Hirodayt, the Greek historian, called Egypt the gift of the Nile. Were it not for the Nile, there would be nothing called Egypt. Ice melted and flowed into the Nile. The Nile flowed over its banks. It made the land of Egypt fertile, thus agriculture spread throughout Egypt.

Wheat was the main crop in Egypt. The Egyptians made bread from wheat. Their bread was similar to our present bread. The farming of grapes spread in the delta of the Nile. There were big farms of grapes. At that time the Egyptians grew vegetables such as broad beans and chick pea. They liked onions, leek, garlic, cucumber, lettuce, etc.

They also used honey to sweeten some foodstuffs. They were very fond of growing flowers. They used them as decorations on occasions and festivals.

There were yearly floods. The Nile was the main link between the Southern and Northern Egypt.

For this reason the Egyptians made boats from the wood of some trees. The boats had one rudder and sails made of woven cloth.

During the floods the cities turned into small islands in the middle of a wide area of water.

At that time the Egyptians were familiar with many animals such as cats and dogs. They used dogs for hunting, oxen for plowing the land, and donkeys for carrying loads.

They grazed goats and sheep on their lands. They regarded the pig as an impure animal, for its meat rotted quickly.

The Egyptians were very fond of eating fish, which was plentiful in the Nile.

The Egyptians thought that crocodiles and river horses were dangerous animals, so they worshipped them. They worshipped lions for the same reason. They also worshipped jackals that walked about the graveyards.

The Egyptians knew how to read and write. Their language was hieroglyphic, which were engraved signs.

For example, the sign '𓇳' meant the sun. It also meant the word 'day'. There were other signs meaning other words.

The history of Egypt is divided into three periods:

• The first period is called the Ancient Kingdom (2600 2280 BC).
• The second period is called the Middle Kingdom (2100 1800 BC).
• The third period is called the Modem Kingdom (1500 1000 BC).

Dear ones, in the Story of our Prophet Yousif, you have read that Yousif was thrown into the well, and then he was taken to Egypt. You have read that he lived in Egypt for twenty years. You have also read that Ya'qub, his wife, and his children went to Egypt to meet Yousif

The children of Ya'qub, namely the children of Israel, remained in Egypt, and after ten years they became a great nation.

Yousif died and hundreds of years passed, so the people forgot that Yousif had made Egypt a favor.

Again the pharaohs ruled Egypt. They persecuted the people. The children of Israel had the greatest share of torture and oppression.

The men from among the children of Israel had to work from morning to evening. They had to be satisfied with a life of slavery and abasement. They had to worship the pharaoh, for he was the god of the people. For this reason, the children of Israel waited for someone to save them from the oppression of the pharaoh.

The children of Israel inherited good news from the time of Yousif and Ya'qub (A. S.). They waited for the birth of the person who would save them from torture.

The children of Israel faced increasing torture and oppression, so they talked very much about the savor. The Pharaoh heard the oppressed people talking of the savior. The fortune tellers also confirmed this fact.

They told him that a baby boy would be born, and that the baby would grow up and kill him.

The Pharaoh was afraid of this prophecy, thus he thought of a way to destroy the children of Israel.

The Pharaoh decided to kill all the baby boys who would be born at that time. He appointed some women to spy on pregnant women.

The Holy Koran has described that black period, saying: "And We saved you from Pharaoh's people, who tortured you severely, killed your sons, and spared your women."

The Pharaoh was wicked. He wanted to impose his authority on the people of Egypt, so he spared no effort to divide them. He made them quarrel with each other in order to control them.

The Egyptians regarded the children of Israel as strangers and slaves. They punished them severely. When they heard that one of the children of Israel would kill the Pharaoh, they treated them as prisoners of war of another state.

On the account of this, the children of Israel witnessed the worst period in their life. The police of the Pharaoh took male babies. They killed them or threw them into the Nile. Thus, mothers wept for their babies.

The Pharaoh killed those babies who were as pretty as flowers. He showed no mercy towards them. He was tyrannical and self conceited.

Allah wanted Musa to be born. Yokabid, the righteous woman, was sad because she was about to give birth to a baby. Meanwhile, the Egyptian tribe visited her frequently to know the gender of her baby.

In those critical conditions Yokabid gave birth to a boy baby. The baby was very lovely. Those who saw him adored him.

Allah, the Glorified, made people love Musa. For this reason the midwife said its mother: "Yokabid, don't be anxious. I will never say anything."

Allah inspired Yokabid to suckle Musa. The mother's heart was full of love for this baby whose face was bright and innocent. She asked herself: "Is Musa the promised boy?"

Days passed. The Pharaoh's spies looked for boy -babies. The Pharaoh thought in a wicked way. He wanted some agents to work for him without any wage. Thus, he decided: "I will kill boy babies year by year!"

In the year before the birth of Musa, Yokabid gave birth to a boy baby called Harun.

Harun was still a baby when Musa was born. Harun and Musa had a sister some years older than them. The sister was good and clever. She loved her brothers, was kind to them, and took care of them.

Some days passed and Yokabid was still suckling her baby. However, she was anxious. She thought that the spies would know that she had given birth to a baby boy.

Thus, she asked herself. "What will I do? How can I protect Musa from the danger of the Pharaoh? How can I save him from being killed? How can I rescue him from the daggers that have killed tens of innocent children and pained their mothers?"

Allah, the Glorified, inspired Musa's mother to make a small box to put Musa into it. He also inspired her to put the box on the water of the Nile.

The brave mother did this and her daughter helped her.

One night Musa's mother felt danger. She knew that the spies were looking for suckling babies. So Yokabid and her daughter went to the Nile in the dark.

The sad mother looked at the waves of the Nile. She looked at her little baby. Musa was asleep. She wanted to return home, but the inspiration urged her to hand the box to the waves of the Nile.

Yokabid looked at the sky full of stars, so she felt peace.

Yokabid believed in Allah. She was confident that Allah would protect her baby from all dangers such as crocodiles and river horses.

She was confident that Allah would return her baby to her.

In that moment, full of fear, faith, and love, Yokabid put the box on the water of the Nile.

The waves were bright because of the moonlight. They had mercy on the innocent, lonely baby. So they carried him far away.

Yokabid was looking at the box till it disappeared in the darkness. She was about to cry, but she looked at the stars, the moon, and the wide sky. She glorified Allah. She felt peace, so she and her daughter returned home. She felt that she would embrace her little baby again.

Yokabid did not sleep even a wink that night. She thought of Musa. She thought of that box tossed about by the waves of the Nile.

The sun rose. The people woke up. The fishermen went to the Nile. The farmers went to their fields. The shepherds went to the meadows.

The box was tottering among the waves of the Nile. A babyish voice came out of the box. The voice of the innocent baby who looked for a warm lap.

Asya, the Pharaoh's wife, was a good woman. She, unlike her husband was a humble woman. She loved people. She loved good and hated oppression.

She was displeased with her husband's wicked deeds.

In that lovely morning, Asya was sitting by the Nile looking at the boats.

Suddenly, she saw a small box heading for the green bank. The small box anchored as a beautiful boat did. Asya heard a babyish voice. She rose and ordered guard to bring her the box. There were slave girls with her. The guard brought the box. He greeted Asya, put the box in front of her, and then he walked backwards.

In the meantime the Pharaoh came. He was walking haughtily. In his hand was a rod made of ebony, set with pearls and gold.

When he pointed to something with his rod, his would carry out his orders.

The Pharaoh was frightened to see a baby boy in the box. He looked at the baby with malice. He said to himself: "I myself will kill this baby! Perhaps, he'll be the one who will kill me and destroy my kingdom!"

The Pharaoh pointed to the neck of the innocent baby with his black rod. The soldiers obeyed his order. They took the baby to kill him.

Asya was a good woman. She had no children. When she saw the baby, she became attached to it. At that terrible moment, she walked quickly to her husband, the Pharaoh, and said to him: "A refreshment of the eye to me and to you; do not slay him; maybe he will be useful to us, or we may take him for a son."

He knew that his wife was firm in her attitude. He said to himself: "My wife is The Pharaoh kept silent. Sad because she has no baby. Why don't I overlook this baby? Haven't I killed tens of babies? Wasn't the promised baby among them?" The Pharaoh turned his back and went away.

Asya hastened to embrace the innocent baby, Musa.

Musa's bright face was looking for love in the hearts. Its clear eyes were searching for a familiar face. However, the baby did not find that bright face. It was looking for a warm chest to have milk peacefully, but it did not find that.

Musa wept loudly, so Asya sent for some women to suckle him.

One woman came. The woman put Musa on her lap, but the baby went on weeping. The baby was hungry, but it refused to suck at the breast of any woman.

Musa went on weeping. Though he was very hungry, an astonishing ability prevented him from sucking.

Yokabid had faith in Allah. Her heart told her that Musa would come to her. What did that miserable mother do?

She said to her daughter: "Go and look for your brother. Let's know what has happened to him."

The sister went to the Nile looking for the box. She did not find it. She did not ask anybody about it, for no one knew its secret except her, her mother, and Allah.

The sister saw everything.

In that moving morning, she saw what was happening on the green bank in front of the Pharaoh's house surrounded by trees.

From behind a tree, she was looking at what was occurring. She listened with pain to the crying of her brother, who was looking for the breast of its mother.

Many women came to suckle Musa. Musa's sister came with them. She pretended she was a stranger.

When she saw Musa, she wanted to embrace him. However, she pretended she did not know the baby.

Asya was looking for a woman to nurse the lovely baby. For this reason, Musa's sister said: "Shall I point out to you the people of a house who will take care of him for you, and they will be benevolent to him?"

Asya rejoiced at that, and then she said: "Yes, bring her soon! The baby will die of crying!"

The young girl ran very quickly. She was very happy. She went to her mother to give her good news about what had happened.

Yokabid came. She pretended she did not know the baby. She was a little late, for she did not want the people to doubt her.

When Yokabid came, she saw Asya waiting for her eagerly. She took Musa, and did her best to hide her feelings. She pretended she was not his mother.

Suddenly, Musa kept silent on the lap of his mother. Asya was happy when she saw him sucking milk.

Asya thought that she had to hire Yokabid to suckle the baby. Yokabid did not want the people to doubt her, so she said: "I'm nursing my son, Harun."

Asya said: "You're a strong woman. You've the ability to suckle two babies at one time. I will reward you well."

Yokabid pretended she would agree to nurse Musa for the reward. Thus, Musa came back to his mother, and Allah's promise became true.

The faith of Musa's mother in Allah doubled. She understood that Allah had power over all things, and that no one had the ability to change His decree.

Mumfis ^[1] was the capital of the Pharaohs at that time. It was on the bank of the Nile. The Pharaoh ordered his palace to be built to the north of this city.

The Pharaoh's palace was on the left bank of the Nile. In a desert area, to the west of the city, the Pharaohs ordered their graves to be built. Their graves are called pyramids. They are still standing in the area of al-Jazira.

Musa finished the period of nursing on his mother lap. He was then moved to live in the Pharaoh's palace, which was outside the city to the north.

Musa grew up. He was a wise young man. He wore a uniform similar to that of the Egyptian noblemen. All the people looked at him and regarded him as the Pharaoh's son.

However, Musa was not as they imagined. He was a good young man. He loved the weak and had mercy on them. He hated the Pharaoh's manners.

Musa grew up and his intellect grew, also. He was a young man with strong muscles, so all the people respected him. However, Musa was not deceived by his strength. Rather he increased in humbleness. He did not believe in the Pharaoh as the god of the people. He thought that the Pharaoh was a false, tyrannical god. That is because he thought that it was impossible for man to be a god.

During that period, which lasted for eighteen years, Musa knew many facts: He knew that he was not the son of the Pharaoh, that he was not an Egyptian, that he was the son of Umran, who belonged to the children of Israel.

Musa knew that the children of Ya'qub (Israel) emigrated from Palestine to Egypt. He knew that they came to Egypt after Yousif, son of Ya'qub, had become a great leader there. Moreover, he knew that Yousif had saved Egypt from famine hundreds of years before.

Now the children of Israel or of Ya'qub became the slaves of the Pharaoh. Thus, the Pharaoh punished them severely. He killed their babies and enslaved their men. He ordered all the people to worship him only.

Musa went to the city frequently. He sometimes did not go the Pharaoh's palace. He hated his soft linen clothes. So he wore coarse woolen clothes.

Musa thought of the final result of the children of Ya'qub (Israel), for they became a great nation.

However, the children of Ya'qub led a life full of fear and abasement. They were afraid of the Pharaoh, so they waited for someone to save them. They had nothing to do except wait.

Musa did not remain indifferent to what was happening. Rather, he spared no effort to save the oppressed from the Pharaoh. For this reason he sometimes left the Pharaoh's palace and went to the city to face those who were carrying out this oppression.

When he entered the city, he saw some Egyptians holding whips. He saw them lashing the oppressed children of Ya'qub with their whips without any reason.

Musa then hastened to support the oppressed. He severely punished the oppressive, so they escaped from him.

One day Musa went out of the palace, which was in the north of the city of Mumfis.

He entered the city. The time was noon. The people were returning home. There was no activity in the city. The streets and the lanes were about empty of passers by.

Musa saw two men quarreling. One man was an Egyptian; the other was from the children of Israel.

The Egyptian was lashing Israelite with his whip. The Israelite was asking people for help.

Thus, Musa hastened to help the oppressed man. Musa was a strong man. Allah had given him a strong body.

Musa hindered the Egyptian and pushed him away. However, the Egyptian wanted to continue quarreling. Musa hit him violently and he fell on the ground.

Musa felt that he had committed a mortal sin. He thought that it was not right for him to do that.

The Pharaoh was indignant with Musa because of his monotheistic views. He ordered his spies to watch Musa's behavior.

Musa thought that the Pharaoh would use the killing of the Egyptian as a pretext to punish the children of Israel severely. He thought that the Pharaoh would move the malice of the Egyptians against him and the children of Israel.

There was no one there to know what had happened. For this reason Musa disappeared.

The police were looking for the killer.

Musa did not return to the Pharaoh's palace. He was afraid of the Pharaoh's severe punishment, so he spent that night in the city. An unexpected thing happened.

Musa saw the same Israelite quarreling with another Egyptian. The Israelite asked Musa for help.

Musa was displeased with what had happened before; nevertheless he hastened to support the oppressed Israelite. He walked towards them. Addressing the Israelite, he said: "Indeed you are a manifest erring one!" "You always quarrel with people! This is not right!"

The Israelite thought that Musa would kill him. For this reason he shouted, saying: "Musa, do you want to kill me as you killed a person yesterday? Surely you want to be a tyrant in the land; you do not want to be of those who do righteousness."

The people heard that, so they understood that Musa was a killer. Thus, the spies hurried to the Pharaoh to inform him of that.

The Pharaoh and the men of his state plotted against Musa in the palace. The Pharaoh thought that Musa was the promised person. He thought that Musa would not refrain from spreading his dangerous views.

Before the spies informed him, the Pharaoh had known that it was Musa who killed the Egyptian.

For this reason the Pharaoh decided to kill Musa at any cost.

There was a good Egyptian. The Egyptian loved Musa. That is because Musa had good qualities such as bravery, doing good, and helping the weak.

The good Egyptian hurried to the city to look for Musa. He entered the city. He asked the people about Musa till he found him. Warning Musa, the good Egyptian said: "Musa, the chiefs are plotting against you to kil lyou. So I advise you to go out (of the city)."

Musa had no time to wait. He thought that the Pharaoh would kill him, so he decided to leave Egypt quickly

He embarked on a boat to cross to the right bank of the Nile. From there he headed for the east, and then he headed for al Siways Gulf. He aimed to arrive in the land of Madyan.

Musa looked at the sky and said humbly: "May my Lord guide me to the right path!" The police of the Pharaoh looked for Musa everywhere. However, Musa was covering the deserts and the mountainous turns on the Red Sea and the Nile Delta.

Sina' was covered with sand. Musa was lonely in those mountainous turns on the beach of the Red Sea.

Thirty days passed; nevertheless Musa was still traveling the road in Sina' desert.

He covered tens of miles on foot a day, so his legs swelled. He ate nothing except wild plants. The sun was about to set when Musa arrived in the land of Madyan.

Madyan was not under the control of the Pharaohs. It was an area in the middle of the way between al Hijaz (Saudi Arabia) and Egypt; it was I close to the eastern coast of al 'Aqaba Gulf.

Musa looked over the wide valley. He sat by a ten rock shaded by a bush.

After the long walk, Musa was very tired. The sun was about to set.

Strong shepherds were leading their cattle to the well. Musa was looking at them.

The western horizon was filled with wavy orange and red colors. While Musa was carefully considering nature, he felt its splendor enter his heart.

He forgot his pains and tiredness. His soul melted in the atoms of the wide universe.

His journey, which lasted for a month, strengthened his faith. It made his heart open to receive great facts.

Musa listened to the bleat of the sheep heading for the only well in the desert.

The shepherds shouted loudly. They pushed each other to go first to water their sheep. Musa saw a new view of oppression. He saw that the strong went first to water their sheep. As for the weak, they had to wait. They bad to bear the pain of waiting and bitterness of patience.

The strong shepherds filled the basin with water for their sheep. In the meantime two young girls appeared. They were keeping back their cattle. They were waiting for the shepherds to finish watering their sheep.

As usual Musa hurried to help them. He forgot the pain of his swollen legs.

He walked towards the two young girls and asked them politely: "What's the matter?"

The two young girls answered: "We will not water (our sheep) till the shepherds take away (their sheep) from the water, and our father is a very old man."

Musa was very tired and hungry; nevertheless manhood created a great ability in his heart.

He caught the bucket and threw it into the deep well. The shepherds stood to look at the strange man and his strong muscles.

Musa filled the basin with water. Thus, the two young girls watered their cattle.

The two young girls were happy. On that day they went home early.

Their father, who was a very old man, was the prophet Shu'ayb (A. S.). He saw his daughters coming home early.

He said with astonishment: "What happened?"

One of his daughters replied: "A good young man came to us. I think he's a stranger. He had mercy on us when he watered our sheep."

The other explained: "Father, he seemed to be tired and hungry."

The father said: "Daughter, ask him to come home to give him his wage."

Musa went back to his place. He was very hungry, so he looked at the sky and said: "My Lord, surely I stand in need of whatever good You may send down to me."

Musa wished for even one date to calm the pain of his hunger. Allah, the Glorified, accepted his prayer.

Shu'ayb's daughter came to him walking bashfully. She stopped close to him and said to him politely: "My father invites you to give you the reward of your having watered for us."

Musa accepted the invitation of the generous man (Shu'ayb), so he went with the young girl to her father's house.

Before having the food, Musa thanked Allah, the Glorified, for accepting his prayer.

Musa told Shu'ayb about the Pharaoh of Egypt who oppressed his people.

Shu'ayb assured his guest, saying: "Do not be afraid You are secure from the unjust people." "The Pharaoh doesn't rule this land," added Shu'ayb.

Shu'ayb loved his guest. Musa always mentioned Allah, the Glorified, before and after every thing. Shu'ayb adored Allah. Therefore, he loved the believers.

Musa told Shu'ayb that he belonged to the descendants of Ya'qub, and then to the descendants of Ibrahim, the Friend of Allah, (A.S.). Thus, Shu'ayb became attached to Musa.

Shu'ayb knew that Musa was truthful. He became aware of this during a family conversation when his daughter said: "My father, employ him. Indeed the best one you employ is the strong, the truthful one."

Shu'ayb asked his daughter: "We've known his strength. How do you know his truthfulness?"

She replied: "When I went to him to ask him to the house, he bowed his head and did not look at me. He asked me to walk behind him and to show him the way."

In the presence of his daughter, Shu'ayb said to Musa: "I want to marry you to one of these daughters of mine."

Musa was a poor man, so he kept silent out of bashfulness. However, Shu'ayb said to him: "You should graze my sheep for eight years. If you want to e them for ten years, then you'll do us a favor. I don't want to make marriage difficult for you. Rather, I will take your rights into consideration."

Musa politely answered: "This shall be (an agreement) between me and you; which of the terms I fulfill There shall be no wrong doing to me. And Allah is witness of what we say."

Musa got married in the land of Madyan. He settled there; nevertheless he did not forget the oppressed people in Egypt. However, he began practicing his work actively and sincerely. He grazed the sheep. He took them to the meadows, the hills, and the valleys, and then he brought them at sunset.

Musa never annoyed the shepherds. He chose for his cattle places full of grass, and then he considered carefully the creatures around him. He learned many things: he knew how to graze the sheep in the pastures.

He watched them and protected them from wolves. The sheep did not know what to do; they responded to the shepherd's rod. When they looked at the shepherd, they felt security, so they went to cat grass peacefully.

How beautiful the life in those pastures was! Thus, Musa always glorified Allah.

The sun rose every day. It crossed the sky to draw bright colors in the horizon, and then it set. So Musa's soul was full of humbleness for the Almighty Creator. Thus Musa felt that the Pharaoh was small and low. He asked himself: "Why does this weak person, the Pharaoh, claim that he is a god?"

The weak persons in Egypt were afraid of the Pharaoh. They pretended that they worshipped him.

The years passed in this way. Musa lived in Madyan for ten years.

He became forty years of age. His experience in life doubled.

When Musa fulfilled all his obligations, he wanted to return to Egypt. He felt that he had a task and he had to fulfill that task.

One winter evening, while the people of Madyan were sitting about their fireplaces, Musa said to Shu'ayb: "The agreement between you and me is over. I must return to Egypt."

I will ask Allah, the Glorified, to protect you from the wickedness of the Pharaoh, said Shu'ayb, "Allah will grant you a victory over the Pharaoh, for you follow the right path."

One lovely morning, Musa took his sheep, left the land of Madyan, and headed for Egypt.

Musa did not forget Egypt throughout those years. He did not forget the oppressed people there.

He thought of a way to save the Egyptians from oppression and ignorance. The people of Egypt had forgotten the religion of Ibrahim, of Ya'qub, and of Yousif, They had forgotten that only Allah was the Lord of the worlds, and that the Pharaoh was a mere weak person.

When man forgets Allah, he is afraid of all things. When he believes in Allah and fears no one except Him, he is free and brave. Thus the oppressive are afraid of him.

The desert was very large. Musa b. 'Umran, aged forty years, left Madyan to return to Egypt.

He was full of fear when he left Egypt by himself. He lived in the land of Madyan for ten years. He got married. He had a family and a flock of sheep.

He was now driving his sheep to return to his home land.

As Musa was walking in the desert, he saw small mountains in the distance.

The winter wind blew and blasted Musa's face. While Musa was walking, he protected his sheep with his own rod. He wore woolen clothes because by nature he loved humble and simple life.

For this reason, Musa hated the Pharaoh Minfitah, who wore linen clothes set with gold.

Musa was now in the middle of the way, close to al Toor Mountain, in the island of Sina'.

It got dark. The cold winter wind blew strongly. Musa was perplexed, for he had lost his way.

Musa's wife shook with cold. Musa looked in all directions to find the way. Suddenly, light flashed in the direction of al Toor Mountain. Musa saw fire flaming in the distance, so he said to his wife: "I can see fire. Stay here till I bring you a brand of it to warm ourselves. I may find the way."

Musa said that, and then he headed for the fire flaming in the dark.

Little by little Musa approached the place, but he found no one near the tree.

There he found a tree burning, but he found no one to ask him the way to Egypt.

How wonderful that place was! Musa felt that the place was full of silence and calmness. There was neither wind nor cold at it. The place was so calm that Musa heard the fall of his rod when it hit the ground. Suddenly, Musa heard a voice. The voice said to him: "Take off your shoes. Surely you are in the sacred valley, Tuwa."

Musa felt fear. He took off his shoes and asked himself about the owner of the voice. Thus he heard him say: "Musa, surely I am Allah, the Lord of the worlds."

The voice possessed Musa's heart. So Musa prostrated himself to Allah. The words penetrated his heart as light penetrated the clear water of a lake.

Then Allah ordered Musa, saying: "Musa, cast down your rod."

Musa obeyed Allah and cast down his rod on the ground. An astonishing thing happened at that moment. Suddenly, the rod turned into a fearful snake. The snake began running. Musa was frightened, so he stepped back.

Musa heard a voice calling him from the right side of the valley: "Musa, come! Do not be afraid! You are no among the safe ones! Musa, do not be afraid, for messengers fear nothing!

A wonderful light enlightened Musa's heart. Musa felt tranquility and peace, for he was Allah's messenger.

The voice said to Musa: "Cause your hand to enter your pocket and it shall come out white."

Musa put his hand into his pocket, and then he brought it out, so it had a bright color.

Musa looked at his hand. He found it sound. Thus, he prostrated himself to Allah, Allah has power over all things. Nothing can limit His power. These signs are enough for people to believe in the power of Allah, the One and Only.

Musa tried to drive away his fear. Thus, he heard the Voice saying to him: "Put your hand on your chest."

Musa put his hand on his chest, then he felt that his heart was completely calm.

Ordering Musa to propagate His message, Allah said: "Go to Pharaoh. Indeed he has become a tyrant."

Now, Musa had to fight against the oppressive. He had to advise the Pharaoh to refrain from his enmity and haughtiness and to submit to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

Musa asked Allah to send someone with him to help him with his task: "My Lord, I had killed a person from them. So I am afraid that they will kill me."

Musa remembered the accident that took place ten years ago. The Pharaoh never forgot that. He bore malice against Musa. He tried to seize the opportunity to kill him.

Musa begged Allah, saying: "My lord, my brother Harun is more eloquent than me in tongue. Make him support me and take part in my message. If I went by myself, they'll accuse me of lying. I want someone to back me and confirm my message."

Allah, the Glorified, accepted Musa's prayer, so He said to him: "We will strengthen your arm with your brother, and We will give you both an authority, so that they shall not reach you; (go) with Our signs; you two and those who follow you shall be uppermost."

"Musa, do not be afraid. Surely I am with you. I hear and see. Go both of you to Pharaoh. Surely he has become a tyrant. Then speak a gentle word. He may mind or fear."

Again silence prevailed the Sacred Valley. The fire disappeared. Musa came back to his family, who were waiting for him.

Musa came back carrying the burdens of Allah's great message. He found the way to Egypt.

For this reason be walked quickly sticking his rod into the sands of the desert.

Musa headed for the south of the capital Mumfis, where the children of Ya'qub lived.

Oppression increased. The torture against the children of Israel doubled. Musa came back to them. He gave them good news about Allah's message. He promised them that he would save them from oppression.

The children of Ya'qub were afraid of the Pharaoh. However, they felt hope.

Harun stood by his brother Musa. Musa was more confident when he felt the there was someone to support and help him.

Harun was eloquent in tongue. When he talked, he talked in the name of the truth and justice. He had no fear of anyone except Allah.

For this reason, Musa asked Allah to make Harun participate in the message. Musa wanted his brother to help him, to work together, to shake oppression, to destroy wickedness, and to spread good and justice.

Musa and Harun decided to go the Pharaoh's palace outside the city.

They walked on the bank of the Nile heading northwards. Musa was leaning on his rod. They both were wearing woolen shirts.

The saw the Pharaoh's palace in the distance. The palace was magnificent. Its walls were built of rocks covered with accurately smoothed wood. As for its floor, it was covered with marble. As for its furniture, it was made of ivory and gold.

Musa and Harun went into the palace, and then they entered the royal court. There sat the Pharaoh on an ebony throne covered with gold. In the Pharaoh's hand was a short rod decorated with gold and precious stones.

Musa politely greeted the Pharaoh. However, the Pharaoh received him with his known haughtiness. He did not look at the light that came out of Musa's eyes. He did not look at his humbleness and simplicity. He did not look at his strong character when he stood before him bravely. He looked at his woolen clothes only. He made a comparison between Musa's clothes and his linen clothes decorated with gold. He also made a comparison between his hands full of gold bracelets and that of Musa's. For this reason he looked at Musa with haughtiness.

The Pharaoh was not by himself With him were his minister Haman and the men of his state.

The Pharaoh considered Musa carefully. Musa escaped from Egypt ten years ago. Now, he returned with firm faith.

"Musa, have you come?" asked the Pharaoh.

"Yes, " replied Musa, "I've brought you the good of this world and the next one."

"What do you mean?" asked the Pharaoh.

"Allah's sent me to you to serve Him,' answered Musa.

"Allah?" asked the Pharaoh.

"Allah is the Lord of the worlds, replied Musa, "He's your Lord and the Lord of your early fathers."

The Pharaoh looked at the men of his state with astonishment, and then he asked them: "Don't you listen?"

Musa added: "He's the Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them."

The Pharaoh looked angrily at his men, and then he said with mockery: "Indeed your messenger's mad!"

Haman bowed to the Pharaoh, and then he addressed Musa, saying: "You're talking about dangerous views. All the people worship the Pharaoh and prostrate themselves to him. The children of Israel also worship him. The Pharaoh's the god of Egypt."

Harun answered calmly: "The Pharaoh's not a god!"

Then Musa answered: "Only Allah is the Lord we must serve. It is He Who has created the world and life. It is Allah Who creates clouds and sends down rain. It is He Who creates the tree."

Trying to defeat Musa, the Pharaoh said: "Musa, you've forgotten many things. You've forgotten that we brought you up when you were a baby."

Musa said: "You killed the children of Israel. You tortured their men, and enslaved their women. This is not a favor, as you have made the children of Israel worship you."

"What about the sin you committed when you escaped from Egypt?" asked the Pharaoh.

"That took place by mistake," answered Musa, "I didn't intend to kill the man. I escaped from Egypt because you planned to kill me. Allah, the Glorified, has chosen me as a messenger for you. So send with me the children of Israel, and don't torture them."

The Pharaoh shouted with anger: "Musa, you've no right to say such words! You're talking about views no wise man can believe! Nobody can believe that there's one god who manages all things! Is there anyone who can abandon all gods? What are you? Look at your worn out clothes! You've worn nothing worthy of looking. Musa, listen to me! If you choose a god other than me, I will throw you into a dark prison!"

Musa said: I will give you a proof of my true message and words."

The Pharaoh said with haughtiness: "A proof? What is your proof, Musa? Give me your proof if you are truthful!"

Musa did not do anything except that he put his rod before the Pharaoh. Suddenly a wonderful thing happened and scared the Pharaoh and the men of his state. The wonderful thing was that Musa's rod turned into a fearful snake. The snake began crawling on the marble. The Pharaoh was motionless, and his face was as yellow as a lemon. Silence prevailed the place. There was no sound except that of the terrible snake.

All the people saw for the first time that the self-conceited Pharaoh was about to escape from the snake. The Pharaoh saw Musa walking towards the snake to catch it. Musa touched the snake and it turned into a rod. The Pharaoh was full of malice. He felt that his throne was in danger, so he asked himself: "Musa has a strong weapon what shall I do?"

The Pharaoh pretended that what had happened was mere magic.

Musa understood that, so he put his hand into his pocket and then he brought it out. His hand flashed and lighted the place. That was a wonderful sign.

The Pharaoh was not stupid when he saw what had happened, but he was self conceited. He did not think about anything except his throne and his interests. He walked toward Musa and asked him: "What do you want, Musa?"

Musa replied in the manner of the prophets: "I want you to send the children of Israel with me. It is enough for them that they have suffered from torture, abasement, and enslavement."

The Pharaoh said to himself. "If I hand over the children of Israel to Musa, I will lose all the workers who work without wages. In the meantime, Musa will form a great army from them to threaten my authority and throne. I'd better keep them as prisoners of war and employ them to do hard work."

The Pharaoh wanted to terrify the men of his state and to provoke them against Musa, so he shouted: "Musa is a magician; he wants to take you out of your land with his magic."

The states men looked at Musa with astonishment, so Haman said to him: "Musa, there are many skillful magicians doing astonishing magic! You are one of them! You always plot against the Egyptians to banish them from the land of Egypt. I will bring you magic stronger than yours! Therefore, we must appoint a time!"

Musa answered with calmness and faith: "Our time will be in the morning of the feast day so that the people of Egypt may attend it."

The Pharaoh planned to defeat Musa. He thought that there were many magicians who would do wonderful things.

During that time the Pharaoh told the people of Egypt that the day of the Festival would witness a unique magic competition between the magicians

The Pharaoh ordered his soldiers to go all over Egypt to gather the greatest magicians.

The magicians came from everywhere. They were a fearful sight because they had long hair and had ropes and rods in their hands.

The Pharaoh thought that the magicians would save his throne from danger, so he said to them: "Musa claims that there is a god other than me. He has challenged me with his own magic. If you defeat him, I will make you states men."

One of the magicians asked the Pharaoh: "Will you award us if we defeat Musa?"

"Yes," answered 'the Pharaoh, "I will give you a lot of gold and jewels. The people will gather tomorrow morning. Tomorrow will be the Festival day. I want you to do wonderful magic."

The greatest magicians said: "His Majesty, the Pharaoh, I swear by your might that we will defeat Musa!"

The Pharaoh thought that he would defeat Musa with magic.

The sun rose and shone over the Nile. The water flashed as it was flowing northwards.

That day was happy because it was the day of the Festival or the day of ornament. The people wore their new clothes and went out for a walk.

That day was moving because it witnessed a competition between the magicians. The Pharaoh had gathered the greatest magicians to confront Musa and Harun.

Some people thought that the victory of the magicians over Musa would be a victory for the Egyptians over the children of the Israel. As for the oppressed people, they wanted Musa to defeat the magicians to avenge themselves on the Pharaoh, who had oppressed them.

As for Musa and Harun, they thought that they would defeat unbelief, the miracle would defeat magic, and the truth would defeat falsehood.

Thousands of people came from everywhere to watch the exciting competition between the Pharaohs.

The soldiers and the guards stood in lines, and then the team of the magicians came.

The soldiers and the guards greeted the magicians, and the people bowed to them. The people at that time believed in magic, and the magicians had a religious power over people.

Musa and his brother Harun came wearing woolen clothes. Musa was carrying his wonderful rod in his hand.

They stood before the magicians who were carrying rods and ropes.

Silence prevailed the place. The magicians exchanged meaningful looks. They thought that they would defeat Musa and his brother Harun, and that they would gain gold, glory, and high ranks in the state.

In the meantime, the sound of the trumpet broke the silence to show the arrival of the Pharaoh's procession.

Minfitah, the Pharaoh, was sitting on the gold royal throne carried by soldiers and surrounded by guards.

The people, the soldiers, the leaders, and the magicians prostrated themselves to the Pharaoh.

They all prostrated themselves to him except two persons who were Musa and his brother Harun, who did not prostrate themselves to anyone except Allah.

The Pharaoh felt that his heart was full of malice. He decided to punish Musa severely and to teach him how to prostrate to the Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

Silence prevailed the place again. All the onlookers waited for the beginning of the competition between Musa and the magicians.

The chief of the magicians said to Musa: "Musa, either you cast down you rod or we cast down ours!"

Musa replied: "I'm not a magician. I warn you against what you are going to do. Surely, Allah will punish you for your false deeds."

The magicians asked: "Who is going to cast down his rod first?"

Catching his rod strongly, Musa answered: "You cast down your rods first!"

The magicians cast down many ropes and rods. They began saying vague words and doing terrible movements.

A fearful atmosphere prevailed the place. All the onlookers imagined that the yard was full of snakes. The Pharaoh looked at the magicians.

Musa was not afraid of the snakes, but he was afraid that the people would believe in magic more and more.

Haman greeted the magicians, and then he ordered the soldiers to clap for them.

Allah, the Glorified, inspired His servant, saying: "Do not be afraid, surely you are the higher, and cast down what is in your right hand."

Musa looked at the clear, blue sky, and then he cast his own rod.

An unexpected thing happened. Musa's rod turned into a huge snake. The snake crawled and began swallowing up all the ropes, the rods, and all those imaginary snakes.

The magicians the Pharaoh brought were from among the leading magicians in Egypt. There was no one more skillful than them in magic and jugglery, so they were more aquatinted with the rules of magic than others.

The ropes and the rods did not turn into snakes. Rather the people imagined that they were snakes, for the magicians bewitched their eyes.

The magicians saw what Musa did. They saw his rod turning into a true snake crawling and swallowing up their rods and ropes, so they prostrated themselves to Allah and understood that Musa was not a magician as the Pharaoh said.

They understood that Musa was not a magician, and that he was a messenger from Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

For this reason, all the magicians prostrated themselves to Allah. They prostrated to Him and said firmly: "We have believed in Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of Musa and Harun!"

Minfitah, the Pharaoh, was about to burst with malice and anger.

The prostration of the magicians to Allah and not to the Pharaoh meant that Musa had defeated the Pharaoh, and that Musa's miracle had defeated magic.

The Pharaoh felt that his throne was in danger, so he shouted at the magicians in a terrible way: "Why have you believed in Musa before I permit you? I know what has happened! It is Musa who has taught you magic! I will punish you severely! I will kill you all! I will crtl,7ify you on the trunks of the pahn trees! I will make others learn a lesson from you! "

All the magicians believed firmly in Allah at one moment, so they said in one voice: "We are not afraid of your threat! It was you who had forced us to do magic! Now, we have seen Musa's miracle with our own eyes! We have known that the real Lord is Allah! As for you, you are a person like us! From now on, we will never prostrate to you!"

The Pharaoh said angrily: "You will know who is the stronger! I will kill you all!"

The magicians said bravely: "We will choose nothing except the faith in Allah, the One and Only, the Lord of the heavens and the earth! Allah will forgive us our sin! As for you, you will do nothing except in this transient world! As for the next world, it will be for us and all the believing people!"

One of the magicians turned to the people and said to them: "What Musa has done is not magic; it is one of Allah's signs."

The Pharaoh commanded his guards to attack the magicians. Thus, the guards took the believing men to the yard of execution.

Some people saw Musa's miracle, but they kept their belief in Allah secret.

A man called Hizqal, belonged to the Pharaoh's family, believed in Musa's message. Asya, the Pharaoh's wife, also believed in his message.

One that day, the people scattered and went back to their houses. They talked about Musa's miracle. The people of Egypt and the children of Israel knew that Musa and Harun confronted the Pharaoh and urged people to serve Allah, the One and Only. They knew that the Pharaoh was unable to defeat Musa and Harun, so they admired the brave attitude of Musa and Harun.

Musa aimed to save the children of Israel from abasement and slavery. He wanted to take them to a place out of Egypt so that they would be able to serve Allah far away from the oppression of the Pharaohs.

However, Minfitah, the Pharaoh, always refused to hand over the children of Israel to Musa, for he thought that he would lose many slaves who worked from morning to evening without any wage.

During that time, Musa became the leader of the children of Israel. The oppressed people regarded Musa as the one who would save them from oppression, exploitation, and slavery.

Musa lived with his people in the south of the capital Mumfis. He lived among the poor districts. From there he led the anti-Pharaoh resistance.

Many exciting stories took place during that period. Among them was a unique story. The story was about the end of Qarun, who mutinied against Musa and was deceived by his treasures and gold. What was Qarun's story and how was his end?

The defeat of magic before the miracle of the prophet had a great effect on the people of Egypt, who announced their faith in Allah.

The Pharaoh, who was self-conceited and stubborn, planned to block Musa's attempts at spreading the religion of Divine Oneness.

Some persons from among the Pharaoh's family supported Musa. Among them was Asya, the Pharaoh's wife. She announced her belief in Musa's message bravely.

Minfitah, the Pharaoh, was selfish; he loved nothing except himself. For this reason, he did not respect his wife, the Queen of Egypt, nor did he have mercy on her.

The Pharaoh summoned his wife and threatened her, but she did not withdraw from her faith, so the Pharaoh commanded the police to punish her severely. However, Asya, who tasted faith, looked at the sky and said: "My Lord, build me a house in Paradise and save me from the Pharaoh!"

Asya suffered from torture till she died and joined the Heavenly Kingdom. She died a martyr because of her belief in Allah. When the Pharaoh heard of her death, he became sad.

The Pharaoh punished the children of Israel severely and killed the believers.

The oppressed children of Israel came to Musa, Wept and said to him: "The Pharaoh has punished us for long years before and at your time!"

Asking them to be patient, Musa said: "Ask Allah for help. The earth belongs to Allah. He devises it to whomever He wishes from His servants. I assure you that the believers will win the final result."

The Pharaoh planned to kill Musa. He thought that if he killed Musa, his throne would be safe from danger.

There was a believing person of the family of the Pharaoh. The person kept his faith secret. No one knew that this Egyptian person, who was a statesman, believed in Musa's message.

The person pretended that he visited the temples. He said nothing against the Pharaoh; nevertheless, he supported Musa and Allah's religion.

When he discovered a plot against Allah's religion and the Prophet, he faced it in a cleaver way.

One day the Pharaoh met the men of his state. The believing person was present at the meeting. The Pharaoh discussed with his statesmen a way to kill Musa.

Some of the statesmen confirmed the view; some kept silent. As for the believing person, he warned them against the final result, saying: "Why do you kill a person who has no guilt except that he has believed in Allah? His message is not false. He has given you proofs of it. Have you forgotten his rod? Have you forgotten that he defeated the magicians? Have you forgotten that he saved you from the floods, frogs, and grasshoppers?"

The believing person added: "You begged him several times to save you from those disasters. You had promised him to believe in his message. When he saved you from the disasters, you returned to your stubbornness!

I am afraid that Allah will punish you. I am afraid that your final result will be like that of the people of Noah, 'Ad., and Thamud.

I am afraid that Allah will punish you on the Day of Judgment

I do not know why you doubt Allah's religion. You had doubted Yousif's message. When Yousif died, you said that Allah would not send a prophet after him. You do not want to follow the right path. For this reason, Allah does not guide the people who follow the path of error!"

Hizqal's words were effective. Some statesmen kept silent; some looked at the Pharaoh.

The Pharaoh turned to his minister Haman and said to him with mockery: "Haman, I want you to build me a very high tower, for I want to look at the sky to see the God of Musa. I think that Musa is a liar."

Haman left the meeting to achieve the Pharaoh's aim. When the meeting was over, the statesmen were perplexed, not knowing what to do.

However, the Pharaoh went on plotting against Musa.

Qarun belonged to the children of Israel. Allah gave Qarun great wealth. Qarun did not thanked Allah for this great wealth nor did he help the poor. Rather he was haughty.

Qarun was rich; he had many treasures; he was deceived by his gold and silver, so be used to treat the common people with haughty contempt. He thought that gold and silver were the sources of power.

He copied the Pharaoh's uniform.

The believers advised Qarun to give up haughtiness and not to be deceived by his gold, silver, and treasure. They said to him: "Do not forget the Day of Judgment. Do not forget the next world. Act for your life in the hereafter. Spend some of your gold and silver on the poor. Thank Allah for what He has given I you. Be kind to people as Allah is kind to you. Do not spread corruption in the land."

However, Qarun answered with haughtiness: "I have collected my wealth with my own hand. I know how to earn money. I have gathered my wealth with my scientific cleverness!"

Some people liked Qarun, so they obeyed him and disobeyed their prophet Musa (A. S.). They hoped that Qarun would give them some money.

One day Qarun wore clothes set with gold and went out walking proudly before the people.

Some poor people said: "How happy Qarun is! How great his luck is! Only if we had what Qarun had been given! Indeed he has great luck!"

However, the believers said to the poor persons: "Indeed the reward of Allah is better for him who believes (in Allah) and does good."

Musa came and advised Qarun: "Do not spread corruption in the land. Do not be deceived by your belongings and wealth."

However, Qarun was self-conceited and bore malice against Musa.

For this reason, he plotted against the Prophet. He sometimes accused him of lying. He gathered the children of Israel and rumored among them false accusations against Musa.

Musa (A. S.) asked Allah to punish Qarun severely, so Allah became indignant with Qarun, the self-conceited one. A terrible thing happened; the ground under Qarun's palace shook.

Qarun saw his palace shaking, so he was frightened. He wanted to escape, but the ground swallowed him up. At that moment, Qarun, his palace and his treasures disappeared. Thus, Qarun became a lesson for others.

Some people envied Qarun for his wealth. When they saw his final result, they regretted and understood that good deeds were better than gold treasures, for good deeds benefit man in this world and the next one. As for gold, haughtiness, self-conceitand treasures, they destroy their owners.

The Pharaoh, the self-conceited one, understood that the men of his state and the Egyptians began thinking about Musa's miracle, so he planned to destroy Musa and to prevent the Egyptians from following him.

The Pharaoh ordered a big platform to be installed for him at the bank of the Nile. He ordered that water was to flow beneath the platform. He ordered his men to announce that he would deliver an important speech.

On the fixed day, the soldiers and guards stood in lines along both sides of the road leading to the platform.

The golden throne was put on the platform. The fortune-tellers stood by both sides of the throne. The people stood before the platform and looked at the golden throne with admiration.

After an hour, the Pharaoh's procession arrived. This time, the Pharaoh stood on a litter carried by strong soldiers.

The Pharaoh wore linen clothes set with gold, jewels, and precious stones. He also wore the double crown to show that he had ruled both North and South of Egypt.

The Pharaoh ordered the procession to walk slowly and haughtily.

He moved from the litter to the high platform and sat on his golden throne. The people looked at him with admiration.

The Pharaoh started his important speech, saying: "I am the highest god of Egypt. I am the owner of Egypt. The rivers flow beneath me."

"I lead the land and the people to glory. I have dismissed the enemies and built dams in the West so that the people will live safely."

"I will destroy the enemy in Egypt. I will ruin the children of Israel, who are few in number, for they want to take you out of Egypt. Therefore, let me kill Musa and let him supplicate his Lord!"

The people were very excited, so they greeted, the Pharaoh, the greatest god of Egypt.

On the following day, the soldiers got ready to carry out the Pharaoh's plan aiming at destroying the children of Israel.

The soldiers who were armed with spears took the innocent babies from the laps of their mothers and threw them into the Nile.

The crocodiles with triangular heads devoured the innocent babies whose mothers were crying and asking Musa for help.

As for men and young men, they were taken to build new cities. The misfortune became intense, so the children of Israel looked at the sky and asked Allah to grant them a victory over the Pharaoh. Thus, Allah inspired Musa to take the children of Israel out of Egypt at night.

In the midst of one night, the children of Israel got prepared to escape from Egypt. Meanwhile Musa got ready to lead all his people out of Egypt to save them from the Pharaoh.

Musa believed that Allah would save the believing men, so he led his people eastwards.

The children of Israel crossed the Nile, and then they started their dangerous travel towards al-Siways Gulf.

Musa led his people through the same road through which he escaped to Madyan when he was a young man in his thirties.

While the children of Israel were covering the road northeastwards, the capital Mumfis woke to see the surprise

The children of Israel had escaped from Egypt.

The crime flashed in the Pharaoh's eyes, so he commanded his soldiers to advance towards the children of Israel and to chase them.

The Pharaoh planned to besiege the children of Israel in the desert. He wanted to kill Musa and Harun and to bring back the prisoners of war to enslave them in his great kingdom.

Thus, tens of carriages pulled by horses headed for the children of Israel, who believed in Allah and His message.

The ground shook under the hooves of the horses and the movement of the soldiers. Minfitah, the Pharaoh, himself led his own carriage and headed his army consisting of thousands of strong soldiers.

Tens of carriages pulled by horses appeared in the distance. They were running quickly.

The children of Israel looked at each other and said to one another: "What miserable luck we have! We will die in this land! We have no hope in salvation! "

The children wept, the women cried, and fear prevailed them.

The war carriages approached, so one of the children of Israel cried: "They're close to us!"

Musa looked at the blue sky and said: "No! My lord is with me! He will guide me!"

At that critical moment, Jibrael came down to Musa carrying Allah's words: "Hit the sea with your rod!"

Musa walked toward the sea and stood on a rock in the water, and then he hit the blue water with his own rod.

Suddenly, an astonishing thing occurred; the sea divided in to two parts: each part was like a high mountain, and there was a long valley between them. The sun lighted for the first time the sands in the deep sea. This was a great miracle. Did Musa create the miracle by himself. No, it was Allah Who created it with His own limitless might.

The water was like the foot of a mountain. Musa and the children of Israel passed through the valley that divided the sea into two parts.

The children of Israel felt hope and salvation from the oppressive Pharaoh. They understood that Allah would rescue them as Musa had promised.

Minfitah, the Pharaoh, and his army arrived at the sea. He and his soldiers saw the great miracle with their own eyes; nevertheless, they did not believe in Allah and His messenger, Musa.

When the Pharaoh saw the children of Israel walking in the middle of that wonderful way, malice flashed in his eyes.

Thus, he lashed across the back of his horse with the whip, so he was soon on the way to Musa and his followers. The soldiers also did that. There were thousands of soldiers who knew nothing except worshipping the Pharaoh and carrying out his will.

The children of Israel arrived at the beach of the eastern side of al-Siways Gulf. They stood and looked with anxiety at the Pharaoh's army that was in the middle of the way.

At that moment, another miracle took place when those feet of water fell down. The two mountains hit each other, and there was a terrible boom!

The waves that came from the left and the right sides attacked thousands of the aggressive soldiers, who were haughty in the land and did not believe in Allah's message.

The Pharaoh found himself in the middle of the rough waves. He felt his abasement and weakness. His false haughtiness ended, so he cried: "I have believed that there is no god except Him in Whom the children of Israel have believed, and I am among those who have submitted (to Him)."

While the Pharaoh was drinking salt water, he heard a voice saying to him: "What! now! and indeed you disobeyed before and you were of the mischief-makers". Throughout those long years you waged war against the truth and justice, enslaved the people committed many massacres, and disbelieved in Allah's signs.

The Pharaoh understood that he would face his miserable end. Meanwhile he heard the same voice saying to him: "But we will this day deliver you with your body that you may be a sign to those after you, and most surely the majority of the people are heedless of Our signs."

The Pharaoh's stomach became full of salt water, and then the rough waves swallowed him up and carried him to the beach.

The tyrannical Pharaoh and all his strong soldiers drowned, so Musa and Harun prostrated themselves to Allah.

But what happened after that? What was the final result of the Pharaoh's corpse? The secret remained completely hidden throughout those centuries. Hundreds of years passed, the Koran came and revealed the facts, and then the monuments confirmed the Koran.

The waves carried the Pharaoh to the beach as a motionless corpse. When he died, a period of oppression ended.

The Egyptians at that time made a mummy for Minfitah, the Pharaoh. They carried the mummy to the Valley of the Kings in the south of Egypt, and then they buried him in a rocky cemetery. Thus, the secret remained hidden throughout those years.

A hundred years ago, in 1898, an archeologist found the mummy of Minfitah, son of Ramsis II.

On July 8th, 1907, the ribbons were untied from Minfitah's face and neck.

In June, 1975, the Egyptian government permitted the doctors to examine Minfitah's mummy again.

The doctors concluded that the Pharaoh died by drowning, and that he was liable to violent bruises before the water swallowed him up.

This mummy confirms these words of Allah, the Glorified: "What! now! and indeed you disobeyed before, and you were of the mischief-makers ^[2]".

Did the test of our prophet Musa and his brother Harun end? The answer is certainly 'no'. The tyrannical Pharaoh drowned, and the children of Israel reached the beach peacefully.

However, the test of Musa (A. S.) did not finish. This time he began his struggle against the children of Israel, for they were stubborn, ignorant, oppressive, and, besides, they deviated from the right path. In the island of Sina', where the children of Israel lived, many stories occurred.

Now, let's read on. The story of our prophet Musa continues on the following pages.

The children of Israel crossed the sea. The miracle filled their hearts with Allah's Power. They had not seen such a miracle in their life. They were surprised to see the water stand as high as the mountains. They were astonished to see the bottom of the sea which was full of darkness turn into a long valley blazing in the sunshine.

If there had been an atom of wisdom in the Pharaoh's heart, he would not have entered the wonderful valley. Indeed, self-conceit made him blind. He did not think about Allah's signs and the miracles of His messenger Musa. He did not think about the future of his country and people.

Thousands of soldiers knew nothing except worshipping the Pharaoh and carrying out his orders.

Our prophet Musa, Harun, and the children of Israel stood to look at the Pharaoh. They saw him riding his war carriage and lashing across the back of his horse with the whip. Thus, the royal horse ran quickly, and then thousands of war carriages followed it.

Suddenly, the wall of water fell down, the huge, waves hit each other and made a terrible boom.

The waves came from both sides to destroy the oppressive Pharaoh and his soldiers.

The final result of Minfitah, the Pharaoh, was that the waves tossed him about, destroyed him, swallowed him up, and send him to the bottom of the dark sea.

The children of Israel saw the greatest miracle in the history of mankind. They saw with their own eyes Allah's absolute power.

That morning, the believers saw a horse as white as the white clouds. The horse did not touch the earth with its hooves; it was about to fly in the sky. One of the children of Israel saw the earth that the white horse touched with its hooves moving. He took out his handkerchief, took a handful of the earth and bundled it in his handkerchief. He wanted to get the blessing of the earth.

When the sea swallowed up the oppressive Pharaoh and his army, it became calm.

The children of Israel became happy. They rejoiced at their salvation from oppression and aggression, and they thought of a bright future and a safe life.

Musa led the children of Israel and marched to a place in the Sina' Island.

Did Musa's test end? Musa succeeded in saving the children of Israel from oppression, aggression, hard labor, torture, killing, and imprisonment.

The children of Israel lived in Egypt for ten years, so they were used to worshipping idols and the Pharaohs.

For this reason, our prophet Musa had to teach them how to serve Allah, the One and Only, the Lord of all things.

The children of Israel walked in the desert and came close to the mountainous area situated on the beach of the Red Sea, between the Gulf of al-'Aqaba and the Gulf of al-Siways.

They became thirsty and their children wept for water, so they looked for a small river or a spring of water.

It was very hot. The believing men believed in Musa's message and had absolute confidence in Allah, so they looked at Musa and asked him to pray to Allah for water.

Some people were afraid that they would die of thirst because they were walking in a waterless land.

The children of Israel were twelve tribes. Each tribe walked by itself, but all the tribes walked behind Musa. Musa leant on his rod and had absolute confidence in Allah's mercy.

In a mountainous bend, while the children, the women, and the old men were suffering from thirst, an angel came down from the sky and inspired Musa: "Hit the rock with your rod!"

Thus, Musa (A. S.) walked toward the rock at the foot of the mountain and hit it with his rod.

A surprising thing took place; the rock split open and cool, fresh water gushed from it.

Twelve fountains gushed out of the rock. Each tribe of the children of Israel went to its own fountain. In the meantime, white clouds appeared in the sky and covered the hot rays of the sun.

The children of Israel went to a wide area to settle down. On their way to that place, they found some people going around idols, saying vague words, and reading pagan rites.

Some children of Israel said to Musa (A. S.): "Make us a god as they have gods!"

Our prophet Musa was angry with those who saw Allah's power and looked for idols to worship instead of Allah.

Trying to teach them the religion of his grandfather Ibrahim, Musa (A. S.) said to them: "You are ignorant people!" Then he added: "Those pagan people follow false rites. Why do you want me to guide you to a god other than Allah Who has preferred you to mankind?"

The children of Israel lived in Egypt for ten years. They opened their eyes and saw the Egyptians worshipping the Pharaohs, wild animals, and idols. For this reason, they wanted to worship idols, but they claimed that they followed the religion of Ibrahim, Allah's Friend.

The children of Israel asked Musa: "How do we serve Allah and we do not see Him?"

Musa replied: "You have seen His signs. He has saved you from the Pharaoh and Harun. You have seen the cool fresh water gushing from the rock."

The children of Israel kept silent. They knew that Musa's words were true; nevertheless they were stubborn.

Allah, the Glorified, sent to the children of Israel the manna, which was as white as snow. The manna came down from the sky and settled on the thorny bushes; it was sweet. In the morning, the children of Israel collected the manna and ate it.

As for the quails, they were a kind of bird that flew high in the sky. Allah wanted to honor the children of Israel, so He made the quails fly close to them and sit before them. He gave them safety, water, and food, for He wanted them to believe in Him.

On all occasions, the children of Israel asked Musa to see their Lord.

The children of Israel used to see the Egyptians worshipping idols; they believed in material things only.

Musa wanted to strengthen faith in their hearts, so he ordered seventy persons to follow him to Mount al-Toor.

Musa said to his brother Harun: "You are my successor over the children of Israel. Brother, follow the right path and do not follow the way of mischief-makers."

Allah, the Glorified, ordered Musa to stay at Mount al-Toor for one month.

When the appointed time came, Allah spoke to Musa.

Musa said with a humble heart: "My Lord, let me see You."

Allah, the Glorified, said to His Apostle: " 'You cannot see me.' Creatures cannot see me, but look at the mountain. If it remains firm in its place, then you will see me.

Musa turned to a high mountain. The moments of waiting passed. Suddenly, a fearful thing happened. Strong light covered the mountain. The destructive thunderbolts blasted. The boom of the thunder was terrible, and then the mountain was crumbled.

The Divine Power destroyed that great mountain. The giant rocks fell with such force so that they shook the ground under Musa's feet.

Musa fell on the ground and fainted. When he recovered, he did not find the mountain. Thus, he saw Allah's power with his own eye. He understood that the believing person could not see Allah with his own eyes but with his heart.

Musa (A. S.) asked Allah to pass a law to regulate the life of the people and make them happy here and in hereafter.

Allah promised His messenger with His Holy Words, so the appointed time lasted for more than a month.

What happened after Musa had left his people, the children of Israel?

Allah, the Glorified, asked His messenger: "Why have you come ahead of your people?"

Musa replied: "They are following me. I have come ahead of them because I want to please You."

Allah, the Glorified, explained: "Your people have admired the calf, and al-Samiri has led them astray."

The children of Israel rumored that Musa had gone to look for the Lord to meet him.

One of the Israelites was called al-Samiri. On the day of crossing the sea, al-Samiri saw a heavenly horse touching the earth with its hoof. He saw the earth that the hoof touched moving, so he took a handful of it and bundle it in his handkerchief.

When Musa went to meet Allah and to listen to His words, al-Samiri seized the opportunity to make a golden calf

He went to the children of Israel and collected from them gold and silver ornaments, jewels, precious stones, and ebony ornaments.

Al-Samiri said to the children of Israel: "I'm going to make you a god to worship him as all tribes do."

The children of Israel had lived with the pagans and were impressed by their beliefs, so they responded to al-Samiri's view.

Al-Samiri made a golden calf, and then he threw into the calf s mouth the earth he kept on the day of crossing the sea.

Suddenly, a sound like a bellow came out of the calf. Al-Samiri put the calf on a rock and gathered the children of Israel, and then he said to them: "This is your and Musa's god!" Thus, the children of Israel looked at the calf humbly.

When Harun discovered that plot, he came to the children of Israel and said to them: "My people, you have been tried with the calf. You Lord is the Merciful Allah. Follow me and obey my orders. The calf is a mere useless idol. It does not speak to you, nor does it solve your problems."

The children of Israel did not take Harun's advice; moreover, they said to him: "We will continue worshipping the calf till Musa returns."

Allah made His messenger Musa wait for forty nights, and then He gave him the tablets. He, the Glorified, wrote teachings and explained His law in the tablets. He explained to the children of Israel the way of happiness here and in the hereafter.

Musa (A. S.) came back carrying the Sacred Tablets to his people. He hoped that they would follow Allah's law. Allah, the Glorified, had told Musa about al-Samiri's calf. He had also told him that the children of Israel had worshipped the calf, so Musa became angry.

Musa asked himself. "Why do the children of Israel worship the calf al-Samiri has made with his own hand?" Why do they not serve Allah, the Glorified? Do they not know that Allah give people life and livelihood? Do they not know that Allah sends prophets to people to take them out of the darkness of ignorance to the light of faith?

In the distance, Musa saw his people prostrating themselves to the golden calf, so he became very angry. He put the tablets on the ground forcefully and walked toward his brother Harun. He took his brother by the head and shouted at him angrily: "What have you done, Harun? Why do you let them worship the calf? Why have you disobeyed my order?"

Harun replied with pain: "I gave them a piece of advice. I told them that the calf was a trial. They were about to kill me. I tried to prevent them from worshipping the calf. However, I was afraid that you would say that I had divided the children of Israel, and that I had not waited for your view and order."

Then Musa turned to al-Samiri and said to him: "What was the matter with you, Samiri? Why have you made a calf for the children of Israel? Do you want them to worship idols?"

Al-Samiri answered: "I have seen the footprint of an angel on the earth, and I have taken a handful of it. My soul whispered evil to me, so I put the earth into the calf's mouth."

Musa asked angrily: "Is that your god? Look how I will burn it before you.

The believers collected wood and put it around the calf, and then they set fire to the wood, so the calf became ashes within few moments. Our prophet Musa wanted to show the children of Israel that idols were worthless, and that Allah had power over all things.

The fire extinguished, the gold calf turned into ashes, so Musa and the believers carried the ashes and threw them into the sea.

Then children of Israel saw the waves tossing the ashes about. Then Musa said to the children of Israel: "Indeed your Lord is Allah. There is no god but Him. His knowledge has encompassed all things."

The he said to al-Samiri: "Go then, you will surely say in life: Do not touch me."

You will spend the rest of your life by yourself, for you will live regretful, and Allah will not break his promise concerning you.

The children of Israel who prostrated themselves to the calf turned to Allah in repentance. They understood that if Allah did not have mercy on them and forgive their sins, they would be of the losers.

However, Allah forgave them their sins.

Seventy persons of the children of Israel accompanied Musa to Mount al-Toor to witness the revelation of the Torah.

There the children of Israel asked Musa to show them Allah. However, Musa warned them against the final result. He said to them: "The eyes cannot see Allah." Nevertheless, they did not take his advice, so the earth shook under their feet, and they shook with fear.

Thunderbolts broke out in the sky. They attacked the children of Israel and they fell dead on the ground.

Asking Allah to forgive the sins of the children of Israel, Musa said: "My Lord, if You had pleased, You would have destroyed them before and myself (too); will You destroy us for what the fools among us have done?... You are our Guardian, therefore forgive us and have mercy on us, and You are the best of the forgivers."

Again Allah forgave the children of Israel and left them alone, for He wanted to purify their hearts from unbelief.

Musa (A. S) returned carrying the Divine Law. Did the children of Israel rejoice at the Law that wanted them to lead a life full of happiness here and in the hereafter? The answer is certainly: 'No, they did not.'

The majority of the children of Israel refused to accept the Divine Law because the Law wanted them to behave well.

As for the children of Israel, they wanted to be selfish. They loved nothing except themselves.

Musa asked his people to put into practice Allah's law, but they refused to do that.

Musa looked at the sky. He was perplexed, not knowing what to do for those stubborn people.

A terrible thing happened. All the children of Israel realized that the top of the great Mount al-Toor was about to fall on them. They heard the boom of the rocks that broke on the top of the mountain.

The children of Israel became humble, so they submitted to Allah, and then they promised Allah's messenger to put into effect what had been in the Torah.

The children of Israel always asked Musa for a wonderful thing. This time they asked him for onions.

They said to him: "Musa, we cannot bear with one food, therefore pray to your Lord on behalf of us for bringing forth for us out of what the earth grows, of its herb and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions."

"We are tired of the manna and the quails; we want to eat onions, so ask your Lord to bring forth onions for us."

They did not say to Musa: "Ask our Lord." They said to him: "As your Lord on behalf of us." They wanted to say to him that Allah was your Lord, not ours! Nevertheless, Musa was kind to them, and Allah forgave them their sins.

Musa said to them: "Will you exchange that which is better for that which is worse?"

Allah, the Glorified, wanted to complete His blessings on the children of Israel, so Musa (A. S.) said to them: "My people, enter the Holy Land which Allah has prescribed for you."

When the children of Israel heard of that, they were afraid of the giants who lived in that land.

Allah, the Glorified, wanted the children of Israel to free the Holy Land so that its people would serve Him only.

However, the children of Israel liked the life of comforts. They wanted to obtain all things through a miracle.

Thus, they said to Musa with fear: "Musa, sureIy there are strong people in it, and we will not enter it until they go out from it."

They wanted to say to Musa: "Go and dismiss the giants from the Holy Land so that we will enter it. When they go out from it, we will enter it."

Only two persons of those thousands of people rose and said: "If you besiege the city and enter through its gate, you will defeat the giants. Therefore, believe in Allah and trust in Him."

However, the hearts of the children of Israel were full of fear, so they said to Musa: "Musa, we will not enter it as long as they are in it."

Then they said to him: "Therefore, go you and your Lord, then fight you both, surely we will sit down here."

Again, the children of Israel disobeyed Allah's messenger Musa. They said to him: "If you want war, then you and your Lord go!"

Musa was sad, so he looked at the sky and said: "My lord, I have nothing except myself and my brother; therefore make a separation between us and the nation of the transgressors. "

Thus, Allah was indignant with the children of Israel, for they hurt and disobeyed the prophet Musa (A. S.).

Allah decreed that the children of Israel should wander about in the Island of Sina' for forty years, so they wandered about in the sands of the desert. They lived at different places in the desert for certain periods of time.

In that period of time, some events occurred. Some events occurred on the same day.

A murder took place at night. The murderer carried the dead one and threw him on the way. No one knew the murdered, so the children of Israel exchanged accusations, and then they came to Musa to solve that vague murder.

Allah, the Glorified, inspired Musa to tell the children of Israel to butcher a cow.

Musa said to them: "Surely Allah commands you to sacrifice a cow."

They asked him with astonishment: "Do you mock us, Musa?"

Our prophet Musa replied: "I do not mock you because I am not an ignorant person! Allah commands you to sacrifice a cow to give life to the dead one, who will inform you of the murderer!"

As usual, the children of Israel became stubborn; they did not carry out Allah's commands immediately, so they said to Musa (A. S.): "Ask your Lord to explain to us the qualities of the cow."

Musa explained to them: ... "'Allah says: The cow is ,not old nor is it young; it is of middle age.' Therefore, go and carry out Allah's order."

However, the children of Israel did not carry out Allah's order. They asked Musa: "Ask your Lord to explain to us the color of the cow."

Musa answered: "Allah says: Surely, the cow is yellow giving delight to the beholders."

They went away and then they returned to say to Musa (A. S.): "Ask your Lord to explain to us what the cow is for, to us the cows are all alike."

Musa (A. S.) said: "Allah says: The cow is not used in plowing and watering the land."

Thus, the children of Israel said: "Now you have brought the truth."

The children of Israel went to look for the cow. They found it with an orphan boy. They bought it from the boy for a high price.

Some of the children of Israel killed the cow, took some of its meat and hit the dead one with it. All the children of Israel saw this miracle of our prophet Musa.

The dead one rose and told the children of Israel about the murder. He said to them: "The murderer is my cousin. He killed me to take my wealth, so Allah has exposed him before you all."

Again the children of Israel saw Allah's power. They saw with their own eyes Musa's true miracle and his dignity with Allah. Besides they saw that Allah honored the orphan boy when He endowed him with a lot of money.

The orphan boy was kind to his father. One day he came to his father pertaining to an important matter. He saw him sleeping. He did not wake him; he left him sleeping and went away.

When the father woke and found this out, he gave the cow as a gift to his son. Allah wanted to honor the orphan boy because he was kind to his father, so the miracle took place. His cow was the only one Allah wanted to use to give life to the dead one.

In that period of time, another event took place. That was when Allah ordered Musa (A. S.) to go to the beach of the sea to learn wisdom from one of the righteous servants of Allah.

Musa asked himself: "Where will I find the righteous servant to learn wisdom from him?"

Allah inspired Musa: "You will find him in Majjma' al-Bahrayn." Musa took with him the young man, Youshi' bin Noon. The sign was that he would lose the fish he took to eat on his way there.

Musa walked and the young man followed him. Musa said to his young man, Youshi' : "Tell me when the fish will disappear." Then he (A. S.) went on walking till he arrived in Majjma' al-Bahrayn.

Musa was very tired, so he put his rod on the ground and slept.

Clouds appeared in the sky and then it rained.

When the rain covered the food, life returned to the fish and it swam to the sea through the rain water.

Musa woke and called Youshi' bin Noon to continue walking.

Satan made Youshi' bin Noon forget the story of the fish, so Youshi' did not tell Musa (A. S.) about what had happened. They walked for a long time till they became tired and hungry.

Musa said to his young man: "We are tired after this long walk, so bring the food."

Now, Youshi' bin Noon remembered what had happened to the fish, so he said to Musa (A. S.): "I remember the place where we took a rest. Life returned to the fish and it swam to the sea. Satan made me forget, so I did not tell you about that."

When Musa heard that, his face flashed, so he said to Youshi' bin Noon: "This is what we want to know. Come on, let's go to the rock by which we sat!" They returned quickly to the place where they took a rest.

There Musa found the righteous person sitting on the rock and looking at the waves of the sea. Musa greeted the righteous man in a good manner. The righteous man smiled at Musa and greeted him in a better manner and then he asked Musa:

"Who are you?"

Musa replied: "I am Musa bin 'Imran."

The righteous man asked: "Are you the Prophet of the children of Israel?"

Musa answered with astonishment: "Yes, but who told you about me?"

"He Who sent you to me told me about you," replied the righteous man.

Our prophet Musa understood that he had found the man, whom he looked for.

Musa (A. S.) said: "I want to make friends with you to learn from what Allah, the Glorified, has taught you."

The righteous man explained: "You cannot be patient with me. This is your right because you do not know the wisdom of my deeds."

Musa said: "I will do my best to be patient with you and to obey all your orders."

The righteous man explained: "If you want to accompany me in this travel, I have a condition that you should not ask me about my deeds. I will later tell you about the wisdom of all my deeds.''

Our prophet Musa accepted this condition, and he accompanied the righteous man.

Who and what was that righteous man? They said that he was al-Khidr (A. S.) and that he was a Prophet.

Where did the meeting happen? They said that it happened at the Straits of Gibraltar, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Did Youshi' bin Noon continue his travel with our prophet Musa (A. S.) or did he return to the children of Israel in the Island of Sinai? No one knew that.

Allah, the Glorified, told us about the travel of our prophet Musa with al-Khidr. Our prophet Musa (A. S.) was fond of knowledge, so he went to learn from the righteous man.

Our prophet Musa and the righteous man walked along the beach till they arrived at a harbor and they found a boat there.

Our prophet Musa and the righteous man embarked on the boat, and it made its way through the sea. The righteous man had bored the boat before it arrived at the harbor.

When Musa (A. S.) saw him boring the boat, he condemned him, saying: "Have you bored the boat to drown the messengers? Indeed, this is an ugly deed!"

Reminding Musa of the condition, the righteous man said: "Did I not say that you did not endure my deeds?"

Musa remembered the condition, so he answered: "I apologize to you for that. I have forgotten the condition. Please, pardon me!"

They disembarked the boat at the harbor and went to a village. They were very hungry and tired. They had no money to buy some food.

When they reached the village, they asked the villagers for food, but the villagers did not receive them nor did they give them any food.

Musa and the righteous man saw some people looking at a wall that was about to fall down.

No one of the people was able to rebuild the wall.

The righteous man walked toward the wall and rebuilt it.

When the righteous man finished building the wall, Musa said to him: "Your work is wonderful, but why do you not take some money for it?"

Musa wanted to urge the righteous man to take some money to buy some food.

Reminding Musa of the previous condition, the righteous man said: "This is a separation between me and you. I said to you that you were unable to be patient with me. Now, I will tell you about the wisdom of my deeds: I have bored the boat, for its owners are poor. There is an oppressive king there; he takes every boat by force. I have bored the boat so that the king will not take it from them and that they will be able to repair it later.

"As for this wall, it belongs to two orphans. Their father has buried a treasure under the wall. Allah, the Glorified, wants these two orphans to grow up, so no one will be able to take their treasure when they bring it out of the wall.

"Musa, I have carried out Allah's orders throughout my deeds."

Musa saw off the righteous man. He had known an important thing: "There is wisdom beyond some deeds; no on knows the explanation of the wisdom except Allah, the Glorified."

There are some deeds looking bad apparently, but there is wisdom beyond them. Thus, man must consider them carefully before he judges on them.

Musa returned to his people. He preached them and guided them to the Light and Guidance; he taught them the Torah.

The Torah was the Book of guidance and light, as the Koran said, but the Jews distorted it after the death of Musa.

The Jews read the teachings in the Torah, but they distorted them according to their personal customs and interests.

Distorting the Torah was not enough; they filled it with fables and lies.

For example, we read in the Torah: "When Adam and Eve were in the garden, they ate from the tree. When they heard the Lord walking among the trees, they hid. The Lord asked: Adam, where are you?"

"Adam answered: I have heard Your voice. As I am naked, I have feared and hidden (myself).

"The Lord asked: Have you eaten from the tree?"

"Then the Lord said: This man has become like us; he has known good and evil. Perhaps, he will find the life tree and eat from it and remain like us forever."

''Thus, Allah caused him to depart (from the heavenly garden."

The present Torah is not the One which Allah sent down to our prophet Musa (A. S.). Our prophet Musa is innocent of all the lies the Jews said and added to the Torah.

After Musa, Allah, the Glorified, sent many prophets to the children of Israel. However, the children of Israel hurt and killed the prophets.

The Jews have become cruel. They have inhumane habits and customs. They adore a Book other than the Torah. The Book is called the Talmud. The Talmud teaches the Jews bad views:

1. The Jews are the chosen people of Allah. As for those other than the Jews, they are considered as animals.
2. The Jews must always strive to undermine the nations and peoples, so that the Jews will be able to rule over the world.
3. A Jew is permitted to steal from the properties of other than the Jews.
4. A Jew is permitted to cheat the one other than the Jews, to take usury from him and to force him to sell the Jew all his belongings.