Moses 1

Au jourd'hui i gw want to start on a réalisation that has intrigued me for some time now.

Moses, his history charted in the Quran...
the reason for this is more apparent that when i am reading the Quran Moses's history is scattered about, i think in Surah 2 there is a mention - which if readng the Quran according to organisation is the first contact you have with Moses.

To be more specific, i am very intrigued with the notion of Inspiration - i understand it in a kind of whimsical sence of being inspired to do a certain thought in your head.. where the thought comes from one does not know, but it just enters and if gw it is from God, you know that is the best course of action for you.

Moses was inspired by God - he was very lucky - one of the few prophets that spoke to God - do you know how awesome that would be - to be in presence of your creator whose power alone is magnified beyond your understanding and capability.....

it is also of interesting note that the surah's 25/26/27/28 talk about moses a lot..

in order of revealation - moses mentioned in reference to us via the following surah's -87 - 53 - 7 - 25 - 19 - 20 - 26 -27 - 28 - 17 - 10 - 11 - 6 -37 - 40 - 41 - 42 - 43 - 46 - 51 - 18 - 14 - 21 -23 - 32 - 79 - 20- 2 - 3 -33 - 4 - 61 - 5 -

Couple of points to note - ****i am always conscious when reading the Qurna of the many translations that there are - i am using the translation by rashad Khalifa - because i find it gw an easy read and am able to grasp essence of the message to us.
*** translation can never be perfect - so i invite everyone to continously search to understand what God is trying to tell us via the Quran - God is the best guide afterall.
** parenthesis - in this context used in translations are always the work of the translator - they are not contained in the arabic Quran. - they serve to help the translator convey his thought of the verse translated - we may or may not agree - but it helps us know where the focus ought to be

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87:19 - the teachings of abraham and moses . this is part of surah a'la - talks about Glorifying God according to teachings given to moses and also to Abraham.

53:36 - Was he not informed of the teachings in the scripture of Moses? - reference is given to teachings given to moses( this i reckon is the statute book of laws given to moses - which reference is further made to again in some parts of the Quran)

7:103
After (those messengers,) we sent Moses with our signs to Pharaoh and his people, but they transgressed. Note the consequences for the wicked.

7:104
Moses said, "O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the universe.

7:105
"It is incumbent upon me that I do not say about GOD except the truth. I come to you with a sign from your Lord; let the Children of Israel go."

7:106
He said, "If you have a sign, then produce it, if you are truthful."

7:107
He threw down his staff, and it turned into a tremendous serpent.

7:108
He took out his hand, and it was white to the beholders.

7:109
The leaders among Pharaoh's people said, "This is no more than a clever magician.

7:110
"He wants to take you out of your land; what do you recommend?"

7:111
They said, "Respite him and his brother, and send summoners to every city.

7:112
"Let them summon every experienced magician."

7:113
The magicians came to Pharaoh and said, "Do we get paid if we are the winners?"

7:114
He said, "Yes indeed; you will even become close to me."

7:115
They said, "O Moses, either you throw, or we are throwing."

7:116
He said, "You throw." When they threw, they tricked the people's eyes, intimidated them, and produced a great magic.

7:117
We then inspired Moses: "Throw down your staff," whereupon it swallowed whatever they fabricated.

7:118
Thus, the truth prevailed, and what they did was nullified.

7:119
They were defeated then and there; they were humiliated.

7:120
The magicians fell prostrate.

7:121
They said, "We believe in the Lord of the universe. - it is quite interesting - this re-inforces for me that the God we all want to worship is one God - The Lord of the universe - some call God - Allah, some call God Jehova - God is God - the God before whom there is no other - His knowledge encompasses all things. Moses is entwined in what i call the three major faiths - each faith having their version of his story - but as we all know - there was only one moses - so there can only be one truth to his story - moses's story and the rest of it will be fallacy and inventions - which arises through no others fault than Man - via reported and extra reported speech.

7:122
"The Lord of Moses and Aaron."

7:123
Pharaoh said, "Did you believe in him without my permission? This must be a conspiracy you schemed in the city, in order to take its people away. You will surely find out.

7:124
"I will cut your hands and feet on alternate sides, then I will crucify you all."

7:125
They said, "We will then return to our Lord.

7:126
"You persecute us simply because we believed in the proofs of our Lord when they came to us." "Our Lord, grant us steadfastness, and let us die as submitters."

7:127
The leaders among Pharaoh's people said, "Will you allow Moses and his people to corrupt the earth, and forsake you and your gods?" He said, "We will kill their sons, and spare their daughters. We are much more powerful than they are."

7:128
Moses said to his people, "Seek GOD's help, and steadfastly persevere. The earth belongs to GOD, and He grants it to whomever He chooses from among His servants. The ultimate victory belongs to the righteous." - Gods laws never changes

7:129
They said, "We were persecuted before you came to us, and after you came to us." He said, "Your Lord will annihilate your enemy and establish you on earth, then He will see how you behave." - see children of isreal- loosing faith in times of difficulty- this is the general trait among us all as humans - but gw as we grow - we understand that all victory belongs to God and may He strenghten our hearts and make us firm in his path

7:130
We then afflicted Pharaoh's people with drought, and shortage of crops, that they may take heed.

7:131
When good omens came their way, they said, "We have deserved this," but when a hardship afflicted them, they blamed Moses and those with him. In fact, their omens are decided only by GOD, but most of them do not know.

7:132
They said, "No matter what kind of sign you show us, to dupe us with your magic, we will not believe."

7:133
Consequently, we sent upon them the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, and the blood - profound signs. But they maintained their arrogance. They were evil people.

7:134
Whenever a plague afflicted them, they said, "O Moses, implore your Lord - you are close to Him. If you relieve this plague, we will believe with you, and will send the Children of Israel with you."

7:135
Yet, when we relieved the plague for any length of time, they violated their pledge.

7:136
Consequently, we avenged their actions, and drowned them in the sea. That is because they rejected our signs, and were totally heedless thereof.

7:137
We let the oppressed people inherit the land, east and west, and we blessed it. The blessed commands of your Lord were thus fulfilled for the Children of Israel, to reward them for their steadfastness, and we annihilated the works of Pharaoh and his people and everything they harvested.

7:138
We delivered the Children of Israel across the sea. When they passed by people who were worshiping statues, they said, "O Moses, make a god for us, like the gods they have." He said, "Indeed, you are ignorant people. - look at us now - no graven images of God, bow not before any other God other than your Lord, look at us as a society and see where we have turned wrong - God guide us - seriously and help us in this life and hereafter

7:139
"These people are committing a blasphemy, for what they are doing is disastrous for them.

7:140
"Shall I seek for you other than GOD to be your god, when He has blessed you more than anyone else in the world?"

7:141
Recall that we delivered you from Pharaoh's people, who inflicted the worst persecution upon you, killing your sons and sparing your daughters. That was an exacting trial for you from your Lord.

7:142
We summoned Moses for thirty nights, and completed them by adding ten. Thus, the audience with his Lord lasted forty nights. Moses said to his brother Aaron, "Stay here with my people, maintain righteousness, and do not follow the ways of the corruptors."

7:143
When Moses came at our appointed time, and his Lord spoke with him, he said, "My Lord, let me look and see You." He said, "You cannot see Me. Look at that mountain; if it stays in its place, then you can see Me." Then, his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, and this caused it to crumble. Moses fell unconscious. When he came to, he said, "Be You glorified. I repent to You, and I am the most convinced believer."

7:144
He said, "O Moses, I have chosen you, out of all the people, with My messages and by speaking to you. Therefore, take what I have given you and be appreciative."

7:145
We wrote for him on the tablets all kinds of enlightenments and details of everything: "You shall uphold these teachings strongly, and exhort your people to uphold them - these are the best teachings. I will point out for you the fate of the wicked."

7:146
I will divert from My revelations those who are arrogant on earth, without justification. Consequently, when they see every kind of proof they will not believe. And when they see the path of guidance they will not adopt it as their path, but when they see the path of straying they will adopt it as their path. This is the consequence of their rejecting our proofs, and being totally heedless thereof.

7:147
Those who reject our revelations and the meeting of the Hereafter, their works are nullified. Are they requited only for what they committed?

7:148
During his absence, Moses' people made from their jewelry the statue of a calf, complete with the sound of a calf. Did they not see that it could not speak to them, or guide them in any path? They worshiped it, and thus turned wicked.

7:149
Finally, when they regretted their action, and realized that they had gone astray, they said, "Unless our Lord redeems us with His mercy, and forgives us, we will be losers."

7:150
When Moses returned to his people, angry and disappointed, he said, "What a terrible thing you have done in my absence! Could you not wait for the commandments of your Lord?" He threw down the tablets, and took hold of his brother's head, pulling him towards himself. (Aaron) said, "Son of my mother, the people took advantage of my weakness, and almost killed me. Let not my enemies rejoice, and do not count me with the transgressing people."

7:151
(Moses) said, "My Lord, forgive me and my brother, and admit us into Your mercy. Of all the merciful ones, You are the Most Merciful."

7:152
Surely, those who idolized the calf have incurred wrath from their Lord, and humiliation in this life. We thus requite the innovators.

7:153
As for those who committed sins, then repented thereafter and believed, your Lord - after this - is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

7:154
When Moses' anger subsided, he picked up the tablets, containing guidance and mercy for those who reverence their Lord.

7:155
Moses then selected seventy men from among his people, to come to our appointed audience. When the quake shook them, he said, "My Lord, You could have annihilated them in the past, together with me, if You so willed. Would You annihilate us for the deeds of those among us who are foolish? This must be the test that You have instituted for us. With it, You condemn whomever You will, and guide whomever You will. You are our Lord and Master, so forgive us, shower us with Your mercy; You are the best Forgiver.

7:156
"And decree for us righteousness in this world, and in the Hereafter. We have repented to You." He said, "My retribution befalls whomever I will. But My mercy encompasses all things. However, I will specify it for those who (1) lead a righteous life, (2) give the obligatory charity (Zakat), (3) believe in our revelations, and

7:157
"(4) follow the messenger, the gentile prophet (Muhammad), whom they find written in their Torah and Gospel. He exhorts them to be righteous, enjoins them from evil, allows for them all good food, and prohibits that which is bad, and unloads the burdens and the shackles imposed upon them. Those who believe in him, respect him, support him, and follow the light that came with him are the successful ones."

7:158
Say, "O people, I am GOD's messenger to all of you. To Him belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. There is no god except He. He controls life and death." Therefore, you shall believe in GOD and His messenger, the gentile prophet, who believes in GOD and His words. Follow him, that you may be guided.

7:159
Among the followers of Moses there are those who guide in accordance with the truth, and the truth renders them righteous.

7:160
We divided them into twelve tribal communities, and we inspired Moses when his people asked him for water: "Strike the rock with your staff," whereupon twelve springs gushed out therefrom. Thus, each community knew its water. And we shaded them with clouds, and sent down to them manna and quails: "Eat from the good things we provided for you." It is not us that they wronged; it is they who wronged their own souls.

7:161
Recall that they were told, "Go into this town to live, and eat therefrom as you please, treat the people amicably, and enter the gate humbly. We will then forgive your transgressions. We will multiply the reward for the righteous."

7:162
But the evil ones among them substituted other commands for the commands given to them. Consequently, we sent upon them condemnation from the sky, because of their wickedness.

7:163
Remind them of the community by the sea, who desecrated the Sabbath. When they observed the Sabbath, the fish came to them abundantly. And when they violated the Sabbath, the fish did not come. We thus afflicted them, as a consequence of their transgression.

7:164
Recall that a group of them said, "Why should you preach to people whom GOD will surely annihilate or punish severely?" They answered, "Apologize to your Lord," that they might be saved.

7:165
When they disregarded what they were reminded of, we saved those who prohibited evil, and afflicted the wrongdoers with a terrible retribution for their wickedness.

7:166
When they continued to defy the commandments, we said to them, "Be you despicable apes."

7:167
Additionally, your Lord has decreed that He will raise up against them people who will inflict severe persecution upon them, until the Day of Resurrection. Your Lord is most efficient in enforcing retribution, and He is certainly the Forgiver, Most Merciful.

7:168
We scattered them among many communities throughout the land. Some of them were righteous, and some were less than righteous. We tested them with prosperity and hardship, that they may return.

7:169
Subsequent to them, He substituted new generations who inherited the scripture. But they opted for the worldly life instead, saying, "We will be forgiven." But then they continued to opt for the materials of this world. Did they not make a covenant to uphold the scripture, and not to say about GOD except the truth? Did they not study the scripture? Certainly, the abode of the Hereafter is far better for those who maintain righteousness. Do you not understand?

7:170 - Those who uphold the scripture, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), we never fail to recompense the pious.

7:171 - We raised the mountain above them like an umbrella, and they thought it was going to fall on them: "You shall uphold what we have given you, strongly, and remember the contents thereof, that you may be saved."

IT is here that we first get a glimpse into the story of moses and his goings on with pharoah and the children of Isreal
Pharoas was told to free the chidren of isreal but he refused - eventually he had no choice but to do so and he renegaded on his word - pursued the children of isreal till he met his doom.
this part of the Story tells us of the conduct of the children of isreal - which in itself is the comduct of all humbeings - advertently or inadvertently - if not for Gods constant guidance and protection and mercy - we will loose hope very easily and somewhat fall short of grace from God. we tend to want to follow that which we see in front of our eyes - we seem to have a knack for worshipping statues or rather should i say we have a knack for trying to bind( if this is the right word for it) the essence of our creator in a statue - we thus denegrate the awesomneess and magnifcince of the authorty that the creator has to a thing that the creator has created.
there is mention of 70 people who had audience with God - arent they lucky - and the twelve tribes of isreal - then we get the trait of human beings - substituting comands from God with commands made by man - this thing i reckon is something which plagues us all - Sabbath day -

substituting Commands - i guess inspiration for good can also sometimes be confused with inspiration for bad or indifference - then i also reckon that in effort to do more, to worship more - people invent unecessary rules and additions to what God has decreed - in order to make themselves appear more pious, more worthy of Gods blessings. but then i reckon that Gods words are perfect, his rules and commands are designed to enable us have the perfect life that we can have - if we are content with our lot then there is no need to appear to be more pious or want to be - we just do as we are asked and Gw we find success with God.
May God guide us all to his path.