Prophet Musa (AS) and The Israelites after Pharaoh's Defeat: Why was Israelites cursed with forty years of wilderness wandering in Desert?

God decreed that the Israelites would wander in the wilderness for 40 years as a result of their unwillingness to take the land.

 

Exodus

Plagues of Egypt:- The plagues are: water turning to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and the killing of firstborn children.

After losing against Musa, the Pharaoh continues to plan against Musa and the Israelites, ordering meetings with the ministers, princes and priests.

According to the Quran, the Pharaoh is reported to have ordered his minister, Haman, to build a tower so that he "may look at the God of Musa".

 

Gradually, the Pharaoh begins to fear that Musa may convince the people that he is not the true god, and wants to have Musa killed.

After this threat, a man from the family of Pharaoh, who had years ago warned Musa, comes forth and warns the people of the punishment of God for the wrong doers and reward for the righteous.

The Pharaoh defiantly refuses to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt.

The Quran states that God decrees punishments over him and his people.

 

These punishments come in the form of floods that demolish their dwellings, swarms of locust that destroy the crops, pestilence of lice that makes their life miserable, toads that croak and spring everywhere, and the turning of all drinking water into blood. Each time the Pharaoh is subjected to humiliation, his defiance becomes greater.

 

The Quran mentions that God instructs Musa to travel at night with the Israelites and warns them that they would be pursued.

The Pharaoh chases the Israelites with his army after realizing that they have left during the night.

 

Dividing the sea

Having escaped and now being pursued by the Egyptians, the Israelites stop when they reach the seafront. The Israelites exclaim to Musa that they would be overtaken by Pharaoh and his army.

In response, God commands Musa to strike the Red Sea with his staff, instructing them not to fear being inundated or drowning in sea water.

Upon striking the sea, Musa splits it into two parts, forming a path that allows the Israelites to pass through.

The Pharaoh witnesses the sea dividing alongside his army, but as they also try to pass through, the sea closes in on them. As he is about to die, Pharaoh proclaims belief in the God of Musa and the Israelites, but his belief is rejected by God.

 

The Quran states that the body of the Pharaoh is made a sign and warning for all future generations.

As the Israelites continue their journey to the Promised Land, they come upon people who are worshipping idols.

The Israelites request to have an idol to worship, but Musa refuses and states that the polytheists would be destroyed by God.

The life of Israelites in a different country

They are granted manna and quail as sustenance from God, but the Israelites ask Musa to pray to God for the earth to grow lentils, onions, herbs and cucumbers for their sustenance.

 

Israelites complained to Musa (A.S.) for their thrust, then Musa prayed to ALLAH to relieve their thrust.

The Ten Commandments--Revelation of TORAH On Mount Sinai

 

ALLAH asked Musa to hit a rock with his stick and when Musa did so, twelve springs poured from the rock miraculously, one for each tribe of Bani Israel.However, Bani Israel continued to be complaining about the various rewards and bounties of ALLAH and asked for more and more.

 

At their increasing demands and ungratefulness, Musa said: “Would you exchange that which is better for that which is lower? Go you down to any town and you shall find what you want!”

Due to their thankless and complaining attitude towards all the favors of ALLAH they faced the wrath of ALLAH (S.W.T.) and wandered in the deserts for 40 years.

ALLAH said: “Hold firmly to what We have given you [i.e. the Taurat (Torah)], and remember that which is therein (act on its commandments), so that you may fear Allah and obey Him.”.

 40 Years in the wilderness (Revelation of the Torah)

After leaving Egypt, Musa leads the Israelites to Mount Sinai (Tur). Upon arrival, Musa leaves the people, instructing them that Harun is to be their leader during his absence.

Musa is commanded by God to fast for thirty days and then proceed to the valley of Tuwa for guidance.

God orders Musa to fast again for ten days before returning. After completing his fasts, Musa returns to the spot where he had first received his miracles from God.

 

He takes off his shoes as before and goes down into prostration. Musa prays to God for guidance and begs God to reveal himself to him.

It is narrated in the Quran that God tells him that it would not be possible for Musa to perceive God, but that He would reveal himself to the mountain, stating: "By no means canst thou see Me (direct); But look upon the mount; if it abide in its place, then shalt thou see Me."

When God reveals himself to the mountain, it instantaneously turns into ashes, and Musa loses consciousness. When he recovers, he goes down in total submission and asks forgiveness of God.

Musa is then given the Ten Commandments by God as Guidance and as Mercy.

In absence of Prophet Musa (AS) Israelites started worshiping - Golden Calf

Meanwhile, in his absence, a man named Samiri creates a Golden Calf, proclaiming it to be the God of Musa. The people begin to worship it.

Golden Calf

Harun attempts to guide them away from the Golden Calf, but the Israelites refuse to do so until Musa returns.

 

Musa, having thus received the scriptures for his people, is informed by God that the Israelites has been tested in his absence, and they have gone astray by. Musa comes down from the mountain and returns to his people.

 

The Quran states that Musa, in his anger, grabs hold of Harun by his beard and admonishes him for doing nothing to stop them, but when Harun tells Musa of his fruitless attempt to stop them, Musa understands his helplessness, and they both pray to God for forgiveness.

 

Musa then questions Samiri for creating the Golden Calf. Samiri replies that it had simply occurred to him, and he had done so. Samiri is exiled, and the Golden Calf is burned to ashes, and the ashes are thrown into the sea. The wrong-doers who have worshipped the Calf are ordered to be punished for their crime.

Musa then chooses 70 elites from among the Israelites and orders them to pray for forgiveness. Shortly thereafter, the elders travel alongside Musa to witness the speech between Musa and God.

 

Despite witnessing the speech between them, they refuse to believe until they see God with their own eyes, so as punishment, a thunderbolt kills them.

 

Musa prays for their forgiveness, and they are resurrected. They return to camp and set up a tent dedicated to worshiping God, as Harun had taught them from the Torah. They resume their journey towards the Promised Land.

 

Death of Prophet Musa: Maqam Musa, Jericho, West Bank

Harun dies shortly before Musa. It is reported in a Sunni hadith that when Azrael, the Angel of Death, comes to Musa, Musa slaps him in the eye.

 

The angel returns to God and tells Him that Musa does not want to die. God tells the angel to return and tell Musa to put his hand on the back of an ox, and for every hair that comes under his hand, he would be granted a year of life.

 

When Musa asks God what would happen after the granted time, God informs him that he would die after the period.

 

Musa, therefore, requests God for death at his current age near the Promised Land "at a distance of a stone's throw from to the Holy Land so that he would be at a distance of a stone's throw from it." Abu Hurairah added: "Allah's Messenger said: 'If I were there, I would show you his grave below the red sandhill on the side of the road."

 

Moses , Prophet of Allah and the one to whom Allah spoke directly, met his death with a contented soul and a faithful heart that looked forward to righteousness and made haste to meet with Him Who bore tidings of peace.

 The End

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