he Prophet Moses (pbuh) honoured the agreement and stayed in Midian for many years. At the end of the appointed time, that is, when the agreement had come to termination, the Prophet Moses (pbuh) and his family left Midian. On their journey, the Prophet Moses (pbuh) saw a fire in the distance, on the side of the Mount Sinai, which he was passing by with his family. The Prophet Moses (pbuh) thought he could bring a brand from the fire to warm up or to gather some information from it. Allah relates in the verses thus:
When Moses had fulfilled the appointed term and had set off with his family, he noticed a fire from one side of the Mount. He said to his family, "Stay here, I can see a fire. Hopefully I will bring you back some news from it or a burning branch from the fire so that you will be able to warm yourselves." (Surat al-Qasas: 29)
When Moses said to his household, "I can make out a fire. I will bring you news from it or at least a burning brand so that hopefully you will be able to warm yourselves." (Surat an-Naml: 7)
When he saw a fire and said to his family, "Wait here. I can make out a fire. Maybe I will bring you a brand from it, or will find guidance there." (Surah Ta-Ha: 10)
This event is indicative of yet another facet of the Prophet Moses' (pbuh) exemplary character. The Prophet Moses (pbuh) is a very attentive person, who carefully assesses everything happening around him. He knows Allah ordains all events according to a specific destiny and through Divine reason. His noticing a fire on a mountain, and his assessing the situation, is a condition of mind peculiar to a vigilant believer. His decision to go alone, leaving his family behind to ensure their security, is also exemplary of the wisdom granted to him by Allah.
When the Prophet Moses (pbuh) went up to the fire on the mountain, he encountered a miracle. He was addressed by Allah from a bush. There, he received the first revelations, stated in the Qur'an as follows: But when he reached it a voice called out to him from the right hand side of the valley in the part which was full of blessing, from out of the bush: "Moses, I am Allah, the Lord of all the worlds." (Surat al-Qasas: 30) Then when he reached it, a voice called out, "Moses! I am your Lord. Take off your sandals. You are in the holy valley of Tuwa. I have chosen you, so listen well to what is revealed. I am Allah. There is no god but Me, so worship Me and establish prayer to remember Me." (Surah Ta-Ha: 11-14) This was the first revelation the Prophet Moses (pbuh) received, honouring him as Allah's messenger, the highest rank that a human can attain in this world. An important issue deserves attention here; Allah addresses the Prophet Moses (pbuh) ... Allah had called onto the Prophet Moses (pbuh) from a tree. Allah was close enough to the Prophet Moses (pbuh) as to address him directly. The truth however is, Allah is always close enough to address anybody. For instance, as you read these lines, Allah is close to you. He is close enough to speak to you, to hear your voice and make you hear His voice. He is always close enough to hear our every word. He can hear us even if we whisper. Allah relates this fact in the Qur'an as "We are nearer to him than his jugular vein." (Surah Qaf: 16) After telling the Prophet Moses (pbuh) that the voice he hears belongs to our Lord, Allah asked him about his staff: "What is that in your right hand, Moses?" He said, "It is my staff. I lean on it and beat down leaves for my sheep with it and have other uses for it." (Surah Ta-Ha: 17-18) No doubt Allah had known what the Prophet Moses (pbuh) held in his hand. However, to edify the Prophet Moses (pbuh) and make known His wisdom to him, Allah asked him to throw down his staff: "Throw down your staff." Then when he saw it slithering like a snake he turned and fled and did not turn back again... (Surat an-Naml: 10) When the Prophet Moses (pbuh) saw his familiar staff turned into a snake, he was seized with fear. However, this event was created to be a lesson by which Allah taught the Prophet Moses (pbuh) to feel no fear except for Him, and to submit to no one other than Him: …"Have no fear, Moses. In My Presence the Messengers have no fear." (Surat an-Naml: 10) He said, "Take hold of it and have no fear. We will return it to its original form." (Surah Ta-Ha: 21) In compliance with the command, the Prophet Moses (pbuh) picked up his staff. This staff would later become a miracle used against Pharaoh. Thereafter, Allah gave the Prophet Moses (pbuh) a second miracle: Put your hand inside your shirt front. It will emerge pure white yet quite unharmed… (Surat al-Qasas: 32) As the verse above relates, the second miracle Allah granted to the Prophet Moses (pbuh) is the emergence of the Prophet Moses' (pbuh) hand pure white, as a miracle from Allah. The Prophet Moses (pbuh) became excited and felt frightened by these things. However Allah commanded him not to fear and go forth with these miracles to Pharaoh: …And hug your arms to your sides to still your fear. These are two proofs from your Lord for Pharaoh and his ruling circle. They are a deviant people. (Surat al-Qasas:32) |
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