Commemoration of the martyrdom in 680 of Husayn, Muhammad's grandson and the third imam of Shii Islam. Shii communities annually reenact the tragedy in a passion play, including self-mortification and displays of sorrow and remorse.
Firawn: Pharaoh: Ruler of Egypt, pre-Islamic or non-Islamic
Moses: Arabic Musa. Prophet who led Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The Quran records him having been placed in a basket in the Nile as a child, being taken into the house of Pharaoh.
SURAH 26 - Al-Shu'ara'
THE SURAH recalls the encounters between Moses and the Pharaoh. The debate between Moses and the Pharaoh revolved around the subject of the true identity of God. The Pharaoh wanted to know who or what God really was, a question that even Moses could not answer, for to identify and define the essence or nature of God in terms that we can understand is beyond human intelligence.
The Pharaoh asked, "And who is the Lord of the universe?" Moses replied, "He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them. If you would only believe!" Pharaoh said to those around him, "Did you hear what he said?" Moses said, "He is your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers." Pharaoh said, "This Messenger who has been sent to you is certainly insane..." (23-27)
The Pharaoh refused to recognise the God of Moses and said to him: "If you serve any god other than me, I shall throw you in prison" (29).
A day was agreed for a public duel between Moses and the Pharaoh's sorcerers, organised to expose the fraudulence of what Moses was preaching and put an end to his mission and teachings. The stage was set "and the people were summoned. "Assemble, so that we can follow the sorcerers if they win the day!" (39-40). To Pharaoh and his entourage, it was a foregone conclusion that Moses would be publicly defeated and humiliated and as such the sorcerers' triumph was never in doubt. However, events took such a turn that not only were the sorcerers spectacularly defeated, but they also renounced their faith in the Pharaoh and accepted the religion of Moses instead. As expected, this sent the Pharaoh into a terrible rage and he turned on them and said,
"Do you dare follow him (Moses) without my consent? He must be your master who taught you sorcery. But you shall see! I will cut off your hands and legs on alternate sides and will crucify every one of you." (49)
This sudden but complete change of attitude by the sorcerers never ceases to amaze. Almost at a stroke, they turned from abject servitude to the Pharaoh to the deepest and most sincere faith in God. The Pharaoh persisted in his arrogant refusal to accept the truth and condemned his courtiers for changing their convictions without waiting for his permission. Like all tyrants everywhere, the Pharaoh believed that he was in command of his followers' consciences as well as their livelihood.
The days went by and Moses decided to lead the people out of Egypt to escape the Pharaoh's wrath and persecution. When the Pharaoh heard of this he gathered his army and went after them. As they drew nearer, Moses' followers became alarmed and said to him: "They are catching up with us" (61). The Torah records this episode in graphic detail and gives a description of the panic and fear which had struck the Israelites. But Moses said to them: "No, my Lord is with me, and He will guide me" (62). As they reached the Red Sea, God intervened and directed Moses to strike the water with his staff, and, lo and behold, the water receded on both sides leaving a dry pathway across the sea for Moses and his followers to cross safely to the other shore. The Pharaoh and his army duly followed through, but once they had progressed well along the sea bed, the water flooded over them from all sides and they were drowned. Thus ended one of the most infamous episodes of man's disingenuous attempts to challenge the sovereignty of God Almighty in the world.
Firawn: Pharaoh: Ruler of Egypt, pre-Islamic or non-Islamic
Moses: Arabic Musa. Prophet who led Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The Quran records him having been placed in a basket in the Nile as a child, being taken into the house of Pharaoh.
SURAH 26 - Al-Shu'ara'
THE SURAH recalls the encounters between Moses and the Pharaoh. The debate between Moses and the Pharaoh revolved around the subject of the true identity of God. The Pharaoh wanted to know who or what God really was, a question that even Moses could not answer, for to identify and define the essence or nature of God in terms that we can understand is beyond human intelligence.
The Pharaoh asked, "And who is the Lord of the universe?" Moses replied, "He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them. If you would only believe!" Pharaoh said to those around him, "Did you hear what he said?" Moses said, "He is your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers." Pharaoh said, "This Messenger who has been sent to you is certainly insane..." (23-27)
The Pharaoh refused to recognise the God of Moses and said to him: "If you serve any god other than me, I shall throw you in prison" (29).
A day was agreed for a public duel between Moses and the Pharaoh's sorcerers, organised to expose the fraudulence of what Moses was preaching and put an end to his mission and teachings. The stage was set "and the people were summoned. "Assemble, so that we can follow the sorcerers if they win the day!" (39-40). To Pharaoh and his entourage, it was a foregone conclusion that Moses would be publicly defeated and humiliated and as such the sorcerers' triumph was never in doubt. However, events took such a turn that not only were the sorcerers spectacularly defeated, but they also renounced their faith in the Pharaoh and accepted the religion of Moses instead. As expected, this sent the Pharaoh into a terrible rage and he turned on them and said,
"Do you dare follow him (Moses) without my consent? He must be your master who taught you sorcery. But you shall see! I will cut off your hands and legs on alternate sides and will crucify every one of you." (49)
This sudden but complete change of attitude by the sorcerers never ceases to amaze. Almost at a stroke, they turned from abject servitude to the Pharaoh to the deepest and most sincere faith in God. The Pharaoh persisted in his arrogant refusal to accept the truth and condemned his courtiers for changing their convictions without waiting for his permission. Like all tyrants everywhere, the Pharaoh believed that he was in command of his followers' consciences as well as their livelihood.
The days went by and Moses decided to lead the people out of Egypt to escape the Pharaoh's wrath and persecution. When the Pharaoh heard of this he gathered his army and went after them. As they drew nearer, Moses' followers became alarmed and said to him: "They are catching up with us" (61). The Torah records this episode in graphic detail and gives a description of the panic and fear which had struck the Israelites. But Moses said to them: "No, my Lord is with me, and He will guide me" (62). As they reached the Red Sea, God intervened and directed Moses to strike the water with his staff, and, lo and behold, the water receded on both sides leaving a dry pathway across the sea for Moses and his followers to cross safely to the other shore. The Pharaoh and his army duly followed through, but once they had progressed well along the sea bed, the water flooded over them from all sides and they were drowned. Thus ended one of the most infamous episodes of man's disingenuous attempts to challenge the sovereignty of God Almighty in the world.
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