كان الفرعون الذي حكم مصر طاغيةً ظلم أبناء يعقوب عليه السلام، المعروفين ببني إسرائيل. وقد استخدم كل وسيلة لإذلالهم وإهانتهم.

The pharaoh who ruled Egypt was a tyrant who oppressed the descendants of Jacob (pbuh), known as the children of Israel (Bani Israel). He used every means to demean and disgrace them.

كانوا يُحبَسون في الاستعباد ويُجبَرون على العمل له مقابل أجور زهيدة أو بلا أجر على الإطلاق. وفي ظل هذا النظام كان الناس يُطيعون فرعون ويعبدونه، وكانت الطبقة الحاكمة تنفّذ أوامره، فتُضفي بذلك الشرعية على طغيانه ونزواته الجنونية.

They were kept in bondage and forced to work for him for small wages or nothing. Under this system the people obeyed and worshipped the pharaoh, and the ruling class carried out his orders, thereby authorizing his tyranny and crazy whims.

أراد فرعون أن يُطيعه الناسُ وحده، وأن يؤمنوا بالآلهة التي اخترعها.

The pharaoh wanted the people to obey him only, and to believe in the gods of his invention.

ربما كانت هناك في تلك الفترة فئات كثيرة من الناس لا تؤمن بالشرك ولا تمارسه، لكنهم كانوا يكتمون ذلك في أنفسهم، ويفعلون ظاهرًا ما كان يُنتظر منهم، دون أن يثوروا أو يكشفوا أمرهم لأحد.

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.

وهكذا توالت على مصر سلالات حكمية، وكانت تزعم أنها آلهة، أو أنها ممثلة لهم أو متحدثة باسمهم.

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

مرّت السنون، وحكم مصرَ ملكٌ مستبدّ كان المصريون يُجلّونه ويعبدونه. ورأى هذا الملكُ بني إسرائيل يتكاثرون ويزدهرون، وسمع منهم حديثًا عن رؤيا غامضة مفادها أن أحد أبناء إسرائيل سيُطيح بفرعون مصر. ولعلّ هذه الرؤيا لم تكن سوى حلمٍ يقظان ظلّ يلازم قلوب الأقلية المضطهدة، ولعلّها كانت نبوءةً من كتبهم.

Years passed, and a despotic king, who was adored by the Egyptians, ruled Egypt. His 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 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.

ورَوَى ابنُ عبّاسٍ أنَّ الرؤيا كانت لفرعونَ نفسِه

Another tradition states that it was Pharaoh himself who had the vision. Ibn 'Abbas narrated:

رأى فرعون في رؤياه نارًا خرجت من بيت المقدس فأحرقت بيوت المصريين وجميع القبط، ولم تُصِب بني إسرائيل بأذًى. فلما استيقظ جزع من ذلك، ثم جمع كهنته وسحرته وسألهم عن هذه الرؤيا. فقالوا:

"Pharaoh 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 the 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:

"وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ يُولَدُ مَوْلُودٌ مِنْهُمْ يَكُونُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ هَلَاكُ الْمِصْرِيِّينَ." وَلِذَلِكَ أَمَرَ فِرْعَوْنُ بِقَتْلِ جَمِيعِ الذُّكُورِ مِنْ أَوْلَادِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ. وَعَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ، بَلَغَتْ هَذِهِ الرُّؤْيَا مَسَامِعَ فِرْعَوْنَ، فَأَصْدَرَ مَرْسُومًا بِذَبْحِ كُلِّ مَوْلُودٍ ذَكَرٍ يُولَدُ لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ.

"This means a boy will be born of them and the Egyptian people will perish at his hands.' That is why Pharaoh commanded that all male children of the children of Israel be killed." Either way, this vision reached the ears of the Pharaoh. He then issued a decree to slay any male child that would be born to the children of Israel.

كان قتل أبناء بني إسرائيل متواصلًا، حتى قال خبراءُ الاقتصاد لفرعون:

The killing of the children of Israel was carried out until the experts of economics said to Pharaoh:

قَالَ: إِنَّ كِبَارَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ يَمُوتُونَ وَيُذْبَحُ صِغَارُهُمْ، وَسَيُفْضِي ذَلِكَ إِلَى إِبَادَتِهِمْ. وَعَلَيْهِ سَيَفْقِدُ فِرْعَوْنُ الْأَيْدِيَ الْعَامِلَةَ لَهُ، أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَعْبِدُهُمْ، وَنِسَاؤُهُمُ اللَّاتِي يَسْتَغِلُّهُنَّ. وَالْأَوْلَى أَنْ يُنَظَّمَ هَذَا الْإِجْرَاءُ بِاتِّبَاعِ السِّيَاسَةِ التَّالِيَةِ: يُذْبَحُ الذُّكُورُ فِي عَامٍ، وَيُسْتَبْقَوْنَ لِيَعِيشُوا فِي الْعَامِ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ. فَوَجَدَ فِرْعَوْنُ هَذَا الْحَلَّ أَكْثَرَ أَمَانًا مِنَ النَّاحِيَةِ الِاقْتِصَادِيَّةِ.

"The aged of the children of Israel die and the young are slaughtered. This will lead to their annihilation. As a result, 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." Pharaoh found that solution to be safer economically.

أمُّ موسى كانت حاملاً بهارون (عليه السلام) في سنةٍ لم يكن يُذبح فيها الغلمان؛ فولدَتْه علناً وفي أمانٍ. وفي سنةٍ كان يُذبح فيها الغلمان، ولدَتْ موسى (عليه السلام)؛ فكانت ولادتُه سبباً لخوفها الشديد. خافتْ أن يُذبح، فأرضعَتْه سرّاً.

Moses's mother was pregnant with Aaron (pbuh) in a year that boys were 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 Moses (pbuh); thus his birth caused her much terror. She was afraid he would be slain, so she nursed him secretly.

قال الله تعالى:

Allah the Almighty revealed:

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ (الَّذِي يُبَيِّنُ الْحَقَّ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ، وَالْخَيْرَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ، وَغَيْرَ ذَلِكَ). نَتْلُو عَلَيْكَ مِنْ نَبَإِ مُوسَىٰ وَفِرْعَوْنَ بِالْحَقِّ، لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ (الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ، وَبِوَحْدَانِيَّةِ اللهِ). إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا، يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَائِفَةً مِنْهُمْ (بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ)

"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 Moses and Pharaoh in truth, for a people who believe (those who believe in this Quran, and in the Oneness of Allah). Verily, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people sects, weakening (oppressing) a group (children of Israel)

من بينهم، يذبح أبناءهم ويستحيي نساءهم. إنه كان من المفسدين.

among them, killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the Mufsideen (those who commit great sins and crimes, oppressors, tyrants, etc.).

وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ الْوَارِثِينَ، وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنُرِيَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَحْذَرُونَ. وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ ۖ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِي وَلَا تَحْزَنِي ۖ إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ. [سورة القصص: 2-7]

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 Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts receive from them that which they feared. And We inspired the mother of Moses, saying: "Suckle him (Moses), 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." (Ch 28: 2-7 Quran).

وما إن انتهى الوحي الإلهي حتى استجابت للنداء المقدس الرحيم. أُمرت أن تصنع تابوتًا لموسى. أرضعته، ثم وضعته في التابوت، ثم ذهبت إلى شاطئ النيل وألقته في الماء. وقد حزن قلب أمه، وهو أرحم قلب في العالم، وهي تلقي ابنها في النيل. ومع ذلك، كانت تدرك أن الله أرحم بموسى منها، وأنه يحبه أكثر منها. فالله ربه ورب النيل.

No sooner had the divine revelation finished that she obeyed the sacred and merciful call. She was commanded to make a basket for 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 Moses than to her, that He loved him more than her. Allah was his Lord and the Lord of the Nile.

ما كادت السلة تلامس ماء النيل حتى أصدر الله أمره إلى الأمواج أن تكون هادئة لطيفة وهي تحمل الطفل الذي سيصبح يومًا نبيًّا. وأوصت أمه ابنتها أن تتبع مجرى السلة وتخبرها بما يجري. وبينما كانت الفتاة تتبع السلة العائمة على ضفة النهر، وجدت نفسها في أرض القصر تمامًا، فرأت ما يجري أمام عينيها.

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 riverbank, she found herself right in the palace grounds and saw what was unfolding before her eyes.

وَاسْتَقَرَّتِ الْقُفَّةُ عِنْدَ ضِفَّةِ النَّهْرِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تُحِيطُ بِقَصْرِ الْمَلِكِ. فَوَجَدَ خَدَمُ الْقَصْرِ الْقُفَّةَ وَفِيهَا الرَّضِيعُ، فَأَخَذُوهَا إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَزَوْجَتِهِ الْمَلِكَةِ. وَلَمَّا رَأَتِ الْمَلِكَةُ هَذَا الرَّضِيعَ الْجَمِيلَ، أَلْقَى اللَّهُ فِي قَلْبِهَا مَحَبَّةً شَدِيدَةً لِهَذَا الطِّفْلِ. وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ تُخَالِفُ فِرْعَوْنَ كَثِيرًا؛ فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ وَهِيَ مُؤْمِنَةٌ، وَهُوَ قَاسٍ وَهِيَ رَحِيمَةٌ.

The basket came to rest at the riverbank, which skirted the king's palace. The palace servants found the basket with the baby and took it to the Pharaoh and his queen. When the queen beheld the lovely infant, Allah instilled in her a strong love for this baby. Pharaoh's wife was very different from Pharaoh. He was a disbeliever; she was a believer. He was cruel; she was merciful.

كان ظالمًا، أما هي فكانت رقيقة طيبة القلب. كانت حزينة لأنها عاقر، وكانت قد أملت أن ترزق بولد. ما إن حملت الطفل حتى قبّلته.

He was a tyrant; she was delicate and goodhearted. She was sad because she was infertile and had hoped to have a son. Hardly had she held the baby than she kissed him.

قال الله تعالى:

Almighty Allah said:

فَالْتَقَطَهُ آلُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِيَكُونَ لَهُمْ عَدُوًّا وَحَزَنًا ۗ إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا كَانُوا خَاطِئِينَ ۞ وَقَالَتِ امْرَأَتُ فِرْعَوْنَ قُرَّتُ عَيْنٍ لِي وَلَكَ ۖ لَا تَقْتُلُوهُ عَسَىٰ أَنْ يَنْفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا ۖ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ [القصص: ٨-٩]

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

وَدَعَتِ الْمَلِكَةُ عِدَّةً مِنَ الْمُرْضِعَاتِ لِيُرْضِعْنَ الطِّفْلَ مُوسَى، فَلَمْ يَقْبَلْ ثَدْيَ أَيٍّ مِنْهُنَّ. فَاغْتَمَّتِ الْمَلِكَةُ، وَأَرْسَلَتْ فِي طَلَبِ مُرْضِعَاتٍ أُخْرَيَاتٍ. وَكَانَتْ أُخْتُ مُوسَى قَلِقَةً أَيْضًا، إِذْ بَقِيَ أَخُوهَا الصَّغِيرُ زَمَنًا طَوِيلًا بِلَا لَبَنٍ. فَلَمَّا رَأَتْ قَلَقَ الْمَلِكَةِ، قَالَتْ دُونَ تَرَدُّدٍ: إِنِّي أَعْرِفُ أُمًّا تُرْضِعُ الطِّفْلَ بِحُنُوٍّ وَمَحَبَّةٍ.

The queen summoned a few wet nurses to suckle the baby Moses, but he would not take any of their breasts. The queen was distressed and sent for more wet nurses. Moses'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 jut the mother who would suckle the child affectionately.

سألوها لماذا كانت تتبع السلة الطافية. قالت إنها فعلت ذلك بدافع الفضول.

They asked her why she was following the floating basket. She said she did so out of curiosity.

فصدّقوها لأن عذرها بدا معقولاً، فأمروها أن تسرع وتحضر المرأة التي تحدّثت عنها. وكانت أمّها أيضاً تنتظر بقلبٍ مثقل، قلقةً على مصير طفلها. وفي تلك اللحظة دخلت ابنتها مسرعةً بالخبر السار. فارتفع قلبها، ولم تُضع وقتاً في الوصول إلى القصر. ولمّا وُضع الطفل على صدرها، بدأ يرضع على الفور.

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. As the child was put to her breast, he immediately started suckling.

فتعجّب فرعون وقال: «مَن أنتِ؟ إنّ هذا الطفل قد أبى أن يرضع من غير ثديك». ولو أنها صدقت لعرف فرعون أنّ الطفل إسرائيليّ، ولقتل موسى ﷺ في الحال. لكنّ الله منحها قوّة في قلبها، فأجابت: «أنا امرأة ذات لبن حلو ورائحة طيّبة، ولا يأبى عليّ طفل». فاقتنع فرعون بهذا الجواب.

Pharaoh was astonished and asked: "Who are you? This child has refused to take any other breast but yours." Had she told the truth, Pharaoh would have known that the child was an Israelite and would have killed Moses instantly. However, Allah gave her inner strength and she replied: "I am a woman of sweet milk and sweet smell,and no child refuses me." This answer satisfied Pharaoh.

منذ ذلك اليوم، عُيّنت أمُّه مُرضعةً لموسى. فاستمرت ترضعه مدةً طويلة. ولما كبر وفُطم، أُذن لها بزيارته. ونشأ موسى في القصر أميرًا.

From that day onward, she was appointed as Moses's wet nurse. She continued to breast-feed him for a long time. When he was bigger and was weaned, she was allowed the privilege of visiting him. Moses was raised in the palace as a prince.

وَأَصْبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَارِغًا ۖ إِن كَادَتْ لَتُبْدِي بِهِ لَوْلَا أَن رَّبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قَلْبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

"And the heart of the mother of Mûsa (Moses) became empty [from every thought, except the thought of Mûsa (Moses)]. She was very near to disclose his (case, i.e. the child is her son), had We not strengthened her heart (with Faith), so that she might remain as one of the believers.

وَقَالَتْ لِأُخْتِهِ: "قُصِّيهِ"، فَبَصُرَتْ بِهِ عَن جُنُبٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ.

And she said to his [Musa's (Moses)] sister: "Follow him." So she (his sister) watched him from a far place secretly, while they perceived not.

وَحَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَرَاضِعَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَقَالَتْ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَكْفُلُونَهُ لَكُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُ نَاصِحُونَ * فَرَدَدْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ أُمِّهِ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ وَلِتَعْلَمَ أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

And We had already forbidden (other) foster suckling mothers for him, until she (his sister came up and) said: "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and sincerely they will look after him in a good manner?" So did We restore him to his mother, that she might be delighted, and that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the Promise of Allâh is true. But most of them know not." (Ch. 28:

10-13)

10-13)

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَاسْتَوَىٰ آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ ‎(القصص: ١٤)

And when he attained his full strength, and was perfect (in manhood), We bestowed on him Hukman (Prophethood, right judgment of the affairs) and religious knowledge (of the religion of his forefathers, Islamic Monotheism). And thus do We reward the Muhsineen (good-doers)." (Ch 28:14 Quran)

أعطى الله موسى (عليه السلام) الصحة الجيدة والقوة والعلم والحكمة. وكان الضعفاء والمظلومون يلجؤون إليه طلبًا للحماية والعدل.

Allah had granted Moses (pbuh) good health, strength, knowledge, and wisdom. The weak and oppressed turned to him for protection and justice.

في يومٍ من الأيام، في المدينة الرئيسية، رأى رجلين يتقاتلان. كان أحدهما من بني إسرائيل، وكان الآخر قبطياً يضربه. ولما رأى موسى عليه السلام، استغاث به الإسرائيلي طلباً للعون. فتدخل موسى في النزاع، وفي حالة من الغضب، وجّه ضربة قوية إلى القبطي، فمات في الحال. ولما أدرك موسى أنه قتل إنساناً، امتلأ قلبه بحزنٍ عميق، فاستغفر الله على الفور.

One day in the main city, he saw two men fighting. One was an Israelite, who was being beaten by the other, an Egyptian. On seeing Moses, the Israelite begged him for help. Moses became involved in the dispute and, in a state of anger, struck a heavy blow on the Egyptian, who died on the spot. Upon realizing that he had killed a human being, Moses's heart was filled with deep sorrow, and immediately he begged Allah for forgiveness.

لم يكن قد نوى قتل الرجل. فتضرّع إلى الله سبحانه وتعالى أن يغفر له، فأحسّ بالطمأنينة تملأ كيانه كله. ومن بعد ذلك أخذ موسى يُظهر مزيدًا من الصبر والرحمة تجاه الناس.

He had not intended to kill the man. He pleaded with Almighty Allah to forgive him, and he felt a sense of peace filling his whole being. Thereafter Moses began to show more patience and sympathy towards people.

وَفِي الْيَوْمِ التَّالِي رَأَى ذَلِكَ الإِسْرَائِيلِيَّ نَفْسَهُ مُتَوَرِّطًا فِي شِجَارٍ آخَرَ. فَذَهَبَ إِلَيْهِ مُوسَى وَقَالَ:

The next day he saw the same Israelite involved in another fight. Moses went to him and said:

"أنتَ يبدو رجلاً مُشاغِباً، فلك خصومةٌ جديدةٌ مع هذا أو ذاك كلَّ يومٍ." فخشيَ الإسرائيليُّ أن يضربه موسى، فحذَّره قائلاً: "أتريدُ أن تقتلَني كما قتلتَ الرجلَ بالأمس؟" فسمعَ المصريُّ الذي كان الإسرائيليُّ يتخاصمُ معه هذا القولَ، فأبلغَ السلطاتِ عن موسى. وبعد ذلك بقليلٍ، بينما كان موسى يمرُّ في المدينة، جاءه رجلٌ فنبَّهه قائلاً: "يا موسى، إنَّ الأشرافَ قد تآمروا عليك، وستُحاكَمُ وتُقتَل، فأنصحُك أن تهربَ."

"You seem to be a quarrelsome fellow. You have a new quarrel with one person or another each day." Fearing that Moses might strike him, the Israelite warned Moses: "Would you kill me as you killed the wretch yesterday?" The Egyptian with whom the Israelite was fighting overheard this remark and reported Moses to the authorities. Soon thereafter, as Moses was passing through the city, a man approached and alerted him: "O Moses, the chiefs have taken counsel against you. You are to be tried and killed. I would advise you to escape."

عَلِمَ موسىٰ أنَّ عقوبةَ قتلِ المصريِّ هي القتل. قالَ اللهُ تعالى:

Moses knew that the penalty for killing an Egyptian was death. Allah the Exalted recounted:

وَدَخَلَ المَدِينَةَ عَلَى حِينِ غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا، فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ، هَٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِ وَهَٰذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ، فَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الَّذِي مِن شِيعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ، فَوَكَزَهُ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيْهِ، قَالَ: هَٰذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ، إِنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ مُّضِلٌّ مُّبِينٌ. قَالَ: رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَغَفَرَ لَهُ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ.

"And he entered the city at a time of unawareness of its people, and he found there two men fighting, one of his party (his religion, from the children of Israel), and the other of his foes. The man of his own party asked him for help against his foe, so Moses struck him with his fist and killed him. He said, "This is of Satan's doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy." He said: "My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me." Then He forgave him. Verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَا أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ فَلَنْ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرًا لِّلْمُجْرِمِينَ ۝ فَأَصْبَحَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي اسْتَنصَرَهُ بِالْأَمْسِ يَسْتَصْرِخُهُ ۚ قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَىٰ إِنَّكَ لَغَوِيٌّ مُّبِينٌ ۝ فَلَمَّا أَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَبْطِشَ بِالَّذِي هُوَ عَدُوٌّ لَّهُمَا قَالَ يَا مُوسَىٰ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقْتُلَنِي كَمَا قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا بِالْأَمْسِ ۖ إِن تُرِيدُ إِلَّا أَن تَكُونَ جَبَّارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُرِيدُ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ ۝ وَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِّنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْعَىٰ قَالَ يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّ الْمَلَأَ يَأْتَمِرُونَ بِكَ لِيَقْتُلُوكَ فَاخْرُجْ إِنِّي لَكَ مِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ ۝ فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ۝

He said: "My Lord! For that with which You have favored me, I will never more be a helper for the Mujrimeen (criminals, disobedient to Allah, polytheists, sinners, etc.)!" So he became afraid, looking about in the city (waiting as to what will be the result of his crime of killing), when behold, the man who had sought his help the day before, called for his help again. Moses said to him: "Verily, you are a plain misleader!" Then when he decided to seize the man who was an enemy to both of them, the man said: "O Moses! Is it your intention to kill me as you killed a man yesterday? Your aim is nothing but to become a tyrant in the land, and not to be one of those who do right." And there came a man running, from the farthest end of the city. He said: "O Moses! Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you, to kill you, so escape. Truly, I am to you of those who give sincere advice." So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear. He said: "My Lord! Save me from the people who are Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrong-doers)!" (Ch 28:15-21 Quran)

خرج موسى من مصر مسرعًا دون أن يذهب إلى قصر فرعون، ولا أن يغيّر ثيابه. ولم يكن مستعدًا للسفر، إذ لم يكن معه دابة يركبها، ولم يكن في قافلة. بل خرج لحظة أن جاءه الرجل المؤمن وحذّره من مؤامرة فرعون.

Moses left Egypt in a hurry without going to Pharaoh's palace or changing his clothes. Nor was he prepared for traveling. He did not have a beast of burden upon which to ride, and he was not in a caravan. Instead, he left as soon as the believer came and warned him of Pharaoh's plans.

هاجر متوجهًا نحو أرض مدين، وهي أقرب أرض مأهولة بين الشام ومصر. ولم يكن رفيقه الوحيد في هذه الصحراء الحارة إلا الله، ولم يكن زاده الوحيد إلا التقوى. لم يكن هناك ولا جذر واحد يلتقطه ليخفف به جوعه. كان الرمل الحار يحرق باطن قدميه. ومع ذلك، خشية أن يلحقه رجال فرعون، أجبر نفسه على المضي قدمًا.

He traveled in the direction of the country of Midian, which was the nearest inhabited land between Syria and Egypt. His only companion in this hot desert was Allah, and his only provision was piety. There was not a single root to pick to lessen his hunger. The hot sand burned the soles of his feet. However, fearing pursuit by Pharaoh's men, he forced himself to continue on.

سافر ثماني ليالٍ، يختبئ في النهار. وبعد أن عبر الصحراء الكبرى، وصل إلى مَوْرِدٍ للماء خارج مَدْيَن، حيث كان الرعاة يسقون أغنامهم.

He traveled for eight nights, hiding during the day. After crossing the main desert, he reached a watering hole outside Midian where shepherds were watering their flocks.

ما إن وصل موسى إلى مدين حتى ألقى بنفسه تحت شجرة ليستريح. كان يعاني من الجوع والإعياء، وكأن باطني قدميه قد أنهكهما المشي الشاق على الرمال والصخور وفي الغبار. لم يكن معه مال يشتري به نعلاً جديداً، ولا طعاماً ولا شراباً. ولاحظ موسى جماعة من الرعاة يسقون أغنامهم. فذهب إلى الينبوع، فرأى فتاتين تمنعان غنمهما من الاختلاط بغنم الآخرين.

No sooner had Moses reached the Midian than he threw himself under a tree to rest. He suffered from hunger and fatigue. The soles of his feet felt as if they were worn out from hard walking on sand and rocks and from the dust. He did not have any money to buy a new pair of sandals, nor to buy food or drink. Moses noticed a band of shepherds watering their sheep. He went to the spring, where he saw two young women preventing their sheep from mixing with the others.

أحسّ موسى أنّ المرأتين بحاجة إلى المساعدة. فنسي عطشه، واقترب منهما وسألهما إن كان يستطيع أن يساعدهما بأي وجه.

Moses sensed that the women were in need of help. Forgetting his thirst, he drew nearer to them and asked if he could help them in any way.

قالت الأخت الكبرى: "نحن ننتظر حتى ينتهي الرعاة من سقي غنمهم، ثم نسقي غنمنا." سأل موسى مرة أخرى: "لماذا تنتظران؟" فقالت الصغرى: "لا نستطيع أن نزاحم الرجال." تعجّب موسى من أن تتولى النساء رعي الغنم، إذ كان ذلك من شأن الرجال وحدهم. إنه عمل شاقّ ومُتعب، ويحتاج إلى اليقظة والانتباه. فسأل موسى: "لماذا تَرعيان الغنم؟" فقالت الأخت الصغرى: "أبونا شيخ كبير، وصحته ضعيفة لا تسمح له بالخروج إلى المرعى لرعي الغنم." فقال موسى (عليه السلام): "سأسقي لكما غنمكما." ولما اقترب موسى من الماء، رأى أن الرعاة قد وضعوا على فم البئر صخرة عظيمة لا يقوى على تحريكها إلا عشرةُ رجال. فاحتضن موسى الصخرة ورفعها عن فم البئر، وبرزت عروق عنقه ويديه وهو يفعل ذلك. وكان موسى قويًّا بلا شك. فسقى غنمهما، ثم أعاد الصخرة إلى مكانها.

The older sister said: "We are waiting until the shepherds finish watering their sheep, then we will water ours." Moses asked again: "Why are you waiting?" The younger one: "We cannot push men." Moses was surprised that women were shepherding, as only men were supposed to do it. It is hard and tiresome work, and one needs to be on the alert. Moses asked: "Why are you shepherding?" The younger sister said: "Our father is an old man; his health is too poor for him to go outdoors for pasturing sheep." Moses (pbuh) said: "I will water the sheep for you." When Moses approached the water, he saw that the shepherds had put over the mouth of the spring an immense rock that could only be moved by ten men. Moses embraced the rock and lifted it out of the spring's mouth, the veins of his neck and hands standing out as he did so. Moses was certainly strong. He watered their sheep and put the rock back in its place.

قال الله تعالى واصفاً هذه الواقعة:

Almighty Allah described this event:

ولَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ، وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ، قَالَ:

"And when he arrived at the water of Midian (Midyan) he found there a group of men watering their flocks, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back their flocks. He said:

﴿قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِي حَتَّىٰ يُصْدِرَ الرِّعَاءُ ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ ﴾ * ﴿فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰ إِلَى الظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ﴾ (القرآن الكريم، سورة القصص: 23-24)

"What is the matter with you?" They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take their flocks. And our father is a very old man." So he watered their flocks for them, then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!" (Ch 28:22-24 Quran)

جب دونوں لڑکیاں معمول سے پہلے گھر واپس آ گئیں تو ان کے والد کو تعجب ہوا۔ انہوں نے چشمے پر پیش آنے والا واقعہ بیان کیا جو ان کے جلدی واپس آنے کا سبب بنا۔ ان کے والد نے اپنی ایک بیٹی کو بھیجا تاکہ اجنبی شخص کو اپنے گھر بلائے۔ شرماتے ہوئے وہ لڑکی موسیٰ کے پاس آئی اور پیغام پہنچایا: "میرے والد آپ کے اس احسان کے شکرگزار ہیں جو آپ نے ہمارے ساتھ کیا۔ وہ آپ کو اپنے گھر مدعو کرتے ہیں تاکہ خود آپ کا شکریہ ادا کر سکیں۔" موسیٰ نے یہ دعوت قبول کی اور لڑکی کے ساتھ اس کے والد کے پاس چلے گئے۔ موسیٰ نے دیکھا کہ وہ لوگ آرام و سکون کے ساتھ ایک خوش و خرم اور پرسکون گھرانے کی طرح رہتے ہیں۔ انہوں نے اپنا تعارف کرایا اور بزرگ کو اس مصیبت کے بارے میں بتایا جو ان پر آئی تھی اور جس نے انہیں مصر سے فرار ہونے پر مجبور کیا۔ بزرگ نے انہیں تسلی دی: "ڈرو نہیں، تم ظالموں سے نجات پا چکے ہو۔" موسیٰ کے نرم رویے کو والد اور ان کی بیٹیوں نے محسوس کیا۔ اس نیک شخص نے انہیں اپنے ساتھ ٹھہرنے کی دعوت دی۔ موسیٰ کو اس خوش گوار گھرانے میں اپنائیت محسوس ہوئی، کیونکہ وہ لوگ خوش اخلاق تھے اور اللہ سے ڈرنے والے تھے۔

The young ladies returned home earlier than usual, which surprised their father. They related the incident at the spring which was the reason that they were back early. Their father sent one of his daughters to invite the stranger to his home. Bashfully, the woman approached Moses and delivered the message. "My father is grateful for what you have done for us. He invites you to our home so that he may thank you personally." Moses welcomed this invitation and accompanied the maiden to her father. Moses could see that they lived comfortably as a happy and peaceful household. He introduced himself and told the old man about the misfortune that he had befallen him and had compelled him to flee from Egypt. The old man comforted him: "Fear not, you have escaped from the wrong-doers." Moses's gentle behavior was noticed by the father and his daughters. The kind man invited him to stay with them. Moses felt at home with this happy household, for they were friendly and feared Allah.

قالت إحدى الابنتين لأبيها: يا أبتِ، استأجره، فإنّ خيرَ من استأجرتَ القويُّ الأمين. كانوا بحاجةٍ إلى رجلٍ مثله، ولا سيما عند البئر، الذي كان يرتاده أهلُ الشرّ والعَيّارون.

One of the daughters suggested to her father that he employ Moses, as he was strong and trustworthy. They needed someone like him, especially at the water hole, which was visited by ruffians.

فسألها أبوها كيف تطمئن إلى أمانته في مدة قصيرة كهذه. فأجابت: "حين دعوته ليتبعني إلى بيتنا، أصرّ أن أمشي خلفه حتى لا يرى هيئتي (تجنّبًا للانجذاب الجنسي)." فسُرّ الشيخ الكبير بهذا القول. فأتى موسى ﷺ وقال: "إني أريد أن أزوّجك إحدى ابنتيّ على أن تعمل عندي مدة ثماني سنين." وكان هذا العرض مناسبًا لموسى ﷺ تمامًا، إذ كان غريبًا في هذه البلاد، وسيحتاج عمّا قريب إلى مأوى وعمل. فتزوّج موسى ﷺ ابنةَ المديني، ورعى غنم الشيخ عشر سنين طويلة.

The father asked her how she could be sure of his trustworthiness in such a short time. She replied: "When I bade him to follow me to our home, he insisted that I walk behind him so he would not observe my form (to avoid sexual attraction)." The old man was pleased to hear this. He approached Moses and said: "I wish to marry you to one of my daughters on condition that you agree to work for me for a period of eight years." This offer suited Moses well, for being a stranger in this country, he would soon have to search for shelter, and work. Moses married the Midianite's daughter and looked after the old man's animals for ten long years.

قال الله تعالى:

Almighty Allah recounted:

فَجَاءَتْهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَمْشِي عَلَى اسْتِحْيَاءٍ ۖ قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِي يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا ۚ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ۝ قَالَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ ۖ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الْأَمِينُ ۝ قَالَ

"Then there came to him one of the two women, walking shyly. She said: "Verily, my father calls you that he may reward you for having watered our flocks for us." So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said; "Fear you not. You have escaped from the people who are Zalimeen (polytheists, disbeliveers, and wrong-doers)." And said one of them (the two women): "O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy." He said:

قَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُنكِحَكَ إِحْدَى ابْنَتَيَّ هَاتَيْنِ عَلَىٰ أَنْ تَأْجُرَنِي ثَمَانِيَ حِجَجٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ عَشْرًا فَمِنْ عِندِكَ ۖ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَيْكَ ۚ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ۝ قَالَ

"I intend to wed one of these two daughters of mine to you, on condition that you serve me for eight years, but if you complete ten years, it will be a favor from you. But I intend not to place you under a difficulty. If Allah wills, you will find me one of the righteous." He (Moses) said:

قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ ۖ أَيَّمَا الْأَجَلَيْنِ قَضَيْتُ فَلَا عُدْوَانَ عَلَيَّ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ

"That is settled between me and you whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there will be no injustice to me, and Allah is Surety over what we say." ( Ch 28:25-28 Quran)

مرّ الزمن، وعاش منعزلًا بعيدًا عن أسرته وقومه. وكانت هذه الفترة، وهي عشر سنين، ذات أهمية بالغة في حياته، فقد كانت فترة إعداد كبير. ولا شك أن عقل موسى كان مشغولًا بالنجوم كل ليلة، وكان يتتبع شروق الشمس وغروبها كل يوم. وكان يتأمل في النبتة وكيف تنشق الأرض ثم تخرج، وكان يتدبر الماء وكيف تُحيا به الأرض فتزدهر بعد موتها.

Time passed, and he lived in seclusion far from his family and his people. This period of ten years was of importance in his life. It was a period of major preparation. Certainly Moses's mind was absorbed in the stars every night. He followed the sunrise and the sunset every day. He pondered on the plant and how it splits and soil and appears thereafter. He contemplated water and how the earth is revived by it and flourishes after its death.

بالطبع، لقد كان مستغرقًا في كتاب الله المجيد، منفتح البصيرة والقلب. كان مستغرقًا في وجود الله. وكل ذلك صار كامنًا فيه. وكان دين موسى عليه السلام هو نفس دين يعقوب عليه السلام، وهو التوحيد الإسلامي. وكان جدّه الأعلى يعقوبَ عليه السلام، حفيدَ إبراهيمَ عليه السلام. فموسى عليه السلام إذن كان من ذرية إبراهيم عليه السلام، وكل نبي جاء بعد إبراهيم كان من خلفاء إبراهيم. وإلى جانب الإعداد الجسدي، كان هناك إعداد روحي مماثل. وقد تمّ ذلك في العزلة التامة، وفي وسط الصحراء، وفي مواضع الرعي. كان الصمت أسلوب حياته، والعزلة مركبه. وقد هيّأ الله تعالى لنبيه الأدوات التي سيحتاجها لاحقًا ليحمل بحق أوامر الله عز وجل.

Of course, he was immersed in the Glorious Book of Allah, open to the insight and heart. He was immersed in the existence of Allah. All these became latent within him. The religion of Moses (pbuh) was the same as that of Jacob (pbuh), which was Islamic monotheism. His forefather was Jacob (pbuh) the grandson of Abraham (pbuh). Moses (pbuh), therefore, was one of the descendants of Abraham (pbuh) and every prophet who came after Abraham was one of Abraham's successors. In addition to physical preparation, there was a similar spiritual preparation. It was made in complete seclusion, in the middle of the desert, and in the places of pasture. Silence was his way of life, and seclusion was his vehicle. Allah the Almighty prepared for His prophet the tools he would need later on to righteously bear the commands of Allah the Exalted.

في يومٍ بعد انقضاء تلك المدة، نشأ في قلب موسى حنينٌ غامضٌ إلى الوطن. أراد أن يعود إلى مصر. كان سريعًا حازمًا في قراره، فقال لزوجته: "غدًا نرحل إلى مصر." قالت الزوجة في نفسها: "في الرحيل ألفُ خطرٍ لم يُكشف بعد." ومع ذلك أطاعت زوجها.

One day after the end of this period, a vague homesickness arose in Moses's heart. He wanted to return to Egypt. He was fast and firm in making his decision, telling his wife: "Tomorrow we shall leave for Egypt." His wife said to herself. "There are a thousand dangers in departing that have not yet been revealed." However, she obeyed her husband.

لم يكن موسى نفسه يعرف سر القرار السريع والمفاجئ بالعودة إلى مصر. فبعد كل شيء، كان قد فرّ منها قبل عشر سنوات وعلى رأسه ثمن. فلماذا يعود الآن؟

Moses himself did not know the secret of the quick and sudden decision to return to Egypt. After all, he had fled from their ten years ago with a price on his head. Why should he go back now?

هل كان يتطلع إلى رؤية أمه وأخيه؟ وهل فكّر في زيارة امرأة فرعون التي ربّته وأحبّته كأنه ابنها؟

Did he look forward to seeing his mother and brother? Did he think of visiting Pharaoh's wife who had raised him and who loved him as if she were his mother?

لا يعلم أحدٌ ما الذي دار في ذهن موسى عليه السلام حين عاد إلى مصر. كل ما نعلمه أن خضوعًا صامتًا لأقدار الله هو الذي دفعه إلى اتخاذ القرار فمضى إليه. وقد وجّهت هذه الأقدار العظيمة خطاه نحو أمرٍ بالغ الأهمية.

No one knows what went through Moses's mind when he returned to Egypt. All we know is that a mute obedience to Allah's destinies impelled him to make a decision and he did. These supreme destinies steered his steps towards a matter of great importance.

غادر موسى مَدْيَنَ مع أهله، وسار في الصحراء حتى وصل إلى جبل سيناء.

Moses left Midian with his family and traveled through the desert until he reached Mount Sinai.

هناک اکتشف موسیٰ أنه قد ضلّ طريقه. فالتمس توجيه الله، فأُرِيَ الطريق الصحيح. وعند حلول الليل بلغوا جبل الطور. ولاحظ موسىٰ نارًا من بعيد. فقال: «سأجيء بشعلة من النار لندفأ بها». ولما اقترب من النار، سمع صوتًا جَهوريًا ينادیه: «يا موسىٰ، إني أنا الله، ربّ العالمين». فحار موسىٰ وتلفّت حوله. وسمع الصوت الغريب مرة أخرى: «وما تلك بيمينك يا موسىٰ؟». فأجاب موسىٰ وهو يرتجف: «هذه عصاي أتوكأ عليها، وأهشّ بها على غنمي، ولي فيها مآرب أخرى». (طُرح هذا السؤال ليتوجّه انتباه موسىٰ إلى العصا، وليُهيَّأ للمعجزة التي كانت على وشك الوقوع. وكانت هذه بداية رسالة موسىٰ نبيًّا – عليه السلام).

There Moses discovered that he had lost his way. He sought Allah's direction and was shown the right course. At nightfall they reached Mount Tur. Moses noticed a fire in the distance. "I shall fetch a firebrand to warm us." As he neared the fire, he heard a sonorous voice calling him: "O Moses, I am Allah, the Lord of the Universe." Moses was bewildered and looked around. He again heard the strange voice. "And what is in you right hand, O Moses?" Shivering, Moses answered: "This is my staff on which I lean, and with which I beat down branches for my sheep, and for which I find other uses." (This question was asked so that Moses' attention would focus on the staff and to prepare him for the miracle which was to happen. This was the beginning of Moses's mission as a prophet -pbuh).

وقالَ لَهُ الصَّوْتُ نَفْسُهُ: «أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ!» فَأَلْقَاهَا، فَإِذَا هِيَ فِي الحَالِ حَيَّةٌ تَتَحَرَّكُ. فَوَلَّى مُوسَىٰ مُدْبِرًا يَفِرُّ، فَنَادَاهُ الصَّوْتُ مَرَّةً أُخْرَىٰ: «لَا تَخَفْ وَخُذْهَا، سَنُعِيدُهَا إِلَىٰ حَالِهَا الأُولَىٰ». فَعَادَتِ الحَيَّةُ عَصًا كَمَا كَانَتْ. وَذَهَبَ خَوْفُ مُوسَىٰ وَحَلَّ مَحَلَّهُ الطُّمَأْنِينَةُ، إِذْ أَدْرَكَ أَنَّهُ يَشْهَدُ الحَقَّ.

The same voice commanded him: "Throw down your staff!" He did so, and at once the staff became a wriggling snake. Moses turned to run, but the voice again addressed him: "Fear not and grasp it; We shall return it to its former state." The snake changed back into his staff. Moses's fear subsided and was replaced by peace, for he realized that he was witnessing the Truth.

ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ اللهُ أَنْ يُدْخِلَ يَدَهُ فِي جَيْبِهِ عِنْدَ إِبْطِهِ، فَإِذَا أَخْرَجَهَا كَانَتْ لَهَا شُعَاعٌ بَاهِرٌ. ثُمَّ أَمَرَ اللهُ مُوسَى قَائِلًا: ﴿فَذَانِكَ بُرْهَانَانِ مِنْ رَبِّكَ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ﴾. إِلَّا أَنَّ مُوسَى خَافَ أَنْ يَقْبِضَ عَلَيْهِ فِرْعَوْنُ، فَتَوَجَّهَ إِلَى اللهِ قَائِلًا: ﴿رَبِّ إِنِّي قَتَلْتُ مِنْهُمْ نَفْسًا فَأَخَافُ أَنْ يَقْتُلُونِ﴾. فَطَمْأَنَهُ اللهُ عَلَى سَلَامَتِهِ وَأَرْسَلَ السَّكِينَةَ إِلَى قَلْبِهِ.

قال الله تعالى مُخبِراً بهذه الواقعة:

Almighty Allah narrated this event:

وَهَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰ؟ إِذْ رَأَىٰ نَارًا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ امْكُثُوا إِنِّي آنَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّي آتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى النَّارِ هُدًى. فَلَمَّا أَتَاهَا نُودِيَ يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنِّي أَنَا رَبُّكَ فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ إِنَّكَ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى. وَأَنَا اخْتَرْتُكَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَىٰ. إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي. إِنَّ السَّاعَةَ آتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ. فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ فَتَرْدَىٰ. وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ؟ قَالَ هِيَ عَصَايَ أَتَوَكَّأُ عَلَيْهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَىٰ غَنَمِي وَلِيَ فِيهَا مَآرِبُ أُخْرَىٰ. قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يَا مُوسَىٰ. فَأَلْقَاهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَىٰ.

"And has there come to you the story of Moses? When he saw a fire, he said to his family: "Wait! Verily, I have seen a fire, perhaps I can bring you some burning brand therefrom, or find some guidance at the fire." And when he came to it the fire, he was called by name: "O Moses! Verily! I am your Lord! So take off your shoes, you are in the sacred valley, Tuwa. And I have chosen you. So listen to that which is inspired to you. Verily! I am Allah! La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and offer prayers perfectly, for My Remembrance. Verily, the Hour is coming - and My Will is to keep it hidden - that every person may be rewarded for that which he strives. Therefore, let the one who believes not therein (in the Day of Resurrection, Reckoning, Paradise and Hell etc) but follows his own lusts, divert your therefrom lest you perish. And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?" He said: "This is my stick, whereon I lean, and wherewith I beat down branches for my sheep and wherein I find other uses." Allah said: "Cast it down, O Moses!" He cast it down, and behold! It was a snake, moving quickly.

قال الله تعالى: ﴿قَالَ خُذْهَا وَلَا تَخَفْ ۖ سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيرَتَهَا الْأُولَىٰ ۝ وَاضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَىٰ جَنَاحِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ آيَةً أُخْرَىٰ ۝ لِنُرِيَكَ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا الْكُبْرَى﴾

Allah said: "Grasp it, and fear not, We shall return it to its former state, and press your right hand to your left side, it will come forth white and shining, and without any disease as another sign, that We may show you some of Our Greater Signs.

اذْهَبْ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ

"Go To Pharaoh! Verily! He has transgressed (all bounds in disbelief and disobedience, and has behaved as an arrogant, and as a tyrant)." (Ch. 20: 9-24)

قال موسى: ﴿رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي * وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي * وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي * يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي * وَاجْعَل لِّي وَزِيرًا مِّنْ أَهْلِي * هَارُونَ أَخِي * اشْدُدْ بِهِ أَزْرِي * وَأَشْرِكْهُ فِي أَمْرِي * كَيْ نُسَبِّحَكَ كَثِيرًا * وَنَذْكُرَكَ كَثِيرًا * إِنَّكَ كُنتَ بِنَا بَصِيرًا﴾ (يا رب! اشرح لي صدري، أي: امنحني الثقة بالنفس والطمأنينة والجرأة)، ويسّر لي أمري (سهّل عليّ مهمتي)، واحلل عقدة من لساني (أزل العيب من لساني وأصلح كلامي)، ليفقهوا قولي، واجعل لي وزيرًا من أهلي، هارون أخي، اشدد به أزري (قوِّ به ظهري)، وأشركه في أمري (في تبليغ رسالة الله والنبوة)، كي نسبّحك كثيرًا، ونذكرك كثيرًا، إنك كنت بنا بصيرًا. قال الله: ﴿قَدْ أُوتِيتَ سُؤْلَكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ﴾. ﴿وَلَقَدْ مَنَنَّا عَلَيْكَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَىٰ * إِذْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمِّكَ مَا يُوحَىٰ * أَنِ اقْذِفِيهِ فِي التَّابُوتِ فَاقْذِفِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ فَلْيُلْقِهِ الْيَمُّ بِالسَّاحِلِ يَأْخُذْهُ عَدُوٌّ لِّي وَعَدُوٌّ لَّهُ﴾ ... ﴿وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةً مِّنِّي وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِي﴾ ... ﴿فَرَجَعْنَاكَ إِلَىٰ أُمِّكَ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ﴾ ... ﴿وَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا فَنَجَّيْنَاكَ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَفَتَنَّاكَ فُتُونًا﴾ ... ﴿ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَىٰ قَدَرٍ يَا مُوسَىٰ﴾. ﴿وَاصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِي﴾ [طه: 25-41]. ﴿اذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِآيَاتِي وَلَا تَنِيَا فِي ذِكْرِي﴾ [طه: 42].

Moses said: "O my Lord! Open for me my chest (grant me self-confidence, contentment, and boldness). And ease my task for me; and make loose the knot (the defect) from my tongue, (remove the incorrectness of my speech) that they understand my speech, and appoint for me a helper from my family, Aaron, my brother; increase my strength with him, and let him share my task (of conveying Allah's Message and Prophethood), and we may glorify You much, and remember You much, Verily! You are of us Ever a Well-Seer." Allah said: "You are granted your request, O Moses! And indeed We conferred a favor on you another time before. When We inspired your mother with that which We inspired, saying: "Put him (the child) into the Tabut (a box or a case or a chest) and put him into the river (Nile), and then the river shall cast it up on the bank, and there, an enemy of Mine and an enemy of his shall take him.' And I endured you with love from Me, in order that you maybe brought up under My Eye, when your sister went and said; "Shall I show you one who will nurse him?' So We restored you to your mother, that she might cool her eyes and she should not grieve. Then you did kill a man, but We saved you from a great distress and tried you with a heavy trial. Then you stayed a number of years witthe people of Midian. Then you came here according to the term which I ordained (for you), O Moses! "And I have Istana'tuka (chosen you for My Inspiration and My Message) for Myself. Go you and your brother with My Ayat (proofs, lessons, verses, evidences, signs, revelations, etc), and do not, you both, slacken and become weak in My Remembrance.

اذْهَبَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ * فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًا لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰ * قَالَا رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَا أَوْ أَن يَطْغَىٰ * قَالَ لَا تَخَافَا إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَا أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ * فَأْتِيَاهُ فَقُولَا إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَلَا تُعَذِّبْهُمْ قَدْ جِئْنَاكَ بِآيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَىٰ * إِنَّا قَدْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيْنَا أَنَّ الْعَذَابَ عَلَىٰ مَن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ. [سورة طه: 9-48]

ذهب موسى (عليه السلام) وهارون (عليه السلام) معًا إلى فرعون وبلّغاه رسالتهما. فحدّثه موسى عن الله، ورحمته، وجنّته، وعن واجبات التوحيد وعبادته.

Moses (pbuh) and Aaron (pbuh) went together to Pharaoh and delivered their message. Moses spoke to him about Allah, His mercy and His Paradise and about the obligations of monotheism and His worship.

نظر فرعون إلى كلام موسى بازدراء. فقد ظن أن موسى مجنون لأنه تجرأ على التشكيك في مكانته العليا. ثم رفع يده وسأل: "ماذا تريد؟" أجابه موسى: "أريد أن ترسل معنا بني إسرائيل." سأل فرعون: "ولماذا أرسلهم، وهم عبيدي؟" رد موسى: "إنهم عبيد الله، رب العالمين." فاستفسر فرعون بسخرية إن كان اسمه موسى. فقال موسى: "نعم." "أما أنت الموسى الذي التقطناه من النيل طفلاً عاجزاً؟ أما أنت الموسى الذي ربيناه في هذا القصر، فأكل وشرب من مؤننا وأغدقت عليه ثروتنا بالصدقات؟ أما أنت الموسى الهارب، قاتل الرجل المصري، إن لم تخنّي ذاكرتي؟ ويقال إن القتل كفر، فأنت إذن كنت كافراً حين قتلت. أنت هارب من العدالة وتأتي لتكلمني! فماذا كنت تقول يا موسى؟ لقد نسيت." وعلم موسى أن ذكر فرعون لماضيه ونشأته وتلقيه إحسان فرعون إنما هو تهديد منه له. فتجاهل موسى سخريته، وبيّن أنه لم يكن كافراً حين قتل المصري، وإنما ضل، وأن الله تعالى لم يكن قد أوحى إليه بعد في ذلك الوقت. وفهّم فرعون أنه فرّ من مصر خوفاً من انتقامهم منه، مع أن القتل كان خطأً. وأخبره أن الله تعالى قد غفر له وجعله من المرسلين.

Pharaoh listened to Moses' speech with disdain. He thought that Moses was crazy because he dared to question his supreme position. Then he raised his hand and asked: "What do you want?" Moses answered: "I want you to send the children of Israel with us." Pharaoh asked: "Why should I send them, as they are my slaves?" Moses replied: "They are the slaves of Allah, Lord of the Worlds." Pharaoh then inquired sarcastically if his name was Moses. Moses said "Yes." "Are you not the Moses whom we picked up from the Nile as a helpless baby? Are you not the Moses whom we reared in this palace, who ate and drank from our provisions and whom our wealth showered with charity? Are you not the Moses who is a fugitive, the killer of an Egyptian man, if my memory does not betray me? It is said that killing is an act of disbelief. Therefore, you were a disbeliever when you killed. You are a fugitive from justice and you come to speak to me! What were you talking about Moses, I forgot?" Moses knew that Pharaoh's mentioning his past, his upbringing, and his receiving Pharaoh's charity was Pharaoh's way of threatening him. Moses ignored his sarcasm and explained that he was not a disbeliever when he killed the Egyptian, he only went astray and Allah the Almighty had not yet given him the revelation at that time. He made Pharaoh understand that he fled from Egypt because he was afraid of their revenge upon him, even though the killing was an accident. He informed him that Allah had granted him forgiveness and made him one of the messengers.

أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّهُ تَعَالَى بِبَعْضِ الْحِوَارِ الَّذِي دَارَ بَيْنَ مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَفِرْعَوْنَ.

Allah the Almighty revealed to us part of the dialogue between Moses (pbuh) and Pharaoh:

قال اللهُ: ﴿كَلَّا فَاذْهَبَا بِآيَاتِنَا إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسْتَمِعُونَ * فَأْتِيَا فِرْعَوْنَ فَقُولَا إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ * أَنْ أَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ﴾. قال فرعونُ لموسى: ﴿أَلَمْ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدًا وَلَبِثْتَ فِينَا مِنْ عُمُرِكَ سِنِينَ * وَفَعَلْتَ فَعْلَتَكَ الَّتِي فَعَلْتَ وَأَنتَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ﴾. قال موسى: ﴿فَعَلْتُهَا إِذًا وَأَنَا مِنَ الضَّالِّينَ * فَفَرَرْتُ مِنكُمْ لَمَّا خِفْتُكُمْ فَوَهَبَ لِي رَبِّي حُكْمًا وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ﴾.

"Allah said: "Nay! Go you both with Our Signs, Verily! We shall be with you, listening. And when you both come to Pharaoh, say: "We are the Messengers of the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists), and So allow the children of Israel to go with us."" Pharaoh said to Moses: "Did we not bring you up among us as a child ? And you did dwell many years of your life with us. And you did your deed which you did (the crime of killing a man) and you are one of the ingrates." Moses said: "I did it then, when I was an ignorant (as regards my Lord and His Message). So I fled from you when I feared you. But my Lord has granted me Hukman (religious knowledge, right judgments of the affairs and Prophethood), and appointed me as one of the Messengers.

وَتِلْكَ نِعْمَةٌ تَمُنُّهَا عَلَيَّ أَنْ عَبَّدْتَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ. قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَا رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ؟ قَالَ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ إِنْ كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ. قَالَ لِمَنْ حَوْلَهُ أَلَا تَسْتَمِعُونَ؟ قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ آبَائِكُمُ الْأَوَّلِينَ. قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَكُمُ الَّذِي أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ لَمَجْنُونٌ. قَالَ رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ. قَالَ لَئِنِ اتَّخَذْتَ إِلَٰهًا غَيْرِي لَأَجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ الْمَسْجُونِينَ. قَالَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكَ بِشَيْءٍ مُّبِينٍ. قَالَ فَأْتِ بِهِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ.

And this is the past favor with which you reproach me, and that you have enslaved the children of Israel." Pharaoh said: "And what is the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)?" Moses replied: "Lord of the heavens, and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty." Pharaoh said to those around: "Do you not hear what he says?" Moses said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!" Pharaoh said: "Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!" Moses said: "Lord of the east, and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!" Pharaoh said: "If you choose an ilah (a god) other than me, I will certainly put you among the prisoners." Moses said: "Even if I bring you something manifest (and convincing)." Pharaoh said: "Bring it forth then, if you are of the truthful!" (Ch 26:16-31 Quran)

وبلغت شدة الصراع المعبَّر عنه في هذا الحوار ذروتها، ومن ثمّ تغيّرت نبرة الحوار. فقد استخدم موسى حجةً عقلية مقنعة ضد فرعون. غير أنّ فرعون خرج من دائرة الحوار القائم على المنطق، وبدأ حواراً من نوعٍ آخر، نوعٍ لم يستطع موسى أن يصبر على متابعته؛ حوارِ التهديد والوعيد. فقد تعمّد فرعون اعتماد أسلوب الحاكم المطلق، فسأل موسى كيف يجرؤ على عبادة الله! ألم يعلم أنّ فرعون إلهٌ؟

The degree of the conflict expressed in this dialogue reached its apex; thus, the tone of dialogue changed. Moses used a convincing intellectual argument against Pharaoh. However, Pharaoh escaped from the circle of dialogue based on the logic and began a dialogue of another type, a type which Moses could not bear to follow; a dialogue of menacing and threatening. Pharaoh deliberately adopted the style of the absolute ruler. He asked Moses how he dared to worship Allah! Did he not know that Pharaoh was a god?

بعد أن أعلن فرعون ألوهيته، سأل موسى كيف تجرّأ على عبادة إلهٍ آخر. وكانت عقوبة هذه الجريمة السجن. ولم يكن يُسمح لأحدٍ بعبادة غير فرعون. وأدرك موسى أن الحجج العقلية لم تنجح. فتحوّل الحوار الهادئ من السخرية إلى الإشارة إلى الإحسان، ثم إلى الازدراء، ثم إلى التهديد بالسجن.

After declaring his divinity, Pharaoh asked Moses how he dared to worship another god. The punishment for this crime was imprisonment. It was not permitted for anyone to worship anyone other than the Pharaoh. Moses understood that the intellectual arguments did not succeed. The calm dialogue was converted from sarcasm to mentioning charity, then to scorn, then to the threat of imprisonment.

قال موسى أوَلَوْ جِئْتُكَ بِشَيْءٍ مُّبِينٍ ۝ قَالَ فَأْتِ بِهِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ۝ فَأَلْقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ ۝ وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ بَيْضَاءُ لِلنَّاظِرِينَ [الشعراء: ٣٠-٣٣]

Moses said: "Even if I bring you something manifest and convincing." Pharaoh said; "Bring it forth, then, if you are of the truthful!" So Moses threw his stick, and behold, it was a serpent, manifest. And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to all beholders! (Ch 26:30-33

القرآن)

Quran)

تحوّل إعجاب فرعون إلى رعب. وخشيةً أن يكون ملكه في خطر، خاطب مستشاريه قائلاً: "هذان ساحران يريدان أن يسلباكم أفضل تقاليدكم وأن يُخرجاكم من البلاد بسحرهما، فماذا تشيرون؟" فأشاروا عليه بأن يحبس موسى وأخاه، وأن يستدعوا أمهر السحرة في البلاد، حتى يُظهروا هم أيضاً مهاراتهم السحرية ويحوّلوا العِصيّ إلى ثعابين. وبهذا أرادوا أن يُقلّلوا من تأثير معجزات موسى في الجماهير.

Pharaoh's amazement turned to terror. Fearing that his rule was in danger, he addressed his advisors: "These are two wizards who will strip you of your best traditions and drive you of the country with their magic. What do you advise?" they counseled Pharaoh to detain Moses and his brother while they summoned the cleverest magicians in the country. Then they too, could show their skills of magic and change sticks into serpents. In this way they sought to reduce the influence of Moses's miracles on the masses.

فرعون حبس موسى وهارون. وأرسل الرسل في جميع أنحاء البلاد ليجمع أمهر السحرة. وعرض على كل ساحر ناجح مكافأة كبيرة، منها تعيينه من حاشية الملك. وفي يوم العيد المعتاد، الذي كان يجذب الناس من جميع أنحاء الإمبراطورية المصرية، رتّب فرعون مسابقة عامة بين موسى والسحرة. فجاء الناس أفواجًا كما جاءوا من قبل حين سمعوا بأعظم مسابقة على الإطلاق بين سحرة فرعون الكثيرين ورجل واحد ادّعى أنه نبي. وكانوا قد سمعوا أيضًا بالطفل الذي طفا ذات يوم على نهر النيل في سلة، ووصل إلى قصر فرعون، وتربّى أميرًا، ثم فرّ لاحقًا بعد أن قتل مصريًا بضربة واحدة.

Pharaoh detained Moses and Aaron. He dispatched couriers all o ver the land to enlist the best magicians. He offered each successful magician a big reward, including appointment as a royal courtier. On the customary festival day, which attracted citizens from all over the Egyptian empire, Pharaoh arranged for a public contest between Moses and the magicians. The people came in droves as near before when they heard of the greatest contest ever between Pharaoh's many magicians and a single man who claimed to be a prophet. They had also heard of a baby who had once floated down the river Nile in a basket, landed on Pharaoh's palace grounds, been reared as a prince, and who later had fled for killing an Egyptian with a single blow.

كان الجميع متلهفين ومتحمسين لمشاهدة هذه المسابقة العظيمة. قبل أن تبدأ، قام موسى. ساد الهدوء الحشد الكبير. خاطب موسى السحرة: "ويلكم، إن افتريتم على الله كذبًا بأن تسموا آياته سحرًا، وبأن لا تكونوا صادقين مع فرعون. ويلكم، إن كنتم لا تعرفون الفرق بين الحق والباطل. سيهلككم الله بعذابه، فإن من افترى على الله كذبًا قد خاب". لقد تكلم موسى بإخلاص، فجعل السحرة يفكرون. لكنهم غلبهم الطمع في المال والمجد. كانوا يأملون أن يبهروا الناس بسحرهم، وأن يفضحوا موسى بوصفه دجالًا ومحتالًا.

Everyone was eager and excited to watch this great contest. Before it began, Moses arose. There was a hush in the huge crowd. Moses addressed the magicians. "Woe unto you, if you invent a lie against Allah by calling His miracles magic and by not being honest with the Pharaoh. Woe unto you, if you do not know the difference between the truth and falsehood. Allah will destroy you with His punishment, for he who lies against Allah fails miserably." Moses had spoke sincerely and made the magicians think. But they were overwhelmed by their greed for money and glory. They hoped to impress the people with their magic and to expose Moses as a fraud and a cheat.

قال الله تعالى مخبرًا عن هذه القصة:

Almighty Allah recounted this event:

قَالَ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتُخْرِجَنَا مِنْ أَرْضِنَا بِسِحْرِكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ

"He (Pharaoh) said: "Have you come to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moses?

فَلَنَأْتِيَنَّكَ بِسِحْرٍ مِّثْلِهِ، فَاجْعَلْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَّا نُخْلِفُهُ نَحْنُ وَلَا أَنتَ مَكَانًا سُوًى۔ قَالَ مَوْعِدُكُمْ يَوْمُ الزِّينَةِ وَأَن يُحْشَرَ النَّاسُ ضُحًى۔ فَتَوَلَّىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ فَجَمَعَ كَيْدَهُ ثُمَّ أَتَىٰ۔ قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ وَيْلَكُمْ لَا تَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا فَيُسْحِتَكُم بِعَذَابٍ ۖ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنِ افْتَرَىٰ۔ فَتَنَازَعُوا أَمْرَهُم بَيْنَهُمْ وَأَسَرُّوا النَّجْوَىٰ۔ قَالُوا:

Then verily, we can produce magic the like thereof; so appoint a meeting between us and you, which neither we, nor you shall fail to keep, in an open wide place where both shall have a just and equal chance (and beholders could witness the competition)." Moses said: "your appointed meeting is the day of the festival, and let the people assemble when the sun has risen (forenoon)." So Pharaoh withdrew, devised his plot and then came back. Moses said to them: "Woe unto you! Invent not a lie against Allah, lest He should destroy you completely by a torment. And surely, he who invents a lie (against Allah) will fail miserably." Then they debated with one another what they must do, and they kept their talk secret. They said:

إِنَّ هَٰذَانِ لَسَاحِرَانِ يُرِيدَانِ أَن يُخْرِجَاكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُم بِسِحْرِهِمَا وَيَذْهَبَا بِطَرِيقَتِكُمُ الْمُثْلَىٰ ۝ فَأَجْمِعُوا كَيْدَكُمْ ثُمَّ ائْتُوا صَفًّا ۚ وَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْيَوْمَ مَنِ اسْتَعْلَىٰ ۝ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِمَّا أَن تُلْقِيَ وَإِمَّا أَن نَّكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَلْقَىٰ ۝ قَالَ بَلْ أَلْقُوا ۖ فَإِذَا حِبَالُهُمْ وَعِصِيُّهُمْ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِن سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَىٰ ۝ فَأَوْجَسَ فِي نَفْسِهِ خِيفَةً مُّوسَىٰ

"Verily! There are two magicians. Their object is to drive you out from your land with magic and overcome your chiefs and nobles. So devise your plot, and then assemble in line. And whoever overcomes this day will be indeed successful." They said: "O Moses! Either you throw first or we be the first to throw?" Moses said: "nay, throw you (first)!" Then behold, their ropes and their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast. So Moses conceived a fear in himself.

قَالَ اللهُ: "لَا تَخَفْ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْأَعْلَى. وَأَلْقِ مَا فِي يَمِينِكَ تَلْقَفْ مَا صَنَعُوا، إِنَّمَا صَنَعُوا كَيْدُ سَاحِرٍ، وَلَا يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُ حَيْثُ أَتَى." فَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سُجَّدًا. قَالُوا: "آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ هَارُونَ وَمُوسَى." قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ: "آمَنْتُمْ لَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ آذَنَ لَكُمْ؟ إِنَّهُ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ الَّذِي عَلَّمَكُمُ السِّحْرَ، فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ مِنْ خِلَافٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِي جُذُوعِ النَّخْلِ، وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَا أَشَدُّ عَذَابًا وَأَبْقَى." قَالُوا: "لَنْ نُؤْثِرَكَ عَلَى مَا جَاءَنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالَّذِي فَطَرَنَا، فَاقْضِ مَا أَنْتَ قَاضٍ، إِنَّمَا تَقْضِي هَذِهِ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا. إِنَّا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَايَانَا وَمَا أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ، وَاللهُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى."

إِنَّهُ مَنْ يَأْتِ رَبَّهُ مُجْرِمًا (مُجرِم: كافر، مشرك، مُكذِّب بتوحيد الله ورسله، عاصٍ، وغير ذلك)، فَإِنَّ لَهُ جَهَنَّمَ، لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَا.

Verily! Whoever comes to his Lord as a Mujrim (criminal, polytheist, disbeliever, in the Oneness of Allah and His Messengers, sinner, etc.), then surely, for him is Hell, therein he will neither die nor live.

وَمَنْ يَأْتِهِ مُؤْمِنًا قَدْ عَمِلَ الصَّالِحَاتِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمُ الدَّرَجَاتُ الْعُلَىٰ ﴿٧٥﴾ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَاءُ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ ﴿٧٦﴾

But whoever comes to Him (Allah) as a believer (in the Oneness of Allah, etc.), and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks (in the Hereafter), - Everlasting Gardens (And Paradise), under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever; such is the reward of those who purify themselves (by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden and by doing all that which Allah has ordained). (Ch 20:58-76 Quran).

كان السحرة يمثّلون صفوة المجتمع المصري، وكانوا علماءه. سجدوا للحق، ولكنّ الناس تخلّوا عنهم وتركوهم لمصيرهم. كان طريق الحق واضحاً، ومع ذلك لم يفعل الناس شيئاً سوى الوقوف والمشاهدة.

The magicians represented the elite of the Egyptian society. They were its scholars. They prostrated before righteousness, but the people abandoned them and left them to their fate. The path of righteousness was plain, but in spite of this, the people did nothing but stand by and watch.

لَوْ أَنَّ كُلَّ مِصْرِيٍّ توقَّفَ ليلتقطَ قطعةً من الطوبِ ويرمي بها فِرْعَونَ، لَسقَطَ ميتًا، ولَتغيَّرَ تاريخُ مِصرَ.

If every one of the Egyptians had stopped to pick up a piece of brick and had thrown it at Pharaoh, he would have fallen dead and the history of Egypt would have been changed.

هذا لم يحدث بالطبع. لم يتحرك أحد من الناس، بل وقف كل واحد ساكنًا في مكانه. لم يفعل الناس سوى المشاهدة، ودفعوا ثمن هذا القعود: فقد غرقوا فيما بعد جزاءً على جبن يوم واحد.

This obviously did not happen. None of the people moved. Each one stood motionless in his place. The people did nothing but watch, and they paid the price of this inactivity: they were drowned later as the price for the cowardice of one day.

خرج موسى وهارون، وعاد فرعون إلى قصره. دخل فرعون إلى قصره. كان فرعون مذهولاً تماماً حين واجه المعجزتين. فلما خرج موسى من حضرته، تحوّلت انفعالاته من الدهشة والخوف إلى غضب شديد. فتشاجر مع وزرائه ورجاله، وشتمهم شتماً مريراً بلا سبب، وأمرهم أن يخرجوا من حضرته.

Moses and Aaron left, and Pharaoh returned to his palace. Pharaoh entered to his palace. Pharaoh was completely stupefied when he faced the two miracles. When Moses went out of his presence, his emotions changed from amazement and fear to violent rage. He quarreled with his ministers and men, reviled them bitterly for no reason, and commanded them to get out of his presence.

لَمَّا خَلَا بِنَفْسِهِ حَاوَلَ أَنْ يُفَكِّرَ بِهُدُوءٍ أَكْثَرَ. شَرِبَ عِدَّةَ كُؤُوسٍ مِنَ الْخَمْرِ، لَكِنَّ غَضَبَهُ لَمْ يَخْفُتْ.

When he was left alone, he tried to think more calmly. He drank several cups of wine, but his anger did not abate.

ثم جمع فرعون وزراءه وقادته ورجاله المسؤولين لاجتماع جادّ. دخل فرعون الاجتماع وعلى وجهه تجهّم شديد. وكان واضحاً أنه لن يستسلم بسهولة أبداً. فقد أقام مُلكه على أساس أنه إلهٌ يعبده الشعب المصري. والآن جاء موسى ليهدم ما بناه. قال موسى إنه لا إله في الوجود سوى الله. وهذا يعني أن فرعون كاذب.

Then he summoned all the ministers, leaders, and responsible men for a serious meeting. Pharaoh entered the meeting with a rigid face. It was obvious that he would never surrender easily. He had established a kingdom on the basis of his being a god worshipped by the Egyptian people. Now Moses came to destroy what he had built. Moses said that there was no Lord other than Allah in existence. This meant that Pharaoh was a liar.

بدأ فرعون الجلسة بسؤال مفاجئ وجّهه إلى هامان: «أكاذبٌ أنا يا هامان؟» فخرّ هامان على ركبتيه من الدهشة وسأل: «مَن تجرّأ على اتهام فرعون بالكذب؟» فقال فرعون: «أَلم يقل (موسى) إن في السماء إلهاً؟» فأجاب هامان: «موسى كاذب». ثم أدار فرعون وجهه إلى الجهة الأخرى، وقال بنفاد صبر مؤكداً: «أنا أعلم أنه كاذب». ثم التفت نحو هامان (وصاح):

Pharaoh opened the session by throwing a sudden question at Haman: "Am I a liar, O Haman?" Haman fell to his knees in amazement and asked: "Who dared to accuse Pharaoh of lying?" Pharaoh said: "Has he (Moses) not said that there is a Lord in the heaven?" Haman answered: "Moses is lying." Turning his face to the other side, Pharaoh asserted impatiently: "I know he is a liar." Then he looked towards Haman (and cried):

وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَا هَامَانُ ابْنِ لِي صَرْحًا لَّعَلِّي أَبْلُغُ الْأَسْبَابَ * أَسْبَابَ السَّمَاوَاتِ فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلَىٰ إِلَٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّي لَأَظُنُّهُ كَاذِبًا Wait, I must follow the rules: translate the user's text, which is an English rendering of Qur'an verses. Qur'an verses should be given as Arabic text in braces? The rules say ﷺ never inside { }. The text given is a translation of 0:37 includes "Ilah" etc. Translate faithfully into Arabic. Better to provide Arabic translation of the English as given, with the reference in brackets in Latin? Reference: "( Quran)" — Latin letters allowed only in [square brackets]. Keep the parentheses; translate "Ch" as سورة, and "Quran" as القرآن. Final answer: قَالَ يَا هَامَانُ ابْنِ لِي صَرْحًا لَعَلِّي أَبْلُغُ الْأَسْبَابَ، أَسْبَابَ السَّمَاوَاتِ فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلَىٰ إِلَٰهِ مُوسَىٰ، وَإِنِّي لَأَظُنُّهُ كَاذِبًا. وَكَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ وَصُدَّ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ، وَمَا كَيْدُ فِرْعَوْنَ إِلَّا فِي تَبَابٍ. (سورة غافر: ٣٦-٣٧)

انغمس فرعون في مشكلته الجديدة. وبدأت سلسلة من الاجتماعات الجادة في قصره. استدعى المسؤولين عن الجيش والشرطة، وما نسميه اليوم مدير الاستخبارات. واستدعى الوزراء والأمراء والكهنة أيضاً. استدعى كل من له تأثير قوي في مجرى الأحداث.

Pharaoh was absorbed in his new problem. A series of serious meetings began in his palace. He summoned those responsible for the army, the police and, what we call today his director of intelligence. He also summoned the ministers, princes, and priests. He called whoever had a powerful effect on the direction of events.

قال فرعون لمدير مخابراته: «ماذا يقول الناس؟» فقال: «لقد نشر رجالي بينهم أن موسى غلب في المسابقة بسبب مؤامرة، وأن ساحرًا كبيرًا انضم إليه في هذه الخطة. وقد انكشفت المؤامرة، ونعتقد أن جهةً مجهولة مولّتها.» وسأل فرعون مدير شرطته: «وماذا عن جثث السحرة؟» فقال: «علّق رجالي جثثهم في الساحات العامة والأسواق ليُرهبوا الناس. وسننشر شائعةً مفادها أن فرعون سيقتل كل من كان له علاقة بالمؤامرة.» ثم سأل فرعون قائد الجيش: «ماذا يقول الجيش؟» فقال: «يأمل الجيش أن تصدر الأوامر بالتحرك في أي اتجاه يريده فرعون.» فقال فرعون: «لم يأتِ دور الجيش بعد، وسيأتي دوره.»

Pharaoh asked his director of intelligence: "What do people say?" He said: "My men have spread among them that Moses won the contest because of a plot and that a major magician had joined with him in this plan. The plot had been disclosed, and we believe an unknown authority financed it." Pharaoh asked his director of police: "What about the magicians' corpses?" He said: "My men hung them in public squares and markets to terrify the people. We will spread a rumor that Pharaoh will kill whoever had anything to do with the plot." Then Pharaoh asked the commander of the army: "What does the army say?" He said: "The army hopes that commands will be issued to move in whatever direction Pharaoh desires." Pharaoh said: "The role of the army has not come yet. Its role will come."

سكت فرعون، وتحرّك هامان وزيرُه الأوّل ورفع يده ليتكلّم، فأذن له فرعون، فقال هامان: "أَنَتْرُك موسى وقومَه يُفسدون في الأرض ويُضلّون الناس عن عبادتك؟" فقال فرعون: "لقد قرأتَ أفكاري يا هامان، سنقتل أبناءهم، ونستحيي نساءهم، ونقهرهم." وأصدر أوامره، فأسرع رجالُ فرعون إلى ذبح الأبناء، واستحياء النساء، وسجن كلّ من اعترض على هذه الأفعال.

Pharaoh fell silent. Haman, the Prime Minister, moved and raised his hand to speak. Pharaoh permitted him and Haman asked: "Will we leave Moses and his people to corrupt the rest of the people on the earth so that they leave your worship?" Pharaoh said: "You read my thoughts, O Haman. We will kill their sons, rape their women, and conquer them." He issued commands, and Pharaoh's men rushed to slay the sons, rape the women, and imprison whomever objected to these acts.

وقف موسى ينظر إلى ما يجري، لم يكن بوسعه أن يتدخل، ولا كان له القدرة على منع هذه الأفعال. كل ما استطاعه أن ينصح قومه بالصبر. أمرهم أن يسألوا الله تعالى القدير أن ينزل بالمصريين بلاءً. وبيّن لهم مثال السحرة المصريين الذين صبروا في سبيل الله دون شكوى. وساعدهم على أن يفهموا أن جنود فرعون كانوا يتصرفون في الأرض كأنهم مالكوها الخاصون.

Moses stood watching what was happening. He could not interfere, nor did he have the power to forbid these acts. All he could do was to advise his people to be patient. He ordered them to ask Allah the Almighty for a calamity on the Egyptians. He pointed out to them the model of the Egyptian magicians who endured for Allah's sake without complaint. He helped them to understand that Pharaoh's soldiers behaved on earth as if they were its private owners.

أَلْقَى إِرْهَابُ فِرْعَوْنَ فِي نُفُوسِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ رُوحَ الْهَزِيمَةِ، فَاشْتَكَوْا إِلَى مُوسَى:

Pharaoh's terrorism infused the children of Israel with a spirit of defeat. They complained to Moses:

قَالُوا أُوذِينَا مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَأْتِيَنَا وَمِن بَعْدِ مَا جِئْتَنَا ۖ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ

"We (children of Israel) had suffered troubles before you came to us, and since you have come to us." He said: "It maybe that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you successors on the earth, so that He may see how you act." (Ch 7:129 Quran).

بدأ موسى يواجه موقفاً صعباً. كان عليه أن يتصدى لغضب فرعون ومكائده، وفي الوقت نفسه كان عليه أن يتعامل مع تمرد قومه. وفي خضم كل ذلك، تحرّك قارون.

Moses began to face a difficult situation. He had to confront Pharaoh's anger and his plots, while at the same time he had to deal with the mutiny of his people. In the midst of all this, Korah (Qaroun) moved.

كان قارون من قوم موسى، وكان غنيًّا جدًّا، وكان يسكن في قصرٍ فخم. وكان لا يلبس إلا أغلى الثياب. وكان له عبيدٌ كثيرون يخدمونه، وكان يتمتع بكل ألوان الترف المعروفة. وقد أورثه غناه الهائل الكبرَ. وكان قارون يحتقر الفقراء، ويقول لهم إن فقرهم سببه قلة عقولهم. وكان يعتقد أن ما يملكه إنما هو بفضل ذكائه وقدرته على التجارة.

Korah was one of Moses' s people. He was very rich and lived in a magnificent mansion. He wore only the most expensive clothes. Numerous slaves waited on him and he indulged in every known luxury. His enormous wealth made him arrogant. Korah treated the poor with contempt and told them that their poverty was due to their lack of intelligence. He believed that what he owned was due to his own cleverness and business ability.

ذكّر موسى قارون بإخراج الزكاة عن ماله، وكان جزء منه حقاً مستحقاً للفقراء. والزكاة واجبة على جميع المؤمنين. فغضب قارون من هذه النصيحة، وقال لموسى إن غناه دليل على أن الله قد فضّله، وأن الله قد رضي بأسلوب حياته وزاد في ماله يوماً بعد يوم. فجادله موسى، وحذّره من عاقبة أفكاره الشريرة.

Moses reminded Korah to pay alms (zakat) on his wealth, a portion of which was rightfully due to the poor. Alms are compulsory upon all the believers. Korah was annoyed by this advice and told Moses that his being wealthy was proof that he was favored by Allah, Who approved of his life-style and increased his wealth daily. Moses argued with him and warned him of the result of his wicked thoughts.

لَمَّا حَسَبَ قَارُونُ الزَّكَاةَ الوَاجِبَةَ فِي مَالِهِ، صُدِمَ مِنَ القَدْرِ الكَبِيرِ الَّذِي كَانَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُفَارِقَهُ. فَلَمْ يَكْتَفِ بِرَفْضِ إِخْرَاجِ الزَّكَاةِ، بَلْ نَشَرَ شَائِعَةً مَفَادُهَا أَنَّ مُوسَى قَدِ اخْتَرَعَ حُكْمَ الزَّكَاةِ لِيَنْتَفِعَ بِهِ لِنَفْسِهِ. بَلْ إِنَّهُ رَشَا النَّاسَ لِيُعَارِضُوا مُوسَى وَيَنْشُرُوا عَنْهُ أَقَاوِيلَ سَيِّئَةً. حَذَّرَ اللهُ مُوسَى مِنْ مَكِيدَةِ قَارُونَ. فَدَعَا مُوسَى رَبَّهُ أَنْ يُعَاقِبَهُ عَلَى بُخْلِهِ وَعَلَى مُخَالَفَتِهِ لِشَرْعِهِ. فَحَلَّ غَضَبُ اللهِ بِقَارُونَ، فَانْشَقَّتِ الأَرْضُ وَابْتَلَعَتْهُ وَدَارَهُ وَجَمِيعَ مَالِهِ، كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ قَدْ وُجِدَ قَطُّ.

When Korah did calculate the alms due on his wealth, he was shocked at the large amount he had to part with. He not only refused to give alms, but spread a rumor that Moses had invented the law of zakat for his own gain. He even bribed the people to oppose Moses and to spread wicked rumors about him.Allah warned Moses of Korah's plot. Moses appealed to Allah to punish him for his stinginess and for defying His laws. Allah's anger fell on Korah. The earth opened up and swallowed him, his mansion and all his wealth, as if he had never existed.

قال الله تعالى:

Almighty Allah revealed:

إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِنْ قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ مَا إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوءُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ

"Verily, Korah was of Moses's people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men.

قال له قومه: لا تفرح إن الله لا يحب الفرحين. وابتغِ فيما آتاك الله الدار الآخرة، ولا تنسَ نصيبك من الدنيا، وأحسن كما أحسن الله إليك، ولا تبغِ الفساد في الأرض إن الله لا يحب المفسدين. قال: إنما أوتيته على علم عندي. أولم يعلم أن الله قد أهلك من قبله من القرون من هو أشد منه قوة وأكثر جمعًا، ولا يُسأل عن ذنوبهم المجرمون. فخرج على قومه في زينته، قال الذين يريدون الحياة الدنيا: يا ليت لنا مثل ما أوتي قارون، إنه لذو حظ عظيم. وقال الذين أوتوا العلم: ويلكم ثواب الله خير لمن آمن وعمل صالحًا، ولا يلقاها إلا الصابرون. فخسفنا به وبداره الأرض، فما كان له من فئة ينصرونه من دون الله، وما كان من المنتصرين. وأصبح الذين تمنوا مكانه بالأمس يقولون: ويكأن الله يبسط الرزق لمن يشاء من عباده ويقدر، لولا أن من الله علينا لخسف بنا، ويكأنه لا يفلح الكافرون.

When his people said to him: "Do not be glad with ungratefulness to Allah's Favors). Verily! Allah likes not those who are glad (with wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget nor your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsideen (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, and mischief-makers, corrupts)." He said: "This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount of riches, they had collected. But the Murimun (criminals, disbeliveers, polytheists, sinners, etc.) will not be questioned of their sins (because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without account). So he went forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous of the life of the world said: "Ah, would that we had the like of what Korah has been given! Verily! He is the owner of a great fortune." But those who had been given religious knowledge said: "Woe to you! The Reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except those who are patient (in following the truth)." So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves. And those who had desired (for a position like) his position, the day before, began to say; "Know you not that it is Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it to whomsoever He please of His slaves? Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up also!" Know you not that the disbeliveers will never be successful? (Ch 28:76-82 Quran).

لَمَّا تَأَمَّلَ المِصْرِيُّونَ وَبَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ المُعْجِزَةَ، عَادَ الصِّرَاعُ بَيْنَ مُوسَى وَفِرْعَوْنَ إِلَى ذُرْوَةِ الأَزْمَةِ مِنْ جَدِيدٍ؛ لِأَنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ اعْتَقَدَ أَنَّ مُوسَى يُهَدِّدُ مُلْكَهُ.

When the Egyptians and children of Israel examined the miracle, the conflict between Moses and Pharaoh again reached a crisis because Pharaoh believed that Moses was threatening his kingdom.

ظنَّ فرعون أن الناس قد يُضلّهم موسى، فاقترح على وزرائه وأشراف قومه أن يُقتل موسى. ونحن نعتقد أن هامان أيّد هذا الرأي مع جبهة من الكافرين. وكان الأمر على وشك الإقرار، لولا اعتراض رجل من أشراف الدولة، لم يُذكر اسمه في القرآن، إذ يقتصر القرآن على وصف هذا الرجل بأنه كان مؤمنًا.

Pharaoh was afraid that the people would be misled by Moses. He suggested to his ministers and notable men that Moses be killed. We believe that Haman supported the idea along with a front of disbeliveers. It was on the verge of approval, except for the vote of one of the notable men of the state, whose name is not mentioned in the Quran. The Quran says only that this man was a believer.

وتكلّم هذا المؤمن في المجلس الذي طُرحت فيه فكرة قتل موسى، فبيّن أنها ليست فكرة صائبة، فقال: "ما يقول موسى إلا أن الله ربه، وقد جاءكم بالبينات من ربكم بأنه رسول. وهناك احتمالان: إما أن يكون موسى صادقًا أو كاذبًا. فإن كان كاذبًا فعليه وبال كذبه. وإن كان صادقًا وقتلناه، فأين الضمان لنا بالنجاة من عذاب الله؟ وعلى كل حال، فهو لا يقول ولا يفعل شيئًا يستوجب قتله." فغضب فرعون وأعوانه، وهدّدوا الرجل بالأذى، لكنه لم يتزحزح عن موقفه. ثم حاولوا استمالته، فحذّرهم مرة أخرى من أنهم يدعون إلى هلاكهم. فازداد فرعون غضبًا، وهدّد الرجل بالقتل. غير أن الله حفظ مؤمنه.

This believer spoke in the assembly where the idea of killing Moses had been introduced. He proved that it was not a good idea: "Moses did not say more than that Allah is his Lord. Later, he came with clear evidence that he is a messenger. There are two possibilities; either Moses is righteous or a liar. If he lies, he will be responsible for his lie. If he is righteous and we slay him, where is the guarantee that we will be rescued from the torment of Allah? Either way, he neither says nor does anything that merits our killing him." This angered Pharaoh and his counselors and they threatened to harm the man, but he refused to budge from his stance. Then they tried to woo him back, but he still warned them that they were inviting their doom. This angered Pharaoh more, and he now threatened to kill the man. However, Allah protected His believer.

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْ حِوَارِهِمْ

Almighty Allah revealed their dialogue:

قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ: «ذَرُونِي أَقْتُلْ مُوسَىٰ، وَلْيَدْعُ رَبَّهُ، إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يُبَدِّلَ دِينَكُمْ، أَوْ أَن يُظْهِرَ فِي الْأَرْضِ الْفَسَادَ». وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ: «إِنِّي عُذْتُ بِرَبِّي وَرَبِّكُم مِّن كُلِّ مُتَكَبِّرٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِيَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ». وَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَكْتُمُ إِيمَانَهُ: «أَتَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلًا أَن يَقُولَ رَبِّيَ اللَّهُ وَقَدْ جَاءَكُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ؟

Pharaoh said: "Leave me to kill Moses, and let him call his Lord (to stop me from killing him)! I fear that he may change your religion, or that he may cause mischief to appear in the land!" Moses said: "Verily, I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant who believes not in the Day of Reckoning!" And a believing man of Pharaoh's family, who hid his faith said: "Would you kill a man because he says: My Lord is Allah, and he has come to you with clear signs (proofs) from your Lord?

وَإِنْ يَكُ كَاذِبًا فَعَلَيْهِ كَذِبُهُ، وَإِنْ يَكُ صَادِقًا يُصِبْكُمْ بَعْضُ الَّذِي يَعِدُكُمْ. إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ كَذَّابٌ. يَا قَوْمِ لَكُمُ الْمُلْكُ الْيَوْمَ ظَاهِرِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ، فَمَنْ يَنْصُرُنَا مِنْ بَأْسِ اللَّهِ إِنْ جَاءَنَا؟ قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ: مَا أُرِيكُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَرَى، وَمَا أَهْدِيكُمْ إِلَّا سَبِيلَ الرَّشَادِ. وَقَالَ الَّذِي آمَنَ: يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِثْلَ يَوْمِ الْأَحْزَابِ، مِثْلَ دَأْبِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ، وَمَا اللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ظُلْمًا لِلْعِبَادِ. وَيَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَوْمَ التَّنَادِ، يَوْمَ تُوَلُّونَ مُدْبِرِينَ، مَا لَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ عَاصِمٍ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ. وَلَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ يُوسُفُ مِنْ قَبْلُ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ، فَمَا زِلْتُمْ فِي شَكٍّ مِمَّا جَاءَكُمْ بِهِ، حَتَّى إِذَا هَلَكَ قُلْتُمْ لَنْ يَبْعَثَ اللَّهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ رَسُولًا. كَذَلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ مُرْتَابٌ. الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَانٍ أَتَاهُمْ، كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَعِنْدَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا، كَذَلِكَ يَطْبَعُ اللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ قَلْبِ مُتَكَبِّرٍ جَبَّارٍ.

And if he is a liar, upon him will be (the sin of) his lie; but if he is telling the truth, then some of that calamity wherewith he threatens you will befall on you. Verily, Allah guides not one who is a Musrif (a polytheist, or a murderer who shed blood without a right, or those who commit great sins, oppressor, transgressor, a liar! O my people! Yours is the kingdom this day, you are uppermost in the land. But, who will save us from the Torment of Allah, should it befall us?" Pharaoh said: "I show you only that which I see correct and I guide you only to the path of right policy!" And he who believed said: "O my people! Verily, I fear for you a fate like that day of disaster of the confederate of old! Like the fate of the people of Noah, and 'Ad, and Thamud, and those who came after them. And Allah wills no injustice for His slaves. And, O my people! Verily! I fear for you the Day when there will be mutual calling between the people of Hell and of Paradise." A Day when you will turn your backs and flee having no protector from Allah, and whomsoever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide. And indeed Joseph did come to you, in times gone by, with clear signs, but you ceased not to doubt in that which he did bring to you, till when he died you said: "No Messenger will Allah send after him." Thus Allah leaves astray him who is a Musrif (a polytheist, oppressor, a criminal, sinner who commits great sins) and a Murtab (one who doubts Allah's warning and His Oneness). Those who dispute about the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations and signs, etc.) of Allah, without any authority that has come to them, it is greatly hateful in the Sight of Allah and in the sigh of those who believe. Thus does Allah seal up the heart of every arrogant, tyrant. (So they cannot guide themselves to the Right Path).

أعاد موسى طلبه من فرعون أن يطلق بني إسرائيل من العبودية. فجمع فرعون رعيته، ومن بينهم بنو إسرائيل، في تجمّع كبير، وذكّرهم بأنه ربّهم وأنه هو الذي يوفّر لهم كل حاجاتهم. وقال إن موسى ليس عليه أسورة من ذهب، ولا يتبعه الملائكة، وإنما هو رجل فقير.

Moses repeated his demand that Pharaoh release the children of Israel from slavery. In response, Pharaoh called his subjects, including the children of Israel, to a huge gathering where he reminded them that he was their lord and provided all their needs. Moses, he said, had no gold amulets nor angels following him; he was just a poor man.

لکونهم قومًا عانوا من الاضطهاد زمنًا طويلًا، كانت بصيرتهم ضعيفة، واقتصرت أحكامهم على ما يرونه في عالم المادة. كانوا يعتقدون أن حاكمهم غنيّ، وقادر على تلبية جميع حاجاتهم الدنيوية. فأطاعوا فرعون بجهلٍ، وأعرضوا عن دعوة موسى.

Being a people who had been oppressed for a very long time, they lacked vision. Their judgment were limited to what they could see in the material world. They regarded their ruler to be wealthy and able to provide all their worldly needs. In ignorance, they obeyed Pharaoh and ignored Moses's call.

أمر الله موسى أن يحذّر فرعون من عقوبة في الدنيا بسبب كفره وظلمه لبني إسرائيل. وعلامةً على العقوبة التي سيُنزلها الله، لم يفِض النيلُ على ضفافه ليغمر الأرض اليابسة كما كان يفعل عادةً. فنتيجةً لذلك فشلت المحاصيل، مما أدّى إلى المجاعة. ومع ذلك بقي فرعون مستكبرًا، فأرسل الله فيضانًا عظيمًا دمّر الأرض.

Allah commanded Moses to warn Pharaoh of a punishment in this world for his faithlessness and his persecution of the children of Israel. As a portent of the punishment which Allah would meet out, the Nile did not flood its banks to soak the dry land as it normally did. As a result, crops failed, leading to famine. However Pharaoh remained arrogant, so Allah caused a huge flood, which devastated the land.

كُلَّمَا أَصَابَهُمْ مِنَ الْبَلَاءِ شَدِيدًا، كَانُوا يَتَضَرَّعُونَ إِلَى مُوسَىٰ قَائِلِينَ:

As often as they were troubled grievously, they appealed to Moses thus:

﴿يَا مُوسَى ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ لَئِن كَشَفْتَ عَنَّا الرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ﴾ (الأعراف: ١٣٤)

"O Moses! Invoke your Lord for us because of His Promise to you. IF you will remove the punishment from us, we indeed shall believe in you, and we shall let the children of Israel go with you." (Ch 7:134 Quran)

دعا موسى ربَّه، فكشف عنهم العذاب الذي سببه الطوفان. فتوقف الماء المتدفق وانحسر عن الأرض، فصارت صالحة للزراعة. ولكن حين أمرهم موسى بالوفاء بوعدهم بإطلاق بني إسرائيل، لم يستجيبوا.

Moses prayed to his Lord and He relived the suffering caused by the flood. The surging water ceased and withdrew from the land, and it became cultivatable. But when Moses bade them to fulfill their promise to release the children of Israel, they did not respond.

ثم أرسل اللهُ الجرادَ فأكلَ ما كان قد نبتَ من زرعهم. فأسرعَ القومُ إلى موسى يسألونه أن يدعو ربَّه ليكشفَ عنهم هذا البلاء، ويَعِدونه بأنهم سيرسلون معه بني إسرائيل هذه المرة. فارتفعَ الجرادُ، لكنهم لم يَفُوا بوعدهم.

Then Allah sent swarms of locusts which ate whatever corps they had grown. The people hurried to Moses, asking him to invoke Allah to remove this affliction and promising they would send the children of Israel with him this time. The locusts departed, but they did not fulfill their promise.

ثُمَّ جَاءَتْ آيَةٌ أُخْرَى، وَهِيَ آيَةُ الْقُمَّلِ، فَانْتَشَرَتْ بَيْنَ الْمِصْرِيِّينَ، وَحَمَلَتِ الْأَمْرَاضَ.

Then another sign came, the sign of lice, which spread amongst the Egyptians, carrying diseases.

وتكرّر لجوؤهم إلى موسى وعهدهم له، وتكرّرت دعوته إلى الله، وكذلك نكثهم للعهد، كعادتهم.

Their refuge to Moses and their promise to him was repeated. His prayer to Allah was repeated and so, too, their breach of promise, as usual.

أُنزلت آيةٌ هي الضفادع، فامتلأت الأرضُ فجأةً بالضفادع، وقفزت على طعام المصريين، وشاركتهم بيوتهم، وآذتهم أذًى شديدًا. فأتى المصريون موسى مرةً أخرى، يعدونه بإطلاق بني إسرائيل. فدعا ربَّه، فكشف الله عنهم بلاءَ الضفادع، لكنهم نقضوا عهدهم مرةً أخرى.

A sign of frogs was revealed. The land suddenly filled with frogs. They jumped on the food of the Egyptians, shared their houses, and distressed them greatly. The Egyptians went to Moses again, promising him to release the children of Israel. He prayed to his Lord, and Allah relieved them of the problem of the frogs, but they again broke their promise.

ثم نزلت الآية الأخيرة، آية الدم. فتحوّل ماء النيل إلى دم. فلما شرب موسى وقومه منه، كان لهم ماءً عادياً. أما إذا ملأ أي قبطي كوبه من الماء، وجد كوبه ممتلئاً بالدم. فكانوا يهرعون إلى موسى كعادتهم، لكن ما إن عاد كل شيء إلى حاله الطبيعية حتى أدبروا عن الله.

Then the last sign was revealed, the sign of blood. The Nile water was changed into blood. When Moses and his people drank the water, it was, for them, ordinary water. However, if any Egyptian filled his cup with the water, he discovered his cup full of blood. They hurried to Moses as usual, but as soon as everything returned to normal, they turned their backs on Allah.

قال الله تعالى:

Almighty Allah said:

"وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ بِالسِّنِينَ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ۝ فَإِذَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْحَسَنَةُ قَالُوا لَنَا هَٰذِهِ ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَطَّيَّرُوا بِمُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّمَا طَائِرُهُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ"

"And indeed We punished the people of Pharaoh with years of drought, and shortness of fruits (crops, etc.), that they mighty remember (take heed). But whenever good came to them, they said: "Ours is this." And if evil athem, they ascribed it to evil omens connected with Moses and those with him. Be informed! Verily, their evil omens are with Allah but most of them know not.

قالوا لموسى: «مهما تأتِنا به من آيات (دلائل وبراهين وعبر وعلامات ووحي وغير ذلك)،

They said to Moses: "Whatever Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)

قَالُوا مَهْمَا تَأْتِنَا بِهِ مِنْ آيَةٍ لِتَسْحَرَنَا بِهَا فَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ * فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الطُّوفَانَ وَالْجَرَادَ وَالْقُمَّلَ وَالضَّفَادِعَ وَالدَّمَ آيَاتٍ مُفَصَّلَاتٍ

you may bring to us, to work therewith your sorcery on us, we shall never believe in you." So We sent on them: the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, and the blood: (as a succession of)

آيات واضحة، ومع ذلك استكبروا، وكانوا قومًا مجرمين (مشركين، عصاة، وغير ذلك) (سورة الأعراف: 130-133)

manifest signs, yet they remained arrogant, and they were of those people who were Mujrimeen (criminals, polytheists, sinners, etc.) (Ch 7:130-133 Quran)

وقال اللہ تعالیٰ أیضاً:

Almighty Allah also said:

فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْزَ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ هُمْ بَالِغُوهُ إِذَا هُمْ يَنْكُثُونَ

" But when We removed the punishment from them to a fixed term, which they had to reach, behold! They broke their word! (Ch 7:135 Quran)

قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ مُتَمَادِيًا فِي غَيِّهِ وَتَكَبُّرِهِ، فَأَعْلَنَ فِي قَوْمِهِ: «أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَى»؟ لَا، بَلْ قَالَ: «فِرْعَوْنُ هُوَ الْإِلَهُ الْوَحِيدُ».

Pharaoh became ruder and more arrogant. He proclaimed to his people. "Pharaoh is the only god.

أَلَيْسَ لَهُ مُلْكُ مِصْرَ وَهَٰذِهِ الْأَنْهَارُ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِي؟ وَقَدْ كَذَّبَ مُوسَىٰ وَوَصَفَهُ بِأَنَّهُ كَاذِبٌ وَسَاحِرٌ وَرَجُلٌ فَقِيرٌ لَا يَلْبَسُ حَتَّىٰ سِوَارًا وَاحِدًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ.

Has he not the kingdom of Egypt and rivers flowing under it?" He declared that Moses was a liar, a magician, and a poor man who did not wear even one bracelet of gold.

قال الله تعالى:

Almighty Allah declared:

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِآيَاتِنَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ (تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ دِينِ اللهِ الْإِسْلَامِ). فَقَالَ:

“And indeed We did sent Moses with Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) to Pharaoh and his chiefs (inviting them to Allah's Religion of Islam). He said:

إِنِّي رَسُولُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﷺ

"Verily! I am a Messenger of the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).

فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُم بِآيَاتِنَا إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَضْحَكُونَ، وَمَا نُرِيهِم مِّنْ آيَةٍ إِلَّا هِيَ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أُخْتِهَا، وَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِالْعَذَابِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ عَنْ شِرْكِهِمْ إِلَىٰ دِينِ اللَّهِ (التَّوْحِيدِ الْإِسْلَامِيِّ).

But when he came to them with our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) behold! They laughed at them. And not an Ayah (sign, etc.) We showed them but it was greater than its fellow, and We seized them with torment in order that they might turn from their polytheism to Allah's Religion (Islamic Monotheism).

وَقَالُوا لِمُوسَىٰ: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا السَّاحِرُ ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ إِنَّنَا لَمُهْتَدُونَ﴾ فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْزَ إِذَا هُمْ يَنكُثُونَ.

And they said to Moses: "O you sorcerer! Invoke your Lord for us according to what He has covenanted with you. Verily, we shall guide ourselves aright." But when We removed the torment from them, behold! They broke their covenant (that they will believe if We remove the torment for them).

وَنَادَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ فِي قَوْمِهِ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَلَيْسَ لِي مُلْكُ مِصْرَ وَهَٰذِهِ الْأَنْهَارُ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِي ۖ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ ۝ أَمْ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْ هَٰذَا الَّذِي هُوَ مَهِينٌ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُبِينُ ۝ فَلَوْلَا أُلْقِيَ عَلَيْهِ أَسْوِرَةٌ مِّن ذَهَبٍ أَوْ جَاءَ مَعَهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مُقْتَرِنِينَ ۝ فَاسْتَخَفَّ قَوْمَهُ فَأَطَاعُوهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ

يبدو أن فرعون لن يؤمن برسالة موسى أبدًا، ولن يكفّ عن تعذيب بني إسرائيل. لذلك دعا موسى ربّه قائلًا:

It appeared that Pharaoh would never believe in Moses' s message, nor would he stop the torture of the children of Israel. Therefore, Moses prayed to his Lord thus:

{رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ آتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَالًا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا عَن سَبِيلِكَ ۖ رَبَّنَا اطْمِسْ عَلَىٰ أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاشْدُدْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ} قَالَ قَدْ أُجِيبَت دَّعْوَتُكُمَا فَاسْتَقِيمَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعَانِّ سَبِيلَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (سورة يونس: 88-89)

"Our Lord! You have indeed bestowed on Pharaoh and his chiefs splendor and wealth in the life of this world, our Lord! That they may lead men astray from Your Path. Our Lord! Destroy their wealth, and harden their hearts, so that they will not believe until they see the painful torment." Allah said: "Verily, the invocation of you both is accepted. So you both keep to the Straight Way (keep on doing good deeds, and preaching Allah's Message with patience), and follow not the path of those who know not (the truth, to believe in the Oneness of Allah, and also to believe in the Reward of Allah: Paradise etc.)." (Ch 10:88-89 Quran)

أَوْحَى اللهُ إِلَى مُوسَىٰ أَنْ يَقُودَ قَوْمَهُ مِنْ مِصْرَ، لَكِنْ لَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِرِسَالَتِهِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ. وَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:

Allah inspired Moses to conduct his people of Egypt, but only a few of his people believed in his message. Allah revealed:

فَمَا آمَنَ لِمُوسَىٰ إِلَّا ذُرِّيَّةٌ مِّن قَوْمِهِ عَلَىٰ خَوْفٍ مِّن فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِمْ أَن يَفْتِنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ لَعَالٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ وَإِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْمُسْرِفِينَ Note: The bracketed explanation in the original is a gloss on the Qur'an verse (Surah Yunus 10:83 / Surah Ghafir 40:34 context), so it is rendered as a commentary in Arabic below the verse. (لا يُمكن أن يكون النص المترجم: "وإنَّه لمن المسرفين" – المشركون والعصاة والمتجاوزون، الذين يُعرضون عن الحق ويتّبعون الباطل، ويرتكبون أنواع الكبائر.)

"But none believed in Moses except the offspring of his people, because of the fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs lest they should persecute them; and verily, Pharaoh was an arrogant tyrant on the earth, he was indeed one of the Musrifeen (polytheists, sinners, and transgressors, those who give up the truth and follow the evil, and commit all kinds of great sins).

وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ: «يَا قَوْمِ إِن كُنتُمْ آمَنتُم بِاللَّهِ فَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلُوا إِن كُنتُم مُّسْلِمِينَ». فَقَالُوا: «عَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا. رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ، وَنَجِّنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ». [سورة يونس: 83-86]

في ظلمة الليل، قاد موسى قومه نحو البحر الأحمر، وفي الصباح وصلوا إلى الشاطئ. وكان فرعون قد علم بخروجهم حينها، فحشد جيشا ضخما لمطاردتهم.

In the darkness of night, Moses led his people towards the Red Sea, and in the morning they reached the beach. By then Pharaoh was aware of their departure, so he mobilized a huge army to pursue them.

وسرعان ما اضطرب بنو إسرائيل المتعجّلون، فصاح يوشع بن نون (يوشع بن نون):

The impatient children of Israel soon became agitated and Joshua (Yusha), Ibn Nun, exclaimed:

أمامنا هذا الحاجز الذي لا يُعبَر، البحر، وخلفنا العدو؛ لا شك أن الموت لا مفرّ منه! فأجاب موسى أنه سينتظر مزيدًا من الهداية من الله. وقد بعثت هذه الكلمات في نفوسهم بعض الأمل، لكن الإنسان دائم العجلة في طلب النتائج، فكانوا مستعدين لأن يُسلِموا أنفسهم ثانيةً إلى العبودية. وفي تلك اللحظة أوحى الله إلى موسى: "اضرب البحر بعصاك!" ففعل موسى كما أُمر. فهبّت ريح عاتية، وأشرقت الشمس بضيائها، وفي لمح البصر انشقّ البحر، وقامت قمم الأمواج على الجانبين كالجبال.

"In front of us is this impassable barrier, the sea, and behind us the enemy; surely death cannot be avoided!" Moses replied that he would wait for further guidance from Allah. These words filled them with some hope, but man is always impatient for results: they were willing to surrender themselves back into slavery. At that moment Allah revealed to Moses: "Smite the sea with your staff!" Moses did as he was commanded. A fierce wind blew, the sun shone brightly, and in a flash the sea parted, the crests of the waves standing like mountains on each side.

أَخرَجَ موسى قومَه عبر البحر. وكانت هذه المعجزةُ دليلاً على ما كرّره موسى من قوله: ﴿إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ﴾. ولمّا نظروا إلى الوراء، رأَوْا فرعونَ وجنودَه يقتربون، وهم على وشك أن يسلكوا الطريقَ نفسَه الذي فُتح لهم. فأخذهم الفزعُ والذعرُ، فتضرّعوا إلى موسى أن يسأل الله أن يُطبق البحرَ. غير أن الله أمر موسى ألّا يضرب البحر بعصاه مرةً أخرى، لأن قضاء الله كان قد نفذ.

Moses led his people across. This miracle proved Moses's oft-repeated claim. "Verily! My Lord is with me!" As they looked back, they saw Pharaoh and his army approaching, about to take the very path which had been opened for them. In great fear and panic, they pleaded with Moses to ask Allah to close the sea. However, Allah commanded Moses not to smite the sea with his staff again, for Allah's decree was already in action.

لقد رأى فرعون وجنوده المعجزة، كيف انشقّ البحر، ومع ذلك، وكان فرعون مدّعيًا كاذبًا، التفت إلى قومه وأعلن: «انظروا! لقد انفلق البحر بأمري حتى أتبع هؤلاء المتمردين وأقبض عليهم!» فاندفعوا عبر المياه المنشقة، وعندما بلغوا منتصف الطريق، أمر الله البحر أن يعود إلى حاله الأولى.

Pharaoh and his army had seen the miracle, how the sea had parted, but being the pretender that he was, Pharaoh turned to his men and proclaimed: "Look! The sea has opened at my command so that I may follow those rebels and arrest them!" They rushed across the parted waters, and when they were midway, Allah commanded the sea to return to its former state.

فرعونُ مرتعبًا، لمّا أدرك أنّ أجلَه قد حان، قال خوفًا: «آمنتُ أنّه لا إلهَ إلّا الّذي آمنت به بنو إسرائيل، وأنا من المسلمين». لكنّ الله لم يقبل هذا الإقرار من الطاغية، فأطبقت عليه المياهُ فأغرقَته وجنودَه جميعًا.

Terror-stricken Pharaoh, realizing his end had come, declared out of fear: "I believe that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah in Whom the children of Israel believe, and I am of those who surrender to Him." But Allah did not accept this declaration from the tyrant, and the waters closed over him, drowning him and his entire army.

قال الله تعالى:

Almighty Allah narrated:

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِي لَيْلًا إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ. فَأَرْسَلَ فِرْعَوْنُ فِي الْمَدَائِنِ حَاشِرِينَ. إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ لَشِرْذِمَةٌ قَلِيلُونَ.

"And We inspired Moses, saying: "Take away My slaves by night, verily, you will be pursued." Then Pharaoh sent callers to all the cities. Saying: "Verily! These indeed are but a small band.

وَإِنَّهُمْ لَفَعَلُوا مَا أَغَاظَنَا، وَإِنَّا لَجَمِيعٌ حَاذِرُونَ. فَأَخْرَجْنَاهُمْ مِنْ جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ، وَكُنُوزٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ.

And verily, they have done what has enraged us; but we are host all assembled, amply fore-warned." So, We expelled them from gardens and springs, treasures, and every kind of honorable place.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَخْرَجْنَاهُمْ مِنْ جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ وَكُنُوزٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ * وَأَوْرَثْنَاهَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ

Thus (We turned them Pharaoh's people) out, and We caused the children of Israel to inherit them.

فَأَتْبَعُوهُم مُّشْرِقِينَ ۝ فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَى الْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَابُ مُوسَىٰ إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ ۝ قَالَ كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ ۝ فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنِ اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْبَحْرَ ۖ فَانفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَالطَّوْدِ الْعَظِيمِ ۝

وَفِي سُورَةٍ أُخْرَى قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى:

In another surah Almighty Allah narrated:

{وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ آمَنتُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ * آلْآنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ * فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آيَةً ۚ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ عَنْ آيَاتِنَا لَغَافِلُونَ} [سورة يونس: 90-92]

"And We took the children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh with his hosts followed them in oppression and enmity, till when drowning overtook him, he sai: "I believe that La ilaha illa huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but) He, in whom the children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims (those who submit to Allah's Will)." Now (you believe) while you refused to believe before and you were one of the mufsideen (evildoers, corrupts, etc.). So this day We shall deliver your dead body out from the sea that you maybe a sign to those who come after you! And verily, many among mankind are heedless or our Ayah (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). (Ch 10:90-92 Quran)

أُسدِلَ الستارُ على طغيانِ فرعون، وقذفت الأمواجُ جثّتَه إلى ساحلِ البحرِ الغربيّ.

The curtain fell on Pharaoh's tyranny, and the waves threw his corpse up to the western seashore.

رأى المصريون ذلك فعلموا أن آلهتهم التي كانوا يعبدونها ويطيعونها ما هي إلا عبيد لا يستطيعون دفع الموت عن رقابهم.

The Egyptians saw him and knew that their god whom they worshipped and obeyed were mere slaves who could not keep death away from their own necks.

ورغم هلاك فرعون، فقد خلّف أثرًا سيئًا في نفوس بني إسرائيل. فلم يكن من اليسير أن تمرّ سنوات القهر والذلّ الشديد دون أثر. فقد عوّدهم على الخضوع والانقياد لغير الله، وأخضع نفوسهم حتى أفسد طباعهم، فأخذوا يؤذون موسى عليه السلام بسبب الجهل والعناد.

In spite of Pharaoh's death, he left a bad influence on the souls of the children of Israel. It was difficult for the years of oppression and intense humilty to pass easily. He had made them accustomed to humbling themselves and submitting to someone other than Allah. he had so suppressed their souls and spoiled their nature that they began to torture Moses out of ignorance and obstinacy.

لا تزال معجزة انفلاق البحر حاضرة في أذهانهم، وما زالت رمال البحر الرطبة عالقة بنعالهم، حين مرّوا بقوم يعبدون الأصنام. فبدل أن يُظهروا سخطهم على استعباد المشركين للعقول بأن يُسبّحوا الله حمداً على هدايته، التفتوا إلى موسى يطلبون منه أن يُعيّن لهم إلهاً يعبدونه كما يعبد أولئك. كانوا يحسدون أولئك القوم وأصنامهم، ويشتهون مثلها. لقد افتقدوا الوثنية القديمة التي عاشوا معها في عهد فرعون.

The miracle of the parting of the sea was still fresh in their minds, damp sea sands were still stuck on their soles, when they passed by a people worshipping idols. Instead of manifesting their indignation at the idolaters' oppression of the intellect by celebrating the praises of Allah for His guidance, they looked to Moses for him to specify a god for them to worship as those other people did. They were jealous of the other people and their idols, and they desired the same. They missed the ancient idolatry which they had lived with during the reign of Pharaoh.

قال الله تعالى:

Allah the Exalted revealed:

وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰ أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ ۚ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى اجْعَل لَّنَا إِلَٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ ﴿١٣٨﴾ إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا هُمْ فِيهِ وَبَاطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٣٩﴾ قَالَ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْغِيكُمْ إِلَٰهًا وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٤٠﴾ وَإِذْ أَنجَيْنَاكُم مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ يُقَتِّلُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُم بَلَاءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٤١﴾

"And We brought the Children of Israel (with safety) across the sea, and they came upon a people devoted to some of their idols (in worship). They said: "O Mûsa (Moses)! Make for us an ilâhan (a god) as they have âliha (gods)." He said: "Verily, you are a people who know not (the Majesty and Greatness of Allâh and what is obligatory upon you, i.e. to worship none but Allâh Alone, the One and the Only God of all that exists)." [Mûsa (Moses) added:] "Verily, these people will be destroyed for that which they are engaged in (idols-worship). And all that they are doing is in vain." He said: "Shall I seek for you an Ilâhan (a God) other than Allâh, while He has given you superiority over the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinns of your time)." And (remember) when We rescued you from Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) people, who were afflicting you with the worst torment, killing your sons and letting your women live. And in that was a great trial from your Lord." (Ch. 7: 138-141)

كان بنو إسرائيل قد نالوا فضل الله ونعمته، فقد نجّاهم من الظلم، وشهدوا غرق فرعون طاغيتهم. ولما احتاجوا إلى الماء في الأرض القاحلة، أمر الله موسى أن يضرب الحجر، فانفجر منه اثنتا عشرة عينًا من الماء لأسباطهم الاثني عشر، حتى لا يتنازعوا على قلة الماء. وجعل الله السماء تُظلّهم بالغمام لتقيهم حرّ الشمس الحارقة. ولسد جوعهم أُنزل عليهم المنّ (وهو الصمغ المجفف الذي يخرج من بعض النباتات) والسلوى.

The children of Israel were favoured with Allah's grace and bounty. They were saved from oppression and had witnessed the drowning of their cruel ruler Pharaoh. When they needed water in the dry land, Allah commanded Moses to strike a rock, which parted and sent forth twelve springs of water for the twelve different tribes so that they need not dispute over a shortage of water. Allah also kept the skies cloudy to protect them from the scorching sun. To relieve their hunger, manna (the dried exudate of certain plants) and quail were provided for them.

مع كرم الله، بدأ أهل الخسّة يحرّضون قوم موسى على الاعتراض، بزعم أنهم ضاقوا بهذا الطعام؛ إذ كانوا يشتهون البصل والثوم والفول والعدس، وهي أطعمة مصرية مألوفة. ولهذا طلب بنو إسرائيل من النبي موسى ﷺ أن يدعو الله ليُخرج لهم الأرض هذه الأطعمة. فوعظهم موسى ﷺ مرة أخرى على ظلمهم لأنفسهم، وعلى رغبتهم في العودة إلى حياة الذل في مصر. كما نبّههم إلى أنهم كانوا جاحدين بالنعمة الطيبة والطعام الأوفر، فكانوا يريدون الأدنى بدلاً من الأفضل.

In spite of Allah's generousity, the mean spirited ones began to stir Moses' people to object that they were disgusted with this food; they desires onions, garlic, beans, and lentils, which were traditional Egyptian foods. That is why the children of Israel asked Prophet Moses to pray to Allah to make the earth produce these foods. Moses again admonished them for oppressing themselves and for their desire to return to a life of humiliation in Egypt. He also pointed out that they were ungrateful for the bet and most abundant food. They wanted the worst instead of the best.

قال الله تعالى:

Allah the Exalted said:

وَإِذِ اسْتَسْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ فَقُلْنَا اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ ۖ فَانفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ۖ كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا مِن رِّزْقِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ * وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ فَادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ مِن بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّائِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا ۖ قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ الَّذِي هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِالَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ ۚ اهْبِطُوا مِصْرًا فَإِنَّ لَكُم مَّا سَأَلْتُمْ ۗ

" Remember when Moses asked for water for his people, We said: "Strike the stone with your stick." Then gushed forth therefrom twelve springs. Each group of people knew its own place for water. "Eat and drink of what which Allah had provided and do not act corruptly, making mischief on the earth." And remember when you said: "O Moses! We cannot endure one kind of food. So invoke your Lord for us to b ring forth for us of what the earth grows, its herbs, its cucumbers, its Fum (wheat, or garlic), its lentils and its onions." He said: "Would you exchange that which is better for that which is lower? Go you down to any town and you shall find what you want!" (Ch 2:60-61 Quran).

وقد أمر الله موسى أيضًا أن يقودهم إلى الأرض المقدسة (فلسطين) التي كانت قد وُعد بها إبراهيم، أرضًا يسكنها أتقياء ذريته الذين يخشون الله ويقيمون شريعته. وكان بنو إسرائيل قومًا جاحدين للنعمة؛ فعلى الرغم من جميع نعم الله عليهم لم يكفّوا عن الشر، وظلّوا يردّون أحكام الله. فلما أمرهم موسى بفتح مدينة الكنعانيين والحثيين (أعدائهم الذين طاردوهم)، جبنوا وتعللوا قائلين: "يا موسى، إن فيها قومًا جبارين، ولن ندخلها حتى يخرجوا منها." وتذكر الكتب القديمة أنهم كانوا ستمائة ألف رجل، ولم يجد موسى فيهم سوى رجلين مستعدين للقتال. فقال هذان للقوم: "إذا دخلتم عليهم من الباب فإنكم غالبون، وعلى الله فتوكلوا إن كنتم مؤمنين." غير أن بني إسرائيل كلهم كانوا تجسيدًا للجبن، ترتعد فرائصهم من داخلهم.

Allah had also directed Moses to lea them to the Promised Land (Palestine) which had been promised to Abraham as a land in which the pious and Allah-fearing of his offspring would live and uphold Allah's law. The children of Israel were an ungrateful people. In spite of all of Allah's favors, they could not stay away from evil and continued to reject Allah's Laws. When Moses ordered them to conquer the town of the Canaanites the Hittites (their enemies who had hounded them), the children of Israel were cowardly and made excuses: "O Moses, a great people dwell therein, We will not go in unless they leave." Ancient books tell that they were six hundred thousand men. Moses did not find among them but two men who were ready to fight. These two said to the people: "Once we enter through the door, Allah will make us victorious." However, all the children of Israel were an incarnation of cowardice and quivered from within.

عَلِمَ مُوسَىٰ أَنَّ قَوْمَهُ لَا يَصْلُحُونَ لِشَيْءٍ. كَانَ فِرْعَوْنُ قَدْ هَلَكَ، لَكِنَّ أَثَرَهُ فِي نُفُوسِهِمْ ظَلَّ بَاقِيًا. وَكَانَ تَعَافِيهِمْ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَىٰ مُدَّةٍ طَوِيلَةٍ مِنَ الزَّمَنِ. رَجَعَ مُوسَىٰ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ، يُخْبِرُهُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَتَحَمَّلُ الْمَسْؤُولِيَّةَ إِلَّا عَنْ عَمَلِ نَفْسِهِ وَعَمَلِ أَخِيهِ. وَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنْ يَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِهِ.

Moses knew that his people were fit for nothing. Pharaoh was dead, but his effect upon their souls still remained. Their recovery needed a long period of time. Moses returned to his Lord, telling Him that he was responsible only for the actions of himself and his brother. He prayed to his Lord to judge between his people and himself.

أصدر اللہ تعالیٰ حكمَه على هذا الجيل الذي فسدت طبيعته بتأثير المصريين: أن يتيهوا في البرية حائرين حتى يموتَ هذا الجيل أو يهرمَ، ويُنشئَ جيلاً آخر لم تُهزم نفسه من داخلها، ويستطيعَ القتال والظفرَ بالنصر.

Allah the Exalted issued His judgment against this generation whose nature was corrupted by the Egyptians: they must wander restlessly in the wilderness until this generation had died or become senile and had created another generation, a generation which had not been defeated from within and which could fight and score victory.

قال الله تعالى:

Almighty Allah revealed:

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنبِيَاءَ وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكًا وَآتَاكُم مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَدًا مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ. يَا قَوْمِ ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَرْتَدُّوا عَلَىٰ أَدْبَارِكُمْ فَتَنقَلِبُوا خَاسِرِينَ. قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْمًا جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّىٰ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا فَإِن يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا فَإِنَّا دَاخِلُونَ. قَالَ رَجُلَانِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمَا ادْخُلُوا عَلَيْهِمُ الْبَابَ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمُوهُ فَإِنَّكُمْ غَالِبُونَ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ. قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا أَبَدًا مَّا دَامُوا فِيهَا فَاذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلَا إِنَّا هَاهُنَا قَاعِدُونَ. [سورة المائدة: 20-24]

" And remember when Moses said to his people: "O my people! Remember the Favor of Allah to you, when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not give to any other among the Alamin (mankind and jinn), in the past. O my people! Enter the holy land (Palestine) which Allah has assigned to you and turn not back in flight for then you will be returned as losers." They said: "O Moses! In it (this holy land) are a people of great strength, and we shall never enter it, till they leave it; when they leave, then we will enter." Two men of those who feared Allah and in whom Allah had His Grace said: "Assault them through the gate, for when you are in, victory will be yours, and put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed." They said: "O Moses! We shall never enter it as long as they are there. So go you, and your Lord and fight you two, we are sitting right here." (Ch. 5: 20-24)

قال: ﴿رَبِّ إِنِّي لَا أَمْلِكُ إِلَّا نَفْسِي وَأَخِي فَافْرُقْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ﴾. قال: ﴿فَإِنَّهَا مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً ۛ يَتِيهُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ﴾. (المائدة: ٢٠-٢٦)

He (Moses) said: "O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother, so separate us from the people who are the Fasiqeen (rebellious and disobedient to Allah)!" Allah said: "Therefore it (this holy land) is forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction they will wander through the land. So be not sorrowful over the people who are the Fasiqeen (rebellious and disobedient to Allah)." (Ch 5:20-26 Quran)

بدأت أيام التجوال القلِق. كان كل يوم ينتهي حيث بدأ، ويبدأ حيث انتهى.

The days of restless wandering began. Each day ended where it began and began where it ended.

بدأوا يمشون بلا وجهة، ليلاً ونهاراً، صباحاً ومساءً. ودخلوا سيناء.

They started walking to no destination, day and night, morning and evening. They entered Sinai.

جاء موسى إلى المكان نفسه الذي كلّم فيه الله لأول مرة. فدعا الله أن يهديه في الحكم بين قومه. فأمره الله أن يتطهّر بصيام ثلاثين يوماً، ثم يذهب بعد ذلك إلى جبل طور سيناء، حيث يُعطى الشريعة التي يحكم بها قومه.

Moses came to the same place where he had spoke to Allah for the first time. He appealed to Allah for guidance in judging over his people. Allah instructed him to purify himself by fasting for thirty days, after which he was to go to Mount Sinai, where he would be given the law by which he would govern his people.

قال المتقدمون: إنّ موسى صام ثلاثين يومًا، فكره أن يكلّم ربه لأجل رائحة فمه، فأكل من نبات الأرض، فقال له ربه: «لماذا أفطرتَ صومك؟». فقال موسى: «يا ربِّ، كرهتُ أن أكلّمك وفمي ليس له رائحة طيبة». فقال الله: «أما تعلم يا موسى أنّ رائحة فم الصائم أطيب عندي من المسك؟ ارجع فصُم عشرة أيام، ثم عُد إليّ». ففعل موسى ما أمره به الله.

The ancients said that after Moses fasted thirty days, he hated to speak to his Lord because of the odor of his mouth. He ate a plant of the earth and then his Lord said to him: "Why did you break your fast?" Moses said: "O my Lord, I disliked to speak to You with my mouth not having a pleasant smell." Allah said: "Do you not know, Moses, the odor of the faster's mouth is more fragrant to Me than the rose. Go back and fast ten days; then come back to Me." Moses did what Allah commanded.

قال الله تعالى:

Almighty Allah declared:

﴿وَوَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ۚ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ﴾

" And We appointed for Moses thirty nights and added to the period ten more, and he completed them term, appointed by his Lord, of forty nights. And Moses said to his brother Aaron:

"اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَأَصْلِحْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ" (ترجمہ: قوم میں میری جانشینی کرنا، اصلاح کرنا (یعنی لوگوں کو اللہ کی اطاعت کرنے اور صرف اسی کی عبادت کرنے کا حکم دینا)، اور فساد پھیلانے والوں کے راستے پر نہ چلنا)۔ اور جب موسیٰ ہمارے مقرر کردہ وقت اور مقام پر آئے، اور ان کے رب نے ان سے کلام کیا تو انہوں نے کہا:

"Replace me among my people, act in the Right Way (by ordering the people to obey Allah and to worship Him Alone) and follow not the way of the Mufsideen (mischief makers)." And when Moses came the time and place appointed by Us, and his Lord spoke to him, he said:

قال: «رَبِّ أَرِنِي أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ». قال: «لَن تَرَانِي وَلَٰكِنِ انظُرْ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ اسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُ فَسَوْفَ تَرَانِي». فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًا. فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قال: «سُبْحَانَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ». قال: «يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنِّي اصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِرِسَالَاتِي وَبِكَلَامِي فَخُذْ مَا آتَيْتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ». وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَّوْعِظَةً وَتَفْصِيلًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍ وَأْمُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُوا بِأَحْسَنِهَا سَأُرِيكُمْ دَارَ الْفَاسِقِينَ. سَأَصْرِفُ عَنْ آيَاتِيَ الَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَإِن يَرَوْا كُلَّ آيَةٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَا وَإِن يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الرُّشْدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا وَإِن يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الْغَيِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ. وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَلِقَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ.

"O my Lord! Show me (yourself), that I may look upon You." Allah said: "You cannot see Me, but look upon the mountain if it stands still in its place then you shall see Me." So when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He made it collapse to dust, and Moses fell down unconscious. Then when he recovered his senses he said: "Glory be to You, I turn to You in repentance and I am the first of the believers." Allah said: "O Moses, I have chosen you above men by My Messages, and by My speaking to you. So hold that which I have given you and be of the grateful." And We wrote for him on the Tablets the lesson to be drawn from all things and the explanation of all things (and said): "hold unto these with firmness, and enjoin your people to take the better therein, I shall show you the home of Al Fasiqeen (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah). I shall turn away from My Ayat (verses from the Quran), those who behave arrogantly on the earth, in a wrongful manner, and even if they see all the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) they will not believe in them. And if they see the way of righteousness (monotheism, piety, and good deeds), they will not adopt it as the Way, but if they see the way of error (polytheism, crimes, and evil deeds), they will adopt that way, that is because they have rejected Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and were heedless to learn a lesson from them. Those who deny Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and the Meeting in the Hereafter (Day of Resurrection), vain are their deeds.

قال العلماء المتقدمون إنَّ الوصايا العشر في التوراة مذكورةٌ في آيتين من القرآن.

The Earlier scholars said that The Ten Commandments of the Torah are included in two verses of the Quran.

قُلْ تَعَالَوْا أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلَاقٍ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَأَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ وَبِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ أَوْفُوا ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

"Say: "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty- We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to shameful sins (illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly; and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islamic law). This He has commanded you that you may understand. And come not near to the orphan's property, except to improve it, until he or she attains the age of full strength; and give full measure and full weight with justice. We burden not any person but that which he can bear. And whenever you give your word (judge between men or give evidences, etc.) , say the truth even if a near relative is concerned, and fulfill the Covenant of Allah. This He commands you, that you may remember." (Ch 6:151-152

(القرآن)

Quran).

لبث موسى عليه السلام أربعين يومًا غائبًا، فبدأ قومه يضطربون، إذ لم يكونوا يعلمون أن الله قد مدّ في أجله عشرة أيام أخرى. فاقترح السامريّ، وهو رجل مائل إلى الشرّ، أن يتخذوا لأنفسهم قائدًا آخر، لأن موسى قد أخلف وعده. وقال لهم: «إن كنتم تريدون الهداية الحقّة فأنتم بحاجة إلى إله، وأنا أوفّره لكم». فجمع حليّهم الذهبيّة كلّها، وحفر حفرة وضع فيها الجميع، وأشعل نارًا عظيمة ليذيبه. وأثناء الصبّ، ألقى قبضة من تراب، وأتى بحركات تشبه حركات السحرة ليبهر الجاهلين. ومن المعدن المذاب صاغ عجلًا من ذهب. كان أجوف، فإذا مرّت به الريح أحدث صوتًا. ولأن الخرافة كانت راسخة في ماضيهم، ربطوا الصوت الغريب بشيء خارق للطبيعة، كأنه إله حيّ. وبعضهم يقبل العجل الذهبيّ إلهًا له.

Moses (pbuh) had been gone for forty days and his people were becoming restless, for they did not know that Allah had extended his time by a further ten days. Samiri, a man who was inclined towards evil, suggested that they find themselves another guide, as Moses had broken his promise. He said to them: "In order to find true guidance, you need a god, and I shall provide one for you." So he collected all their gold jewelry, dug a hole in which he placed the lot, and lit a huge fire to melt it down. During the casting, he threw a handful of dust, making actions like a magician's to impress the ignorant. From the molten metal he fashioned a golden calf. It was hollow, and the wind passing through it produced a sound. Since superstition was imbedded in their past, they quickly linked the strange sound to something supernatural, as if it were a living god. Some of them accept the golden calf as their god.

أخو موسى هارون (عليه السلام)، الذي تولّى القيادة بينهم في غياب موسى، حزن وقال: «يا قوم! إنكم فُتنتم بهذا، وإن ربكم الرحمن، فاتبعوني وأطيعوا أمري». قالوا: «لن نزال عاكفين عليه حتى يرجع إلينا موسى». فاعتزل الذين ثبتوا على الإيمان الوثنيين.

Moses's brother Aaron (pbuh), who acted as their leader in Moses' s absence, was grieved and spoke up: "O my people! You have been deceived. Your Lord is the Most Beneficent. Follow and obey me." They replied: "We shall stop worshipping this god only if Moses returns." Those who had remained steadfast in belief separated themselves from the pagans.

عِنْدَ عَوْدَتِهِ رَأَى مُوسَىٰ قَوْمَهُ يُغَنُّونَ وَيَرْقُصُونَ حَوْلَ تِمْثَالِ الْعِجْلِ. فَغَضِبَ غَضَبًا شَدِيدًا لِهَذِهِ الطَّقْسِ الْوَثَنِيِّ، وَأَلْقَى أَلْوَاحَ التَّوْرَاةِ الَّتِي كَانَ يَحْمِلُهَا لَهُمْ. ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِلِحْيَةِ هَارُونَ وَبِرَأْسِهِ يَجُرُّهُ، وَهُوَ يَصِيحُ: "مَا الَّذِي مَنَعَكَ حِينَ رَأَيْتَهُمْ قَدْ ضَلُّوا؟ لِمَاذَا لَمْ تُقَاتِلْ هَذَا الْفَسَادَ؟" فَأَجَابَهُ هَارُونُ: "يَا ابْنَ أُمِّي، لَا تَأْخُذْ بِلِحْيَتِي وَلَا بِرَأْسِي! إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ اسْتَضْعَفُونِي، وَكَادُوا يَقْتُلُونَنِي، فَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِيَ الْأَعْدَاءَ، وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِي مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ". فَبَدَأَ غَضَبُ مُوسَىٰ يَهْدَأُ حِينَ فَهِمَ عَجْزَ هَارُونَ، وَأَخَذَ يُعَالِجُ الْأَمْرَ بِهُدُوءٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ.

On his return Moses saw his people singing and dancing around the calf statue. Furious at their paganistic ritual, he flung down the Tablet of the Law he was carrying for them. He tugged Aaron's beard and his hair, crying: "What held you back when you saw them going astray? Whey did you not fight this corruption?" Aaron replied: "O son of my mother, let go of my beard! The fold considered me weak and were about to kill me. So make not the enemies rejoice over me, nor put me among the people who are wrong-doers." Moses' s anger began to subside when he understood Aaron's helplessness, and he began to handle the situation calmly and wisely.

قال الله تعالى:

Almighty Allah narrated:

قَالُوا مَا أَخْلَفْنَا مَوْعِدَكَ بِمَلْكِنَا وَلَٰكِنَّا حُمِّلْنَا أَوْزَارًا مِّن زِينَةِ الْقَوْمِ فَقَذَفْنَاهَا فَكَذَٰلِكَ أَلْقَى السَّامِرِيُّ * فَأَخْرَجَ لَهُمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهُ خُوَارٌ فَقَالُوا هَٰذَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ وَإِلَٰهُ مُوسَىٰ فَنَسِيَ * أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَلَّا يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَوْلًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا

"They said: "We broke not the promise to you, of our own will, but we were made to carry the weight of the ornaments of the Pharaoh's people, then we cast them into the fire, and that was what As-Samiri suggested." Then he took out of the fire, for them a statue of a calf which seemed to low. They said: "This is your ilah (god), and the ilah (god) of Moses, but Moses has forgotten (his god)." Did they not see that it could not return them a word (for answer), and that it had no power either to harm them or to do them good?

وَلَقَدْ قَالَ لَهُمْ هَارُونُ مِن قَبْلُ يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّمَا فُتِنْتُم بِهِ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ فَاتَّبِعُونِي وَأَطِيعُوا أَمْرِي ۝ قَالُوا لَن نَّبْرَحَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفِينَ حَتَّىٰ يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ

And Aaron indeed had said to them beforehand: "O my people! You are being tried in this, and verily, your Lord is Allah the Most Beneficent, so follow me and obey my order." They said: "We will not stop worshipping it (the calf) until Moses returns to us." (Ch 20:87-91

أَنزَلَ اللهُ تعالى بعضَ الحوارِ الذي دار بينه وبين موسى على جبلِ طور سيناء:

Allah the Exalted revealed some of the dialogue that took place between Him and Moses on Mount Sinai:

{وَمَا أَعْجَلَكَ عَن قَوْمِكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ * قَالَ هُمْ أُولَاءِ عَلَىٰ أَثَرِي وَعَجِلْتُ إِلَيْكَ رَبِّ لِتَرْضَىٰ * قَالَ فَإِنَّا قَدْ فَتَنَّا قَوْمَكَ مِن بَعْدِكَ وَأَضَلَّهُمُ السَّامِرِيُّ * فَرَجَعَ مُوسَىٰ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ غَضْبَانَ أَسِفًا ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَلَمْ يَعِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ وَعْدًا حَسَنًا ۚ أَفَطَالَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْعَهْدُ أَمْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن يَحِلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غَضَبٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُم مَّوْعِدِي} (سورۃ طہ: 83-86)

"And what made you hasten from your people, O Moses?" He said: "They are close on my footsteps, and I hastened to You, O my Lord! That you might be pleased." Allah said: "Verily! We have tried your people in your absence, and As-Samiri has led them astray." Then Moses returned to his people in a state of anger and sorrow. He said: "O my people! Did not your Lord promise you a fair promise? Did then the promise seem to you long in coming? Or did you desire the Wrath should descend from your Lord on you, so you broke your promise to me (disbelieving in Allah and worshipping the calf)?" (Ch 20: 83-86 Quran)

أنزل الله تعالى ما جرى بعد عودة موسى عليه السلام

Allah the Exalted revealed what happened further on Moses's return:

قال موسى: ﴿يَا هَارُونُ مَا مَنَعَكَ إِذْ رَأَيْتَهُمْ ضَلُّوا * أَلَّا تَتَّبِعَنِ ۖ أَفَعَصَيْتَ أَمْرِي﴾؟ قال: ﴿يَا ابْنَ أُمَّ لَا تَأْخُذْ بِلِحْيَتِي وَلَا بِرَأْسِي ۖ إِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَن تَقُولَ فَرَّقْتَ بَيْنَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَلَمْ تَرْقُبْ قَوْلِي﴾. قال موسى: ﴿فَمَا خَطْبُكَ يَا سَامِرِيُّ﴾؟ قال: ﴿بَصُرْتُ بِمَا لَمْ يَبْصُرُوا بِهِ فَقَبَضْتُ قَبْضَةً مِّنْ أَثَرِ الرَّسُولِ فَنَبَذْتُهَا وَكَذَٰلِكَ سَوَّلَتْ لِي نَفْسِي﴾. قال موسى: ﴿فَاذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ لَكَ فِي الْحَيَاةِ أَن تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَ﴾

"Moses said: "O Aaron! What stopped you when you saw them going astray, that you followed me not (according to my advice to you)? Have you then disobeyed my order?" He (Aaron) said; "O my son of my mother! Seize me not by my beard, nor by my head! Verily, I feared lest you should say: 'You have caused a division among the children of Israel, and you have not respected my word!'" (Moses) said: "And what is the matter with you, O Samiri? (why did you do so?)" Samiri said: "I saw what you saw not, so I took a handful of dust from the hoof print of the Messenger (Gabriel's horse) and threw it (into the fire in which were put the ornaments of the Pharaoh's people, or into the calf). Thus my inner-self suggested to me." Moses said: "Then go away! And verily, your punishment in this life will be that you will say:

«لَا مِسَاسَ» (أَنْ تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَ) وَإِنَّ لَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَنْ تُخْلَفَهُ. وَانْظُرْ إِلَى إِلَهِكَ الَّذِي ظَلَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفًا لَنُحَرِّقَنَّهُ ثُمَّ لَنَنْسِفَنَّهُ فِي الْيَمِّ نَسْفًا.

'Touch me not' (you will live alone exiled away from mankind); and verily (for a future torment), you have a promise that will not fail. And look at your ilah (god), to which you have been devoted. We will certainly burn it, and scatter its particles in the sea." (Ch 20:83-98 Quran)

لكنّ العقوبة التي فُرضت على عبدة العجل كانت شديدة، وهي القتل.

However, the punishment which was imposed upon the calf worshippers was severe, death.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنفُسَكُم بِاتِّخَاذِكُمُ الْعِجْلَ فَتُوبُوا إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ عِندَ بَارِئِكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

“Remember when Moses said to his people: "O my people! Verily, you have wronged yourselves by worshipping the calf. So turn in repentance to your Creator and kill yourselves (the innocent kill the wrong doers among you), that will be better for you in the Sight of your Creator." Then He accepted your repentance. Truly, He is the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.

(سورۃ البقرہ: 54)

(Ch 2:54 Quran)

لہٰذا بچھڑے کی عبادت کرنے کا جرم بے سزا نہ رہا۔ موسیٰ علیہ السلام نے بنی اسرائیل کے معززین کو حکم دیا کہ وہ اللہ سے مغفرت کی دعا کریں اور اپنی توبہ کا اظہار کریں۔ انہوں نے ان میں سے ستر آدمیوں کو چنا اور ان کو حکم دیا: "اللہ کی طرف جلدی کرو، اور جو تم نے کیا اس سے توبہ کرو، اور جو تم چھوڑ آئے اس کی اس سے مغفرت مانگو۔"

Therefore, the crime of worshipping the calf did not pass unpunished. Moses commanded the elite of the children of Israel to pray to Allah for forgiveness and demonstrate their repentanc. He chose seventy en out of them and ordered them: "Rush towards Allah and repent for what you did and ask His forgiveness for what you left."

رجع موسى إلى جبل سيناء مع السبعين من الشيوخ، وهناك كلّم الله.

Moses returned to Mount Sinai with the seventy elders and there he communicated with Allah.

سمع الأشراف كلام موسى مع ربه. (كلّم اللهُ موسى مباشرةً.) وكان هذا، ربما، آخرَ معجزةٍ سيرونها، وكان يُرجى أن تكفيَ لتُبلِّغَ الدينَ إلى قلوبهم إلى الأبد. غير أن السبعين المختارين الذين سمعوا المعجزات لم يرضوا. فقالوا لموسى:

The elders heard Moses speaking with his Lord. (Allah spoke to Moses directly.) This was, perhaps, the last miracle that they would see, and it was hoped that it would be sufficient enough to convey the religion to their hearts forever. However, the seventy elite who heard the miracles were dissatisfied. They said to Moses:

يَا مُوسَىٰ لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى اللَّهَ جَهْرَةً ﴿ البقرة: ٥٥﴾

"O Moses! We shall never believe in you till we see Allah plainly." (Ch 2:35 Quran)

كانت هذه مأساةً تُدهِش المرءَ. كانت مأساةً تدلّ على أولئك القوم القاسية قلوبهم، الذين ظلّوا متمسّكين بالشهوات والاهتمامات المادية. وقد جوزِيَ إصرارُهم على طلبهم الجامح بصواعقَ تُنزِل العقاب، وبزلزالٍ عنيف أذهل أرواحَهم وأجسادَهم معاً، فصاروا جثثاً هامدة.

This was a tragedy that amazes one. It was a tragedy that indicated those who were hard-hearted and who continued to hold onto sensual and material concerns. Their stubborn demand was rewarded with punishing lightning bolts and a violent quaking that stupefied their souls and bodies at once, leaving them dead.

عَلِمَ مُوسَىٰ بِمَا حَلَّ بِالسَّبْعِينَ الْمُخْتَارِينَ، فَامْتَلَأَ حُزْنًا. فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ، يَسْأَلُهُ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ، فَإِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا سُفَهَاءَ. وَلَا يُكَفَّرُ السَّفَهُ إِلَّا بِالْمَوْتِ.

Moses knew what had happened to the seventy elite and was filled with sorrow. He prayed to his Lord, entreating Him to forgive them, for they were fools. Foolishness is only expiated by death.

غفر الله للأولين وأحياهم بعد موتهم.

Allah forgave the elders and revived them after their death.

قال الله تعالى:

Allah the Exalted declared:

وَاخْتَارَ مُوسَىٰ قَوْمَهُ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا لِّمِيقَاتِنَا، فَلَمَّا أَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ قَالَ: رَبِّ لَوْ شِئْتَ أَهْلَكْتَهُم مِّن قَبْلُ وَإِيَّايَ، أَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ السُّفَهَاءُ مِنَّا؟ إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا فِتْنَتُكَ، تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَن تَشَاءُ وَتَهْدِي مَن تَشَاءُ، أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا، وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْغَافِرِينَ. وَاكْتُبْ لَنَا فِي هَٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدْنَا إِلَيْكَ. قَالَ: عَذَابِي أُصِيبُ بِهِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ، وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِآيَاتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ. الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ ﷺ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ ﷺ. [Quran 7:155-157; Deut. 18:18; Psalm]

"Moses chose out of his people seventy of the best men for Our appointed time and place of meeting, and when they were seized with a violent earthquake, he said: "O my Lord, if it had been Your Will, You could have destroyed them and me before; would You destroy us for the deeds of the foolish ones among us? It is only Your Trial by which You lead astray whom You will, and keep guided whom You will. You are our Wali (Protector), so forgive us and have Mercy on us, for You are the Best of Those who forgive. And ordain for us good in this world, and in the Hereafter. Certainly we have turned unto You." He said (as to ) My Punishment I afflict therewith whom I will and My Mercy embraces all things. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those who are the Muttaqun and give Zakat; and those who believe in our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.); Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (Muhammad) whom they find written with them in the Torah and the Gospel, (Ch 7:155-157 Quran , Deut. 18:18; Psl.

118:22-23؛ إشعیاء 42:1-13؛ حبقوق 3:3-4، متی 21:42-43، یوحنا 14:16-17، 26-28، 16:7-14) وہ انہیں المعروف کا حکم دیتا ہے (اسلامی توحید اور وہ سب کچھ جو اسلام نے مقرر کیا ہے)، اور انہیں المنکر سے روکتا ہے (کفر، شرک، ہر قسم کا، اور وہ سب کچھ جو اسلام نے حرام کیا ہے)۔ وہ انہیں الطیبات کو حلال قرار دیتا ہے (اشیاء، اعمال، عقائد، اشخاص، خوراک وغیرہ میں ہر پاکیزہ اور حلال چیز)، اور الخبائث کو حرام ٹھہراتا ہے (اشیاء، اعمال، عقائد، اشخاص، خوراک وغیرہ میں ہر ناپاک اور حرام چیز)، وہ انہیں ان کے بھاری بوجھ (اللہ کے عہد کے) اور ان زنجیروں سے آزاد کرتا ہے جو ان پر تھیں۔ پس جو لوگ اس (محمد ﷺ) پر ایمان لاتے ہیں، ان کی تعظیم کرتے ہیں، ان کی مدد کرتے ہیں، اور اس نور (قرآن) کی پیروی کرتے ہیں جو ان کے ساتھ نازل کیا گیا، وہی لوگ کامیاب ہوں گے۔ (سورۃ الاعراف 7:155-157)

كان موسى عليه السلام يمكث بين قومه يدعوهم إلى الله، وكان يبدو أن نفوسهم كانت مضطربة على نحوٍ لا تُخطئه العين المتفحصة. وكان عنادهم وكثرة لغطهم حول ما صار يُعرف بـ«قصة البقرة» أمراً لا مسوّغ له، ولم يكن هذا الموضوع يحتاج إلى كل هذه المراجعات بين موسى وقومه، ولا إلى كل هذا التحيّز منهم.

Moses (pbuh) stayed among his people calling them to Allah. It seems their souls were uneasy in a way that the observant eye could not mistake. Their obstinacy and chattering about what has become known as "The Story of the Cow" was unwarranted. This topic did not need so many negotiations between Moses and the people, nor did it need all their bias.

قيل إنه كان فيمن كان قبلنا من بني إسرائيل رجل صالح، كان فقيرًا لكنه شديد الورع في طلب الرزق، فلا بد أن يكون كسبه حلالًا طيبًا. وكان كل ما يفعله لوجه الله، لا لمنفعة شخصية أبدًا. ولما حضرته الوفاة قال آخر كلماته: «اللهم إني أستودعك زوجتي وابني الصغير وما أملكه، وهو عجلٌ». وعجيبٌ أنه أوصى زوجته أن تقود العجل إلى الغابة وتتركه هناك. وإنما فعل ذلك لأنه لم يكن يثق ببني إسرائيل، فقد كانوا قومًا أنانيين طماعين.

It was said that among the children of Israel there lived a pious man. He was poor but very careful about how he earned the living; it had to be honestly earned. Everything that he did was done for the sake of Allah, never for selfish gain. On his deathbed his last words were: "O Allah, I place my wife, my little son, and my only possession, a calf, in Your care." Strangely, he asked his wife to lead the calf to the forest and leave it there. He did this because he did not trust the children of Israel, for they were a selfish and greedy folk.

بعد مرور بضع سنين، حين كبر الولد، قالت له أمه: «إن أباك ترك لك عجلاً وديعةً عند الله، ولا بد أنه قد صار بقرةً الآن». فتعجب الابن، إذ لم يكن يعلم بوجود أي عجل طوال تلك السنين، وسأل أمه أين هو. فأجابته: «كن مثل أبيك، وقل: "أتوكل على الله"، ثم اذهب تبحث عنه». فأخذ الحبل بيده، وذهب إلى الغابة، وخرّ ساجداً لله، وقال: «اللهم يا رب إبراهيم ويعقوب وأيوب، رُدَّ عليّ وديعة أبي». فلما رفع رأسه رأى بقرةً مقبلةً نحوه، فوقفت بجانبه خاضعةً، فربط الحبل في عنقها، وساقها إلى بيته. وكانت البقرة لا تدع أحداً غير الشاب يقترب منها.

After a few years when the boy had grown up, his mother told him: "Your father has left you a calf in the trust of Allah. It must have grown into a cow by now." The son was surprised. He did not know of any calf all these years and asked his mother where it was. She replied: "Be like your father and say: 'I trust in Allah,' then go look for it." With a rope in his hand, he went to the forest and prostrated himself before Allah: "O Allah, Lord of Abraham and Jacob and Job, return to me my father's trust. " As he raised his head, he saw a cow coming towards him. It stopped submissively beside him. He tied the rope around its neck and led it to his house. The cow would not allow anyone else come near it except the young man.

توفي رجلٌ ثري، وترك ابنًا وحيدًا ورثَ ثروة أبيه. فحسد أبناءُ عمّه حظَّه الحسن، فقتلوه سرًّا ليرثوا ثروته.

About this a wealthy man died, leaving behind an only son, who inherited his father's wealth. His cousins envied his good fortune, and secretly killed him so that they could inherit it.

جاء أقارب الفتى المقتول الآخرون إلى النبي موسى عليه السلام وطلبوا منه المساعدة في تتبع قاتل الفتى. أمرهم موسى بذبح بقرة، ونزع لسانها ووضعه على الجثة. وأخبرهم أن ذلك سيكشف القاتل. فاتهموا موسى بالمزاح. فأجابهم:

The dead boy's other relatives came to the Prophet Moses (pbuh) and asked his help in tracing the boy's murderer. Moses instructed them to slaughter a cow, remove its tongue and place it on the corpse. This would reveal the murderer, he told them. They accused Moses of joking. He replied:

"أعوذ بالله أن أكون من الجاهلين!" سألوه عن نوع البقرة التي ينبغي أن يذبحوها، فقال: "إنها بقرة لا فارض ولا بكر، عوان بين ذلك، فافعلوا ما تؤمرون." وبدلاً من أن يتبعوا توجيهه، أخذوا يسألونه المزيد من الأسئلة. "ما لونها؟" فأجاب: "إنه يقول: إنها بقرة صفراء فاقع لونها تسر الناظرين." ولم يقنعوا بجوابه بعد، وطلبوا مزيداً من التفاصيل. فقال موسى: "إنه يقول: إنها بقرة لم تُذلَّل تُثير الأرض ولا تسقي الحرث، مسلَّمة لا شية فيها."

"Allah forbid that I be foolish!" They questioned him about the type of cow they should slaughter, and he said: "This cow is neither young nor mature, but in between the two conditions, so do as you have been commanded." Instead of following his direction, they asked him more questions. "What color must it be?" He replied: "Verily, it is yellow in color." They still were not satisfied with his answer and asked for more details. Moses replied: "It is an unyoked cow; it does not plow the soil nor water the tilth, and is entirely without marks."

فخرجوا يبحثون عن مثل تلك البقرة. ولم تكن إلا البقرة التي يملكها الغلام اليتيم، فلقوه في الطريق وسألوه بكم يبيع بقرته. فأخبرهم أنه لا بد أن يستشير أمه أولاً، فصحبوه إلى بيته وعرضوا عليها ثلاث دنانير من الذهب، فرفضت عرضهم، وقالت إن البقرة تساوي أكثر من ذلك بكثير.

They went out in search of such a cow. The only one that matched the description was the one owned by the orphaned youth. They met him on the way and asked the price for which he would sell his cow. He told them he would have to consult his mother first, so they accompanied him to his house and offered her three gold coins. She refused their offer, saying that the cow was worth much more.

وكانوا يزيدون في عرضهم، والأم تستمر في الرفض. وأخيراً حثّوا الابن أن يكلّم أمه لتكون معقولة. فقال لهم: "لن أبيع البقرة دون موافقة أمي، ولو عرضتم عليّ جلدها مملوءاً ذهباً!" فلما سمعت أمه ذلك ابتسمت وقالت: "ليكن ذلك هو الثمن: جلدها مملوءاً ذهباً." فأدركوا أنه لا تصلح أي بقرة أخرى، وأنه لا بدّ لهم من الحصول عليها بأي ثمن. فاتفقوا على شراء البقرة، ودفعوا ثمنها جلدها المملوء ذهباً.

They were on increasing their offer and the mother kept on refusing. Finally the urged the son to speak to his mother to be reasonable. He told them: "I will not sell the cow without my mother's approval, even if you offered me its skin filled with gold!" On hearing this, his mother smiled and said: "Let that be the price: its skin filled with gold." They realized that no other cow would do; they had to have it at any price. They agreed to buy the cow and paid with its skin filled with gold.

قال الله تعالى:

Allah the Almighty narrated:

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ: ﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَةً﴾ قَالُوا: ﴿أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا﴾ قَالَ: ﴿أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ﴾ قَالُوا: ﴿ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ﴾ قَالَ: ﴿إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ فَافْعَلُوا مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ﴾ قَالُوا: ﴿ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا﴾ قَالَ: ﴿إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَّوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ﴾ قَالُوا: ﴿ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّا إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ﴾ قَالَ: ﴿إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا ذَلُولٌ تُثِيرُ الْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِي الْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لَّا شِيَةَ فِيهَا﴾ قَالُوا: ﴿الْآنَ جِئْتَ بِالْحَقِّ﴾ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا يَفْعَلُونَ.

"And remember when Moses said to his people: "Verily, Allah commands you that you slaughter a cow." They said: "Do you make fun of us?" He said: "I take Allah's Refuge from being among Al Jahileen (the ignorants or the foolish)." They said: "Call upon your Lord for us that He may make plain to us what it is!" He said: "He says, 'Verily, it is a cow neither too old nor too young, but it is between the two conditions, so do what you are commanded." They said; "Call upon your Lord for us to make plain to us its color." He said: "He says, 'It is a yellow cow bright in its color, pleasing to the beholders.'" They said: "Call upon your Lord for us to make plain to us what it is. Verily to us all cows are alike, and surely, if Allah wills, we will be guided." He (Moses) said: "He says, 'It is a cow neither trained to till the soil nor water the fields, sound, having no other color except bright yellow.'" They said: "Now you have brought the truth." So they slaughtered it though they were near to not doing it.

وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَادَّارَأْتُمْ فِيهَا ۖ وَاللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ * فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُحْيِي اللَّهُ الْمَوْتَىٰ وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

And remember when you killed a man and fell into dispute among yourselves to the crime. But Allah brought forth that which you were hiding. So We said: "Strike him (the dead man) with a piece of it (the cow)." Thus Allah brings the dead to life and shows you His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) so that you may understand.

ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً ۚ وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْمَاءُ ۚ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ [سورۃ البقرہ: 74-67]

ذات يوم ألقى موسى عليه السلام خطبةً مؤثرةً جداً حتى تأثر بها كل من سمعها. فسأله أحد الحاضرين: "يا رسول الله، هل في الأرض رجلٌ آخر أعلم منك؟" فأجاب موسى: "لا!"، وكان يعتقد ذلك، إذ آتاه الله قوة المعجزات وأكرمه بالتوراة.

One day Moses (pbuh) delivered such an impressive sermon that all who heard it was deeply moved. Someone in the congregation asked: "O Messenger of Allah, is there another man on earth more learned than you?" Moses replied: "No!", believing so, as Allah had given him the power of miracles and honored him with the Torah.

لكن الله أوحى إلى موسى أنه لا يستطيع أحد أن يعلم كل شيء، ولا يكون رسول واحد وحده حافظاً لكل العلم، بل سيكون دائماً غيره ممن يعلم ما لا يعلمه الآخرون. فسأل موسى ربه: "يا رب، أين هذا الرجل؟ أودّ أن ألقاه وأتعلم منه." وسأل أيضاً أن يجعل له علامة تدل على شخصيته.

However, Allah revealed to Moses that no man could know all there is to know, nor would one messenger alone be the custodian of all knowledge. There would always be another who knew what others did not. Moses asked Allah: "O Allah, where is this man? I would like to meet him and learn from him." He also asked for a sign to this person's identity.

أَمَرَهُ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ حُوتًا حَيًّا فِي مِكْتَلٍ فِيهِ مَاءٌ، فَإِذَا فَقَدَ الْحُوتَ وَجَدَ الرَّجُلَ الَّذِي يَطْلُبُهُ. فَانْطَلَقَ مُوسَىٰ فِي رِحْلَتِهِ، وَمَعَهُ فَتًى يَحْمِلُ الْمِكْتَلَ الَّذِي فِيهِ الْحُوتُ. فَبَلَغَا مَكَانًا يَلْتَقِي فِيهِ نَهْرَانِ، فَقَرَّرَا أَنْ يَسْتَرِيحَا هُنَاكَ. وَفِي الْحَالِ، غَلَبَ النَّوْمُ مُوسَىٰ.

Allah instructed him to take a live fish in a water filled vessel. When the fish disappeared, he would find the man he sought. Moses set out on his journey, accompanied by a young man who carried the vessel with the fish. They reached a place where two rivers met and decided to rest there. Instantly, Moses fell asleep.

بينما كان نائمًا، رأى صاحبُه السمكةَ تتحرك وتخرج من الإناء إلى النهر وتسبح بعيدًا. ومع ذلك نسي أن يخبر موسى بالحادثة. ولما استيقظ واصلا رحلتهما حتى أنهكهما التعب والجوع. فطلب موسى غداءه الصباحي. عندئذٍ فقط تذكّر صاحبُه أن السمكة التي كانا قد أحضراها معهما قد انفلتت. فلما سمع موسى ذلك قال: "هذا بالضبط ما كنا نبحث عنه!" ثم رجعا مسرعين على آثارهما إلى المكان الذي التقى فيه النهران، وحيث قفزت السمكة. هناك وجدا رجلًا، وقد غطى وجهه جزئيًا بقلنسوة. وكان وقاره يدل على أنه رجل صالح. إنه الخضر، المرشد.

While he was asleep, his companion saw the fish wriggle out of the vessel into the river and swim away. However, he forgot to relate the incident to Moses. When he awoke, they continued their journey until they were exhausted and hungry. Moses asked for his morning meal. Only then did his companion recall that the fish they had brought with them had gotten away. Hearing this, Moses exclaimed: "This is exactly what we are seeking!" They hurriedly retraced their steps to the place where the rivers met and where the fish had jumped out. There they found a man, his face partly covered with a hood. His bearing showed he was a saintly man. He was Al-Khidr, the guide.

قال الله تعالى:

Allah the Almighty narrated:

"وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَاهُ لَا أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِيَ حُقُبًا * فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا * فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَاهُ آتِنَا غَدَاءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِنْ سَفَرِنَا هَٰذَا نَصَبًا * قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنْسَانِيهُ إِلَّا الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ ۚ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا * قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ۚ فَارْتَدَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا"

"And remember when Moses said to his boy servant: "I will not give up (traveling) until I reach the junction of the two seas or until I spend years and years in traveling." But when they reached the junction of the two seas, they forgot their fish, and it took its way through the sea as in a tunnel. So when they had passed further on (beyond that fixed place), Moses said to his boy servant: "Bring us our morning meal; truly, we have suffered much fatigue in this, our journey." He said: "Do you remember when we betook ourselves to the dock? I indeed forgot the fish, none but Satan made me forget to remember it. It took its course into the sea in a strange way!" Moses said: "That is what we have been seeking." So they went back retracing their footsteps.

فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَا آتَيْنَاهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا [الكهف: ٦٠-٦٥]

Then they found one of Our slaves, unto whom We had bestowed mercy from Us, and whom We had taught knowledge from Us. (Ch. 18: 60-65)

قال له موسى: هل أتبعك على أن تعلمني مما علمتَ رشدًا؟ قال: إنك لن تستطيع معي صبرًا. وكيف تصبر على ما لم تحط به خبرًا؟ قال موسى: ستجدني إن شاء الله صابرًا، ولا أعصي لك أمرًا. قال: فإن اتبعتني فلا تسألني عن شيء حتى أحدث لك منه ذكرًا. فانطلقا حتى إذا ركبا في السفينة خرقها، قال موسى:

Moses said to him (Khidr) "May I follow you so that you teach me something of that knowledge (guidance, and true path) which you have been taught by Allah?" He (Khidr) said: "Verily! You will not be able to have patience with me! And how can you have patience about a thing which you know not?" Moses said; "If Allah will, you will find me patience, and I will not disobey you in aught." He (Khidr) said: "Then, if you follow me, ask me not about anything till I myself mention it to you." So they both proceeded, till, when they were in the ship, he (Khidr) scuttled it. Moses said:

"أَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا ۖ لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا إِمْرًا"؟ قَالَ: "أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا؟" قَالَ: "لَا تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلَا تُرْهِقْنِي مِنْ أَمْرِي عُسْرًا". فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَامًا فَقَتَلَهُ، قَالَ: "أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ ۖ لَّقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا نُّكْرًا"؟ قَالَ: "أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا؟" قَالَ: "إِن سَأَلْتُكَ عَن شَيْءٍ بَعْدَهَا فَلَا تُصَاحِبْنِي ۖ قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِن لَّدُنِّي عُذْرًا". فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَتَيَا أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ اسْتَطْعَمَا أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْا أَن يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارًا يُرِيدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُ ۖ قَالَ: "لَوْ شِئْتَ لَاتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا". قَالَ: "هَٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنِكَ ۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأْوِيلِ مَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا".

"Have you scuttled it in order to drown its people? Verily, you have done Imra- a Munkar (evil, bad, dreadful) thing." He (Khidr) said: "Did I not tell you, that you would not be able to have patience with me?" Moses said: "Cal me not to account for what I forgot, and be not hard upon me for my affair with you." Then they both proceeded, till they met a boy, he (Khidr) killed him. Moses said: "Have you killed an innocent person who had killed none? Verily, you have done Nukra a great Munkar (prohibited, evil dreadful) thing!" Khidr said: "Did I not tell you that you can have no patience with me?" Moses said: "If I ask you anything after this, keep me not in your company, you have received an excuse from me." Then they both proceeded, till, when they came to the people of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused to entertain them. Then they found therein a wall about to collapse and he (Khidr) set it up straight. Moses said: "If you had wished, surely you could have taken wages for it!" Khidr said: "This is the parting between me and you, I will tell you the interpretation of those things over which you were unable to hold patience.

قَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ: قُلْتُ لِابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: إِنَّ نَوْفًا الْبِكَالِيَّ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ مُوسَىٰ صَاحِبَ الْخَضِرِ لَيْسَ مُوسَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ مُوسَىٰ آخَرُ. فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: كَذَبَ عَدُوُّ اللَّهِ

The story of Moses and Al-Khidr is also told in a hadith. Said Ibn Jubair said: "I said to Ibn' Abbas, Nauf Al Bukah claims that Moses, the companion of Al Khidr, was not Moses (the Prophet) of the children of Israel, but some other Moses.' Ibn Abbas said: 'Allah's enemy (Nauf)

قال أُبيّ بن كعب: «قال رسول الله ﷺ» ... (translation begins) Note: The user's message appears to be a partial quotation. Here is the faithful translation: قَالَ: كَذَبَ... أَخْبَرَنَا أُبَيُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ: «قَامَ مُوسَىٰ خَطِيبًا فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، فَسُئِلَ: أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَعْلَمُ؟ فَقَالَ: ...»

has told a lie. Ubai Ibn Kab told us that the Prophet (pbuh) said: "Once Moses stood up and addressed Bani Israel. He was asked who was the most learned man amongst the people. He said:

"I." فَوَبَّخَهُ اللهُ لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَنْسُبِ العِلْمَ المُطْلَقَ إِلَيْهِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ اللهُ: «بَلَى، فِي مَجْمَعِ البَحْرَيْنِ عَبْدٌ لِي هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ». قَالَ مُوسَىٰ: «يَا رَبِّ! كَيْفَ لِي بِلِقَائِهِ؟» قَالَ اللهُ: «خُذْ حُوتًا فَضَعْهُ فِي مِكْتَلٍ كَبِيرٍ، فَحَيْثُمَا فَقَدْتَ الحُوتَ فَهُوَ هُنَاكَ». فَأَخَذَ مُوسَىٰ حُوتًا وَوَضَعَهُ فِي مِكْتَلٍ، وَمَضَىٰ مَعَ فَتَاهُ، وَهُوَ يُوشَعُ بْنُ نُونٍ، حَتَّىٰ بَلَغَا الصَّخْرَةَ الَّتِي وَضَعَا عِنْدَهَا رُءُوسَهُمَا (اضْطَجَعَا). فَنَامَ مُوسَىٰ، فَخَرَجَ الحُوتُ مِنَ المِكْتَلِ فَسَقَطَ فِي البَحْرِ. فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي البَحْرِ سَرَبًا كَالنَّفَقِ.

"I." Allah admonished him as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah). So, Allah said to him: "Yes, at the junction of the two seas there is a slave of Mine who is more learned than you." Moses said; "O my Lord! How can I meet him?" Allah said: "Take a fish and put it in a large basket and you will find him at the place where you will lose the fish." Moses took a fish and put it in a basket and proceeded along with his servant boy, Joshua (Yusha Ibn Nun), till they reached the rock where they laid their heads (lay down). Moses slept, and the fish, moving out of the basket, fell into the sea. It took its way into the sea straight as in a tunnel.

أَمْسَكَ اللهُ جَرْيَ الْمَاءِ عَلَى الْحُوتِ فَصَارَ مِثْلَ الطَّاقِ (وَأَشَارَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِيَدَيْهِ إِلَى هَذَا الطَّاقِ). فَسَارَا بَقِيَّةَ لَيْلَتِهِمَا، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ الْيَوْمُ الثَّانِي قَالَ مُوسَى لِفَتَاهُ: ﴿آتِنَا غَدَاءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِنْ سَفَرِنَا هَذَا نَصَبًا﴾. وَلَمْ يَجِدْ مُوسَى مَسًّا مِنَ النَّصَبِ حَتَّى جَاوَزَ الْمَكَانَ الَّذِي أَمَرَهُ اللهُ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ إِلَيْهِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ فَتَاهُ: ﴿أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنْسَانِيهُ إِلَّا الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا﴾. فَكَانَ لِلْحُوتِ سَرَبًا، وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ عَجَبًا لَهُمَا. قَالَ مُوسَى: ﴿ذَلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ﴾. فَارْتَدَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا، حَتَّى أَتَيَا الصَّخْرَةَ، فَإِذَا هُمَا بِرَجُلٍ مُسَجًّى بِثَوْبٍ.

قال له موسى السلام عليكم، فقال: "وعليكم السلام، كيف يُحيِّي الناسُ بعضُهم بعضًا في أرضكم؟" قال موسى: "أنا موسى." قال الرجل: "موسى بني إسرائيل؟" قال موسى: "نعم، جئتُكَ لتعلّمني مما عُلِّمتَ من الرشد." فقال: "يا موسى، إني على علمٍ من علم الله علّمنيه الله لا تعلمه أنت، وأنت على علمٍ من علم الله علّمكه الله لا أعلمه أنا." قال موسى:

Moses greeted him, and he replied saying: "How do people greet each other in your land?" Moses said: "I am Moses." The man asked: "Moses of Bani Israel?" Moses said: "yes, I have come to you so that you may teach me from those things which Allah has taught you." He said: "O Moses! I have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught me and which you do not know, wyou have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught you and which I do not know." Moses asked:

"هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ؟" قَالَ: "إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا، فَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَى مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْرًا؟" قَالَ مُوسَى: "سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ صَابِرًا، وَلَا أَعْصِي لَكَ أَمْرًا". فَانْطَلَقَا يَمْشِيَانِ عَلَى سَاحِلِ الْبَحْرِ، فَمَرَّتْ بِهِمَا سَفِينَةٌ، فَكَلَّمُوا أَهْلَ السَّفِينَةِ أَنْ يَحْمِلُوهُمَا، فَعَرَفُوا الْخَضِرَ، فَحَمَلُوهُمَا بِغَيْرِ نَوْلٍ. فَلَمَّا رَكِبَا فِي السَّفِينَةِ جَاءَ عُصْفُورٌ فَوَقَعَ عَلَى حَرْفِ السَّفِينَةِ، فَنَقَرَ فِي الْبَحْرِ نَقْرَةً أَوْ نَقْرَتَيْنِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ الْخَضِرُ: "يَا مُوسَى! مَا نَقَصَ عِلْمِي وَعِلْمُكَ مِنْ عِلْمِ اللهِ إِلَّا كَمَا نَقَصَ هَذَا الْعُصْفُورُ بِمِنْقَارِهِ مِنَ الْبَحْرِ". ثُمَّ إِذَا الْخَضِرُ قَدْ عَمَدَ إِلَى لَوْحٍ مِنْ أَلْوَاحِ السَّفِينَةِ فَقَلَعَهُ بِالْقَدُومِ، فَلَمْ يَشْعُرْ مُوسَى حَتَّى قَلَعَ لَوْحًا بِالْقَدُومِ.

"May I follow you?" He said: "But you will not be able to remain patient with me, for how can you be patient about things which you will not be able to understand?" Moses said: "You will find me, if Allah so will, truly patient, and I will not disobey you in aught." So both of them set out walking along the seashore. A boat passed by them, and they asked the crew of the boat to take them on board. The crew recognized Al-Khidr, so they took them on board without fare. When they were on board the boat, a sparrow came and stood on the edge of the boat and dipped its beak once or twice into the sea. Al Khidr said to Moses: "O Moses! My knowledge and your knowledge have not decreased Allah's knowledge except as much as this sparrow has decreased the water of the sea with its beak." Then suddenly Al Khidr took an adz and pulled up a plank, and Moses did not notice it till he had pulled up a plank with the adz.

قال له موسى: «أخرقتَها لتُغرِق أهلها؟ لقد جئتَ شيئًا إمرًا»، فقال: «ألم أقل إنك لن تستطيع معي صبرًا؟» قال: «لا تؤاخذني بما نسيتُ، ولا ترهقني من أمري عسرًا». فكان العذر الأول لموسى أنه نسي.

Moses said to him: "What have you done? They took us on board charging us nothing; yet you have intentionally made a hole in their boat as to drown its passengers. Verily, you have done a dreadful thing." Al Khidr replied: "Did I not tell you that you would not be able to remain patient with me?" Moses replied: "Do not blame me for what I have forgotten, and do not be hard upon me for my fault." So the first excuse of Moses was that he had forgotten.

وَقَدْ عَانَى مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا، وَصَبَرَ كَثِيرًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.

Moses (pbuh) suffered terribly from his people and endured much for the sake of Allah.

عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: «قَسَمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ قَسْمًا، فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ: إِنَّ هَذِهِ لَقِسْمَةٌ مَا أُرِيدَ بِهَا وَجْهُ اللَّهِ. فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ، فَغَضِبَ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ الْغَضَبَ فِي وَجْهِهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: رَحِمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى، لَقَدْ أُوذِيَ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ هَذَا فَصَبَرَ». [صحيح البخاري]

Abdullah Ibn Umar narrated: "Once the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) distributed something (among his companions). A man said: "This distribution has not been done (with justice) seeking Allah's Countenance.' I went to the Prophet (pbuh) and told him of that. He became so angry that I saw the signs of anger on his face. Then he said: 'May Allah bestow His Mercy on Moses, for he was harmed more (in a worse manner) than this; yet he endured patiently.'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

أساء بنو إسرائيل معاملة موسى عليه السلام كثيرًا، ولم يقتصر عناؤه على العصيان والحماقة والثرثرة والجهل وعبادة الأصنام، بل تجاوز ذلك حتى بلغ حدّ إلحاق الأذى الجسدي به.

The children of Israel mistreated Moses (pbuh) a lot. His agony was not limited to mutiny, stupidity, chattering, ignorance, and idolatry; it exceeded this and went as far as inflicting personal harm on him.

قال الله سبحانه وتعالى:

Almighty Allah commanded:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ آذَوْا مُوسَىٰ فَبَرَّأَهُ اللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُوا ۚ وَكَانَ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَجِيهًا ۚ (الأحزاب: ٦٩)

"O you who believe! Be not like those who annoyed Moses, but Allah cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was honorable in Allah's sight! (Ch 33:69 Quran).

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ: «كان موسى عليه السلام رجلاً حييّاً، وكان يستتر فلا يُرى من جلده شيء، استحياءً منه، فآذاه من آذاه من بني إسرائيل، فقالوا: ما يتستر هذا التستر إلا من عيب بجلده، إما برص، وإما أدرة، وإما آفة. وإن الله أراد أن يبرئه مما قالوا لموسى، فخلا يوماً وحده، فوضع ثيابه على حجر ثم اغتسل، فلما فرغ أقبل ليأخذ ثوبه، فأخذ الحجر ثوبه، فأخذ موسى عصاه وطلب الحجر، فجعل يقول: ثوبي حجر، ثوبي حجر، حتى انتهى إلى ملأ من بني إسرائيل، فرأوه عرياناً أحسن الناس خلقاً، وأبرأه مما يقولون، وقام الحجر، فأخذ ثوبه فلبسه، وطفق بالحجر ضرباً بعصاه، فوالله إن بالحجر لندباً من أثر ضربه ثلاثاً أو أربعاً أو خمساً، فذلك قول الله تعالى: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ آذَوْا مُوسَىٰ فَبَرَّأَهُ اللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُوا وَكَانَ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَجِيهًا﴾» [متفق عليه].

Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah's Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Prophet Moses was a shy person and used to cover his body completely because of his extensive shyness. One of the children of Israel hurt him by saying: 'He covers his body in this way only because of some defect in his skin, either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect.' Allah wished to clear Moses of what they said about him, so one day while Moses was in seclusion, he took his clothes and put them on a s tone and started taking a bath. When he had finished the bath, he moved towards his clothes so as to take them, but the stone took his clothes and fled. Moses picked up his stick and ran after the stone saying: 'O stone! Give me my garment!' till he reached a group of children of Israel who saw him naked then, and found him in the best shape of what Allah had created, and Allah cleared him of what they had accused him of. The stone stopped there, and Moses took and put on his garment and started hitting the stone with his stick. By Allah, the stone still has some traces of the hitting, three, four, or five marks. This was what Allah the Almighty refers to in His saying:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ آذَوْا مُوسَىٰ فَبَرَّأَهُ اللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُوا وَكَانَ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَجِيهًا ([سورة الأحزاب: 69]) (صحيح البخاري)

“O you who believe! Be not like those who annoyed Moses, but Allah cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was honorable in Allah's sight!" (Ch 33:69 Quran) (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

توفي هارون (عليه السلام) قبل موسى (عليه السلام) بوقت قصير. وكان قومه لا يزالون يتيهون في البرية عندما توفي.

Aaron (pbuh) died shortly before Moses (pbuh). His people were still wandering in the wilderness when he died.

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: «أُرْسِلَ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ إِلَى مُوسَى عليه السلام، فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُ صَكَّهُ فَفَقَأَ عَيْنَهُ، فَرَجَعَ إِلَى رَبِّهِ فَقَالَ: أَرْسَلْتَنِي إِلَى عَبْدٍ لَا يُرِيدُ الْمَوْتَ، فَرَدَّ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ عَيْنَهُ وَقَالَ: ارْجِعْ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْ لَهُ: يَضَعُ يَدَهُ عَلَى مَتْنِ ثَوْرٍ، فَلَهُ بِمَا غَطَّتْ بِهِ يَدُهُ بِكُلِّ شَعْرَةٍ سَنَةٌ. قَالَ: أَيْ رَبِّ، ثُمَّ مَاذَا؟ قَالَ: ثُمَّ الْمَوْتُ. قَالَ: فَالآنَ. فَسَأَلَ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُدْنِيَهُ مِنَ الأَرْضِ الْمُقَدَّسَةِ رَمْيَةً بِحَجَرٍ». قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «فَلَوْ كُنْتُ ثَمَّ لأَرَيْتُكُمْ قَبْرَهُ إِلَى جَانِبِ الطَّرِيقِ عِنْدَ الْكَثِيبِ الأَحْمَرِ». [صحيح البخاري]

Abu Hurairah narrated: "The Angel of Death was sent to Moses (pbuh). When he came to Moses, Moses slapped him on the eye. The Angel returned to his Lord and said: 'You have sent me to a slave who does not want to die.' Allah said: 'Return to him and tell him to put his hand on the back of an ox and for every hair that will come under it, he will be granted one year of life.' Moses said: 'O Lord! What will happen after that?' Allah replied: 'then death.' Moses said: 'Let it come now!' Moses then requested Allah to let him die close to the Holy Land so that he would be at a distance of a stone's throw from it." Abu Hurairah added: "Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said: 'If I were there, I would show you his grave below the red sandhill on the side of the road.'" (Sahih Al Bukhari)

موسى عليه السلام، نبيُّ الله والذي كلَّمه الله تكليماً، لقي وفاته بنفسٍ مطمئنةٍ وقلبٍ مؤمنٍ يتطلّع إلى الصلاح، ويُسرع إلى لقاء من بشّره بالسلام.

Moses (pbuh), Prophet of Allah and the one to whom Allah spoke to directly, met his death with a contented soul and a faithful heart that looked forward to righteousness and made haste to meet with Him Who bore tidings of peace.