THE STORY OF PROPHET MUSA FROM THE HOLY QURAN

Characters:

P.Musa

P.Haaroon (silent)

Firaun

Asiyah

Narrator

INTRODUCTION

Narrator: The story of Prophet Musa which unfolds in the Holy Qur'an is one of the most enchanting stories ever told. Prophet Musa is mentioned more than any other Prophet in regards to the delivery of his message, not only in the Holy Qur'an but in the Bible and Torah as well. In order to be able to have an open dialogue with the Jews and Christians we should examine the stories of this prophet.

There isn't a surah dedicated to Prohet Musa but he is mentioned on various occasions in the holy book but Allah emphasizes the importance of his life by relating incidents time and time again in several different Surah's, e.g. Shu'ara, Qisas, Mo'min, Taha. Allah(swt) sees so much benefit in his life that he spreads the story of Prophet Musa across the Qur'an and if ever Prophet Muhammad (saw) faced any difficulty in his life, Allah(swt) through the Quranic Revelations reminded him about the difficulties faced by Prophet Musa e.g. oppression, travel, marriage, display of miracle from Allah, constantly to remind us how much this Prophet of God went through and just how great his status is.

He was Kalimullah 'One who converses with Allah (swt) on earth'. We gain many lessons of Tawheed i.e Unity in Belief and Nubawwat from the story of this great Prophet. We find in the life of Prophet Musa, that we as human beings are able to gain personal experience from what Prophet Musa went through in his life. He faced situations which teaches us great characteristics, of valour, patience, bravery, coming forward against the enemies of Allah (SWT), and spreading the word of Allah (SWT), to name only a few.

Prophet Musa is born.

The time of the birth of Prophet Musa was one with severe trials on the Bani Israel. Some fortune tellers had prophesised of the birth of a baby who would put an end to Firaun's reign. Thus, Firaun ordered the killing of all the baby boys born at that time.

Haaroon, the brother of Musa, was born in a year when male children were allowed to live, thus Musa's mum was able to give birth publicly and safely. However, because things changed dramatically during the time of Musa's birth, she gave birth to Moses (pbuh) in secrecy and thus his birth caused her much terror. She was afraid he would be slain, so she nursed him secretly.

(Musa's mother on stage with moses basket, place basket on 'river' and kneel as if in prayer.)

Voice: (28:7) "Nurse him; then, when you fear for him, cast him into the river, and do not fear or grieve, for We will restore him to you and make him one of the apostles".

A mother's heart is the most merciful one in the world and grieved as she threw her son into the Nile. However, she was aware that Allah was much more merciful to Moses than her, that the love of Allah is more than that of his creation. Allah was his Lord and the Lord of the Nile, and indeed His promise never remains unfulfilled.

The basket came to rest at the riverbank, which skirted the king's palace. The palace servants found the basket with the baby and took it to the Pharaoh and his queen. When the queen beheld the lovely infant, Allah instilled in her a strong love for this baby. Pharaoh's wife was very different from Pharaoh. He was a disbeliever; she was a believer. He was cruel; she was merciful. He was a tyrant; she was delicate and goodhearted. She was sad because she was infertile and had hoped to have a son.

MUNAJAT

SCENE 1: Baby Musa in Firaun's Court

SCENERY: FIRAUN'S PALACE

(Firaun on stage reading scroll)

Asiyah: (walks onto the stage hugging baby) Firaun look.... Look a baby, how beautiful you are your eyes are bright like two stars in the night sky! Holding you has given me peace within my soul. The Lord has granted me a son.

Firaun: (Stand up in shock) What is this? What do you mean a son! Have you gone mad? Where did you find this baby!

Asiyah: Firaun (shocked to see him), The maid...... the maids they found the basket on the river, can you believe that? The poor baby was just on the river all alone. He is a gift to us from the Nile!

Firaun: The Nile! He is an Israelite? Have you not heard my orders?! I have ordered that all boys are to be slain! And now you tell me that one of them has survived! How is this possible? How did this one survive?

(turn to guards) Slay the infant.

Asiyah: No.... no please Firaun. This infant will be a source of comfort to me and to you. Do not kill him, he may show promise and we may adopt him as our son. (28:9). He has no one, let us adopt him and care for him.

Firaun: You would like us to care for this Israelite child! How is this possible? (thinking and plotting pace back and forth on stage!)

But you are right if he eats our fruits and drinks of the water from my palace then indeed he will be of benefit to me! Very well Aasiyah you may have this child to keep and care for.

Asiyah: Thank you....this is truly a blessed day in your palace. I shall send the maids to arrange for a wet nurse to suckle the baby.

Narrator: Umme Musa was brought to suckle her own child and thus Allah's promise was fulfilled and she was re-united with her beloved son. Unknown to him, Firaun raised his enemy in his very own home.

(Asiyah and Firaun off stage)

SCENE 2: God speaks to Moses

SCENERY: BURNING BUSH

Narrator: Time passed and Musa grew up and God granted him knowledge and wisdom. Upon witnessing the oppression of the Israelites, Musa intervened, after which he was forced to flee Egypt and set out for Madayn, where he settled. It is here that he met Prophet Shuayb and got married to one of his daughters. Years passed and Musa turned 40 years old, but he never forgot the people of Egypt. How could a guide ever forget the people whom he was sent to guide? Musa longed to return to Egypt and so to fulfil his duty, Musa and his wife (the daughter of Shuayb) decided to return to Egypt.

One cold winter night on their way back to Egypt, in the intense darkness, Musa and his wife found themselves lost. As they wandered trying to find their way, Musa noticed a blazing fire in the distance. Intrigued, he asked his wife to wait for him as he was drawn to find out what this blinding light was.

Musa: (walking towards the tree) This is strange! Why is it that the flames are not burning the tree?

Voice: "O Musa! Surely I am the god, lord of the worlds. I am the god of thy father, the god of Ibraham, the god of Ishaq and the god of Yaqub I am your lord, take off your shoes for you are in a sacred valley. I have chosen you, do listen to what is revealed. I am your lord there is no god but me, therefore worship me and pray to me so that you are reminded of me the resurrection undoubtedly will come....so everyone will be rewarded or punished according to their deeds. (20:12)

Musa: (takes his shoes off and immediately prostrates)

Voice: What is in your right hand, O Musa?

Musa: This is my staff, I recline on it, I beat down the leaves to feed my sheep and I also find other uses for it.

Voice: Cast your staff on the ground (changes into snake)

(Musa shows fear)

Voice: Do not be afraid Musa, lift it by the tail (snake changes back into his staff) 20:21

Voice: Press your hand to your side

(Musa puts hand into kanzu)

Voice: It shall come out white: another sign from your Lord. 20:22

Musa: (takes hand out and it is shining white) My Lord it is shining brightly, what a strange light it glows with.

(Prostrates again)

Voice: Now, go to Firaun, his cruelty has exceeded all limits. (20: 25-35)

Musa: (Arabic and English) O my lord expand my breast for me, and make my affair easy for me and loosen my tongue, that they may understand my words, and strengthen my back by my brother, Harun, and associates him in my affair, so that we could glorify you much and remember you much.

Voice: You are indeed granted with your request. Go with your brother with my message and be not heedless in remembering Me; go you both to the pharaoh and speak to him in a gentle word that he may not mind or fear, and say 'we are two apostles of your lord, therefore send the children of Israel away with us and do not torment them. Indeed we have brought you a communication from your lord and peace is on him who follows the guidance.

MUNAJAT

SCENE 3: The court of Firaun

SCENERY: FIRAUN'S PALACE - FIRAUN'S CHAIR

Narrator: In this scene we shall see how Prophet Musa (pbuh) and Harun (pbuh) went together to Firaun and delivered their message. Musa spoke to Firaun about Allah, His mercy and His Paradise and about the obligations of monotheism and His worship.

(Firaun sitting on his throne, and Musa and Harun enter)

Musa: We are Messengers of your Lord, we have come with a sign from your Lord, and may peace be upon him who follows guidance. Indeed it has been revealed to us that the punishment shall befall those who deny and turn their backs on us.

Firaun: Who is your Lord?

Musa: Our Lord is He who gave everything its creation and then guided it.

Firaun: What about the former generations?

Musa: Their knowledge is with my Lord in a Book, My Lord neither makes any error nor forgets. He who made the earth for you a cradle, and in it threaded for you ways, and sent down water from the sky, and with it We brought forth various kinds of vegetation. There are signs in that for those who reflect.

Firaun: (26:18) Are you not Musa, whom we picked up from the Nile, as a powerless baby? Are you the Musa whom we raised in this palace, who ate and drank from our water? (laughs sarcastically and stand up)

Musa: I fled from you when I feared you, but my Lord has since invested me with wisdom and appointed me as one of His Messengers, and this favour with which you reproach me is balanced by the fact that you have enslaved the children of Israel (26:20-22)

Firaun: (angry) Enough of this foolish talk Musa, I am tired of having a discussion with and insane person. Tell me what you want in brief what is the point of your ranting like this?

Musa: I request you to free our people from bondage and oppression.

Firaun: On what grounds should I send them with you seeing that they are my slaves?

Musa: They are the slaves of Allah, Lord of the Worlds.

Firaun: Musa, how dare you worship another God, do you not know that I am a god, and how can you ignore this fact when you were brought up in my palace! If you choose a god other than me I will certainly put you among the prisoners (26:29). Leave now and I shall grant you one final opportunity to convince me that what you say is not the words a man that has gone insane!

Narrator: So Musa understood that intelligent arguments would not work. Firaun was no longer calm and his dialogue was now filled with sarcasm and talk of his own importance, then scorn and finally the threat of imprisonment. Musa steps back and leaves the court. Aasiyah who had been listening to this exchange of dialogue could no longer bare the intensity of Firaun's cruelty and confronts him.

Asiyah (sad): Shame on you! What a shameful task you did against the apostle of Allah!

Firaun: You have become mad like Musa! He says he believes in Allah, who is the Lord of the Worlds. I order you not to believe in Musa's Lord, or you shall be killed.

Asiyah: I do believe in his Lord, and I believe Musa to be His Messenger. And those who have done good, will be rewarded, and the unjust punished.

Firaun: If you do not consider me to be the Lord of Egypt, I shall put you to death by torture and persecution.

Asiyah: O Firaun, how can I accept you as my Lord, when I know there is a Lord who has created this beautiful universe? How can I accept you as my master, when there is a master who has created you and me to such perfection? This is same Lord who arranged the saving of Musa at a time when YOU had ordered the killing of all male children. Firaun, that the Lord that I am talking about has power over everything. How can you possibly compare yourself to this almighty God? And how can you ask anyone else to accept you as the Lord when you are a mere human being, His creation just like me. Firaun, this world is temporary; we need to free ourselves from its pomp, its vanity, crookedness and false enjoyments. The true enjoyment is with Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

Firaun: How dare you speak to me in such a manner? Be quiet! Guards take her away

Asiyah: (turns towards the crowd, raises her hand in prayer) My Lord, deliver me from Firaun and his wrongdoings, save me from the harshness of this world, build me a home near You in paradise (66:11) O Lord, Surely you are the master of the universe, You who give power to who You want and You who give honour to whom You please. O my Lord! You are most surely the one who has power over all things. O my Lord, please give me the patience to bear any difficulties I may encounter from Firaun you alone are my master (Kneels down)

Narrator: Lady Aasiyah is one of the 4 women of Jannah and is a brilliant example for us. Bibi Aasiyah shunned her status in this world to gain her status as one of the women of paradise mentioned in the holy Quran. Despite tremendous wealth and a position of power, once she had seen the Miracles of Prophet Musa, this Noble lady directed all her spiritual vision towards Allah. Her character remained untainted despite the environment she lived in, she did not adopt the bad behavior or mannerism of Firaun nor was she tempted by the materialistic aspects of her position in society. It is a lesson to us that we should strive to protect our faith and ensure that we are not led astray by the temptations of this world. We pray for the safety and the quick arrival of our Twelfth Imam, who is the Musa of our time, but are we ready to stand by him against the Firaun of our time?