THE GLORIOUS PROPHET SERIES MUSA BOOK IWALID COMES TO EGYPT AYESHA ABDULLAH SCOTT _ Co-Published by DEWAN BAHASA DAN PUSTAKA 3 PUSTAKA YAMIEN SDN. BHD. ewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Kuala Lumpur 1999First Printing 1999, (© Author = Ayesha Abdullah Seott 1999 ‘© Milustration and Concept : Pastaka Yamien Sdo. Mel. 199% Al Rights Reserved. No part ofthis book may be repraduced or trarsiilted ia any foun ot by any ‘mean, electronic or mechanical, including phatscopying. recording, ar any Information storage anal reuteval system, without permission in writing [nar the Direcinr-Gieneral, Dewan Htahasa dart Pusat, FO, Hox 10803, 50926 Kuala Lumput, Malaysia, Negotiation i subject to the calculation of royalty ‘or honararfim. Pespustakean Negara Malaysia Catatoguengein-ttblicatiom Data Scott, ayesha abdullah Walid canes to Egypt. Rook 1 /Apesha Abdillah con, (The glorious proper ceriee » Musa} ISBN 983-62-6230-4 (set) ISBN 983-62-6253-9 RN ISBN 98 }-62-6152-0 (pbk) 1. Mases (Biblical leader) in the Koran, 2, Prophets. Pre-Islamic. 3. Koran sturies, Malay. LT, I, Series, 297.245 UBRARY SECTION BINTULU DEVELOPM: NT AUTHORITY. ee er Printed by Percetakan Dewan Rohasa dan Pustaka ‘Lor 1037, Mukim Pesinduscrian PRNS Amnpang/Huly Kelang Selangor Darul BisankD ‘Whenever We sent a prophet to a town, We took up its people in suffering and adversity, in order that they might learn humility.” aleA‘raf 7: 94 eany years ago, in a land called Palestine, there lived a young man called Walid. Walid was a brave, handsome young man, but he was alsa proud, quarrelsome and very headstrong, He would never listen to anyone’s advice not even his own father, He was always getting into fights and trouble of one sort or another, usually along with his close friend Haman. One day, Walid had another violent argument with his father. Unable to take his son’s behaviour any more, Walid’s father threw him out of the house and told him never to return home unless he changed his character. Angrily storming out of his father’s house, he bumped into his friend, Haman, who straight away realised something was wrong. “What is the matter Walid?” he asked looking at his friend's angry face. Sitting down on a happened between earby rack Walid told his friend all that had im and his father.’ He also told Haman that as his father no longer wanted him around, so he had decided to leave the village and seek hi fortune elsewhere. “Never mind Walid!” exclaimed Haman. “| wail join you in-your Havel itis abouttimeé-we explore this land.” atesJust stopping to collect a few belongings, the two friends excitedly set ofl on their travels. For a while they lived as bandits and adventurers, robbing other travellers for their money and food, surviving from day to day as best as they could. Eventually, they reached a country called Egypt. The land on both sides of the river Nile which flowed through this desert land was green and very fertile due to the yearly flooding of the Nile. These floods would __ deposit lots of river mud which was ideal for growing crops on. After spending a few weeks travelling through Egypt, they decided to give up being bandits and find some other way of life. a With the money they had left, they rented a large field just outside the city gates of Memphis (now known as Cairo), Here, they planted water-melons which they hoped would make them a large profit, Each and every day, the two friends with a few helpers toiled under the hot sun watering and looking after the tender young plants.Eventually, after several months the water-melons were ready. After all their hard work, the harvest that year was very good. The melons were large and very juicy, sweet and delicious, Allah Almighty in the Holy Quran has forbidden us to disobey or disrespect our parents. To go ‘against our porents is such a ‘great sin that unless they: forgive us we will not be permitted to enter the Paradise and we will be cursed by Allah S.W.T, tA Happily, Walid and Haman went to the city to hire carts and donkeys to bring the melons to the market. One by Ey cy t7 one the carts were laden with the XS ripe and juicy melons. As soon as the last melon was put in the carts, Walid and Haman together with their helpers slowly drove the carts back to Memphis.As soon as they reached the city gates, the guards stopped them and told them, that if they wanted to enter the city, they must first pay the King’s taxes. Outraged at the thought of having to pay taxes, Walid angrily started to argue with the guards. However, the more Walid quarrelled with them, the higher the tax became, until eventually Walid gave in and paid Trudging past the now smiling guards, Walid swore he would get his revenge on the King sooner or later. oon as he arrived at the art place, people saw the fresh melonsHowever, Walid was still very upset by the heavy taxes he had been forced to pay and he decided to see the King himself to complain. After returning the donkeys and carts to their owners, Walid and Haman went to the King’s palace and waiting for a short while, they were taken to the Audience Hall where the King was seated on his magnificent golden throne surrounded by his court,“O Mighty King! said Walid, “I have come to complain about your guards, They tried to tax me just for bringing my melons into the city. The more I argued with them, the higher they charged me, Lask for justice.” i Unaffected by Walid’s bold speech, the King gave an unruffled reply. “The guards were right. This is my city and my kingdom, If you wish to ente! 1 Must pay the taxes. 1 aim sure if you were in my place and argued with your taxes, you would increase the amount accordingly. If you have your own land you can do the same."The ancient people of Egypt believed their Pharaohs were the sons of the god Osiris, king and the judge ofthe dead. When they died, they would he sent to the immortal world of the Egyptian Gods and Goddess ‘No doubt you are right,” mused Walid. “But if I were to charge people for using my land, who would back me up? If Your Highness will give me written permission to charge whatever rates | like for its use, then no one would dare q my authority.” Pleased with Walid harp intelligence, the King without thinking wrote him a letter giving him permission to levy whatever tax he wanted on his land and to increase the amount if anyone tried to argue with him. Walid smiled to himself, He knew just what he was going ta de with the letterAfter all the remaining melons had been harvested and sold in the market place, Walid turned his land into a cemetery. He built high walls around the land before paying the beggar children to run around the town and let everyone know this was to be the new graveyard, At first, when the people began bringing their dead relatives to be buried there, Walid only charged them a small fec, much less than any of | the other graveyards, Before long everyone was using Walid’s graveyard. jarOne day, not long alter this, one of the King’s daughters died. Grief- stticken, the King ordered his daughter’s bady to be prepared for burial. After the undertakers had finished with the body, it was taken in great state 10 be buried in Walid’s graveyard. ee ee Ina regal but sorrowful procession, the girl’s body was carried in a golden cart decorated with flowers and surrounded by mourning women and men,Slowly throwing dust on their heads and bodies, they made their way to Walid’s graveyard till eventually they reached the massive gates of the graveyard. Waiting patiently inside the gates were Walid and Haman. Now at long last. they would have their revenge for the melons. Politely giving their condolences on the death of the princess, they asked for payment before they would allow her body to be brought into the graveyard for burial The courtiers asked how much he wanted, expecting it to be a small amount as usual, but Wal asked for a huge sum which totally shocked them. “This is outre one: nm exclaimed. “Surely you cannotAs soon as they artived, the courtier explained 10 the mourning King what had happened. The King who was already very upset at his daughter's death became very angry when he knew what Walid was demanding and wanted 1 punish him for his arrogance and disrespect Walid on the other hand was prepared for this and he quickly took out the letter giving him the permission to charge what he liked, and to raise the price if anyone argued with him and showed it wo the Kinginto an agreement, buy or sell land or make any kind of arrangement we must make @ witnessed written contract and not rely on Smiling craftily, Walid reminded that the King himself had written the letter with his own hand and now he must either pay up or bury his daughter somewhere else Reluctantly the King gave in and paid price. After all, his word was law. There was nothing that he could do about it now,‘business flourished Kl} at Ss and although he still buried the poor for free of charge, the rich had to pay with exorbitant prices. Soon, Walid and his friends were living lives of tuxury in-magnificent mansions, while Walid himself lived in a grand palace which outshone the palace of the King himself.Alter some time, the rich people got fed up of baving to pay such high burial charges and they started complaining to the King. After thinking the matter over for some time, the King decided to summon Walid to his palace to see what could be done about the situation When Walid appeared at the palace at the King’s commands, he looked more regal than the King himself, After talking t0 Walid for several hours, the King found him to be a bom diplomat and a politician. He was intelligent and able to’ iwist any situation to his advantage. The King, after discussing with his advisors, decided that the best way to deal with Walid was to make him a’ Wazir. “Why don’t you give up burying the dead?” he said. “Your talents are wasted there. Accept the position of Wazir and help me run the country.”Walid readily agreed and for a while everything was peaceful in the country. But Walid had a secret ambition that only his best friend Haman knew — he wanted to become King. He decided 10 make himself as popular as possible as the first step of his plan to steal the throne away from the King. He gave back all the money he had earned from burying the dead, paid taxes for the poor and helped the widows and orphans till all the people in the kingdom were full of praise for him. When the King’s Grand-Wazir died, everyone agreed that Walid would be the best person to replace him. Walid became more and more powerful, but it was not enough, he still wanted to become King.One day, the King summoned Walid and asked him what his people thought of him. Walid craftily replied, *You are a good king. everyone knows that, but if you wish, I will go out in disguise and find out for you what your people really think of you.” The King thought this was a great idea and straight away agreed, unaware that this was all part of the plan to get rid of him. Walid then disappeared for several days but he did not really ask anyone their opinions as he already knew what he was going to tell the King.As soon as he returned to the palace, the King anxiously summoned him. “Well, what do they say about me?” he asked Walid impatiently. “QO most noble and illustrious,” began Walid. “The people are happy with you, they say you are a just and kind ruler, but they complain that you are not as generous as you used to be. Nowadays, you never give any great public feasts like you used to do, and you are growing miserly.”The King decided to remedy this at once. He ordered a great banquet to be held and sent out heralds to every comer of the kingdom to invite everyone to the great feast. The King placed all the arrangements in Walid’s hands, Feeling very pleased with himself, he returned to his private apartments to enjoy himself among his women. Walid on the other hand was now putting the second part of his plan into action, Secretly, he had all the food poisoned. Then, he spread rumours that the King intended to kill them all so he could get all their properties and ri Taking the rumours to be true, the towns people hid daggers and knives beneath their robes before going to the Royal Palace. When the food was served, the people refused to cat it.Indignant at what he considered to be an insult to his hospitality, the King sharply demanded to know why they were not eating the food. “We are afraid you have poisoned it,” they said. “We will only eat after you have eaten some.” The King was outraged at such a suggestion. Quickly, he ordered that some of the food be given to his dogs and slaves to prove that there was nothing wrong with itAfter the first mouthful, the slaves and dogs fell down crying and howling. Within a few seconds, they had all died in great agony. Sceing this, the townspeople straight away attacked the King and stabbed him to death with their daggers. Now that their King was dead, they turned to Walid and offered him the crown.“O Walid, if it had not been for your warming, we would have all been poisoned. Please will you become our King?” they asked. Cannily Walid refused, but this made the people even more aye determined that he was the one who should be King. They 2 kept pushing and pleading with him to become their King till eventually with pretended reluctance, Walid accepted. So, Walid became the King of Egypt which had been his plan all along. At first, Walid with the help of Haman ruled the country well and justly. They lowered taxes, helped the poor and the country was happy and prospered.One day, while they were talking, Haman suggested a way to make Walid even more powerful over his people. The Holy Muhammad f Disp oe “Why don’t you make the people Rr ee nae worship you as god?” he said. “Alter all, (Sy: ae Elae Sarma everything that you do brings richness pumps pestis Ir ed bs “i, better for you and if you and peace to your people. Why should ‘wo retain ie, fe will be evil they not praise you?” fervent Walid liked the idea very much and he addressed the people revealing ta them that in reality he was one of their gods who had been chosen to live among them and look after them. Then, he ordered all his people to worship him as their god and before long his power over them became absolute.Walid, by the permission of Allah $,W.T,, lived for many centuries so that eventually the story of how he became Pharaoh was forgotten and people really believed in his divin powers. Throughout Egypt, the only , religion that was allowed and accepted was the worship of Pharaoh and his family of gods and goddesses, Sia Polytheismn (to believe there are other gods ather than the One true God = illustrious : of great renown; famous; distinguished magnificent : splendid or impressive in appearance Pharaoh : the title given to all ancient Egyptian kings =~ satiate : to fill or supply beyond capacity or desireTEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING 1. Why did Walid leave home? 2. Who was Walid’s best friend? 3. Why did Walid decide to settle down in Egypt? 4. Why did Walid complain to the Egyptian King? 5. How did Walid get his revenge on the King? 6. Why did the King ask Walid to become his Wazir? 7. What did Walid do to make himself popular with the people of Egypt? 8. Why did the King decide to make a great banquet? 9. How did Walid “frame” the King? 10. What did Haman suggest to make Walid even more powerful?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 editing Islamic news letters. Several of her books already published are Bismillah {Ta ha), Courageous Children of tslam Uslamic Foundation), Search (collection of poems) and THe Chuildvents Reniemibrance aad Supplication Series (DBP). Her time is now divided between her family, writ ing. and social welfare work. FURTHER BOOKS IN THE PROPHET MUSA a.s. SERIES ‘Walid Comes to Egypt +The Binh 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 as. @ Musa a.s Receives his Prophethood @ Musa as. and ‘The Pharaoh's Sorcerers # The Story of Mashitah and The Death ol Queen Asiyah ¢ The Exodus # The Golden Calf @ The Revelation of the Holy Torah # The Story of Qarun #The Promise Land # 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 a.s. #The Disobedience of Bani Israil # Prophet Adam as and Prophet Musa as. # The Wisdom. of Prophet Musa Kalirullah sdciQgH* > yz 6a7il onbP1VEzi a ROie!3 ISBN 983-b2-b253-49 i Ml g2000 wed 7 189836" 202551 HI Sf ae e Gb