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.”