Recitation, ayat 1 -ayat 68, Shaykh Salah Bukhatir
Recitation, full surah, by Shaykh Mishary Rashid al-Afasy, with direct audio English translation
God's prophets were individuals who had commendable leadership qualities such as integrity, honesty and selflessness. They were, moreover, teachers rather than egoistic, profit -seekers. What the surah tells us about Noah can be applied, in general, to them all.
Noah's folk denied the messengers (of Allah), (105) When their brother Noah said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)? (106) Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you, (107) So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me. (108) And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds. (109)
None of the prophets asked anything of their people except that they should submit to God and fear Him, neither did they seek any material remuneration or power. But despite these selfless motives many were treated harshly and unfairly with a large number being slain by their own people: a tragic outcome. The surah says:
Hast thou then seen, if We content them for (long) years, (205) And then cometh that which they were promised, (206) (How) that wherewith they were contented naught availeth them? (207) And We destroyed no township but it had its warners (208) For reminder, for We never were oppressors. (209)
[ click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceym2c18OQM ]
The surah recalls the encounters between Mosses and the Pharaoh and thos e between Abraham, Lot, and Shu'ayb and their respective peoples, as well as episodes from the experiences of Ad' and Thamud. All these accounts are presented lucidly with clear language and good effect. The debate between Moses and the Pharaoh revolved around the subject of the true identity Of God. The Pharaoh wanted to know who or what God really was, a question that even Moses could not answer, for to identify and define the essence or nature of God in terms that we can understand is beyond human intelligence.
Pharaoh said: And what is the Lord of the Worlds? (23) (Moses) said: Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if ye had but sure belief. (24)(Pharaoh) said unto those around him: Hear ye not? (25) He said: Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers. (26) (Pharaoh) said: Lo! your messenger who hath been sent unto you is indeed a madman! (27)
This argument is similar to the one we saw in Surah Ta Ha. Nevertheless, the Pharaoh refused to recognize the God of Moses and said to him: " ' If thou choosest a god other than me, I assuredly shall place thee among the prisoners.' " (29)
A day was agreed for a public duel between Moses and the Pharaoh's sorcerers, organized to expose the fraudulence of what Moses was preaching and put an end to his mission and teachings. The stage was set "And it was said unto the people: Are ye (also) gathering? (39) (They said): Aye, so that we may follow the wizards if they are the winners "(40). To Pharaoh and his entourage, it was a foregone conclusion that Moses would be publicly defeated and humiliated and as such the sorcerers' triumph was never in doubt. However, events took such a turn that not only were the sorcerers spectacularly defeated, but they also renounced their faith in the Pharaoh and accepted the religion of Moses instead. As expected, this sent the Pharaoh into a terrible rage and he turned on them and said,
"Ye put your faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he doubtless is your chief who taught you magic! But verily ye shall come to know. Verily I will cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and verily I will crucify you every one. "(49)
This sudden but complete change of attitude by the sorcerers never ceases to amaze. Almost at a stroke, they tuned from abject servitude to the Pharaoh to the deepest and most sincere faith in God. The Pharaoh persosted in his arrogant refusal to accept the truth and condemned his courtiers for changing their convictions without waiting for his permission. Like all tyrants everywhere, the Pharaoh believed that he was in command of his followers' consciences as well as their livelihood.
[ click here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSpeHVFPd8g ]
The days went by and Moses decided to lead his people out of Egypt to escape the Pharaoh's wrath and persecution. When the Pharaoh heard of this he gathered his army and went after after them. As they drew nearer, Moses' followers became alarmed and said to him : " Lo! we are indeed caught ! " (61). The Torah records this episode in graphic detail and gives a description of the panic and fear which struck the Israelites. But Moses said to them: " Nay, verily! for lo! my Lord is with me. He will guide me "(62). As they reached the Red Sea, God intervened and directed Moses to strike the water with his staff, and , lo and behold, the water receded on both sides leaving a dry pathway across the sea for Moses and his followers to cross safely to the other shore. The Pharaoh and his army duly followed through, but once they had progressed well along the sea bed, the water flooded over them from all sides and they were drowned.
Thus ended one of the most infamous episodes of man's disingenuous attempts to challenge the sovereignty of God Almighty in the world.
" A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "
Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1998 ]
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Prof Maurice Buccaile and 'The Pharaoh'
The Bible, The Qur'an and Science
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