[dropcap]P[/dropcap]rophet Musa (peace be upon him) is regarded highly amongst the prophets in Islam. Alienating him from our belief will render our Imaan incomplete. The account of prophet Musa is spread throughout the Quran in various styles and manners and is one of the lengthiest stories of the Quran.
Family & Lineage
The lineage of one of the greatest prophets of Allah, Hadrat Musa (peace be upon him) as mentioned in Umdatul Qari is as follows; ‘Musa ibn Imraan bin Yas’hir bin Qamith bin Laawi bin Ya’qub bin Ishaaq bin Ibraaheem’.
Musa (peace be upon him) was born when Imraan was 70 years old. Imraan lived for 137 years. Hadrat Musa (peace be upon him) lived for 120 years. Ac- cording to Farabri, Musa (peace be upon him) died at the age of 160 years.
Musa (peace be upon him) died at the valley of At- Teeh during the exodus of Bani Israaeel from Egypt. Hadrat Musa (peace be upon him) was 80 years old at the time and he lived at the valley of At-Teeh for 40 years.
Egypt before Musa (peace be upon him)
Rayyan Ibn Al-Walid became a Muslim at the hands of Hadrat Yusuf (peace be upon him). After the death of Rayyan ibn Al-walid, Yusuf (peace be upon him) became the finance minister (or agricultural minister) of Egypt.
After Rayyan ibn Al-Walid’s death Qabus bin Mus’ab became the king. He was a tyrannical being. In spite of Hadrat Yusuf’s (peace be upon him) ad- vice and admonition he did not embrace Islam. Dur- ing his reign Hadrat Yusuf (peace be upon him) passed away.
Qaboos lived a long life. After his death his brother Al-Walid bin Mus’ab bin Rayyan became the king. He was more arrogant and insolent than his brother. He was the Pharoah of hadrat Musa (peace be upon him). The span of his reign extended to the time of
Musa (peace be upon him). He lived a long life of 400 years. No other pharaoh had a longer life than him nor were they more oppressive and arrogant than him.
Birth & Childhood
Musa (peace be upon him) was named Musa by the pharaoh’s wife Hazrat Aasi’ah bint Muzahim when they found him in the basket according to (conforming) the condition of his state; because he was found between water and a tree. In the Coptic language ‘Mu’ is water and ‘Sha’ is tree. Thus Musha is the Coptic version of Arabica name of Musa.
Due to passage of time Bani Israiel suffered religious and spiritual decadence. Their long history of royalty and nobility changed to an abject humility and slav- ery. Oppression on them reached its highest pinnacle as never witnessed throughout the human history when Firaun started to massacre their male children and let their women live.
According Al Bidya Wan nihaya this was all due to pretext of a dream which Firaun saw; a fire appeared from Baitul Maqdis that burnt all the houses of Egypt except the houses of Bani Israiel’. His official as- trologers interpreted and predicted that one male child will be born amongst Bani Israiel who will be the cause of his destruction. In order to prevent the dream becoming a reality, Firaun issued a royal edict licens- ing to kill all new born child of Bani Israiel. Accord- ing to Wahab as mentioned in Tafseer Qurtubi Firaun killed 70,000 children in pursuit of prophet Musa.
Prophet Musa’s mum suckled him for four months secretively in a garden before placing him in a basket under the vigilant surveillance of his sister Maryam which eventually landed at the garden for Firaun. His mother’s name was Luha Bint Hanid Bin Lawa Bin Yaqum according to Thalabi.
Prophet Musa rejected milk from all the royal nurses until Musa’s sister directed them to his mum, saying that she is a lady whose milk is not refused by any child. Firaun employed the mother of Musa to nurse and milk him with a salary of one Dinaar (gold coin).
Adulthood & Prophethood
Musa was brought up in the royal palace and raised amongst the family of Firaun as a household member. In the early years of his adulthood one day while pass- ing he intervened in a dispute between a Coptic and an Israeli, he smacked him in anger which was the cause of his death.
Musa calls Firaun to the ‘Oneness of Allah’
Musa fled from Egypt to Madyan where he married and stayed under the tutelage of prophet Shuaib. While re- turning from Madyan Allah bestowed him mantle of parenthood at the mount Tu-wa. Hence he was ordained by Allah to go to Firaun and preach Tawheed. Musa was divinely helped with many miracles such as his stick which was to turn in to a snake, his hands used to shine bright after inserting in his armpit.
Musa attended the court of Firaun and conveyed the message of Allah. Firaun ignorantly argued with Musa and demanded a sign. Musa throw his stick on the ground which immediately turned to a snake and also exposed the brightness of his hand.
Miracles of Musa (peace be upon him)
Firaun rejected all the miracles as being products of sorcery and challenged Musa to a battle with royal ma- gicians. The day of festival was the appointed day where the historical battle of snake occurred between Musa and the magicians. All the snakes of the royal magicians were devoured by the snake of Musa. Realis- ing the reality of truth al the magicians brought faith in Musa, hence they were punished and brutally crucified on tree.
Allah rescues Musa (peace be upon him) and his people on the 10th Muhar’ram
Musa was ordered by Allah to flee with the Bani Israiel out of Egypt. The total population of Bani Israiel at that time was 600,000 people. Firaun was drowned during the pursuit of Bani Israiel. The historical emancipating from slavery of Bani Israiel occurred during tenth of Muhar’ram (Ashura) when Allah destroyed Firaun, their bitter enemy.
Favours of Allah on Bani Israiel
Bani Israel were the descendants of prophets therefore they were the chosen people of that time. Allah blessed them with plenty worldly benefits after a long history of slavery such as;
- Emancipation from slavery.
- Destruction of Firaun their great enemy and oppres- sor.
- They inherited the land and wealth of Firaun.
- Allah hosted them for many years entertaining with Manaa and Salwa as well as providing clothes which did not wear and tear or become dirty, expanding with growth of a child.
- Allah blessed them with tutelage of two prophets -Musa and Haroon;
- Allah revealed Tawrat to them through Musa.
- Honour.
- Allah sent numerous prophets amongst Bani Israiel from Hazrat Yusuf the first Israilite prophet until Hazrat Isa the last Israilite prophet.
- They were many kings amongst them.
Conclusion
As Muslims, we learn many important lessons from his life as mentioned in the Quran.
- Allah is our only protector
- We must remain firm in our faith regardless of the hostile climate
- We must call people to Allah in a soft and wise manner
- We must be grateful to Allah for sending prophets and books of guidance like Quran to the humanity