Page 105 - Perished Nations

ker of mischief. And We wished to be Gracious to those who were being
depressed in the land, to make them leaders (in Faith) and make them he-
irs, to establish a firm place for them in the land, and to show Fir’awn, Ha-
man, and their hosts, at their hands, the very things against which they we-
re taking precautions. (Surat al-Qasas: 3-6)
Fir’awn wanted to prevent the Children of Israel increasing in number,
by killing all new-born male babies. This was why, by inspiration from
Allah, Musa’s (as) mother placed him in a basket and left him in the river.
This was the way that led him into the palace of Fir’awn. The story is told
in the Qur’an as follows:
So We sent this inspiration to the mother of Musa: "Suckle (thy child), but
when thou hast fears about him, cast him into the river, but fear not nor
grieve: for We shall restore him to thee, and We shall make him one of Our
messengers."
Then the people of Fir’awn picked him up (from the river): (It was inten-
ded) that (Musa) should be to them an adversary and a cause of sorrow:
for Fir’awn and Haman and (all) their hosts were men of sin.
The wife of Fir’awn said: "(Here is) joy of the eye, for me and for thee: slay
him not. It may be that he will be use to us, or we may adopt him as a
son." And they perceived not (what they were doing)! (Surat al-Qasas: 7-9)
Fir’awn’s wife prevented the murder of Musa (as) and adopted him. In
this way, Musa (as) spent his childhood in Fir’awn’s palace. With the help
of Allah, his own mother was brought to the palace as his wet-nurse.
Years later, Musa (as) left Egypt and came to Madyan. At the end of the
period he passed there, Allah spoke directly to him and gave him the sta-
tion of prophethood. He was ordered to return to Fir’awn and convey the
message of Allah’s religion to him.

Fir’awn’s Palace

Musa (as) and Harun (as) went to Fir’awn in obedience to Allah’s com-
mand and conveyed to him the message of the religion of truth. They as-
ked him to stop tormenting the Children of Israel and let them go with Mu-
sa (as) and Harun (as). It was unacceptable to Fir’awn that Musa (as),
whom he had kept near him for years and who most probably was to ha-

Perished Nations
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