Page 47 - The Secret Behind Our Trials

The Muslim of Difficult Times

them with torture and death, and kept them from following the true
path that Prophet Musa (as) had brought to them. However, their
answer to him showed that they feared only Allah and turned to
Him in any difficulty that happened to them. Despite all of
Pharaoh's threats, the magicians told him that they would hold firm
to the way of submission and trust in Allah that their faith had given
them:
Pharaoh said: "Do you believe in him before I have author-
ized you? He is your chief, the one who taught you magic. I
will cut off your hands and feet alternately, and have you
crucified on palm trunks. Then you will know for certain
which of us has the harsher and longer-lasting punishment."
They said: "We will never prefer you to the Clear Signs that
have come to us, nor to Him Who brought us into being.
Decide on any judgment you like. Your jurisdiction only
covers the life of this world. We have believed in our Lord so
that He may forgive us for our mistakes and for the magic
that you forced us to perform. Allah is better and longer-last-
ing." (Surah Ta Ha, 71-73)
Another example concerns the young people who believed in
Prophet Musa (as). Pharaoh's threats prevented some of his people
from having faith in Allah, and so they suffered a great loss. But de-
vout believers who feared only Allah's power believed in Him and
followed the way Prophet Musa (as) showed them. The oppression
and assaults of Pharaoh and his company did not deter them:
No one believed in Musa, except for a few of his people, out
of fear that Pharaoh and the elders would persecute them.
Pharaoh was high and mighty in the land. He was one of the
profligate. (Surah Yunus, 83)

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