Outline
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, and Beneficent
Introduction
Ahamdulillah… Infinite praise and thanks are due to Allah. Complete peace and salutations are upon our master of all time, Sayyidunā Muhammad, his household, his companions and all those who follow his guided path.
This article is a reflection on one of the very famous true stories that happened on the Day of Ashura’ (‘Āshūrā’). That’s the incident in which Allah saved his Messenger, Sayyiduna Musa from the self-imposed god, Fir’awn. This reflection is inspired by the various verses in the Qur’an that relate it.
Once Upon a Time in History, on 10 Muharram
On this day, the 10th of Muharram (the Day of Ashura’), thousands of years ago, Sayyiduna Musa and his followers were sentenced to death by the superpower of the time, a man who explicitly declared himself as god. That was Fir’awn. It’s said that his real name was Ramsis II.
An event was organised to prove who’s right and who’s wrong. Sayyiduan Musa needed to prove that he was a Messenger sent by the True God, and to prove that Fir’awn was none other a regular dude, who ate, slept, and ‘pooped’. Fir’awn on the hand needed to prove that he was god. After all, he was the most powerful in human eyes at the time. Furthermore, streams of rivers flow beneath his castles. At the time, that can only by achieved by a god.
he challenge was between Sayyiduna Musa and the magicians of Fir’awn, who served as the spiritual wing of the self-declared god.
With a throw of the miraculous staff of Sayyiduna Musa, it turned into a snake that swallowed all the magical snakes of Fir’awn’s magicians. That’s the moment Allah opened the hearts of the magicians, Fir’awn’s spiritual strength, to concede the defeat. Not only did they concede defeat, they also rejected Fir’wan, believed in Allah, as the True God and Creator, and followed Musa ‘alayhi al-salām.
Moments of Truth, But Hard to Accept
Fir’awn couldn’t accept the truth, nor concede defeat. Let’s be honest, how easy is it to accept defeat? If you and I, lay people can’t accept defeat easily, then imagine the superpower of his this conceding defeat!
With all the powers in his hand, Fir’awn decided to punish Musa and the new Muslims who had just accepted Islam and followed him.
Sayyiduna Musa and his followers had to run for their lives. Obviously, they were chased not only by Fir’awn’s troops but by Fir’awn himself leading his forces.
This shows the danger that Musa seemingly posed to either Fir’awn’s power or his image in the eyes of his people, to whom he had declared himself as the ultimate god. A god must be worshiped. Isn’t it? And so was Fir’awn. Those who submitted to him became his slaves. They worshipped him. He can’t afford to lose that. It’s a ‘do-or-die’ situation now.
The Arrival of Divine Intervention
In an attempt to escape Fir’awn’s anger, Sayyiduna Musa and his followers ran until they came to a sea. They had to cross the saa. While some could swim, how far could they swim? Even good swimmers can’t swim in seas for long. Furthermore, they had with them children and women, as well as the elderly.
Not all could swim. And none could be left behind. The human effort had come to a dead end. And that’s exactly when a divine intervention arrived.
A true Prophet is not a self-declared one. A true Prophet is chosen and sent by Allah subḥānahū wa ta’ālā. Unlike Fir’awn who imposed himself as god, since Musa was chosen and sent by the True God, subḥānahū wa ta’ālā, he was certain that the One who sent him won’t leave them helpless, prey to Fir’awn.
True enough, a divine command came down instructing him to strike the sea with his staff. The same staff that miraculously turned into a giant snake and swallowed all the magic snakes of the magicians. He did. And when he did, the sea parted, creating two huge water walls between which there was a walkway for them to pass.
Knowing that it was a divine intervention from Allah, Musa, and his followers confidently started to cross. They had no doubt that they were protected by the One who caused the sea to split.
The Downfall of a Dog (God Doesn’t Fall)
When Fir’awn reached the divided sea, he too confidently crossed. Well, he had to prove to his followers that he’s the most powerful they ever knew. Therefore, as long as Musa and his followers could cross safely, he too should be able to have a safer crossing. Mind you; he was the ultimate god, as he declared and imposed himself.
However, what Fir’awn had forgotten was the fact that he wasn’t but a self-acclaimed and not divinely chosen. What he didn’t know also, was that the split of the sea was meant to trap him and bring his life to its end. Enough was enough.
By the time Fir’awn and his troops reached the middle of the walkway between the two miraculous water walls, Musa and his followers had already reached the other side of the sea. And the One who commanded the sea to split re-commanded it to collapse. And it collapsed on the false god and his slaves; Fir’awn and his enslaved troops.
Sayyiduna Musa and the believing folks were saved from the tyrant, Fir’awn and his army. This was at the time they least expected. In a way they never thought of.
This incident happened on the 10th day of Muharram. Thus, Muslims and Jews fast on this day to mark and remember the incident, and to thank Allah for saving the weak and vulnerable.
What Led to the Incident
The whole life of Musa from birth to the point of crossing the sea was miraculous. This is because he was born during the peak period when Fir’awn got a prophesized information, which implied that a Messenger was going to be born. Knowing that a Prophet would only stand up in his face, he ordered for every male newborn male child to be killed. Why male babies? Well, because all Prophets were always males. (The Feminists won’t like this. I know.)
More miraculously, after his birth, baby Sayyiduna Musa, ended up in the palace of Fir’awn. One thing led to another, and he was saved from Fir’awn’s execution. Simply put, Sayyidunā Musa was raised right in front of Fir’an. In his castle. With his money. Loved and cared by his wife. Protected by his men. All by the will of Allah and under His protection.
Until he received a revelation.
Sayyiduna Musa was away when he received the revelation. His message was to call Fir’awn to Allah. Thus, he needed to face Fir’awn with the truth. And the truth was to be straight and clear.
After presenting his message, the message of Islam, the message of Allah before Fir’awn, the latter gathered his media to face and tarnish the image of Musa. And they had to create a platform that brought the biggest crowd possible so that Musa will be destroyed and shamed once and for all. Thus, they organised the event that led to the run of Musa and his followers.
As you’ve seen, Fir’awn used his media. And this speaks volumes about media… In this case, it’s the mainstream media
The Role of Mainstream Media in Belying the Message of Musa
Media plays a significant role in controlling mindsets. For good or for bad. This important role was realised even during that time. And Fir’awn, being a self-imposed ultimate god had the only media at the time. In today’s terms, that’s the mainstream media.
Evidently, Fir’awn and his media men didn’t take Musa lightly. Simply because the success of Musa and his message could only mean the downfall of the empire of Fir’awn. Whereas his failure would only strengthen the fake legitimacy of Fir’awn.
Fir’awn gathered his media men, who so happened to be magicians to challenge Musa and prove to the masses the falsehood of his claim. Again, what they failed to realise at the time was that, what Musa brought with him wasn’t magic; contrary to what they had in their possession to counter him with.
Fir’awn was confident that his men and media would triumph Musa. However, he lost his mind when his entire media wing and magicians (spiritual power) lost it to the single miracle brought forth by Sayyiduna Musa.
And such is the state of false media. Every false media. No matter how powerful it emerges it will fall one day. Yes, it will cause a lot of harm for the believing hearts. But it never triumphs the truth. The harm it causes to the believing hearts is the test they have to endure. They either preserve and win Allah, or give up and lose Allah.
Conclusion
The story of Day of Ahura’ involving Sayyiduna Musa and Fir’awn happened thousand of years ago. However, it repeats itself in our daily life. Which side do we take? Musa’ side with all the perceived insecurities and uncertainties, or Fir’awn’ side, with all the fake and deluded power, wealth and victory?
The story of Sayyidunā Musa and Fir’awn is narrated in multiple Surahs in the Qur’an. The narration of Surah Al-Shu’arā’ ends with Allah saying:
إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ * وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
“Surely in that there is a sign; yet most of them do not believe: truly, your Lord is the Mighty One, the Merciful.” (Surah al-Shu’ara’, 26:67-68)
As for the signs and lessons, we have seen them. However, how many of us have truly believed? For those of us who have truly believed, how many of us truly live by that belief, stand by that belief, and are ready to die for that belief?
Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz ☺
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