دار محمد Daar Muhammed

When little Musa’s basket appeared, rocking in the Nile in front of Firaun’s palace, the queen Asiya fell in love with him at first sight. Naturally, he became the darling and pet of the palace. He grew up in the beautiful palace buildings and grounds. He was the official palace child. Young Musa saw Firaun more a dad than a king. Every day, he saw him in all circumstances. Not only in his regal capacity. Not quite as terrifying as the commander-in-chief. Like any other child, he played around him and wandered around the palace wherever he pleased. Musa understood the inner mechanisms. He had witnessed everything. While the other Children of Israel or even Firaun’s own people had not had the same experience. Prophet Musa’s (peace be on him) time in the palace is referred to in Surathu-Shu’ara:

فَأْتِيَا فِرْعَوْنَ فَقُولَا إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ▪︎ أَنْ أَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ▪︎ قَالَ أَلَمْ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدًا وَلَبِثْتَ فِينَا مِنْ عُمُرِكَ سِنِينَ▪︎

16. “And when you both come to Fir’aun (Pharaoh), say: ‘We are the Messengers of the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists),

17. “So allow the Children of Israel to go with us.’“

18. [Fir’aun (Pharaoh)] said [to Musa (Moses)]: “Did we not bring you up among us as a child? And you did dwell many years of your life with us.

Due to this experience, Musa’s mental image of Firaun differed from the mental image of Firaun held by his victims. Even though Musa was afraid because of the circumstances that prompted him to flee Egypt, when Allah gave him the task of inviting Firaun to Islam under His Protection, he was still returning to the man whose palace he had grown up in. Compared to someone who had only known Firaun as the despotic ruler who made people fear him, this was a big difference. Musa was aware of internal operations. More than most, he understood Firaun and his ministers. He had grown up surrounded by the conversations, small talk, customs, and culture of the palace. He was aware of their mental processes. He’d seen it everything. Past the threatening façade.

The way in which Musa would handle this responsibility from Allah was different. The way in which he would respond to Firaun’s difficult questions and stand to Firaun’s challenge in the public court was different, too. The way in which he would deliver the Banu Israel from the clutches of Firaun before Allah’s Punishment eventually destroyed them was also different. In the end, his performance in each of these circumstances was influenced by his early experiences.

Musa was aware of internal operations. More than most, he understood Firaun and his ministers. He had grown up surrounded by the conversations, small talk, customs, and culture of the palace. He was aware of their mental processes. He’d seen it everything. Past the threatening façade.

The experiences you have and the things you see, no matter how ‘ugly’ the circumstances, have a purpose. They possess wisdom. They are more than simply ‘bad things’ or ‘sad things’ that need to bring your life in dunya to a halt. There’s so much more out there than meets the naked eye. Just as there was so much behind Allah’s Command to the mother of Musa to place her child in the river. Though she felt empty inside, she knew what to do. If we try hard enough and acknowledge the presence of secrets behind our pain just within our human scope even, that would be enough to make us spring out of bed every morning. But occasionally, our limited perspective and compulsive impatience overcome us. Hold on tight. Have faith in Allah; He will do with you as He pleases. Subhanah.