Dialogue between Muusa and Fir'aun
And when you both come to Firaun (Pharaoh) ...
Muusa said: "We are the Messengers of the Lord of the 'aalameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists). So allow the Children of Israel to go with us."
Fir'aun [to Musa]: "Did we not bring you up among us as a child? And you did dwell many years of your life with us. And you did your deed, which you did (i.e. the crime of killing a man). And you are one of the ingrates."
Muusa: I did it then, when I was an ignorant (as regards my Lord and His Message). So I fled from you when I feared you. But my Lord has granted me Hukman (i.e. religious knowledge, right judgement of the affairs and Prophethood), and appointed me as one of the Messengers. And this is the past favour with which you reproach me, that you have enslaved the Children of lsrael."
Firaun: "And what is the Lord of the 'aalamin?
Muusa: Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty.
Fir'aun [to those around]: "Do you not hear (what he says)?"
Muusa: "Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!"
Fir'aun: "Verily, your Messenger who has been sent to you is a madman!"
Muusa: "Lord of the east and the west, and all that is between them, if you did but understand!"
Fir'aun: "If you choose an ilah (god) other than me, I will certainly put you among the prisoners."
Muusa: Even if I bring you something manifest (and convincing)?
Fir'aun: "Bring it forth then, if you are of the truthful!"
So [Muusa (Moses)] threw his stick, and behold, it was a serpent, manifest. And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to all beholders! On the advice of his chiefs,
Fir'aun assembled well versed magicians and fixed a date for a competition between them and Muusa.
The magicians hearkened to Fir'aun's call on a promise of worldly rewards and set to business.:.
Muusa said [to the magicians]: "Throw what you are going to throw!"
So they threw their ropes and their sticks.
The Magicians said: "By the might of Firaun, it is we who will certainly win!"
Then Muusa threw his (own) stick, and behold, it swallowed up all the falsehoods which they showed! And the magicians fell down prostrate.
The Magicians: "We believe in the Lord of the 'aalamin, The Lord of Muusa and Haaroon.
Fir'aun: "You have believed in him before I give you leave. Surely, he indeed is your chief, who has taught you magic! So verily, you shall come to know." Verily, I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you all. The Magicians: No harm! Surely, to our Lord (Allah) we are to return. Verily! We really hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, as we are the first of the believers.
Points of Benefits
From the dialogue between Prophet Muusa and Fir'aun which Allaah has preserved for us, a number of profound etiquettes of dialogue can be deduced.
Present your dialogue with convincing arguments substantiated by textual and rational proofs. Maintain emotional balance and do not be tempted to lose the track of your argument to anger and jest for they close the receptiveness of the opponent from the onset of the dialogue. Set apart your past and present inadequacies from the impeccability of your message and seek Allaah's forgiveness for them.
Don't personalize issues and don't fall for it
Muusa avoided that pitfall when Fir'aun tried to lure him into personalizing the dialogue when he charged him with lunacy. The sincerity of your commitment to faith will be tested, be patient. As regards the one who disputed with Prophet Ibraaheem, Allaah says:"Have you not looked at him who disputed with Ibrahim (Abraham) about his Lord (Allah), because Allah had given him the kingdom? .." Ibrahim said: My Lord (Allah) is He Who gives life and causes death." Namrud says: "I give life and cause death". Prophet Ibrahim said: Verily! Allaah causes the sun to rise from the east, then cause it you to rise from the west. (So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. And Allah guides not the people. who are Zalimun [wrong-doers]) (Q2[Baqarah]:258).
Do not give the chance to your opponent in a dialogue to trivialize the issue at hand as the opponent of Ibrahim tried to do
Be decisive as early as possible and save yourself time which you could employ in other beneficial matters.
Dialogue with Parent
Allaah says: "And mention in the Book (the Quran) Ibrahim. Verily! He was a man of truth, a Prophet."
He presented the truth of Islaam to his father: saying: "O my father! Why do you worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything? O my father! Verily! There has come to me of Knowledge that which came not unto you. So follow me. I will guide you to a Straight Path. O my father! Worship not Shaitan. Verily, Shaitan has been a rebel against the Most Beneficent (Allah). O my father! Verily! I fear lest a torment from the Most Beneficent (Allah) overtake you, so that you become a companion of Shaitan (in the Hell-fire)."
Ibraahim's father: "Do you reject my gods, O Ibrahim? If you stop not (this), I will indeed stone you. So get away from me safely before I punish you."
Ibraahim: "Peace be on you! I will ask Forgiveness of my Lord for you. Verily! He is unto me, Ever Most Gracious. And I shall turn away from you and from those whom you invoke besides Allah. And I shall call on my Lord; and hope that I shall not be unblest in my invocation to my Lord..."
So when he had turned away from them and from those whom they worshipped besides Allah, We gave him Ishaque (Isaac) and Yaqub (jacob), and each one of them We made a Prophet.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited