King David 2

(21:105)(38:18-20-26)(21:78-79)

    After the war was over, the Jews started living peacefully, without any external fear, in their land.  The 

Palestinians suffered a crushing defeat and their leader was killed in the war.  David was given knowledge and prophet hood along with a book called Zab’ur by God.   In it was clearly stated that only those who believe in the immutable values given in the scripture, live according to them, form a balanced society under the guidance of the book, and use their administrative skills for the welfare of humanity could  develop their abilities to inherit the kingdom on earth permanently, although less capable individuals  acquire it temporarily.

In the time of David, his kingdom expanded and he conquered many adjacent territories.  He was given wisdom, insight, and power to discern the data and reach correct decisions by God.  With these qualities, he was able to conquer vast land and became a mighty, powerful king.  He was so powerful that many great, unruly chiefs in the surrounding areas were working for him.  Among these tribes, one tribe was very famous for swift horses. The gypsy tribe of Thair, which was living scattered in various places, was gathered by David and they formed a major part of his army.  This tribe was famous for horse-breeding; the horses from their breeding ground were very swift and strong.  At the time of King David, modern means of communication were not available.  King David’s battalions of swift horses had played a great role in his success.  Moreover, he knew the skill of making armor that gave his army an extra advantage over the unskilled armies present at his time.

     With his entire vast and powerful kingdom, King David always abode by the rules and guidance of the Scripture; power was unable to cloud his judgment and good sense. In the Quran, elaborate details of his life are not given; however, one great achievement is portrayed in minute detail. The unruly, hard-working tribes that were working for him were not sophisticated in their manners.  They had no sense of privacy; if they wanted to present a case, they would burst into the house without caring about time and permission.  King David never lost his temper at their ill manners; he treated them kindly and tried to explain the absurdity of their manners.

     One day, King David was working in a silent corner of his house, when two men climbed the wall of his house and burst in.  David was disturbed by their entry; both men said, “Don’t be afraid, we have come to you without any ill intention.  In reality, we are two litigants and want to present a case to you; please decide it for us.  You are known for justice and insight throughout the country.”

     David’s worries vanished with the declaration of purpose; he explained their mistake in entering the house without permission by climbing the wall in a polite way, and said, “What is the case? I will decide it for you.”  The plaintiff said, “My case is against my brother. In reality, we are two real brothers.  My brother is rich and I am poor. He has ninety-nine ewes and I have one.  Now, he wants to take that one from me even though he says that he is my brother; because he is rich, he prevails upon me in arguments and the people around us agree with him.  Now, you show us the right path and do justice in this case.” Without any hesitation, David said, “Your brother’s claim is based on cruelty and injustice.  He has no right to take your one ewe and rob you of your means of sustenance.  Mostly when people combine their resources to do business, those who do not believe in the unchangeable values try to cheat their partners. Only those who believe in the laws of God shun such practices.”

     Suddenly, in an epiphany, David realized that it was not an ordinary case; these two litigants came to make him see the abnormal and unjust condition of his kingdom, where the rich had become richer and the poor ordinary folks were left with nothing.  The society had been divided into two halves, rich and poor; the gap between these two halves was becoming wider every day.

      David made up his mind that he would change this system which was based on cruelty and injustice.  He prayed to God to grant him the strength and protection to root out the capitalism from his territory.  God provided him the protection; moreover, He said that the kingdom was given to him so that he could rule it in accordance with His laws, without caring about the desires and emotions of anyone. Otherwise, they would mislead him.   With his courage and insight, David was able to set up an economic system which was based on the principle of justice.  Under the changed system, the oppressed classes got new life and they willingly worked for the prosperity of the country.  This new attitude made the kingdom of King David an example of prosperity and wealth. 

King David 1

(6:84) (17:55) (21:105) (27:15) (38:20-26) (2:246-251)

          In the Quran, the ups and downs the Israelites had been facing are given in great detail.  There are many reasons for it.  The first nation addressed by the Quran was the Arab nation, but along with Arabs, Jews were also living in Arabia, and the inhabitants of Arabia were aware of their history and culture; any allusion to their history was liable to be understood easily.

 The method adopted by the Quran is that it states the law about the rise and fall of nations, but it does not leave it abstract, and in order to prove the truth, it brings evidence from history. The Israelites have a checkered history. Moreover, the history of this nation clearly illustrates the laws that govern the rise and fall of nations. The Israelites were a slave nation in Egypt; from such a miserable position they rose to the status of the most advanced nation in world history.  As long as they followed the laws given to Moses they prospered, but when they transgressed the laws they were beaten down.

The Quran narrates an event from the history of the Israelites, when after the death of Moses, the leaders of the Israelites came to a prophet and requested him to appoint a commander for them, so they could fight in the cause of Allah.  The prophet said, “I will ask God to appoint a commander for you, but before doing that, I want you to consider the request seriously, so that you may not refrain from war when it is prescribed for you.”

 The leaders replied, “What are you saying?  Don’t you see that we are driven away from our land and children? Is this not enough cause to urge us to fight? We will definitely fight in the cause of Allah.” However, what the Nabi anticipated from them turned out to be true. When the commander was appointed, the order of war was given, but only a few were willing to fight; the rest of them turned back from their promise. 

God appointed Saul as their commander.  The first objection to his appointment came from rich people.  They openly declared, “How can Saul be our commander?  He is a poor man.  We, rich people, deserve this rank. It should have been given to us.” The prophet said, “Riches are the sole criterion for giving respect and position for the majority of people in this world, but it is not the criterion of God.  Saul is appointed as a commander because he has gotten an abundance of mental and physical powers along with knowledge.  Moreover, he has been sharing his gifts with less privileged folks. Anyhow, a good sign for you will be that he is going to regain the relics of Moses and Aaron, so that you can again live according to their instructions.”

The commander Saul organized his forces and marched towards the enemy.  The march was long and tiring, and the sun was sending scorching hot rays on the earth. Saul gave an order about a canal which they had to cross on the way.  The order prohibited the army from drinking water from the canal, except a handful to moisturize the face.  He further emphasized that the one who would drink the water did not belong to him.  Almost everyone disobeyed the order and heartily drank the water to quench their thirst in the burning heat. A small minority of firm believers abstained from breaking the discipline.

When the march was over, both armies settled on the battle-field; the same leaders who were asking for a commander to fight went to Saul and informed him that they would not fight with such a large army. Moreover, they were frightened by the size and strength of the leader of the Palestinian army.  The small minority that had not drunk the water said, “Don’t behave like cowards and be afraid of the large number of the enemy. The numbers are not the only criterion for victory.  Many times small numbers have attained victory over large numbers. Have faith in God; remain steadfast on the battle-field, so that you can gain victory.”

When both the armies were facing each other, David, who was a budding youth, joined the Israelite army. He killed Goliath. The small minority of the Israelites’ army prayed to God for steadfastness, firmness, and victory.   Their morale was boosted up by the courageous act of David; the small minority fought with such courage that a crushing defeat was inflicted on the Palestinian army.  After the victory, David, an unknown shepherd boy, became a big star in the nation. He became a well-known celebrity.  

Moses 17

(5:22-26)(21:5)(28:5-6)(7-137)(32:24)(45:16)

      Moses was disappointed with the answer his nation gave him; he asked God for guidance.  God told Moses, “If your nation has been insisting upon leading a settled life, I will give them a land to settle; they will have to attack the city and conquer it.”  On his return, Moses discussed the plan with his nation and gave them the assurance of success by God.

          The elders of the nation, the products of slavery, were not satisfied with it.  So far, the nation of Israelites had done nothing for their improvement except follow Moses’ directions.  Now, against the advice of Moses, they wanted to live a settled life, so they had to execute a plan themselves and act on it.

The Israelites listened to Moses; in spite of the assurances of success by God, they refused to follow it. They said, “The people who are living in the city are very tall and strong.  We will not fight with such a strong nation. The best solution is that the people living in the city should leave it without any struggle.  Once they are gone, then definitely we will enter the city.”  Moses and his brother differed from this absurd proposal and said, “Don’t behave like cowards; we have studied the defense of the city. It is very weak; the inhabitants have not provided a good defense for the protection of the city.  Once we enter the gates of the city, we are going to take them by surprise, and it will bring victory for us.  Moreover, believe in the revelation of God and put your trust in Him.”

All these arguments failed to produce any change in the Israelites’ attitude.  They bluntly told Moses, “We are not going to follow your plan and fight with such a mighty nation.  If you are so sure of success, then go with your brother and God to fight.  In the meanwhile, we are sitting here.”

Moses went to Mount Sinai with the answer of his nation.  He was devastated with the refusal.  Moses said, “Oh God! I have no control over my nation. I and my brother are willing to act, whereas the nation is refusing to act according to your instructions.  Now, decide between us and this ungrateful nation.”  God said, “Don’t feel so sad about them. This land was for them, but they will not get it for 40 years. During this period they will keep roaming in the desert.” The nation of Israelites kept moving in the desert like gypsies until all the old folks who were unable to reshape their character according to the laws of God died.  The new generation that was raised under the directions of God conquered the land after 40 years.

The Quran gives no place or time for Moses’ death.  Only his great achievements as a leader, reformer, and constantly hard- working individual for the uplift of his nation are mentioned in it.  The Quran says that Pharaoh and Haman were aware of the potentialities in the Israelites, but they wanted to suppress them so that they could never be actualized.  God raised the Israelites from a slave nation to the status of the most advanced nation of that time in the world.  He blessed them with revelation, divine guidance, a good land to live on, plenty to eat and enjoy, and above all, knowledge.  All these gifts changed their status among the nations of the world and established them as the most advanced nation of that time. 

Moses 16

(7-143-147)(19-51-53)

          When Moses was moving in the desert with the Israelites, he frequently had been going to Mount Sinai to get guidance.  God told him to come to the mountain for forty nights.  Since it was a long period of absence, Moses put his brother Aaron in charge of the Israelites while he was gone.  He gave him the responsibility to keep vigil after the affairs of the Israelites, guide them to the right path and keep constant check on the mischievous elements in the nation.

          When Moses came on the appointed time to the mountain, God talked to him and gave him the guidance.  The guidance given to him was so clear, precise, to the point, illuminating, unique, and unimaginably beautiful that he was overwhelmed by it.  In his ecstasy, he cried out, “Show Yourself to me, so that I may behold You.” “You cannot see Me,” was the reply. “Look at the mountain; if it remains firm when I reveal Myself, then you will be able to see Me.”  When God’s glory came upon the mountain, it was unable to stand it. The mountain crumbled down into pieces and Moses became unconscious.  When he recovered he said, “Oh God you are infinite and we human beings are finite.  No finite being can see the infinite. I am the first one to acknowledge this truth.”

          God said to Moses, “I have chosen you from all mankind to fulfill My plan and receive revelations.  I have also honored you by talking to you, so firmly hold my laws and be grateful for them.  By acting on these laws you will become one of those fortunate people whose efforts have brought the best possible results.”

          According to the prevalent method at that time, the laws were written on tablets.  God told Moses to act on these laws along with his nation.  Very soon the good results would show the verity of these laws.  Moses observed that only those people who wanted to be praised without doing any constructive work turned away from these laws.  Such people were so proud and conceited that if all the bad results of their actions could become crystal clear to them, they would still not embrace the right laws.  On the contrary, if they visualized any wrong path, they would follow it joyfully if it strengthened their vanity.  Their pride was a great hindrance in realizing the truth. 

           The Israelites were brought into the desert for training, so that they could get rid of all the bad habits of slavery which they had acquired in Egypt.  The aim was to enable them to live an ideal life, a life of constant struggle and firm determination.  This type of positive attitude could not be imposed from outside.  The Israelites could achieve this level of perfection by willingly submitting themselves to the discipline of Moses.   The life of the desert gave them an excellent chance to acquire new habits because all the basic necessities for living were given to them without hard work and payment.   Clouds were covering the sky to save them from the scorching heat.  They were given free food, twelve springs of water, and two prophets to teach them the ways to live according to the laws of God.

          However, the Israelites were not happy with the current situation, the rugged discipline and the hard life; the life of ease and comfort  was their ideal.  All the time they were grumbling about the food, even though the meat of birds (manna) was the most nutritious diet. The Israelites were remembering the leftovers and pots they had been licking in the time of slavery.  Their patience was running thin about the food, so they declared to Moses, “We cannot confine ourselves to one single food forever.  Ask God to give us the products of the earth such as herbs, cucumbers, lentils, onions, and ginger.”

          Moses was not happy with this request because he knew that for this kind of food they would have to leave the desert and live in a city.  He tried to explain, “My nation, you are absolutely free in the desert. Your full time is spent in learning and training; if you want this kind of food you will have to lead a city life.  A good amount of your time will be spent in tilling and sowing fields, looking after the harvest, cutting the products, and you will not be able to devote all your time to learning.  Do not exchange your liberty for spicy food.  The life of the desert is much higher than city life.”  All of Moses’ advice fell on deaf ears.  The Israelites were inflexible in their demand.  

Moses 15

 (2-67-71) (2-55-56)(7-155)

          Moses had brought guidance from God and it was not easy for the Israelites to act on it.  They were used to working under threats and fear; as a free nation in the desert they had to act spontaneously, but they had no desire to act according to the law of God.   They told Moses, “You are saying these laws are given by God, but we are not going to act upon them unless we see God with our eyes.  You have been going to Mount Sinai frequently; we also want to go there and see God.”

          Moses chose seventy individuals from his nation and took them to the mountain to fulfill their desire.  When they reached the mountain an earthquake was waiting for them.  The earth rumbled, and the cloud-covered mountain thundered with lightning.  The Israelites were so frightened that they fainted.  They could not bear the thundering clouds with lightning and the rumbling of the earth.  Before that they had been boasting and wanted to see God face to face.  Moses prayed to God, “Please forgive us for what some foolish folk did among us.  If you wanted to finish us you would have done so much earlier.  Have mercy on us because You are the best of all who show forgiveness.” After the revival, the Israelites made no demand to see God.

          The Egyptians believed that the gods descended to the earth in the shape of animals.  Their god Taurus was worshipped as a heavenly bull and the bull cult was very popular in Egypt; even their goddess Astarte or Ashtoreth was shown as a young woman with cow’s horns on top of her head.  In ancient Egypt, the wearing of cattle horns implied great power as ruler and prince; the horns themselves represented a god and goddess.

          The bull worship had been prevalent in Egypt for centuries; the Israelites were affected by these practices.  The Quran says that the love of calf had nestled in their unconscious minds, so in order to get rid of this notion God ordered them to sacrifice a bull.  When Moses delivered this message to the Israelites they were flabbergasted.  “What! God wants us to kill a bull?  Are you sure or is this a joke?”  Moses replied, “What do you expect?  Can I even think of misinterpreting the message of God almighty?” The Israelites had no heart to sacrifice a bull, but they could not refuse Moses, so they started making excuses and applying delaying tactics.  They said, “Please ask God what kind of bull is to be sacrificed.” The answer was the bull should be of mature age, not too young or old.  Moreover, the Israelites should not dilly-dally in carrying out an order.

          They said, “No, we are not delaying the matter; we are not sure about the color of the bull.”  The Israelites were told that the color of the bull should be deep yellow.   However, they said, “We are not absolutely clear; we require further elaboration about it, so that we may comply with the order.”  They were told the bull should be sound and unmarked and it should never have been used for tilling the land or drawing water.” There was no chance for any more quibbling; the matter was crystal clear. Although they were reluctant to kill a bull, they did it.

          There was no need for a hair-splitting discussion for a simple order.  The Israelites were ordered to sacrifice a bull, so they should have gotten a bull and sacrificed it.  However, they did not comply with a simple order and kept asking unnecessary questions to delay it.  In the end a special type of bull, which was used in Egypt for worship, was pointed out for them, which was even harder for them to slaughter.        

Moses 14

(7:148-152) (2:54) (20-83-98)

       Moses was very anxious for the development of his nation; God had promised him that he would be given guidance in the coming forty nights.  Without receiving an invitation from God he went to the mountain Sinai to get directions from Him.  He was absent from his nation for a long period; a man known as Samiri, not a member of their tribe, was with them.  Some non-Israelites had believed in Moses’ message and followed him when he left Egypt.  Samiri was one of them.

       He was a ruthless opportunist, so he exploited the vacuum created by the absence of Moses.   The Israeli women were very fond of wearing heavy ornaments because it was Egyptian fashion; in the desert these bulky ornaments were an obstacle for free movement.  Samiri took these ornaments of gold and silver, melted them, and formed a golden calf.  He, being well aware of the tricks which were used in temples to deceive ignorant common folks, fixed a device in the calf, as he had seen priests doing in many temples.  This device made the golden calf capable of producing a voice; he told the Israelites that it was their God.  The Israelites did not notice that though the calf could make a lowing sound, he was unable to answer any question.  Moreover, he had no capacity to do any harm or good for them.  Samiri and the Israelites both forgot that Moses might come and they would not be able to answer him for this act.

Aaron, whom Moses had left behind to look after the affairs of the Israelites, tried to stop the nation from the worship of the calf; he told them that Samiri was not a trustworthy person and they should not blindly follow him, otherwise they would face serious difficulties.  All the heartfelt advice of Aaron failed to achieve any result.  The nation of the Israelites was adamant and paid no heed to it.  They openly declared that they were going to worship the golden calf until Moses came and decided the matter for them.  One trick of Samiri made the Israelites forget all that two prophets had been teaching them in the desert. 

When Moses reached the mountain, God asked him about the cause of his early arrival and leaving his nation.  Moses replied that his nation was faithfully following in his footsteps; he thought it to be the right time to get guidance and act upon it.  Moses was informed that he did not gauge the attitude of his nation accurately; his nation had not followed in his footsteps.  On the contrary, in his absence they had been misguided by Samiri.

Disillusioned and indignant, Moses returned to his nation. “Why have you adopted the worship of the golden calf?  Had God not promised a fair future for you?  Did the appointed time appear too long for you, or did you want to invite the disapproval of God by breaking the promise with me?” Moses asked his nation. 

“We have not broken our promise with you.  We were tired of the heavy ornaments and we threw them away,” replied his nation.  Moses turned toward his brother Aaron and asked him, “Why did you not strictly stop the Israelites from worshiping the calf? Or did you want to disobey me in my absence?”  Aaron was hurt by this question and he said, “Son of my mother, do not scold me so harshly.  I was quiet because I feared that you would ask me why I had caused division among the Israelites without waiting for your words.”

Moses asked Samiri, “What you have to say in this matter?” Samiri replied, “I have not adopted you message wholeheartedly.  I only believed in a part of your message, and I left that part also when I saw an opportunity.  Your nation could not imagine what the underlying motive for my actions was.  My ambition and desires made this act very beautiful in my sight.”

Moses said, “Leave our company at once.  Your punishment is that you will live your future life like an untouchable person.  In the life to come you will face the unavoidable consequences of your action.  The golden calf, your god you have forged, will be burnt into ashes. Even its ashes will be scattered over the sea.” After this decision, Moses turned toward the Israelites and declared that there is only one God.  Allah is the final authority whose knowledge is covering the whole universe.  

Moses 13

            (2:49-57-63-93) (4:154) (81:80) (7:16-20) (7:138-140-160)

      According to some historians, the Hyssop dynasty ruled Egypt when Moses came with his message.  Ramses II of the Hyssop was ruling when Moses first started delivering his message; Merneptah, the son of the king Ramses, followed Moses and his nation.  As a result he and his forces drowned in the sea.  As was the prevalent custom of Egyptian kings, his body was recovered from the sea and mummified.  The details of Pharaoh’s mummification are not given in the Quran; these are discoveries made by the modern research.  The Quran only gives the permanent laws for the rise and fall of nations.

     The crossing of the sea from Egypt into the valley of Sinai was a landmark in the history of the Israelites.  After the death of Pharaoh, the Israelites were free to live the way they wanted.  In Egypt they had lived completely in the grip of Pharaoh, always working in compliance with his wishes, fulfilling his orders without thinking.  The life in Sinai was full of challenges; this new life demanded new solutions, thinking and planning.  The Israelites were not used to this mode of living.  Their human potentialities had been crushed under the burden of servitude.  They were like a bird that was used to living in a cage and loved it.

       God had bestowed great favors upon them: for safety, they were placed in a valley with a mountain protecting them from invaders.  The clouds were covering the sky to save them from the scorching heat of the desert.  They were getting free food, without labor, in the form of manna and silva (a type of sweet glue and quail).   The Israelites asked Moses for water; in the life of the desert, water is the most valuable commodity, and God directed him to a rock. When the dirt was scraped from the rock twelve springs gushed forth.  God allocated one spring to each tribe.  Moreover, they had vast grounds of Sinai to live in, clear atmosphere, and on top of it, no fear.  What else could they desire?

        For the training of the Israelites, two prophets, Moses and Aaron, were teaching and training them.  Some historians are of the opinion that the prophet Shuaib also joined Moses to educate the Israelites.  However, they were not happy; the new life was full of challenges and they were used to the thoughtless life of slaves.   At every new situation, if they had to face some discomfort, like children, they complained and taunted Moses: “Why have you brought us into the desert from Egypt? Without you we were facing hardships in Egypt, and with you we are facing troubles in the desert.”

       In reality, they disliked the new way of living, which was full of challenges, demanding mental and physical endeavor.  The nation of Israelites lacked determination; they disliked continuous struggle, action, and discipline.  The following event is a good example of their mental state: when Moses was crossing over to a new place in the desert, they met a nation that was sticking firmly to idol worship.  The Israelites requested to Moses, “Please make a god like their idol for us.”  Moses was flabbergasted by the request.  He told them that idol worship was a path to destruction, and he could never do such an act.  The concept of one unseen Allah governing the whole universe was unintelligible for them. Their maturity had not reached the level where abstract concepts could be apprehended without tangible shape.

Moses 12

(20:77-79)(26:52-63)(14:5)(44:22-29)(10:90-92)(4:18)

          Before the court was adjourned, the courtiers saw two men hurriedly leaving the court.  One was calm and melancholy, as if all the weight which had overwhelmed him was suddenly removed, leaving him sad but wise. The other was annoyed and furious, stamping his feet in uncontrolled anger. Both disappeared at the corner of the veranda— one to the right, the other to the left.  They were Pharaoh and the man who had dared to oppose Pharaoh in the full court.

          Pharaoh, in his mind, was knitting a net of ruses and tricks to entrap and destroy the man completely.  Fortunately, he was unsuccessful in his wicked designs, and God saved the man.  However, it became apparent that Pharaoh would not allow the Israelites to leave Egypt.  No reason or advice could prevail upon him to see the coming destruction. 

He was so conscious of his forces and means of waging war that he refused to listen to any advice.  He was extremely proud and arrogant, and thought himself to be invincible.  Pharaoh sent many messengers to various parts of his country and declared, “Do not pay heed to people who talk in favor of Moses. He is nothing compared to me, only having a few worthless slave members in his party. Being a poor man, he can do nothing for you.  I, Pharaoh of Egypt, have countless means to bestow favors on my nation, so follow me.”         Exactly at that time God also passed a decree in which He took away the beautiful gardens, bubbling springs, treasures, and high places of honor in the community of nations from Pharaoh and gave them to Moses and his nation. The Quran gives this transformation the name of ayam ul allah, the day of God.  Whenever an oppressed nation gets freedom from the oppressors, it is called ayam ul allah.

God sent a revelation to Moses and told him to leave Egypt at night with the Israelites, to take them away from the darkness of slavery to the light of freedom.  He also revealed that they were going to be followed. This revelation guided Moses to the safe route across the sea where it was shallow and covered with reeds.  The Israelites quietly left Egypt in the star-lit night and followed the revealed path.  They reached the bank of the sea when it was receding.

At dawn, when the Egyptians came to take the Israelites for work, they found the cage empty, and the birds were flying in the clear blue sky. The news of the departure of the Israelites from Egypt infuriated Pharaoh beyond control.  “What?  These few insignificant, worthless slaves dared to leave Egypt without permission from me – the mighty ruler of the land.  I will capture them and bring them back, and inflict such punishments on them and their leaders that they will never venture to take such a step again.”  After this declaration, he ordered his chief commander to gather the chariots, best forces, and all the equipment needed for capturing the Israelites.  When everything was in order, according to his heart’s satisfaction, he ordered them to pursue the fugitive nation.

The Israelites, tired by the long journey at night, saw a terrible scenario.  In front of them was a foaming sea; behind them was a sea of angry forces and equipment from Pharaoh, and both of them were surging up to engulf them.  They shouted in fear, “We are lost forever!”  Moses replied, “No, it cannot happen because God is with us.”   Consequently, he entered the shallow sea as revealed to him.  The water of the sea was at the low ebb at that time, so Moses and his nation crossed the sea safely.

When Pharaoh arrived at the bank of the sea, the Israelites had crossed it.  Pharaoh knew that it was the only chance for him to seize the Israelites; otherwise they could scatter in the desert and it would not be possible to capture them.  Without critically examining the condition of the sea, he ordered his forces to cross over and capture the Israelites.  As Pharaoh and his forces entered the sea, it was rising.  A tidal surge rose; the ruthless waves of the sea swallowed all the pride, arrogance, equipment and forces of Pharaoh, and broke them into pieces in front of his eyes.  When Pharaoh was about to drown, he shouted, “I believe in Allah!” But it was not a belief; it was fear of death, so it had no value. Pharaoh also died with his forces, but his body was saved by God to be a symbol or sign (aya) for the coming generations.         

Moses 11

(40:26-45)

Although Pharaoh had started a movement of propaganda against Moses, he was not satisfied with the outcome.  The common men in Egypt were grateful for the help Moses had rendered to them in removing the plagues from the land.  It was Moses, not Pharaoh, who helped them in the time of scourge.  Pharaoh wanted to paint Moses as an enemy of Egyptian culture and civilization, a liar who wanted to occupy their land.  The image that had emerged was quite contrary to his desires: a compassionate reformer, a helper in time of distress, and a friend of common folks.

This situation infuriated Pharaoh; he conducted a full court, and collected all his courtiers and advisers to seek a remedy. He said, “We have been too lenient in tackling Moses’ problem, which is getting out of control.  This is the result of our leniency.  The only remedy that comes to my mind is to kill him and get rid of his nonsense forever. Let him call his Allah to save him— if he can; otherwise, he will bring radical changes in our governing system, and cause fasad disorder in Egypt.

The full court was silent like a picture.  The silence was so deep that the voice of a leaf’s falling from a tree could be heard. Most of the Egyptian people believed in Moses, but they never wanted to declare it openly.  The arrogant, headstrong dictator was making a decision, and nobody could dare to oppose him.

Suddenly, someone stirred among the audience.  A man who belonged to the royal family of Pharaoh stood up, looked at Pharaoh, and an unexpected voice broke the silence.  He said, “Do you want to kill a man because he has been saying Allah is the sustainer (Rub) of the universe?  He has shown illuminating signs of his prophethood, and clear reasons for his demands.  If he is a liar, then his lie is upon him; God never shows the right path to a transgressing liar.  If he is truthful, then the punishment with which he is threatening you will definitely strike.   Who is going to save us at that time?  No doubt, you are the number one power in the world, but this wouldn’t save you from the dire consequences of your denial of truth.”

Pharaoh was unable to bear the outburst of reality, so he said, “I am only telling you what I foresee. In my opinion, the killing of Moses is the only solution to this problem.  I always ask you to follow the wise policy.”

The speaker ignored the interruption, and carried on with his speech.  He said, “My people, I don’t want a doom like that of Noah, Aad, or Thamud--and many nations after them—to seize you.  All these mighty nations destroyed themselves by wrong doings; God is never unjust with human beings.  It would be a doom when you are going to call each other for help, but no one will stop to hear your cries. On the contrary, everyone will turn his back toward the holler because everyone is going to be preoccupied with his own misery. That day the realization of the truth would be useless for you, so change your behavior while there is time.  Before Moses, Joseph came to you with laws of God; but you were doubtful about his message until he died.  Your reaction was that the death of Joseph was the end of the story, God is not going to send a new messenger, and there will be no one to admonish you.  People with such mentality are always struggling to circumvent and defeat the laws of God; the result is going to be utter ruin and destruction.”

Pharaoh again tried to interrupt him.  He said to his chief priest, “O, Haman, build for me a tower that I can reach the roads of the heavens, and see Moses’ God because I think he is a liar.” Pharaoh was so corrupted by his wrong thinking that every subversive trick delighted him.  The speaker was not perturbed by his comment; he continued his speech.  “According to the law of Allah, every human being, man or woman, is repaid according to his or her deeds, so be careful about what you decide.  I have done my duty by explaining the coming disaster to you; I am leaving my affairs in the hands of a unique sovereign—Allah—to decide whatever He likes for me because He is the best decider.” 

Moses 10

          (27:12-14)(79:24)(17:101) (79:18-34) (43:51-54)(7:130-135)

     Pharaoh faced a crushing defeat when his religious scholars turned against him.  They openly denied his authority, declared their belief in Allah, and refused to prefer him over Allah.  Pharaoh was a seasoned politician; after assessing the situation shrewdly, he tried to invert the impression which had been made by the dramatic refusal of the religious scholars.  He threatened them with excruciating death on the trunks of palm trees, but to no avail.  They accepted the horrifying death without succumbing to Pharaoh’s wishes.

     As Pharaoh was undergoing a torment of humiliations, Moses, under the direction of God, met him.  Moses showed him a great aya; al aya is a concrete object which points toward an abstract reality.  He also told him that his intention was to lead him to a way of safety, so that he might develop his personality— under the guidance of revelation— and stop behaving in a cruel, thoughtless manner.

     When Pharaoh was confronted with reality, he turned his back and refused to accept it.  Not only did he continue in his transgressions, but he also called all his folks and proclaimed, “I am the only provider of nourishment to you.  Do not call anybody else your Rub.”

      Moreover, he caused many proclamations to be made among his people, in the various parts of his empire.  In them he declared, “Oh my people, is the land of Egypt not my domain? Are the canals which are irrigating your fields not owned by me? These canals and land are concrete objects and you can easily see them.  How could you prefer Moses — who is a poor man, unable to clearly explain his thoughts –over me?  If he is really a messenger of God, then why has God not given him bracelets of gold, or sent a group of angels to accompany him?”

     Pharaoh wanted to mislead his people with this type of propaganda.  For him the criterion of truth was money.  “I am a king, and I have money; therefore I am right.  Moses is a poor man; therefore he is wrong in his claim of being a messenger of God.”  He tried to give his falsehood the glow of truth, so that his nation would keep on obeying him.  However, the truth was that the nation of Pharaoh itself did not want to accept the reality and change their ways of living.

     Up till that time, whatever happened in Egypt had no direct bearing on the lives of common folks.  What Moses said about God and the reply of Pharaoh were not directly connected with the life of the common man in the fields.  However, when the plagues struck the land of Egypt, the common men were involved in the strife.

Small administrative shortcomings are to be rectified immediately; if they are not quickly corrected, they result in dire consequences.  The Quran gives this phenomenon the name azab allah.  Such consequences are the result of neglecting natural laws and moral values.  At first, lesser calamities such as lack of food and famine struck Pharaoh and his nation.  They suffered great loses in crops and fruits.   

Whenever a good time came, the people and Pharaoh ascribed it to themselves.  But when seized by calamity, they attributed it to the evil auspices of Moses and his followers.  When calamities seized them,  the people and Pharaoh came running to Moses, saying, “Moses, pray for us to your God who has made you his messenger, and let us know how to overcome the calamity; we will let Israel go with you.  After overcoming the trouble, they broke their promises and refused to send the Israelites with Moses.

Pharaoh and his people faced nine hardships, such as flood, locusts, insects, frogs, gnats, pestilence, and boils. Pharaoh rationalized his shortcomings by saying that all these troubles were nothing except the changes of time.  It had been happening from the beginning; good and bad times kept changing places in the society.  This natural change of times was not a good proof for believing in Moses.

Moses 9

(20:58-64-71-73)(26:38-40-49)(7:116-124)(26:47-48)(22:11)

Moses 9

     After the arrival of religious leaders at the festival, a great wave of happiness and confidence ran through the Egyptians.  These scholars were well-known for their knowledge and upright character throughout the country.  The Egyptians thought that a great unexpected occasion to rejuvenate their prevailing religion and culture had occurred.  They could drive two advantages from it; one was to completely destroy the emerging revolution of Moses.  The second was to show the supremacy of Egyptian culture and civilization in order to keep the Israelites permanently as their slaves.   Common people were urged to attend the meeting.  The Egyptians were so sure of their success that they told the folks to be ready to have a great procession after the success of the religious scholars and priests. This would be done to bestow honor on them.  Although Pharaoh was an absolute dictator, he was keen to justify his point of view—to show his countrymen that he was protecting their interests.

     At the appointed time, Pharaoh came to attend the meeting with great pomp and show.  He was surrounded by his courtiers.  The slaves   were holding beautiful multicolored flyers and flags painted with symbols of Egyptian mythology.  Pharaoh sat in the first row on a raised platform.  The courtiers, religious scholars, Moses and Aaron sat in the second row.  Moses, who was aware of the upright characters of the country scholars, took advantage of the seating arrangement and said, “Shame on you!  You have come to tell lies about God. Do not fabricate false stories about Him; otherwise, He will punish you severely.”  “What is he saying?” asked one of the scholars.  When the message of Moses was conveyed to them, they started to discuss it in whispers.

     The courtiers, seeing the disturbing effect of the message, made an emotional appeal to the religious scholars. “Do you know what these brothers want to do?” they asked. “They are the champions of Abraham’s religion.  Moses, who is a very cunning man, has devised a plan to remove you, your religion, and culture from Egypt, so that they can occupy it.  Moreover, they are anxious to inherit the greatness of our centuries-old Egyptian civilization and declare it to be their own.  Do not listen to what they are saying.  Focus all your attention on the debate; whoever is successful today is the winner.”

 Suddenly, all the hustle and bustle of the carnival stopped. Pharaoh signaled the religious scholars to start the discussion.  The leading religious scholar came forward and asked Moses, “Who is going to initiate the discussion, you or me?” Moses replied, “You start the discussion.”

     The leader nodded in affirmation. The debate started.  The rest of the details are described in the Quran as a metaphor.  Some scholars interpret it literally.  I interpret it as a metaphor.  However, those who are interested in the literal translation can consult the literal meanings in the Quran.

     The religious scholars presented their case in such a forceful way that people were mesmerized by them.  Moreover, they threatened the people with dire consequences of opposition to Pharaoh. In short, they skillfully wove and threw a mighty network of deceit to entrap the people. Moses, under the direction of God, came forward; he clearly and logically explained his point of view.  His clear reasoning and enlightening explanation broke the spell cast by the rhetoric of the opposition.  In the language of metaphor, the dragon of Moses swallowed the ropes of the religious scholars. The religious leaders were enlightened by the reasoning of Moses. Furthermore, after recognizing the truth, they spontaneously cried out, “We believe in almighty God, Rab of Moses and Aaron.”

     Pharaoh was astounded by the backfiring of his plan.  His trepidation increased when his own priests and religious scholars joined the opposition.  However, he was a shrewd politician, so he changed his strategy and said, “What! You declare your belief in Moses’ God before I gave you permission to do so.   I am sure that you and Moses, who is your teacher, have conspired in the capital city to turn the people out of it.  In a short while you will see the result of your evil scheming.  I will cut your hands and feet from alternate sides, and then I will crucify you on the palm trees.  Shortly, you will get the punishment you deserve.”

     “Decide whatever you like to do with us, but we are not going to prefer you over Allah. You can only punish us in this physical world for a short time; beyond that you will have no power to harm us.  After death we are going to leave your territory and enter the domain of Allah, whose kingdom is everlasting and forever. We believe in Allah, and no one can change it.  We hope that He will forgive our mistake that on your command we tried to mislead people.”

Moses 8

(7-128) (10-83-87) (26-34-36-49) (7-113-124) (20-58-60-73) (26-38-40)

          Moses returned from the court of Pharaoh, and concentrated his efforts on educating and organizing the Israelites.  He told his nation that the rise and downfall of nations is not a capricious process.  All those who work according to the laws of God rise even though they have to face a lot of obstacles and difficulties.  Therefore, the Israelites should put all their trust in God and His laws.  If they acted according to His guidance, they would be successful.

          During his process of organization, Moses realized that only young people believed in his message. The senior members of his nation were afraid of Pharaoh. The grip of fear on their minds was so severe that it was impossible to move them, or to make them understand the outcome of systematic struggle.  The fear of Pharaoh had gone so deep in the unconscious psyche of the nation; it had entangled their minds and hearts so firmly that it was nearly impossible to eradicate it. 

          While Moses was busy in the organization and education of his nation, the chiefs of Pharaoh were watching his moves very carefully.  They noticed the signs of awakening in the nation of Israelites, and went to Pharaoh. They said, “Oh, great king of Egypt, Moses is trying to organize his nation without any institutions.  He has been transforming their homes into institutions of education.  He is talking against the traditions which were taught to us by our ancestors.  He is also against our religion.  Now decide because it is the demand of the time; otherwise Moses will destroy all that we have inherited from our forefathers, and remove you from the throne of Egypt.”

           “Moses cannot do that,” replied Pharaoh.  “Our religion is as great as his. I have sent heralds throughout our beloved country to bring the religious scholars. Under their guidance, I am going to arrange an open public meeting with him in which our scholars are going to prove the greatness of our religion.  Don’t worry too much about him; we are going to take care of everything. I am not going to be defeated by these two brothers whose nation is my slave.”

          After saying these words of consolation, Pharaoh dismissed the delegation of chiefs and went in the palace.  In the palace, he was informed about the arrival of religious scholars from all parts of the country, seeking an interview with him. 

          “What are we going to get if Moses is defeated in the discussion?” asked the religious scholars.

          “You are going to be included in my entourage, among those who are nearest to me,” replied Pharaoh. Pharaoh dictated a proclamation for the general public of Egypt, in which they were informed about a debate to be held at the time of national holiday.

          Moses and his brother were asked to come and attend the national carnival.  During this festival a special time was fixed for the religious leaders and Moses to prove the truth of their respective religions.  Both the parties assured Pharaoh of their punctuality.  The general public was also interested in the outcome of this debate; they were supposed to come to the meeting when the sun was high and they had finished the morning breakfast.

        Before advancing further, let us peruse the request of Moses and the reasons for its denial.  Moses was simply saying that Israelites were not a part of the Egyptian soil and culture.  They wanted to leave Egypt, so Pharaoh should allow them to do so.  Pharaoh and his nation were against it.  Why were they so against it? They were against it for economic reasons.  Egyptians were using the nation of Israelites as slaves who were doing all the hard labor without any reasonable pay.  Pharaoh and his nation were unwilling to leave this cheap labor. The economic gain prevented them from seeing the truth, although the reasonableness of the claim was clear to them.

      

    

Moses 7

     (26-18-22)(7-109-112)

     After dismissing his court, Pharaoh went to his private retiring room.  He wanted to talk with Moses alone to measure his innermost thoughts and see if he could change him.  He called for Moses and said, “Are you not the baby we adopted and nourished?  You spent many years in my palaces, and enjoyed all the education and facilities like a member of the royal family.  You committed a murder and ran away, but we declined to vigorously pursue you.  Is this the way you are trying to repay my favors? By upsetting the system? This is a very disgraceful act on your part which shows that you have turned out to be a very ungrateful person.”

     “I ran away because I was sure that you could not perform unbiased justice.  You would have hanged me unheard because an Egyptian man died. In reality it was an accident and not a planned murder.  God picked me as His messenger, and ordered me to deliver His message to you.  This is the reason for my return.  Your favors were for me, but in return you want me to help you to subjugate the whole nation of Israelite.  Is this the way to bestow favors? “Moses replied.

      After this reply, the conversation between the parties abruptly ended; the pharaoh realized the depth and unflinching determination of Moses, so he dismissed him and called for his courtiers. In the court, the pharaoh and his entourage had been making fun of Moses and his demands. However, when they were alone they tried to take up the matter seriously.  Pharaoh asked for the advice of his trusted courtiers.  They declared, “Moses is a cunning and deceitful man; on the strength of his rhetoric, he wants to drive you out of the land and occupy it.”

     Pharaoh said, “How can he succeed in it?  I have divided his nation into many parties, and these parties are always fighting among themselves. These quarreling parties are squandering all their limited resources in war without doing any constructive work for their nation.  On top of that I encourage the timid and boneless Israelite individuals, and discourage all the persons who show some determination and insight.”

     “The matter does not end here,” said a noble.  “Moses is not only teaching morals, but he is giving a different concept of God and the universe, which is very popular with the Israelite.  It is a revival of Joseph’s message. Unfortunately, it is affecting our people.  Some Egyptian youth think that the message is universal, and whoever acts according to this program is going to be rewarded heavily.”

     `“I am a politician and an administrator.  I am not a priest or a religious scholar,” replied the pharaoh.  “For this important issue we have to consult the religious scholars of Egypt.”  The discussion carried on for a long time.  All the aspects of Moses’ movement and its influences were analyzed thoroughly. In the end, they reached the conclusion that Moses’ movement was a dangerous thing.  In order to win, they would have to discredit Moses publicly, refute his logic, and show the strength and greatness of their gods and goddesses.  Pharaoh issued summons for all the religious scholars in his empire to come and give him advice on this matter.

   

Moses 6

(26-15) (7-104-105) (20-49-55)

     Moses said, “An Egyptian man was killed in a quarrel; it was an accident but they blame me for this.  I fear they will press the charge of murder against me and kill me.”

     “No, this will not happen.  I am with you.  Present your demands softly and gently in front of the pharaoh, so he may decide rightly.” 

     Moses’ brother joined him to assist him in his mission, and they reached the court of the pharaoh.

     “Who has sent you to me, and what are your demands?” asked the pharaoh.

     “I am a messenger from Rabbil-al-ameen.”  Rab has created all things in the universe and directed them to follow a pattern; He has provided an amazing system of nourishment for all living beings, so that they can actualize their potentialities.  “Since I am a messenger from God, I will tell you nothing but the truth.  My demand is that you will not subjugate or victimize the Israelites, and you will allow them to leave Egypt with me.  This is the message from Allah.  If you accept it, peace will prevail in the country; otherwise great destruction is going to follow.”

    The Egyptians did not believe in one God.  They had many gods and goddesses to perform various functions, for example, the rain god, the sun god, the fertility god, etc. The pharaoh wanted to be sure about the power and domain of the God who had sent Moses and his brother. 

     The pharaoh was quite disappointed with the answer.  He had presented himself to his people as a benefactor who gave them the means of living.  However, his domain was limited, extending over Egypt only; beyond it he had no control.  It was not in his interest to let Moses dwell on the powers of Allah, who was much more powerful than him.  Allah has created the universe; the planet Earth is like a cradle, and human beings can easily travel on it by forming paths.  He brings the clouds and pours the rain on the earth; with the help of the water, several kinds of vegetation grow from the earth, which is food for animals and humans.  Under the earth humans go after death; from there they will be resurrected to a new life.

     The pharaoh turned towards his courtiers and said, “Are you carefully listening to what this man is saying?  According to him, our powerful kings of Egypt were dependent on his Allah for their power and might.”

     Moses did not pay any heed to his remark, and continued his description. He said, “Certainly, God has created the east, the west, and your ancestors who were dependent on Him for their growth.”

     The pharaoh looked at his courtiers and said, “Look, Rab has sent a mad man to deliver his message.”  Turning toward Moses, he declared, “If you will accept anyone else as your Rab, I am going to send you to prison.”  After that he   wanted to take shelter in a ruse, so he said, “What do you think is happening to our forefathers?”

     Moses replied, “The knowledge about their condition is with God.  He never forgets or misses anything.  I am here only to discuss the departure of the Israelites.”

     The pharaoh wanted to drag Moses into the quagmire of endless questions and answers.  If Moses had said something against the ancestors, he could have excited the courtiers by saying that this man had no respect for their forefathers, and created a bad impression of him.  Unsuccessful and annoyed, he turned towards his chief priest and said, “Haman, will you bake a lot of bricks and build a palace with them, so that I can climb up, and have a peep into the heavens to see Moses’ God.  Otherwise, I think he is a liar.” Instead of taking Moses seriously, the pharaoh and his courtiers made fun of his message.  The pharaoh proclaimed that he was the Rab of his people.  Moses told him that he should retract his false claim and accept Allah as the sovereign authority.  It was the most difficult task for him. In other words, he had to give up his false claims, honor, wealth, and luxurious lifestyle; so he declined.

     The pharaoh said “If you are truthful and have brought a verdict from Allah, show it to us.”  Moses explained to them the ruinous consequences of disregarding Allah’s laws, and the blessings which accrue to those who adhere to these laws.  The literal meaning of these verses is that Moses laid his staff down, and it changed into a snake.  He put his hand into his armpit and it came out shining.  After viewing all this, the pharaoh dismissed his court and went into the palace to discuss the matter with his trusted courtiers.

     

Moses 5

(20-17-40)

     God asked, “What is in your right hand, Moses?”

     Moses replied, “It is my staff. I take support from it; moreover, it helps me in shaking the leaves from the trees for my sheep, and it is beneficial to me in many other ways.”

     God said, “Lay it down.”

     Moses did as he was told.  When he looked back he saw that his staff was changed into a moving snake.  

     God said, “Catch it.  Don’t be afraid.  We will change it into your staff again.  Put your hand into your armpit and take it out.  It will come out shining and without any defect.  That is the second sign for you.  It is only the beginning; We are going to show you many great signs in the future.”

     These are the literal meanings of these verses.  However, when they are taken as metaphors or similes to describe the abstract truth, they yield deeper meanings.

      If we take them as metaphors, their meanings are as follows.  When God had given the directions to Moses He said, “How do you find them?”  Moses replied, “These directions are great support for me in life.  I will depend on them; and with their help I am going to shake the Israelites from their slumber.  Furthermore, I will seek guidance from them in crises and turning points in my life.”  Moses measured and critically examined the plan, and found it equivalent to a gliding snake.  God told him to fearlessly adhere to the directions.  He added, “Go, present the program to the people; with the help of clear reason, factual presentation of the truth, and persuasive logic, you are going to be successful without any loss.  This success will prove that you are right and your enemies are wrong.  These laws are given to you, and with their help a great change is going to take place in the society. “

     During the revelation, the word snake appears many times.  In surah 28-31, God said to Moses, “Lay down your staff.”  Moses laid it. When he looked, it was moving as if it were a snake.  Moses ran away in fear and did not look back.  “Come forward, and don’t be afraid; peace has been given to you,”   God said.

     These verses can be interpreted in light of Egyptian mythology.  Egyptian pharaohs were not content to be the only ruling monarchs of Egypt.  Their claim was that they were not ordinary human beings; the Egyptian sun god Ra was their forefather.  Renenutet, snake goddess, who was also a goddess of farmers, was their protector. The cobra with raised head was a symbol of might and protection for the pharaoh.  This snake-goddess was the guardian of the king on earth and in the afterlife.  She spat fire on his enemies from her perch on his brows.  She was said to protect the king’s linen, robes, and later the linen bandages that wrapped mummies.  The cobra was placed conspicuously on the front of the crowns of the pharaohs. The snake goddess was also popular with farmers.  Because cobras eat rats, many insects, and small birds that destroy crops, farmers revered her and placed her shrines in granaries.  In addition to this, the pharaoh had a large entourage of priests.  Some of them were present in the city with the pharaoh, and others were scattered throughout the vast empire.  Their job was to teach mythology to the uneducated, ignorant folks.  It was a profitable job to invent fables, fantasies, and baseless stories about gods and goddesses, and convince the common folks about their supernatural powers.

       Moses, who was brought up in Pharaoh’s palace, had been hearing these tales from childhood.  In order to remove his fear, God showed him the insignificance of Egyptian beliefs by changing his rod into a snake and then bringing it back into its original form.

      Strengthened and delighted by the assurance of God, Moses asked Him to grant him favors.  Moses had been living in the villages of Madian for a long time.  He had lost most of the fluency of language.  Since he had to go to the city, and there people were more sensitive about pronunciation and other sophisticated use of language, he wanted his former skill and appropriate use of language.  Moreover, he wanted his elder brother Aaron, who was more eloquent than him, to assist and enhance his strength, so both would work together to complete the mission.  Moses requested God, “Make the fulfillment of my mission easy for me, and give me so much patience that I can tolerate great burdens.” Sharah-e-sadr.

     God granted all these requests of Moses. He was so grateful that he said, “God, you have shown me great favors today.”  The reply came, “Not today; We have been showing favors to you for a very long time. We sent the message to your mother to put you in a box and lay you in the river, so that My enemy and your enemy picked you up.  When your sister was telling Pharaoh’s wife about a woman who could rear the child, it was a favor from Me.  You killed a man and escaped the punishment; it was also a favor.  Your life in Madian and many ordeals were all favors to develop your abilities.  After passing all these stages, you have reached such a level of achievement that I have chosen you for Myself.  Go with your brother to Pharaoh because he is transgressing all the limits.”

  

Moses 4

(28-29)(20-9-15)

      When Moses finished his contract, he took his wife and started living the life of a shepherd—that is, going from place to place in search of water and pastures. It was a simple life which he was living with nature, going from place to place, in search of water and fodder, enjoying the blue star-lit sky, fresh air and clean water.

     One evening, when he had finished his work and was traveling with his family, he lost his way.  Perhaps he took a wrong turn or became confused.  Whatever the case was, he was lost in the wilderness.  As the night was approaching, the place was becoming cold and Moses was worried about his family.

     At some distance, towards Tur, Moses saw fire.  He said to his wife, “Stay here. I see some fire at a distance; I am going there to find out the location of this place.  If those who have lit the fire cannot give me directions about the place, I will bring a burning brand so that you can light a fire and make yourself warm.”

     When he reached the place where he saw the fire, he was called by his name, “Moses.” “Who knows me in this wilderness and calls me by my name?” thought Moses.  “I am your Rub (one who looks after the multiple changing needs of a person throughout his or her whole life.)  Remove your shoes, because you are standing in the sacred valley of Tuwa.”   This is the literal meanings of the words.  The Quran uses metaphors and symbols to describe the deeper meanings of these words.  As a metaphor, to remove shoes means that your search is complete and the ultimate truth is going to be revealed to you, so you need not search anymore.   The word tuwa means compressed or squeezed.  In other words, God was telling Moses that he did not need to learn by the method of trial and error.  The truth would be revealed to him.   He was not going to follow the long and hazardous path of trial and error for the discovery of reality.  

     The reason the word blessed was used for the valley is not because some places or nations are specially blessed by God and the others are not. This place was called blessed because Moses got the message there.  The next part of the verse clarifies this fact and states that God is the Rub of the whole universe.   

     “So remove your shoes, and listen carefully to what I am going to tell you.  I have chosen you for a great purpose.  Therefore, cogitate what is being revealed to you.” What was revealed to Moses was the same old truth:  “Allah is the creator of the universe.  The best, safe, and balanced path for humanity is to obey His laws only.”  In order to manifest God’s greatness, Moses would have to establish the rule of law (equamat-i-salat) so that people could fearlessly follow His directions.  God told Moses, “A transformation, which so far has been hidden, is going to take place in society.  The ultimate aim of this change is that everyone will get the full return for his work.”