@ were OF PROPHETTHE BIRTH OF PROPHET MUSA as. 7 AYESHA ABDULLAH SCOTT Co-Published by DEWAN BAHASA DAN PUSTAKA and PUSTAKA YAMIEN SDN, BHD. ‘Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka ‘Kuala Lumpur 1999First Printing 1999 © Author » Ayesha Abdullah Scott 1999 (© Iustration and Concept : Pustaka Yarnien Sdn, Bhd. 1999 All Rights Reserved. No pars of dls book may be reproduced or trancmisted in any form or by any ‘means, electronic or mechanical. including photocopying. recording, of any information storage and retrieval sysicm, without permission in writing from the Director-General, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, P.O. Box 10803, 50926 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Negetiajion is subject 10 the calculation of royalty ‘or honorarium, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia Cataloguing-in-rublication Data Sent, Ayesha Abdullals ‘The birth of Prophet Muss 2s. Book 2 /Ayesha Abdullah Soot, (The glorious prophet series : Musa) ISBN 983-62-6250-4 (set) ISBN 983-62-6255-5 ISBN 983-62-6251-2 (set) ISBN 983-62-6254-7 (pbk) |. Mases (Biblical leader) in the Koran. 2. Prophets, FresIslamic. 3. Koran stories, 8 L Tle. TI. Series, 207.246 BRARY TION | Printed by Percetakan Dewan Habasa dan Pustaka {Lot 1037, Mukim Perindusirian PENS ‘Anipang/Hulu Kelang Selangor Darul EhsanBD “We narrate unto thee (somewhat) of the story of Musa (Moses) and Pharaoh with truth for folk who believe. Lo! Pharaoh exalted himself in the earth and made its people castes. A tribe among thent he oppressed, killing their sons and sparing their women. Lo! he was of those who work corruption.” al-Qasas 28:3 -4 ehe Bani Israil had been living peacefully in Egypt since the time | of the Prophet Yusof a.s. They had always gotten along well with the Egyptians despite the fact that they worshipped one invisible God while the Egyptians were idol-worshippers This situation continued until Walid became Grand-Wazir. Walid disliked the Bani Israil and distrusted them. He used his power and wealth to slowly turn everyone against the descendants of Prophet Yusof a.s. and his brothers, Litlle by litle he poisoned the Egyptians minds towards them and took every opportunity to abuse and humiliate them.When Walid became Pharaoh, he increased his persecution more and more, making life as difficult as possible for the Bani Israil. He could not believe in the invisible d of the Bani Israil, which was so different from the Egyptians faith in a multitude of gods. After all who had ever heard of a god that cannot be seen? After considerable thought, Pharaoh decided he had to destroy the religion of the Bani Israil before his own people became influenced by itand stopped worshipping him. He had heard of the prophecy that one day a prophet would rise up from among the Bani Israil. He would lead them out of their hardships and destroy all their enemies. In fact, although he would not admit it to anyone, he was secretly afraid of this promised Messiah He decided that he would first try to bribe them into giving up their faith and if that did not work he would have an excuse to punish them Calling all of the 12 tribes of the Bani Israil to his palace, he gave them anultimatum, “As you know,” he proudly stated, “Iam your god, as such you must bow down and worship me. If you continue in your disobedience and disbelief, 1 will have no choice but to punish you all most severely.” The Jewish people remained quiet, gazing in astonishment at the figure of the Pharaoh sitting on his jewel encrusted golden throne surrounded by the | riches and marvels of his court. | Slowly one of the 12 leaders spoke up, “O Wali you are but a man like any other man. You were born and one day y will die, We have never worshipped your idols so how can you expect us 10 worship you. We only worship the one true Eternal God and no other.” How can we worship you, too Furious, Walid had the Jews thrown out of his palace. Ina terrible rage he ordered his soldiers to take away all the Jewish people’s property and wealth and force them to become slaves. From that day onwards the Jews had to perform all the hard and menial work for the Egyptians who treated them worse than stray dogs. Not long after this, Walid had the first of many strange dreams, Night after night, these dreams became clearer and more frightening. Eventually the dreams became so frightening that he would toss and turn from one side of the bed to the other until he woke up sweating and shaking.At last. he could no longer stand these terrible nightmares. Shouting to his personal bodyguard, he ordered them to bring all his soothsayers at once 10 explain the meanings of these dreams to him. & As soon as the soothsayers were assembled in the throne room, Walid in eal pomp entered and sat upon his golden throne while everyone eke in the oom threw themselves on the ground before him. As soon as he was seated, he told them to get up and face him a Hesitantly, an elderly white haired man stepped forward from among the soothsayers. This was the chief soothsayer, Trembling and with a shaky voice, he asked Walid what he had dreamt Clearing his throat, Pharaoh started talking while the assembled soothsayers listened slowly nodding their heads. “O my soothsayers, for many weeks now I have been haunted by terrible nightmares. Two nights ago, I dreamt that among the Bani Isra’il a great tree started to grow. It grew bigger and bigger till it became the biggest tree I have ever seen. From all its branches, there were people hanging, many, manyfalling on top of me however was still a little unclear. cople. Suddenly all these people dropped from the branches and staried nd my palace, destroying everything. This dream However the dream I ha ast night was so al 1 felt as if it was actually happening, I saw a great fire spreading out from Jerusalem. As it travelled, it destroyed the land of Egypt and everything in it - the people, the animals, the houses and all the wealth of our beautiful land. The only things that the fire did not touch were the twelve tribes of the Bani ‘ail, all their belongings and their property.” The eldest soothsayer gravely nodded his head and respectfully addressed the in mear raoh. “It is dear, O great god that your dreams are one and the same ig. and that is from among the Bani Israil, there will be born a man who will take all your power and property from you and then will destroy you. On heari is, Pharaoh exploded with rage and fear. He immediately male babies of the Bani Israil to be killed at birth in an atter h of such a child, to prevent theWhen the Bani Israil heard this, they tried to hide their male babies but the soldiers searched everywhere and slaughtered all new-born babies they found. Eventually, after five years, the Egyptians themselves began to worry that there would be no new slaves if they kept killing all the baby boys. So, the Pharaoh ordered the killing to occur every other year. One year, babies would be spared and the following year killed. ‘Musa’s father was Imran of the house of Levi and his mother, Yukhobith was also descended from Jacob's son, Levi. Musa had an elder brother named Harun who had been born in the year when baby boys were spared and a sister named Maryam.Musa was born in the year of terror when all the male babies were slain. When Musa was born, he was a beautiful child. His face was so full of divine sur (light) that even his own mother could hardly look at his face. The light was so blinding. A few weeks after his birth, the Egyptian soldiers came searching for baby boys to kill. Before long they were knocking at the door of Musa’s house. story of Mases and Para wich sath for folk ei who believe. NS Lot he was of those who work corruption’ al-Qasas 28:3 =4 i Quickly Musa’s mother swaddled him in a blanket : and hid him in a corner of the kitchen. Opening the peep \ hole in the door, Musa’s mother’ asked them what they wanted “We were informed that the cries of a new-born child have been heard from your house, We want to see if you have a baby in your house or not. If you have and it is a boy, we will kill him as we have been ordered to slaughter‘all new-born baby boys this year,”aeinto the unlit oven. Quickly she shut the oven door just as the soldiers entered the kitchen. Musa’s mother held her breath as Prophet Musa’s name was | they searched every neok and cranny in given to him notbyhis | the kitchen but they could not find any mother but by Queen new-born baby there DO YOU KNOW? Asiya! It was taken from two Hebrew words. Mu Frustrated, one of the soldiers glanced at ‘means water and sa the ov means wood anythin; underneath it as il she was about to cook. Before he could do or say . Musa’s mother lit the firewood “What about in the oven,” one of the soldiers suggested “Don't be stupid,” the soldier in charge snapped. *Can’t you see the underneath it, if there was a baby inside, it would be burnt to death and I am sure no mother would cook her own child. It seems we were misinformed, this woman has no baby. Let's go.” ire As soon as the soldiers had gone, Musa’s mother quickly went to remove her son from the oven before the fire became too hot. Opening the door she found her son covered in sweat but otherwise unharmed, Grabbing Musa, she hugged him while tears of joy fell from her eyes. Then both mother and daughter fell to their knees and praised Almighty Allah for protecting Musa from the Egyptians, Musa grew strong and healthy and as soon as he reached three months of age, he began to become quite noisy as most babies of his age do. Musa’s family now became very worried, as the Pharaoh had offered large rewards to anyone reporting the whereabouts of any male children who had escaped the slaughter. The more noisier Musa became the more afraid his family became that someone would betray them. ‘Not knowing what else to do, Musa’s mother spent long hou asking Almighty Allah to help them and protect Musa. While she was engaged in worshipping Allah Almighty she heard a voice speaking toher, “Do not fear, have a box made then place the child within, after sucl the child place the box in the river Nile, your Lord will do the rest.” Relieved but at the same time upset at losing her baby son, Musa’s mother obeyed the command of her LordShe went to a carpenter and asked him to make a wooden box. The carpenter was very curious as to why she should want such a box. His curiosity only increased when Musa’s mother replied that she had a small child that had just passed away. After she left, the carpenter sat thinking about the strange request. As far as he knew she had no young babies even though people had apparently heard baby’s cries coming from her house. She must be hiding something or someone!‘And We inspired the mother of t ‘Musa (Moses) saying, “Suckle him and when thow fear for him then cast him into the river and fear not nor grieve. Verily We sholl bring him back unto thee and shall make him (ane) of Our messengers.” al-Qasas 28: 7Quickly putting on his cloak, the carpenter slipped out of his house and made his way to the barracks of the Egyptian soldiers. There was a huge _ reward [or information concerning hidden children. He did not care if they ~ found a hidd nd then the child, his mother and the whole family ‘would be put to death and their house burnt to the ground. He was only thinking of the reward money he stood to gain. As soon as he reached the barracks, he asked to see the officer in charge as he had important information for him. But when he tried to tell the officer about Musa’s mother, the words became twisted and nobody could understand what he was trying to say. Foam formed in his mouth and the officer in charge became very angry. 9 »“Why did you let this mad man in? Throw him out at once!” The soldiers threw him out and no sooner had he landed on the ground outside the barracks, his speech returned to normal. Once again, his greed for the reward money entered his heart and he tried to tell the soldiers again about Musa’s mother. Once again the same thing happened. Each time he tried to talk to the Egyptians, his tongue became twisted. Eventually his greed left his heart and he realised that Musa’s mother must be hiding the child in the Pharaoh’s dream.Returning to his house, he made the box as perfectly as he could and when he had completed it, he took the box to Musa’s mother and told her all that had happened. He then asked her to see the child he believed she was hiding. When Musa was shown to him, he was overcome with joy.“Truly this is a blessed child!” he exclaimed. “But why do you need the box?” After telling the carpenter why she needed the box, he offered to help her. Musa’s mother thanked him for his kind offer but politely refused. “Thank you but your silence about this matter is the greatest help you could give me.” Promising to tell no one of what he knew, the carpenter returned home. As soon as the carpenter had left, Musa’s mother waterproofed the box with pitch and partially filled it with soft cotton. She then lined it with the richest silk she could find so that anyone who found the box would believe that the child came from a noble family. That night, after feeding Musa a.s. for what she thought would be the last time, she appointed his eyes with khol, Placing the sleepy child inside the comfortable box, she sadly carried him down to the river Nile. With tears flowing down her face and her hearts breaking with the pain of separation, Musa’s mother gently closed the lid of the box so as nat to wake the now sleeping Musa. Making sure the air holes she had made in the lid were not blocked by anything, she placed the box in the water and pushed him out into the river. Silently, she watched her son float away, carried on by the river currents.Returning home, she told her daughter to follow the box carefully and see where it went. Running as fast as she could, Maryam tried to catch up with the box. However because of dark and strong river currents, as well as her fear of being seen, she had to be content with watching it from afar. Meanwhile at home, Musa’s mother wept and wept. No one could comfort her at all, till once again she heard the same voice as before, “Do not fear, We will protect him and We willl return him to your breast, be patient.” After hearing this, her heart was calmed and she praised her Lord. Meanwhile, the box carrying Musa a.s. had floated on till it entered the channel of water that had been routed through the gardens of the Pharaoh. Everyday, the Pharaoh and his family would take a walk through the gardens looking for anything unusual. It was said the daughter of Pharaoh had suffered a skin disease. The Pharaoh's chief soothsayer had predicted that the princess would only be cured when a creature emerged from a wooden box brought down by the river. The saliva of this creature would cure the princess. This and nothing else would work.was built much further inland on raised ground to protect it from the yearly flooding of the Nile. Now, everyday, they walked sometimes alone, sometimes as a family to look for the unusual creature, but so far nothing had happened. Then one day, as the Pharaoh’s daughter was walking near the river, she saw something bobbing up and down in the water. As she got nearer, she could see it was a closed wooden box. Turning round, she ordered her attendants to go and bring the box out of the water to: Q Ren pager el iWith tears in her eyes and radiant smile on her face, Queen Asiya brought both the box and the baby to her husband who was impatiently waiting for her in the palace. Seeing the child Queen Asiya was carrying he suddenly felt a great fear taking hold of him and he knew in his heart that this was the child destined to destroy him Hiding his fear he said, “Oh Asiya! Is this not a child of the Bani Israil and is this not the year for killing their sons?” Belore Asiya could reply, Haman who had already been informed about the baby and the box rushed in and advised Pharaoh to kill the child. “This is surely the one who will destroy you! Quickly kill him now before he grows big,” says Haman Furiously, Queen Asiya clutched the baby clase to her chest and begged the Pharaoh to spare his life. 5 Astonished, Pharaoh stared at his was holding the baby as if it was he; Remembering that she was childles his heart has softened considerably"towards the child. Unable to hurt his wife because of aPRLS SLR J 4 A ‘And the wife of the a i ed a | his deep love towards her, he permitted her to keep the baby. Pharaoh said, “A of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhops he may be of benefit to us, ‘or we may adopt him sq son.” al-Qasas 28:9 Suddenly as if the sun had just come out from behind a dark cloud, his wite’s face lit up with happiness while tears of joy flowed from her eyes. Never in all his life had Pharaoh ever seen his wife's face so happy her crying from joy. He had always thought she was unable to smile. 1 was a small miracle! When Queen Asiya gently took his hand out of his mouth, Musa started crying and would not stop. Nobody was able to comfort him, Even the Pharaoh picked him up and tried to stop him crying, but with no success, After a short time the Pharaoh's daughter took the child to try and calm him. As she carried Musa, some of his saliva touched her skin and the disease she had suffered from for so long disappeared totally. The princess quickly called her father, “Look father!” she happily exclai but the one the soahsayersSeeing the pleasure on her husband's face at his daughter's cure, Queen Asiya asked her husband “Oh my Lord, we have no children of our own. Can we please adopt him as our own?” Smiling, the Pharaoh agreed but he only said, “Take him as your son.” If he had said “our son” he might have become a believer but Allah Almighty had already decided otherwise So, Queen Asiya adopted the child but Musa refused to stop crying. It rent the hearts of all those who heard his cries. He refused to drink the milk of any of the Egyptian wet-nurses or to take any food at all. Queen Asiya became very worried that he would become ill if they could not find a suitable wel nurse soon. Meanwhile, Musa’s mother had heard that a baby had been found in the Pharaoh's gardens. Anxiously she tried to find out if it was her son or not Again she heard the unseen voice. “Be patient, just a little while longer, We will give him back to you soon.” Musa‘s mother sent her daughter Maryam to find out what was happening. Pretending she was looking for work she made her way into the seMaryam’s heart started beating rapidly. Approaching the person in charge of the household servants, she humbly asked to be allowed to talk to Queen Asiya as she might be able to solve her problem Maryam had already thought of the way of reuniting her brother with her mother. After a short wait, she was brought before Queen Asiya. Then, Maryam politely said, “I know of a woman that no baby has refused to drink her milk, She is an expert in nursing babies and has looked after many noble children.” “What are you awaiting or?” cried Queen Asiya. “Take this child to her at once. This baby has already been crying for one whole day and night.” Maryam, ‘orted by Queen Asiya’s hand maidens and the Pharaoh soldiers, quickly returned to her home. Calling her mother, she explained that she had brought Queen Asiya’s adopted son for suckling as no other women had been able to feed the child. Musa’s mother took her baby and put him to her breast and straight away, he stopped crying and started hungrily suckling. Before long, he was fast asleep.After Musa had” fallen asleep Maryam and all the hand maiden and soldiers retumed to the palace to discuss the child's The courtiers who had witnessed this soon started to whisper that this must be the child’s real mother. But when Queen Asiya heard this, she became quite angry. “Rubbish!” she snapped. “It is clear that this women is an expert with babies and her milk is pure, unlike the Egyptian wet-nurses. That is why he settled.” Turning to Musa’s mother, she continued, “From now on your job is to look after my adopted son. You are to 1ake him back to your home and suckle him, Once a week you are to bring him to the palace so [ may behold him. You will be paid well for your work so look after him well.” So saying, she took Musa away from his mother and cuddled him for a while before returning him once again to his mother. “Go now,” Queen Asiya said, “but do not forget to return next week.” Due to the power and wisdom of Almighty Allah, Musa and his mother were safely reunited in such a way that no one dared to harm the adopted son of Queen AsiyaNe ‘> gy Gap ~ adopted : to take another person's child as your own astonished : to fill with amazement; surprise calmed : to fill with serenity frantically : distracted with fear or pain; desperately humiliate ; to lower or hurt the pride or dignity of someone invisible : unseen khol : a black powder made from crushed stone used to anoint the eyes messiah : the awaited king of the Jews; liberator of people multitude : a large gathering of people persecuted : to oppress; mistreat or harass usually because of politics or religion slaughtered : to kill; to massacre soothsayer : seer suckle : to breast-feed a baby—— TEST YO OPP) a tee WWD) tLe a 1. Why did Walid mistrust the Bani Israil? 2. How did Walid try to force the Bani Israil to worship him? 3. What happened to Walid shortly after he had enslaved the Bani Israil? 4. How did Pharaoh try to prevent his dream coming true? 5. What does the name Musa mean? 6, Where did Musa’s mother hide her son? 7. What was Musa’s mother commanded to do after the soldiers had searched her house? 8. Who followed the box after it was placed in the water? ‘9. Who found the baby Musa a.s. and where? How was the baby Musa a.s. and his mother reunited?Hajjah Ayesha Abdullah Scott was born during 1960 in a small fishing village in Sussex, England. She embraced Islam in 1975. At Loughborough University. she Studied law, economics and politics. Since returning to Malaysia with her husband, she has been active- ly involved in teaching Islam as well as diting Islamic news letiers, Several of her books already published are Bismillah (Ta hha), Gowrageous Children of Islam (islamic Foundation), Search (collection of poems) and The Childrens Remembrance ‘and Supplicatiom Series (DBP). Her time is now divided between her family, writ- ing. and social welfare work ISBN 983-b2-b255-5 \) 92000 9 Tasass'2eessa esa FURTHER BOOKS IN THE PROPHET MUSA a.s. SERIES ‘Walid Comes to Egype + The Birth of Prophet Musa as. ¢ Musa in the Court of the Pharaoh # Prophet Musa a.s. and Prophet Shu‘ayb as. # The Staff of Prophet Musa a.s, # Musa a.s Receives his Prophethood Musa as. and The Pharaoh’ Sorcerers + The Story of Mashitah and The Death of ‘Queen Asiyah @ The Exodus @ The Golden-} Calf @ The Revelation of the Holy Torah 4 The Story of Qarun #The Promise Land 4 The Story of The Cow @ Musa and Khidr as, #The Death of Prophet Harun a.s. and Prophet Musa as, # The Modesty of Prophet Musa as. # The Disobedience of Bani Israil # Prophet Adam as. and Prophet Musa as. # The Wisdom of Prophet Musa Kalimullah