In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Musa (peace be upon him) was with his family and traveling in the desert when he suddenly saw a fire in the distance. He asked his family to wait so that he may get some light from the fire, or get some guidance from the people.
وَهَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰٓ ﴿٩﴾ إِذْ رَءَا نَارًا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ هُدًى ﴿١٠﴾ فَلَمَّآ أَتَىٰهَا نُودِىَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ ﴿١١﴾ إِنِّىٓ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكَ فَٱخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ بِٱلْوَادِ ٱلْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى ﴿١٢[Qur'an, Ta-Ha 20:9-16]
وَأَنَا ٱخْتَرْتُكَ فَٱسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَىٰٓ ﴿١٣﴾ إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدْنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكْرِىٓ ﴿١٤﴾ إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ ﴿١٥﴾ فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ فَتَرْدَىٰ ﴿١٦
And has the story of Moses reached you? - (9) When he saw a fire and said to his family, "Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire; perhaps I can bring you a torch or find at the fire some guidance." (10) And when he came to it, he was called, "O Musa, (11) Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. (12) And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed [to you]. (13) Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance. (14) Indeed, the Hour is coming - I almost conceal it - so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives. (15) So do not let one avert you from it who does not believe in it and follows his desire, for you [then] would perish. (16)
Among the many lessons from the story are:
Lesson One: Allah gives us signs
Just like Musa (peace be upon him) was given the sign of the burning fire, Allah gives all of us signs in this life. Sometimes it is an ayah of the Qur'an that may touch our heart, or a heart penetrating reminder. Sometimes it is just a person we meet who teaches us, or just life circumstances. When Allah shows us signs, it is up to us to take them.
Lesson Two: Allah’s words are a light and guidance
Ironically Musa (peace be upon him) said that he would go and see if he could get a light or some guidance. Allah through this conversation will give him the ultimate light of His words and ultimate guidance being the guidance from Allah. Allah has given us a light and guidance through the Quran, how much of it have we kept?
Lesson Three: Allah chooses whom He wills
Allah tells Musa (peace be upon him) that he was chosen to be Allah’s prophet, and chosen among the thousands of babies killed to be saved. Allah chooses whoever He wills. He chose that I would be a Muslim while many are not. He chose that you meet so and so to teach you Qur'an. He chose that you live in a comfortable home and million others live on the streets or refugee camps. It is all from the blessings of Allah. The question is, how do you and I utilize the blessings?
Lesson Four: Prayer, prayer, prayer!
Remember the time you met someone you honored, admired, or someone famous. Would you ever forget that? Hardly doubt it. Yet, Allah reminds Musa (peace be upon him) to establish the prayer so that he may remember Allah. And yet, Musa (peace be upon him) has just heard Allah speak. Would he ever have forgotten? How important then is our prayers and turning to Allah?
Lesson Five: Even the best of people require sincere counsel
Allah went on to remind Musa (peace be upon him) that if he was to turn away, then he might be punished as well. The best of people also need to be reminded of the judgment and of the Hellfire. The best of people also need to be reminded that other people might turn them away from Allah, so do not let that happen. If Musa (peace be upon him) was reminded about Judgment Day, who are we to act arrogant whenever we are reminded of retribution? Who are we to think we are safe by our petty deeds when this mighty Messenger of Allah listens silently to the warning?
Lesson Six: This is Islam summarized
Allah first mentions that none is worthy of worship except Him alone. He then made it clear to Musa (peace be upon him) to establish the prayer for Allah’s remembrance and then made mention of the Day of Judgment. This is what we need to enter Paradise. Worship Allah alone, establish the prayers, remember Allah and be mindful of the Hereafter, and Allah will be merciful to us and enter us into Paradise inshaa Allah.
وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ ﴿١٧﴾ قَالَ هِىَ عَصَاىَ أَتَوَكَّؤُا۟ عَلَيْهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَىٰ غَنَمِى وَلِىَ فِيهَا مَـَٔارِبُ أُخْرَىٰ ﴿١٨﴾ قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يَـٰمُوسَىٰ ﴿١٩﴾ فَأَلْقَىٰهَا فَإِذَا هِىَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَىٰ ﴿٢٠﴾ قَالَ خُذْهَا وَلَا تَخَفْ ۖ سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيرَتَهَا ٱلْأُولَىٰ ﴿٢١﴾ وَٱضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَىٰ جَنَاحِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَآءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوٓءٍ ءَايَةً أُخْرَىٰ ﴿٢٢﴾ لِنُرِيَكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ٱلْكُبْرَى ﴿٢٣[Qur'an, Ta-Ha 20:19-23]
And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?" (17) He said, "It is my staff; I lean upon it, and I bring down leaves for my sheep and I have therein other uses." (18) [Allah] said, "Throw it down, O Moses." (19) So he threw it down, and thereupon it was a snake, moving swiftly. (20) [Allah] said, "Seize it and fear not; We will return it to its former condition. (21) And draw in your hand to your side; it will come out white without disease - another sign, (22) That We may show you [some] of Our greater signs. (23)
After mentioning the main message of Islam to Musa (peace be upon him), Allah now moves on to give an important training to Musa (peace be upon him)
Lesson Seven: Talk to Allah as much as you can
Once Allah gives an opportunity to Musa (peace be upon him) to talk, he takes it with both hands. He keeps going on and on about his staff. How much do we talk to Allah when given the opportunity? Do we like to “finish off the prayer” or actually trying to make time to talk to Allah?
Lesson Eight: Everything in life can be a double edged sword
Musa (peace be upon him) mentioned all the blessings of his staff. Then Allah asked him to throw it down, and it became a snake- something very harmful. Everything in this world can be such. The proverbial example of the knife which can cut vegetables versus the same knife which can kill people is one to ponder upon. All the blessings in life are blessings which can be for us or against us, depending on how we use it.
Lesson Nine: Trust in Allah
Another place in the Qur'an, it is mentioned that Musa (peace be upon him) ran when he saw the snake. Allah asks him to pick it up. An order from Allah, and just like his mother many many years ago, Musa (peace be upon him) listens to the order of Allah and the snake turns back to a staff. Allah just taught Musa (peace be upon him) and by extension all of us to trust in the command of Allah. Whatever He commands is good for us, even if we may not know it, and if we truly trust Him, miracles will happen.
May Allah shower us with His light and mercy and make us of the righteous. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
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