2. In the olden days, in the land of Egypt, there lived an oppressive ruler
called Fir’aun. Fir’aun used to claim that he was god and commanded all
the people to worship him. One night, he saw a dream that frightened him.
He saw that his great palace was burnt to the ground by a fire that came
from the East.
3. He immediately summoned the most renown soothsayers of his kingdom andHe immediately summoned the most renown soothsayers of his kingdom and
asked them for the interpretation of the dream he had seen. The head soothsayerasked them for the interpretation of the dream he had seen. The head soothsayer
said:said: This dream means that a child will be born among the Bani Israil who, whenThis dream means that a child will be born among the Bani Israil who, when
he grows up, will destroy you.he grows up, will destroy you. When Fir’aun heard this, he immediately gave theWhen Fir’aun heard this, he immediately gave the
order that every newborn baby of the Bani Israil should be killed.order that every newborn baby of the Bani Israil should be killed.
4. When the mother of Prophet Musa (‘a) gave birth to him, she was
very frightened. Allah commanded her to put her baby in a basket
and leave him in the river. As the basket moved downstream, the wife
of Fir’aun saw it and when she found a beautiful baby boy, she
decided to keep him as her own. In this way, Allah saved Musa (‘a)
from being killed by Fir’aun.
5. Musa (‘a) grew up as a prince in the house of Fir’aun. One day, when he was walking
among the people, he saw an Egyptian man mistreating a slave. This angered him so
much that he punched the Egyptian with so much force that he fell to the ground,
dead. When Musa (‘a) realized that the news of what had happened would reach
Fir’aun and he would be punished for what he had done, he fled Egypt.
6. After spending many days walking through the desert, he finally came upon a watering
hole. Here he found some shepherds watering their sheep and two young ladies
standing back and waiting. He approached them and asked them what the matter was.
They said that they were waiting for the shepherds to finish watering their sheep so
that they can take water. When Musa (‘a) heard this, he took the bucket and filled
water for them.
7. When the father of the girls heard what had happened, he summonedWhen the father of the girls heard what had happened, he summoned
Musa (‘a) and expressed his gratitude to him. He offered him the hand ofMusa (‘a) and expressed his gratitude to him. He offered him the hand of
one of his daughters in marriage. Musa (‘a) accepted and married theone of his daughters in marriage. Musa (‘a) accepted and married the
daughter of Shu’aib (‘a).daughter of Shu’aib (‘a).
8. After a few years, Musa (‘a) left the land of Madyan with his family. On the way, theyAfter a few years, Musa (‘a) left the land of Madyan with his family. On the way, they
camped on the mountainside for the night. As Musa (‘a) was looking for firewood, he sawcamped on the mountainside for the night. As Musa (‘a) was looking for firewood, he saw
a burning bush from a distance. He decided to go towards it and see if he could get somea burning bush from a distance. He decided to go towards it and see if he could get some
firewood. But when he came near it, he saw that the bush was not burning even thoughfirewood. But when he came near it, he saw that the bush was not burning even though
there was fire around it. Suddenly he heard a voice saying:there was fire around it. Suddenly he heard a voice saying: O Musa, indeed I am the LordO Musa, indeed I am the Lord
of the worlds!of the worlds!
9. Allah commanded Musa (‘a) to take off his sandals and then told him that he mustAllah commanded Musa (‘a) to take off his sandals and then told him that he must
go to Egypt and try to guide Fir’aun to the right path. Allah showed Musa (‘a) somego to Egypt and try to guide Fir’aun to the right path. Allah showed Musa (‘a) some
miracles that he could use to convince Fir’aun. One of these miracles was that hismiracles that he could use to convince Fir’aun. One of these miracles was that his
staff changed into a snake.staff changed into a snake.
10. Accompanied by his brother Harun (‘a), Prophet Musa went to Egypt
as he was commanded. But Fir’aun was stubborn and did not accept
the truth. When Musa (‘a) showed him the miracles, Fir’aun rejected
them as magic and summoned all the great magicians of the land. He
asked them to do the same thing that Musa (‘a) had done.
11. But their magic was no match for the miracle of Allah. The false snakes that they made
with their sticks were quickly devoured by the real snake that came from the staff of
Prophet Musa (‘a). When the magicians saw this, the fell into sajdah and said: We
believe in the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of Musa and Harun!
12. Fir’aun was furious and wanted to punish Musa (‘a) and the Bani Israil for what
they had done, but Allah commanded Prophet Musa to take the people out of
Egypt. When the people came to the sea, by another miracle, the sea was parted
into two and the Bani Israil crossed to the other side. But when Fir’aun and his
troops tried to cross, the sea came together and they drowned. In this way, Allah
saved the Bani Israil from Fir’aun and the Egyptians.
F. T. Jaffer
