Fir'awn is one of the greatest tyrants that Allaah created. Allaah gave him so much wealth and power that he saw himself as a deity that should be worshipped. Worse, he actually made his people worship him. People indeed worshipped him because they obeyed him in everything that he commanded them. At that time when Firawn was the king, there were two sets of people in Egypt; the native Egyptians and the Israelis who were migrants. Fir'awn punished the Isrealis and made them go through a lot of humiliation.
The root cause of this humiliation was because of the tale from sorcerers that informed him that a male from the household of the Israelis would cause the destruction of his kingdom and the end of his tyrannical reign. Thereafter, he ordered the killing of every male child from amongst them and allowed the female child to live. He even made the adults slaves to deepen the humiliation. After a long time Allaah raised a prophet from among the Children of Israel to rescue them from the torment that they were going through.
The name of the Prophet is Musa [AS]. Allaah instructed Prophet Musa along with his brother Haarun [AS] to go to Firawn and tell him to release the Children of Israel from the torment. Allaah gave Musa some signs [miracles] in order to convince Fir'awn that he was actually from Allaah and not an impostor. Allaah, the Exalted, informs of what Fir'awn said to Musa when he showed him one of the great proofs or signs.
This great sign to Fir'awn was Musa casting down his stick which became a huge snake. This he followed up with the sign of pulling his hand out from under his armpit and it became glowing white without any illness. At this, Fir'awn said, This is magic that you have brought to us to bewitch us and conquer the people, so that they will follow you. Then you will outnumber us. " Fir'awn then said, "Your plan will not work. We have magic just like yours. so do not let yourself be Firawn is one of the greatest tyrants that Allaah created. Allaah gave him so much wealth and power that he saw himself as a deity that should be worshipped. Worse, he actually made his people worship him. People indeed worshipped him because they obeyed him in everything that he commanded them.
At that time when Fir'awn was the king, there were two sets of people in Egypt; the native Egyptians and the Israelis who were migrants. Fir'awn punished the Isrealis and made them go through a lot of humiliation. The root cause of this humiliation was because of the tale from sorcerers that informed him that a male from the household of the Israelis would cause the destruction of his kingdom and the end of his tyrannical reign.
Thereafter, he ordered the killing of every male child from amongst them and allowed the female child to live. He even made the adults slaves to deepen the humiliation. After a long time Allaah raised a prophet from among the Children of Israel to rescue them from the torment that they were going through. The name of the Prophet is Musa [AS]. Allaah instructed Prophet Musa along with his brother Haarun [AS] to go to Fir'awn and tell him torelease the Children of Israel from the torment. Allaah gave Musa some signs [miracles] in order to convince Fir'awn that he was actually from Allaah and not an impostor.
Allaah,the Exalted, informs of what Fir'awn said to Musa when he showed him one of the great proofs or signs. This great sign to Fir'awn was Musa casting down his stick which became a huge snake. This he followed up with the sign of pulling his hand out from under his armpit and it became glowing white without any illness. At this, Fir'awn said, this is magic that you have brought to us to bewitch us and conquer the people, so that they will follow you. Then you will outnumber us. " Firawn then said, "Your plan will not work. We have magic just like yours. so do not let yourself be deceived by that what you are doing." Fir'awn sent for the best of magicians in his kingdom and informed them about Musa and his claims. He told the magicians [about seventy of them] that he would want them to have a magic contest with him and thereby put Prophet Musa to shame. Allaah says, "And Fir'awn said: "Bring me every well-versed sorcerer." [Q10:79].
The magicians met Prophet Musa and said: " ...Appoint a meeting between us and you" meaning. a day that we can come together to present some of our magic to confront yours. It will be at a specified place and time. On the Day of Celebration With this, Musa said to them, "Your appointed meeting is the day of festival, "That was the day of their celebration and their eid festivity. It was a holiday for them; so they took vacation from their work and came together for a large gathering. This day was selected so that all of the people could witness the confrontation but it was also for them to witness the power of Allaah to do whatever He wills.
They would see the miracles of the prophets and their nobility; and they will see the make-belief of the sorcerers and the futility of their magic. This is why Musa said, "And let the people assemble" [Q 20: 59]. Meaning all the people in the kingdom. On the Appointed Day So on the appointed day the Day of Celebration the people gathered at the time the sun had risen, just before noon. In this way the contest was most visible, well-lit, apparent and obvious in plain view. This is the way of the Prophets.
Their work is always clear and apparent. It is never something hidden. This is why he did not say that the meeting should be at night, but rather, it was to be held during the bright part of the day. As-Suddi, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd said, "It was the day of their great celebration." Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "It was a flat place where all of the people were on the same level, having an equal view of the event. There was nothing there that would obstruct the view so that some people could see what others did not." They Are Not Magicians! . Allaah says; "So Fir'awn withdrew, devised his plot and then came back.
Musa said to them: "Woe unto you! Invent not a lie against Allaah, lest He should destroy you completely by a torment. And surely, he who invents a lie against Allaah will fail miserably. " Then they debated one with another what they must do, and they kept their talk secret. They said: "Verily, these are two [Musa and Harun] magicians. Their object is to drive you out from your land with magic, and to take you away from your exemplary way." "So devise your plot, and then assemble in line. And whoever overcomes this day will be indeed successful. "[Q20: 60-64]
Fir"awn was there sitting upon his throne surrounded by the elite of his kingdom. The subjects were all standing on his right and his left. Then, Musa [AS] carne forward leaning upon his stick accompanied by his brother Harun [AS]. The magicians were standing in front of Fir"awn in rows and he was prodding them, inciting them and encouraging them to do their best on this day. They wanted to please him and he was promising them and inspiring them. They said, "Will there surely be a reward for us if we are the winners He (Firawn) said: "Yes, and you shall then verily be of those brought near (to myself. "[26:41-42]
Lies Fail Miserably: At this point Prophet Musa [AS] said to them: "Woe unto you! Invent not a lie against Allaah ..."This means, "Do not make an illusion before the people of something that is not real, making it appear as if it were a creature, when it is not really a creature. If you do this, then you would be lying on Allaah." "lest He (Allaah) should destroy you completely by a torment.
This means, He will destroy you with a destructive punishment that will not spare anything, or anyone. ...And surely, he who invents a lie will fail miserably. "[Q20:61] Allaah says; "They said: "0 Musa! Either you throw [your stick] first or we be the first to throw our ropes sticks)" Musa said: "Nay, throw you (first)!" Then behold! Their ropes and their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast [as snakes]". Allaah informs us that the magicians threw their sticks and ropes on the floor, lo and behold! The sticks and ropes started moving as if they were huge snakes. [Q20: 65-66]
Triumph of the truth.
At this point Prophet Musa was afraid and conceived fear in his heart but Allaah strengthened his heart by giving him assurance. Allaah says; "So Musa conceived fear in himself. We (Allaah) said: "Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand: "And throw that which Is in your right hand! It will swallow up that which they have made. That which they have made is only a magicians trick, and the magician will never be successful, to whatever amount (of skill) he may attain. "(Q20: 67-69] Prophet Musa did exactly as Allaah had instructed him. When he threw his own stick on the floor, it swallowed what they had made. It became a huge, monstrous creature with legs, a neck, a head and fangs. It went after these ropes and sticks until none of them remained, except that it was devoured and swallowed by this beast.
The good end is for the believers only! On seeing this, the magicians fell down prostrate. They said: We believe in the Lord of Harun and Musa. "[Q 20:70]. They knew that what Musa had done was more than magic since they were masters in the art. All the people and the magicians became Muslims and Firawn was disgraced.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited