex:3:18: And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
Holy Quran says:
وَقَالَ الْمَلأ مِنْ قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ أَتَذَرُ مُوسَى وَقَوْمَهُ لِيُفْسِدُوا فِي الأرْضِ وَيَذَرَكَ وَآلِهَتَكَ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَنَسْتَحْيِي نِسَاءَهُمْ وَإِنَّا فَوْقَهُمْ قَاهِرُونَ
7.127 Said the chiefs of Phir’aun (Pharaoh)'s people: "Wilt thou leave Moosa and his people, to spread mischief in the land, and to abandon thee and thy gods?" He said: "Their male children will we slay; (only) their females will we save alive; and we have over them (power) irresistible."
And again in
وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَاكُمْ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ وَفِي ذَلِكُمْ بَلاءٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ
2.49 And remember, We delivered you from the people of Phir’aun (Pharaoh): They set you hard tasks and punishments, slaughtered your sons and let your women-folk live; therein was a tremendous trial from your Lord.
I am giving you information from various thafseers. The troubles and tribulations the Bani Isra'eel underwent at the hands of Phir’aun and his people were tremendous.
They were not paid for the work they did, nor were they given food... they had to undergo untold difficulties.
[Ibn Ishaq, Ibn zubair, Qatadah, Muhummed ibn Ishaq, Ibn Kathir and various Mufassiroons and Muhadhithoons.]
The bondage of Egypt was indeed a tremendous trial. Even the Egyptians' wish to spare the lives of Israel's females when the males were slaughtered, added to the bitterness of
Israel. Their hatred was cruel, but their "love" was still more cruel. About the hard tasks,
see Exod, i. 14: "They made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar and in brick,
and in all manner of service in the field; all their service, wherein they made them serve,
was with rigour."
Phir’aun (Pharaoh)'s taskmasters gave no straw, yet ordered the Israelites to make bricks without straw: Moosa was brought up by the enemies of his people. He was chosen by God to deliver his people, and God's wisdom made the learning and experience and even cruelties of the Egyptian enemies themselves to contribute to the salvation of his people.
The people of Moosa (A) used to complain to him for all the injustices that were done to them. they were not even allowed to leave Egypt they were kept in Egypt forcefully.
قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ اسْتَعِينُوا بِاللَّهِ وَاصْبِرُوا إِنَّ الأرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
7.128 Said Moosa to his people: "Pray for help from Allah, and (wait) in patience and constancy: for the earth is Allah's, to give as a heritage to such of His servants as He pleaseth; and the end is (best) for the righteous.
قَالُوا أُوذِينَا مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنَا وَمِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جِئْتَنَا قَالَ عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَنْ يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِي الأرْضِ فَيَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ
7.129 They said: "We have had (nothing but) trouble, both before and after thou camest to us." He said: "It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you inheritors in the earth; that so He may try you by your deeds."
Moosa (A) one day supplicates to Allah :
O Allah, your servant Phir’aun is causing mischief in the land. His people are also arrogant and are rejecting your words and your promises. O Allah! shower on them a great calamity. Let the calamity that befalls them be a punishment to them and a blessing to the children of Israel and a lesson to those later ummah.
Then Allah sent Nine “Mu'jizahs” to Moosa (A).
Moosa (A) told Phir’aun to let his people go wherever they want to go and not to hold them in Egypt.
I will, Insha Allah, substantiate every word I utter with an aayath from the Holy Quran.
The Holy Quran says:
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى تِسْعَ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ فَاسْأَلْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِذْ جَاءَهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ فِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّي لأظُنُّكَ يَا مُوسَى مَسْحُورًا
17.101 To Moosa We did give Nine Clear Signs: As the Children of Israel: when he came to them, Phir’aun (Pharaoh) said to him: "O Moosa! I consider thee, indeed, to have been worked upon by sorcery!
The References in the Holy Quran with regard to the Nine Clear Signs are:
(1) the Rod (vii. 107),
(2) the Radiant Hand (vii. 108),
(3) the years of drought or shortage of water (vii, 130),
(4) shortage of crops (Famine) (vii. 130),
and the five mentioned in 7:133
(5) epidemics among men and beasts,
(6) locusts,
(7) lice,
(8) frogs, and
(9) the water turning to blood.
The various meanings attributed in the Arabic Lexicon with regard to the word آيات
Signs, mark, token, indication miracle, wonder, marvel, examples, lessons, warnings exemplar, pattern, paragon, paradigm, masterpiece.
VERSES OF THE HOLY QURAN.
حَقِيقٌ عَلَى أَنْ لا أَقُولَ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلا الْحَقَّ قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِبَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعِيَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
7.105 One for whom it is right to say nothing but truth about Allah. Now have I come unto you (people), from your Lord, with a clear (Sign): So let the Children of Israel depart along with me."
قَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ جِئْتَ بِآيَةٍ فَأْتِ بِهَا إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ
7.106 (Phir’aun (Pharaoh)) said: "If indeed thou hast come with a Sign, show it forth,- if thou tellest the truth."
فَأَلْقَى عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُبِينٌ
7.107 Then (Moosa) threw his rod, and behold! it was a serpent, plain (for all to see)!
Why a serpent?
The serpent played a large part in Egyptian mythology. The great sun-God Ra won a great victory over the serpent Apophis, typifying the victory of light over darkness. Many of their Gods and Goddesses took the forms of snakes to impress their foes with terror. Moosa's rod as a type of a serpent at once appealed to the Egyptian mentality.
The contempt which the Egyptians had entertained in their minds before was converted
into terror. Here was some one who could control the reptile which their great God Ra himself had such difficulty in overcoming!
Phir’auns advisors say:
يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُخْرِجَكُمْ مِنْ أَرْضِكُمْ فَمَاذَا تَأْمُرُونَ
7.110 "His plan is to get you out of your land: then what is it ye counsel?"
The chiefs of Phir’aun were trying to twist the situation by saying Moosa is trying to make you run from your country. but Moosa (A) intention was far from this.
But like all worldly people, they began to fear for their own power and possessions.
He merely wanted to end the Egyptian oppression. But the Egyptians had a guilty conscience, and they judged other people's motives by their own.
They discussed the matter in Council on quite wrong premises.
قَالُوا أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَأَرْسِلْ فِي الْمَدَائِنِ حَاشِرِينَ
7.111 They said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while); and send to the cities men to collect-
يَأْتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَاحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ
7.112 And bring up to thee all (our) sorcerers well-versed."
The advice of the Council to Phir’aun (Pharaoh) shows a misreading of the situation. They were in a
panic about what the magic of this evidently powerful sorcerer could do against them. So they advised the Phir’aun (Pharaoh) to summon their most powerful sorcerers from all over the country, and in the meantime to hold Moosa and Aaron in suspense,-neither to yield to them nor definitely to oppose them.
The Prophets of Allah could well afford to wait. Time is always in favour of Truth.
Because Time is Truth.
The First Sign
وَجَاءَ السَّحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ قَالُوا إِنَّ لَنَا لأجْرًا إِنْ كُنَّا نَحْنُ الْغَالِبِينَ
7.113 So there came the sorcerers to Phir’aun (Pharaoh): They said, "of course we shall have a (suitable) reward if we win!"
قَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِنَّكُمْ لَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ
7.114 He said: "Yea, (and more),- for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)."
قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى إِمَّا أَنْ تُلْقِيَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ نَكُونَ نَحْنُ الْمُلْقِينَ
7.115 They said: "O Moosa! wilt thou throw (first), or shall we have the (first) throw?"
قَالَ أَلْقُوا فَلَمَّا أَلْقَوْا سَحَرُوا أَعْيُنَ النَّاسِ وَاسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَاءُوا بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍ
7.116 Said Moosa: "Throw ye (first)." So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them: for they showed a great (feat of) magic.
Moosa (A) and his brother Haroon (A) were pitted against the most skilful magic-men of Egypt, but they were calm and confident and let the magic-men have their innings first. As is usual in this world, trickery of the magicians made a great impression on the people, but when Moosa threw his rod, the illusion was broken, and the falsehood was all shown up. Falsehood was exposed.
In the Old Testament story (Exod. vii. 10-12) it was Aaron that threw the rod, and he threw it before the magicians. Aaron's rod became a serpent. Then the magicians threw their rods, and they became serpents, but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
The story given to us is more dramatic and less literal.
[Bible Text : Ex:7:10: And Moosa and Aaron went in unto Phir’aun (Pharaoh), and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Phir’aun (Pharaoh), and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
Ex:7:11: Then Phir’aun (Pharaoh) also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Ex:7:12: For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.]
In the Holy Quran, We are told in general terms that Moosa (A) first allowed the magic-men to play their tricks.
It was a simple shepherd's crook with which he used to feed his flocks. With Allah's Grace behind him, he was able to expose all false trickery and establish the Truth.
وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ
7.117 We put it into Moses's mind by inspiration: "Throw (now) thy rod":and behold! it swallows up straight away all the falsehoods which they fake!
فَوَقَعَ الْحَقُّ وَبَطَلَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
7.118 Thus truth was confirmed, and all that they did was made of no effect.
فَغُلِبُوا هُنَالِكَ وَانْقَلَبُوا صَاغِرِينَ
7.119 So the (great ones) were vanquished there and then, and were made to look small.
وَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سَاجِدِينَ
7.120 But the sorcerers fell down prostrate in adoration.
قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
7.121 Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,-
رَبِّ مُوسَى وَهَارُونَ
7.122 "The Lord of Moses and Aaron."
قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ آمَنْتُمْ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ آذَنَ لَكُمْ إِنَّ هَذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَكَرْتُمُوهُ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوا مِنْهَا أَهْلَهَا فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ
7.123 Said Phir’aun (Pharaoh): "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Surely this is a trick which ye have planned in the city to drive out its people: but soon shall ye know (the consequences).
Phir’aun (Pharaoh) and his Court were doubly angry: first because they were made to look small when confronted by the power of Allah, and
Secondly, because their ropes, their magics and their tools were snatched away from them. These men, the sorcerers, at once recognised the Signs of Allah, and in their case the mission of Moosa, and Haaroon (Alaihimas Salaam) was fulfilled.
They turned back on their past life of false worship, and oppression of the weak, and
confessed the One true God.
As usually happens, hardened sinners resent all the more the saving of any of their companions from sin and error.
Judging other people's motives by their own, they accuse them of duplicity, and if they have the power, they take cruel revenge.
Here Phir’aun (Pharaoh) threatens the repentant sinners with the extreme punishment for treason and apostasy (cutting off of hands and feet, combined with an ignominious death on the cross, as in the case of the worst malefactors). But they remained firm, and prayed to Allah for patience and constancy.
لأقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ مِنْ خِلافٍ ثُمَّ لأصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
7.124 "Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on apposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross."
قَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا مُنْقَلِبُونَ
7.125 They said: "For us, We are but sent back unto our Lord:
وَمَا تَنْقِمُ مِنَّا إِلا أَنْ آمَنَّا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَاءَتْنَا رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
7.126 "But thou dost wreak thy vengeance on us simply because we believed in the Signs of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto thee as Muslims (who bow to thy will)!
These Egyptians, by their patience and constancy, show that their repentance was true.
Thus in their case the mission of Moosa was fulfilled directly.
They were martyrs to their faith, and their martyrdom affected their nation in two ways.
In the first place, as they were the pick of those who practiced magic in Egypt, their conversion and disappearance dealt a staggering blow to the whole system.
Secondly, the indirect effect of their martyrdom on the commonalty of Egypt must have
been far greater than can be measured by numbers.
The banner of Allah was planted, and the silent spiritual fight must have gone on ever since, though history, in recording outward events, is silent on the slow and gradual processes of transformation undergone by Egyptian religion. From a chaotic pantheon of animals and animal Gods, the worship of the sun and the heavenly bodies, and the worship of Phir’aun (Pharaoh) as the embodiment of power, they gradually came to realise the oneness and mercy of the true God.
After many glimpses of Monotheism on Egyptian soil itself, the (Gospel of Jesus reached them, and eventually Islam.)
Second Sign
وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ بَيْضَاءُ لِلنَّاظِرِينَ
7.108 And he drew out his hand, and behold! it was white to all beholders!
This second Sign displayed by Moosa (A) was even more puzzling to the Egyptians. Moosa (A) drew out his hand from the folds of the garments on his breast, and it was white and shining as with divine light! This was to counter any suggestions of evil, which the serpent might have created. This was no work of evil,- Not of black magic, Neither a trick nor illusion.
His hand was transfigured-with a light which no Egyptian sorcerers could produce.
In Islamic literature the "white hand" of Moosa (A) has passed into a proverb, for a symbol of divine glory dazzling to the beholders.
These two Signs had the desired effect on the Egyptians. They were impressed, but they judged them by their own standards.
قَالَ الْمَلأ مِنْ قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّ هَذَا لَسَاحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
7:109. Said the Chiefs of the people of Phir’aun (Pharaoh): "This is indeed a sorcerer well-versed.
Third and Fourth Signs
وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ بِالسِّنِينَ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
7:130. We punished the people of Phir’aun (Pharaoh) with years (of drought) and shortage of crops (famine); that they might receive admonition.
Two more have been mentioned in this verse
3rd. Sign - punishment 1. Years of drought
4th. Sign - punishment 2. shortage of crops (famine).
فَإِذَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْحَسَنَةُ قَالُوا لَنَا هَذِهِ وَإِنْ تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَطَّيَّرُوا بِمُوسَى وَمَنْ مَعَهُ أَلا إِنَّمَا طَائِرُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لا يَعْلَمُونَ
7:131. But when good (times) came they said "this is due to us"; when gripped by calamity they ascribed it to evil omens connected with Moosa (A) and those with him! Behold! in truth the omens of evil are theirs in Allah's sight but most of them do not
understand!
Their superstition ascribed the punishment of their own wickedness to some evil omen.
They thought Moosa (A) and his people brought them ill-luck.
They did not look within themselves to see the root of evil, and the cause of their
punishment! So it happens in - all ages.
People blame the righteous for something which they do, different from other men, instead of searching out their own lapses from rectitude, which are punished by Allah.
وَقَالُوا مَهْمَا تَأْتِنَا بِهِ مِنْ آيَةٍ لِتَسْحَرَنَا بِهَا فَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
7:132. They said (to Moosa (A)): "whatever be the signs thou bringest to work therewith the sorcery on us we shall never believe in thee."
Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Signs.
فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الطُّوفَانَ وَالْجَرَادَ وَالْقُمَّلَ وَالضَّفَادِعَ وَالدَّمَ آيَاتٍ مُفَصَّلاتٍ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا مُجْرِمِينَ
7.133 So We sent Thoofan on them: Wholesale death, Locusts, Lice, Frogs, And Blood: Signs openly self-explained: but they were steeped in arrogance,- a people given to sin.
5TH PUNISHMENT: THEN COMES ANOTHER CALAMITY THE THOOFAN طوفان Literally means – Flood, inundation, deluge, cataclysm – calamity, a catastrophe – a disaster – a tragedy – Meaning “We sent on them a widespread calamity, causing wholesale death and destruction.
If we interpret according to the Old Testament it may be a flood, or a typhoon, or an epidemic, among men or cattle. [See Exod. ix. 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15; and Exod. xii.29.]
[Ex:9:3: Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.. (Pestilence - cattle plague: foot & mouth disease)
Ex:9:8: And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
Ex:9:9: And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.
Ex:9:10: And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.
Ex:9:11: And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
Ex:9:15: For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
Ex:12:29: And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.]
Hadithes from various sources say:
That the great typhoon and flood had caused great distress. They could not sit and neither could they stand. As they stood up the water rose right upto their throat. The flood waters gushed and destroyed their crops and their fields and even their houses. It started one Saturday and continued till the next Saturday - The Jewish days of Sabath.
All the people now come to Moosa (A) and say:
“O Moosa! please ask your Lord to save us from this punishment. we will believe in you and your Lord and we will send the Bani Israeel to you.
Substantiated by the Holy Quran:
وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّجْزُ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِنْدَكَ لَئِنْ كَشَفْتَ عَنَّا الرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
7.134 Every time the penalty fell on them, they said: "O Moses! on your behalf call on thy Lord in virtue of his promise to thee: If thou wilt remove the penalty from us, we shall truly believe in thee, and we shall send away the Children of Israel with thee."
Moosa (A) supplicated on their behalf and the typhoon and tornado ceased and the flood waters subsided.
That very year there was abundance in crops in the fields, fruits and among their animals - because of the supplication of Moosa.
The Egyptians forgot their promise and once again started their mischief on the people of
Israa'eel. They were able to enjoy this abundance only for about a month
6th Sign - punishment :
Then Allah sent down on them locusts:
These locusts invaded the fields and the homes and destroyed all the crops, destroyed their estates, destroyed their trees and fruits. The locusts even ate up the houses, the doors, the clothes, the boxes - everything that belonged to the Egyptians but never entered the houses of the Bani Israaeel.
Massive palace like houses started collapsing as the wooden columns were destroyed by the locusts.
Now the people of Egypt come crying to Moosa (A) :
“O Moosa please ask du'a for our sake. if this punishments goes away from us we will declare our belief in you and your Lord and we will send the Bani Israeel back to you.
Moosa (A) asked the dua the locusts invasion and destruction which lasted from one Saturday to the other - eight days - suddenly ceased. Moosa (A) then went out into the open and moved his عَصًا - Staff (Rod) towards the east and the west and the locusts suddenly disappeared.
The people of Egypt enjoyed this peace for another month and suddenly they started their old pranks.
7th Sign - punishment:
Then again Allah sends down wahi to Moosa (A)
“O Moosa, we instruct you to go to a place called 'Aiynush-Shams (عين الشمس) - in this place you will see a reddish mound of sand. Strike with your عَصًا - Staff (Rod) on this red mound of sand."
Moosa (A) went to this place and found the reddish mound of sand and as instructed - struck with his عَصًا - Staff (Rod) on the mound of sand. The entire mound of sand turned into a mound of lice:
Infestation of Lice : pedicular (lousewort genus), lousiness,
Pediculosis : Infestation with lice (Pediculus humanus) resulting in severe itching.
Pediculosis capitis (Infestation of head lice) : Pediculosis corporis (Infestation of body skin with lice): Pediculosis pubis (Infestation of the pubic hair by crab lice) : Phthiriasis – caused by genus Phthirius – a type of crab louse
Other types of Lice include :
aphid, aphis, plant louse, green fly. a homopterous insect that sucks plant juices.
an aphis killer (aphicide)
Now, these varieties of lice again invaded the plantations and houses and estates of the
Egyptians. It covered their bodies and started biting them.
They scratched themselves and their entire bodies were full of wounds. All their food stuffs, were covered with this lice and these lice consumed all their food voraciously.
Day and night they had no peace. They had no rest no sleep no food nothing were
they able to do.
Sa'eed ibn Zubair (R) reports: “That if a person uses 10 seers (measures) of wheat to make it into flour he sees only a little of flour the rest turns into lice.
This punishment was too much for the Egyptians and again they come to Moosa (A) and plead with him to remove this pestilence from them.
Then by the order Allah the lice, disappeared from Egypt.
once again Moosa (A) requested them to consider the promises they had made and asked them to believe in Allah. this is what they said:
"We do not believe the magician who made the mound of sand into lice. This magician destroyed everything that we had and we will never believe this magician."
8th Sign - punishment:
Allah orders Moosa (A) to go to the banks of the Nile and move his عَصًا - Staff (Rod) right, left and up and down. and Moosa )A) did as instructed.
Suddenly there were fearful croaking noises - hundreds of thousands of frogs and toads
were leaping towards the residences of the people of Phir’aun.
They invaded every house and home. The frogs and toads climbed on man and covered him.
If he opens his mouth to speak the toad enters his mouth. All their pots and pans were
full of toads.
Their food were full of toads.
Their clothes were filled with frogs and toads wherever they went and whatever they had was nothing but frogs and toads. They were everywhere.
They had to even sleep on frogs & toads. And hundreds of them used to die by being trampled, by being slept over and also being cooked. Hundreds of toads and frogs jumped into the fire and put them out.
This Hadith on toads have been reported by 'Abbas (R)- Through Rasoolullah (S).
All the places occupied by Phir’aun and his people emanated the stench of dead toads and
frogs.
This punishment was worse than anything they had encountered. The people of Phir’aun come crying to Moosa (A) – once again.
"O Moosa remove this punishment from us. We will seek repentance from Allah. We will never enter into disbelief. We have learnt a lesson."
So Moosa (A) obtained their promise that they will not enter disbelief and he once again
asked du'a.
After a week of suffering, all the frogs and toads started moving towards the Nile. Even the hundreds and thousands of dead ones became alive and moved towards the Nile and vanished. A wind blew and removed the stench from the country.
Phir’aun and his People (قوم) were silent for about a month and once again the hypocritical ‘People (قوم)’ – The followers of Phir’aun started their attacks on the Bani Isra'eel.
Moosa (A) was so vexed he cursed the hypocritical People.
Then Allah sent down the curse of blood on them.
The river Nile was flowing with blood. It is also said that Phir’aun and all people had
severe nose bleeds. All their drinking water turned into blood.
They reported the matter to Phir’aun and immediately Phir’aun's reply was "this must
be one of those magics of Moosa."
وَنَادَى فِرْعَوْنُ فِي قَوْمِهِ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَلَيْسَ لِي مُلْكُ مِصْرَ وَهَذِهِ الأنْهَارُ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِي أَفَلا تُبْصِرُونَ
43:51. and Phir’aun (Pharaoh) proclaimed among his people saying: "O my people! does not the dominion of Egypt belong to me? (Witness) these streams flowing underneath my (palace)? What ! see ye not then?
If a Banu Isra'eel and an Egyptian, took water, from the same cup. The Egyptians portion would turn into blood.
The Egyptian women would ask the Banu Isra'eel women to take the water and spit it out. Then they see water coming out. When they take the water from the same mug and spit it out, it will be blood.
When the fields of the Egyptians were irrigated by the followers (قوم) of Moosa, it was water and when they take that water to drink, it turns into blood.
When Phir’aun felt very thirsty, he took the bark of a green tree and tried to take the juice the juice also turned into blood.
For one whole day they were suffering without water and all of them once again come
running to Moosa (A) with the same promise of belief and seeking forgiveness and begging and pleading to remove the punishment.
And the Holy Quran records this hypocrisy:
وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّجْزُ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِنْدَكَ لَئِنْ كَشَفْتَ عَنَّا الرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
7.134 Every time the penalty fell on them, they said: "O Moosa! on your behalf call on thy Lord in virtue of his promise to thee: If thou wilt remove the penalty from us, we shall truly believe in thee, and we shall send away the Children of Israel with thee."
فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْزَ إِلَى أَجَلٍ هُمْ بَالِغُوهُ إِذَا هُمْ يَنْكُثُونَ
7.135 But every time We removed the penalty from them according to a fixed term which they had to fulfil,- Behold! they broke their word!
فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ فِي الْيَمِّ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ
7.136 So We exacted retribution from them: We drowned them in the sea, because they rejected Our Signs and failed to take warning from them.
Ka’ab (R) reports that Moosa (A) pleaded with Allah to say that inspite of all these Mu'jizaaths, Phir’aun and his People (قوم) are arrogant because of their wealth. So let there be a curse on their wealth." And Haroon (A) said "Aameen"
وَقَالَ مُوسَى رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ آتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلأهُ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَالا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِكَ رَبَّنَا اطْمِسْ عَلَى أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاشْدُدْ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلا يُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الألِيمَ
10:88 Moosa prayed: "our Lord, thou has indeed bestowed on Phir’aun and his chiefs splendour and wealth in the life of the present, and so our Lord, they mislead men from thy path. Deface our Lord, the features of their wealth and send hardness to their hearts, so they will not believe until they see the grevious penalty."
قَالَ قَدْ أُجِيبَتْ دَعْوَتُكُمَا فَاسْتَقِيمَا وَلا تَتَّبِعَانِّ سَبِيلَ الَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ
10:89: Allah said: "accepted is your prayer (O Moosa and Haroon) so stand ye straight and follow not the path of those who know not."
Muhadhithoons and Mufassiroons - report from hadith qudsi:
Allah informed Moosa that the wealth that Phir’aun is in possession are those that we
have given him. I am going to transfer the wealth to the Bani Isra'eel. Send your people and ask for a portion of the wealth from everybody Phir’aun and his chiefs. They will give them to you because I will begin the destruction of their wealth. In fear of losing all their wealth they will give them to you. After you collect them congregate and consider that day as a day of enjoyment and supplicate to Allah for the destruction of Phir’aun and his People (قوم).
The wealth of the people of Phir’aun started to turn into stone. They were defaced as mentioned in the Holy Quran. Their property, their plantations and whatever they had started turning into stone.
When the Bani Isra'eel went and requested portion of their gold, silver and precious stones they gave it to them immediately.
Other than what that was given the rest of the property and wealth turned into stone.
Moosa (A) was instructed by Allah to join Four households of people into one house and they were asked to slaughter a sheep and the blood smeared on the door of each house and Allah informed Moosa "I will send down punishment to your enemy and I will destroy Phir’aun and his forces through the angels.
When the Egyptians saw what they were doing they asked them and they replied Allah is going to send punishment on you.
They sarcastically enquired: “so your Lord cannot identify you if not for the blood smear?”
When dawn broke 70,000 of their women folk had died as a result of a disease that was sent during the night.
They were mourning for their dead and they were planning to bury their dead and were
concentrating on this work when Moosa (A) was instructed to take his people away
وَلَقَدْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِي فَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًا فِي الْبَحْرِ يَبَسًا لا تَخَافُ دَرَكًا وَلا تَخْشَى
20:77. We sent an inspiration to Moosa: "Travel by night with my servants and strike a dry path for them through the sea without fear of being overtaken by Phir’aun (Pharaoh) and without (any other) fear."
وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ الْبَحْرَ فَأَنْجَيْنَاكُمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَأَنْتُمْ تَنْظُرُونَ
2:50. And remember We divided the sea for you and saved you and drowned Phir’aun’s (Pharaoh's) people within your very sight.
فَأَتْبَعُوهُمْ مُشْرِقِينَ
26.60 So they pursued them at sunrise.
فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَى الْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَابُ مُوسَى إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ
26.61 And when the two bodies saw each other, the people of Moses said: "We are sure to be overtaken."
قَالَ كَلا إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ
26.62 (Moses) said: "By no means! my Lord is with me! Soon will He guide me!"
فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى أَنِ اضْرِبْ بِعَصَاكَ الْبَحْرَ فَانْفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَالطَّوْدِ الْعَظِيمِ
26.63 Then We told Moses by inspiration: "Strike the sea with thy rod." So it divided, and each separate part became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain.
Hadeethes say that twelve different paths were opened with each path separated by a wall of water. When one tribe could not see the other they panicked and asked Moosa (A) to show their brethren. And it is said the wall of water was later removed until all the tribes crossed over.
وَأَزْلَفْنَا ثَمَّ الآخَرِينَ
26.64 And We made the other party approach thither.
وَأَنْجَيْنَا مُوسَى وَمَنْ مَعَهُ أَجْمَعِينَ
26.65 We delivered Moses and all who were with him;
ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا الآخَرِينَ
26.66 But We drowned the others.
فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ بِجُنُودِهِ فَغَشِيَهُمْ مِنَ الْيَمِّ مَا غَشِيَهُمْ
20.78 Then Phir’aun (Pharaoh) pursued them with his forces, but the waters completely overwhelmed them and covered them up.
وَأَضَلَّ فِرْعَوْنُ قَوْمَهُ وَمَا هَدَى
20.79 Phir’aun (Pharaoh) led his people astray instead of leading them aright.
يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَدْ أَنْجَيْنَاكُمْ مِنْ عَدُوِّكُمْ وَوَاعَدْنَاكُمْ جَانِبَ الطُّورِ الأيْمَنَ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَى
20.80 O ye Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and We made a Covenant with you on the right side of Mount (Sinai), and We sent down to you Manna and quails:
وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا حَتَّى إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ آمَنْتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
10.90 We took the Children of Israel across the sea: Phir’aun (Pharaoh) and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At length, when overwhelmed with the flood, he said: "I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam)."
Muhadhithoon and Mufassiroon report that one day Jibreel (A) came in the form of man and met Phir’aun and asked him :
"O king! if a servant of God had grown up with all the نعمة - Ni’math provided by God. but he uses the نعمة - Ni’math against him.
He takes all the privileges by God but he does not listen to his commands, he shirks them and goes against his injunctions.
In this situation, what is the punishment you, as the Lord would give him.
Phir’aun replied: “this ungrateful wretch should be drowned in the sea and mouth
should be stuffed with mud.”
Jibreel (A) asked Phir’aun that he would like this fathwah written by the great Lord of
Egypt himself and given to him sealed.
This fathwah was written by the scribes, and sealed by Phir’aun and given to Jibreel (A).
When phira'aun was about to be drowned and screamed
"I believe that there is no God except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam)."
Jibreel (A) showed the seal of Phir’aun and his fathwah. And said – “up to this last moment you had rebelled
آلآنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنْتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
10.91 (It was said to him): "Ah now!- But a little while before, wast thou in rebellion!- and thou didst mischief (and violence)!
Your own decision which you gave will be implemented and Phir’aun was drowned and his mouth was filled with mud by Jibreel (A).
فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آيَةً وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ عَنْ آيَاتِنَا لَغَافِلُونَ
10.92 "This day shall We save thee in the body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee! but verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!"
Then the there were some fearful screeching coming from the sea. and children of Israel asked Moosa (A) what was that noise.
Moosa (A) replied that is the sound of the destruction of Phir’aun and his people.
The people wanted to be certain that Phir’aun really had been destroyed. then Allah
instructed the sea to throw the body of Phir’aun on a rock.
Then the followers of Moosa (A) saw the dead body of Moosa with the mud packed in his mouth. And then only were they satisfied.
Remember we too have been given myriads of signs in our daily lives.
If we do not sit back to consider think reflect and ponder.
If we remain arrogant - in spite of the many respite that we receive our fate will be no
better than the fate of Phir’aun.
وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَى
20.82 "But, without doubt, I am (also) He that forgives again and again, to those who repent, believe, and do right, who,- in fine, are ready to receive true guidance."
How kind and Merciful is Allah.
May Allah in His mercy guide us all along the right path. The path of those on whom He has bestowed His favours and protect us all from the path of those who have incurred His wrath or gone astray. Aameen.
وآخِرُ دَعْوَانَا اَن ِالْحَمْدُ لِلهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْن
السّلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته