Then Almond said, "O my brothers and sisters, as I told you, Allah has likened the good word to the good tree because the outcome of a good word, is a good deed, and a good tree will also yield beneficial and good fruits. The majority of scholars of Tafsir, say that the good word means the declaration that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, so, this statement is Shahada. For indeed the fruits of this statement are all hidden and manifest good deeds since every good deed pleasing Allah, Most High, has to be a result of this statement.
If one contemplates this comparison, he will realise that it perfectly corresponds to the tree of Tawheed whose roots are fixed in the heart of a believer, whose branches comprising of good deeds, are raised high in the sky and continuing to provide the fruits of good deeds depending on the firmness and well-establishment of Tawhid in the heart and the level to which a person is appropriately mindful to the rights of the deed. So, it must regularly be watered with good and beneficial deeds, and it must be protected and strengthened by accustoming it to the remembrance of Allah, and contemplation upon His Book;otherwise it may become dry and lifeless."
Then Almond said, "Now, let us continue about the Story of Moses!" Bulbul said, "Yes, that's we are waiting for!" Almond said, "Moses left Egypt for Midian, between which lay a journey of eight nights. He had no food except leaves of trees . He had left barefoot and did not reach Midian until the soles fell off his feet. And when he came to the well of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering their flocks, and he found aside from them two women driving back their flocks. He asked them, "What is your circumstance?" The two said, "We do not water until the shepherds dispatch their flocks; and our father is an old man."
Moses had pity on them and went to the well . He took away a stone that was on the well, which it took a group from the people of Midian together to lift up. Moses drew water for them with a bucket, and they gave their flocks water and returned home quickly, for usually they watered only from the overflow of the troughs. Then Moses turned aside to the shade of an acacia tree and said, "My Rabb, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need." He was only asking Allah for food.
When the two maidens returned quickly to their father, he asked them about the watering. They told him the story of Moses, so he sent one of them to him, and she came to him walking shyly. She said, "Lo! my father bids you, that he may reward you with a payment for your having watered the flock for us." So he arose with her and said, "Go." So she walked before him, and the winds blew on her so he could look at her buttocks. Moses said to her, "Walk behind me, and guide me on the way from there if I make a mistake."
When he came to the old man and told him the story, he said: "Fear not! You have escaped from the wrongdoing folk." One of the two women said: "O my father! Hire him! For the best one you can hire is the strong, the trustworthy one.' She was the maiden who had invited him. The old man said, "I had already seen his strength when he took away the stone, but did you see his trustworthiness? What do you know of that? " She said, "I was walking in front of him, and he did not wish to wrong me, so he ordered me to walk behind him." The old man said to him; "Indeed, I wish to wed you one of these, my two daughters, on the condition that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten, it will be as a favor from you. And I do not wish to put you in difficulty. You will find me, if Allah wills, from among the righteous." Moses said, "That is established between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I complete - there is no injustice to me, and Allah, over what we say, is Witness." The maiden who invited him was the one he married.
Then he ordered one of his daughters to bring him a staff, and she brought it to him. That was the staff that an angel in the form of a man had given to the old man. The maiden entered and got the staff and brought it out to him. When the old man saw it , he said to her, "No! Bring another one." So she threw it down and tried to grab another one, but only that one came to her hand. He kept sending her back, but every time she would come back with that one in her hand. When Moses saw this, he approached the staff, took it out, and herded the flocks with it. The old man regretted this, saying, "This was entrusted to me." So he went out to meet Moses, and when he met him he said, "Give me the staff!" Moses replied, "It is my staff" and refused to give it to him . They argued over it, until they came to an agreement that they would appoint the first man who would meet them as an arbitrator. An angel came walking and judged between them, saying, "Place the staff on the ground, and whoever can lift it, it is his." The old man tried but could not lift it. Moses took it in his hand and lifted it up . So the old man left it to Moses, and he herded for the old man for ten years.
Regarding the old man, there were those who argue that he was the Prophet Shu'ayb, alayhissalam. But there were those who argue that he was the nephew of Prophet Shu'ayb. Some argue that the one who hired Moses was named Jethro or Yathra, the ruler of Midian or the priest of Midian. The names of the two maidens were Liya and Zipporah, and the wife of Moses was Zipporah.
Time passed, and he lived in seclusion far from his family and his people. This period of ten years was of importance in his life. It was a period of major preparation. Certainly Moses's mind was absorbed in the stars every night. He followed the sunrise and the sunset every day. He pondered on the plant and how it splits and soil and appears thereafter. He contemplated water and how the earth is revived by it and flourishes after its death. Of course, he was immersed in the Glorious Book of Allah, open to the insight and heart. He was immersed in the existence of Allah. All these became latent within him. The religion of Moses was the same as that of Jacob, which was Islamic monotheism. His forefather was Jacob, the grandson of Abraham. Moses, therefore, was one of the descendants of Abraham and every prophet who came after Abraham was one of Abraham's successors. In addition to physical preparation, there was a similar spiritual preparation. It was made in complete seclusion, in the middle of the desert, and in the places of pasture. Silence was his way of life, and seclusion was his vehicle. Allah the Almighty prepared for His prophet the tools he would need later on to righteously bear the commands of Allah the Exalted..
And when Moses had completed the term, a vague homesickness arose in Moses's heart. He wanted to return to Egypt. He was fast and firm in making his decision, telling his wife: "Tomorrow we shall leave for Egypt." His wife said to herself. "There are a thousand dangers in departing that have not yet been revealed." However, she obeyed her husband. Moses left Midian with his family and traveled through the desert until he reached Mount Sinai. There Moses discovered that he had lost his way. He sought Allah's direction and was shown the right course. At nightfall they reached Mount Tur. He perceived from the direction of the mount, a fire. It was winter. A fire became visible to him and he thought that it was fire. He said to his family, "Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there some information or burning wood from the fire that you may warm yourselves." But, when he reached the flame, he was called from the right side of the valley from the tree in the blessed field. "Blessed is whoever is at the fire and whoever is around it. And exalted is Allah, Lord of the worlds.' And, when Moses heard the call, he was startled and said, 'Praise be to Allah, Rabb of the worlds!' And there was proclaimed, "O Moses, indeed I am Allah, Lord of the worlds. Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed to you. Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance. Indeed, the Hour is coming - I almost conceal it - so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives. So do not let one avert you from it who does not believe in it and follows his desire, for you then would perish.. And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?" He said, "It is my staff; I lean upon it, and I bring down leaves for my sheep and I have therein other uses." Allah said, "Throw it down, O Moses!" So he threw it down, but when he saw it writhing as if it was a snake, he turned in flight and did not return. Its two prongs became the serpent's mouth; it's hook became a crest on its back, which shook, and it had fangs . It was as Allah wished it to be. Allah said, "O Moses, fear not. Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear. Approach and fear not. Indeed, you are of the secure."
When he approached, Allah said, "Seize it and fear not; We will return it to its former condition. Put your hand into its mouth." Moses was wearing a long garment of wool, so he wrapped his hand in his sleeve, because he was terrified of the serpent . It was proclaimed: "Cast your sleeve from your hand!" and he cast it off. Then he placed his hand between the serpent's jaws. When he did so, he seized it, and lo! It became his staff, with his hand between its two forks , where he usually grasped it, and its hook in its place. There was nothing of it he did not recognize. And Allah said, "Insert your hand into the opening of your garment; it will come out white, without disease. And draw in your arm close to you as prevention from fear, for those are two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his establishment. Indeed, they have been a people defiantly disobedient."
He said, "My Rabb, indeed, I killed from among them someone, and I fear they will kill me. And my brother Aaron is more fluent than me in tongue, so send him with me as support, verifying me. Indeed, I fear that they will deny me. And they have upon me a claim due to sin, so I fear that they will kill me." Allah said, "We will strengthen your arm through your brother and grant you both supremacy so they will not reach you. It will be through Our signs; you and those who follow you will be the predominant. Go both of you with Our signs; indeed, We are with you, listening. Go to Pharaoh and say, 'We are the messengers of the Lord of the worlds.'
Moses said, "My Lord, expand for me my breast with assurance and ease for me my task. And untie the knot from my tongue, that they may understand my speech. And appoint for me a minister from my family - Aaron, my brother. Increase through him my strength and let him share my task that we may exalt You much and remember You much. Indeed, You are of us ever Seeing." Allah said, "You have been granted your request, O Moses! And We had already conferred favor upon you another time. And I produced you for Myself. Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance. Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed. And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear Allah."
Reference :Moses returned to his family, and together they journeyed toward Egypt until they arrived during the night. He was given hospitality by his mother, but he did not recognize them. He came to them on a night during which they were eating tifshil, a dish of grains, and he camped beside the house. Then Aaron came and noticed his guest . He asked his mother about him, and she told him that he was a guest. He invited Moses and ate with him. While they were sitting and conversing, Aaron asked him, "Who are you ? " He replied: "I am Moses." So both stood up, and each embraced the other. When they had become familiar with each other, Moses said to him: "O Aaron! Go to Pharaoh with me, for Allah has sent us to him." Aaron responded: "I hear and obey!" But their mother arose and shouted, saying, "I beg you by Allah not to go to Pharaoh, for he will kill you." But they refused and went off to him during the night.
They arrived at the gate and knocked . Pharaoh was startled, as was the gatekeeper, and Pharaoh said: "Who is that knocking at my gate at this hour? " The gatekeeper looked down upon them and spoke to them. Moses said to him: "I am the messenger of Rabb of the Worlds!" The gatekeeper was frightened, and he went to Pharaoh and informed him, saying: "Here is a madman who claims that he is the Messenger of the Rabb of the Worlds." Pharaoh said, "Let him enter." Moses entered and said, "Verily, I am the Messenger of the Rabb of the Worlds," and you must send with me the Children of Israel." Pharaoh recognized him and said, "Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you remained among us for years of your life? And then you did your deed which you did, and you were of the ungrateful."
Moses said, "I did it, then, while I was of those astray. So I fled from you when I feared you. Then my Rabb granted me wisdom and prophethood and appointed me as one of the messengers. Dan itulah kebaikan yang telah engkau berikan kepadaku, (sementara) itu engkau telah memperbudak Bani Israil.” Pharaoh said, "And what is the Lord of the worlds? And who is your Lord, O Moses? " He replied, ""The Lord of the heavens and earth and that between them, if you should be convinced." Pharaoh said to those around him, "Do you not hear?" Moses said, "Your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers." Pharaoh said, "Indeed, your 'messenger' who has been sent to you is mad." Moses] said, "Lord of the East and the West and that between them, if you were to reason." Pharaoh said, "If you take a god other than me, I will surely place you among those imprisoned." Moses said, "Even if I brought you proof manifest?" Pharaoh said, "Then bring it, if you should be of the truthful." So Moses threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent manifest. which opened its mouth and placed its lower jaw on the ground and its upper on the walls of the palace. It then turned toward Pharaoh to seize him. When Pharaoh saw it, he was terrified and jumped up, voiding excrement, although he had not previously done so. Pharaoh was unable to control his bowels, although they claim he used to remain for five or six days not seeking the privy- meaning the latrine- as other people do, and that was one of the things that induced him to say that there was not like him anyone among the people. But when he jumped up, he screamed, "O Moses! Seize it and I will believe in you. I will send the Israelites with you." So Moses grabbed the serpent, and it became a staff once more. And Moses drew out his hand; thereupon it was white for the observers.
Moses left his presence after that, and Pharaoh refused to believe in him or to send the Israelites with him. Pharaoh had diarrhea for twenty-odd nights until he almost expired; then it ceased. He said to the eminent ones around him, "Indeed, this is a learned magician. He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic, so what do you advise?" And a believing man from the family of Pharaoh who concealed his faith said, "Do you kill a man merely because he says, 'My Rabb is Allah ' while he has brought you clear proofs from your Rabb? And if he should be lying, then upon him is the consequence of his lie; but if he should be truthful, there will strike you some of what he promises you. Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar. O my people, sovereignty is yours today, your being dominant in the land. But who would protect us from the punishment of Allah if it came to us?" Pharaoh said, "I do not show you except what I see, and I do not guide you except to the way of right conduct." The chiefs of his people said, "Postpone the matter of him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers, who will bring you every learned, skilled magician."
Almond paused, and said, "O my brothers and sisters, Allah, the most High, mentions two examples regarding the disbelievers; one example in which they are compared to a mirage -and the other, to layers of darkness on top of one another. This is because those who turn away from guidance and truth are of two types: one who mistakenly thinks he is actually on some firm basis - and when the truth finally reveals itself to him, it becomes clear to him that it was contrary to what he used to believe. This condition corresponds to the people of ignorance and the people of innovation and vain desires, who think they are on the path of guidance and knowledge and once the reality of matters are made evident, it finally becomes clear to them that they were on no firm ground whatsoever.
The second type of people are like layers of darkness accumulated one over the other, and they are those who recognised the truth and guidance but preferred over it, the darkness of falsehood and misguidance. And Allah know best."
"But those who disbelieved - their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing but finds Allah before Him, and He will pay him in full his due; and Allah is swift in account. Or [they are] like darknesses within an unfathomable sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds - darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. And he to whom Allah has not granted light - for him there is no light." - [QS.24:39-40]
- The History of al-Tabari, The Children of Israel, Volume III, Translated by William M. Brinner, SUNY Press
- Ibn Kathir, Stories of The Prophets, Darussalam
- Imam ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, The Paragons of The Qur'an, Dar As-Sunnah
