of Nokounam, (Session 1510)
Surah Yunus, like a profound ocean, contains verses that narrate the confrontation between truth and falsehood, faith and disbelief, guidance and misguidance. Verses 87 to 90 of this Surah recount the dialogue between Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and Aaron (peace be upon him) with their Lord, their supplication against the oppression of Pharaoh, and the eventual fate of those who resort to superficial surrender in moments of despair. These verses, like a clear mirror, present lessons on perseverance, repentance, and divine justice to humanity. The present treatise endeavours, through reflection on these verses and profound analyses by religious scholars, to convey the exalted Quranic concepts in a clear and dignified language. This work, with a systematic structure, elucidates the meanings of the verses, extracts key points, and links them to ethical and spiritual concepts.
Original Verse and Translation:
"And We revealed to Moses and his brother: Establish dwellings for your people in Egypt and make your houses places of prayer and establish prayer and give glad tidings to the believers."
The noble verse commences with divine revelation to Moses and Aaron (peace be upon them), instructing them to prepare dwellings for the Children of Israel in the land of Egypt. This command implies not merely providing physical shelter, but rather creating spiritual and social strongholds that preserve the religious identity of the people against the pressures exerted by Pharaoh's tyranny. The transformation of houses into qiblahs (prayer directions), akin to a radiant beacon, symbolises the centrality of worship and collective unity, fortifying the faith of the believers amid the storms of oppression. The establishment of prayer, like a steadfast pillar, strengthens the communitys morale, and the glad tidings bestowed upon the faithful serve as a refreshing breeze, keeping hope alive within their hearts.
Religious scholars emphasise that preparing dwellings as qiblahs signifies collective organisation and the creation of worship centres. This measure, set against the historical backdrop of Pharaohs oppression, demonstrates divine concern for safeguarding religious identity and spiritual resistance against tyrannical domination. The command serves as a didactic example that a faithful society, even amidst the constraints of oppression, must consolidate its spiritual foundations with order and unity.
This portion of the verse, emphasising the spiritual and social organisation of the Children of Israel, indicates the necessity of preserving religious identity against external pressures. The command to establish prayer and impart glad tidings to the believers acts as two wings of flight, guiding the people towards perseverance and hope.
Original Verse and Translation:
"And Moses said, 'Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his nobles splendour and wealth in this worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [people] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment.'
Moses (peace be upon him) supplication in this verse strikes sharply at the heart of Pharaohs oppression and misguidance. This prayer is not borne out of personal spite, but rather a plea for the implementation of divine justice against those who have made adornment and worldly wealth a pretext for misguidance and oppression. The term znah in the Quran metaphorically refers to any outward embellishment, which may include wealth, power, or even physical health. Such adornment, instead of being a source of guidance, becomes a snare that propels Pharaoh and his followers towards arrogance and disbelief.
Moses request to obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts signifies the severance of material and spiritual roots of misguidance. This prayer reflects Moses awareness of the role materialism plays in perpetuating oppression and deviation. Religious scholars interpret this supplication not as a curse but as a plea for the revelation of truth and the enactment of divine justice. The hardening of hearts results from Pharaoh and his cohorts persistence in disbelief and tyranny, not an imposition from God.
This verse elucidates the role of adornment and wealth in Pharaohs misguidance, emphasising the peril of attachment to materiality and neglect of spirituality. Moses supplication acts as a mirror revealing the reality of oppression and disbelief and teaches that divine justice targets the roots of misguidance.
Original Verse and Translation:
"[God] said, 'Your supplication has been answered, so remain steadfast and do not follow the way of those who do not know.'
Gods response to the prayers of Moses and Aaron (peace be upon them) is like a merciful rain heralding acceptance; however, this acceptance is conditional upon steadfastness on the path of truth. The command remain steadfast shines like a bright star in the sky of guidance, emphasising the necessity of adherence to the straight path. Avoiding the way of those who do not know implies distancing oneself from those devoid of divine knowledge and inclined towards oppression and misguidance. This directive acts as a robust shield protecting Moses and Aaron from deviation amid Pharaohs pressures.
Religious scholars consider perseverance a fundamental prerequisite for the success of supplication and the realisation of divine promises. This concept, stressing commitment to the path of truth, invites self-assessment and steadfastness against worldly temptations. Perseverance flows like a rushing river, smoothing the path of guidance and preventing deviation.
This verse, by emphasising the acceptance of prayer and the necessity of perseverance, guides the believers along the path of truth. Perseverance, like a golden key, opens the doors of guidance and salvation and prevents deviation towards the path of the ignorant.
Original Verse and Translation:
"And We caused the Children of Israel to cross the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said, I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel have believed, and I am of the Muslims."
This verse depicts the tragic scene of Pharaoh and his troops tyrannical pursuit. The words tyranny and enmity reveal the malevolent motives driving Pharaoh towards destruction. Their drowning is a divine punishment, the natural consequence of their disbelief and rebellion. What renders this narration particularly instructive is Pharaohs declaration of faith at the moment of drowning. In his hour of helplessness and desperation, he professes belief in the deity worshipped by the Children of Israel and claims submission. This surrender, like a withered flower before a storm, lacks sincerity and spiritual worth.
Religious scholars term this type of faith as fear Islam or superficial submission. Pharaoh, who once proclaimed himself the Most High Lord, resorts to surrender at death, yet such submission is fleeting and devoid of true faith. This event teaches that genuine faith requires sincerity and righteous deeds throughout life, not mere declarations at moments of crisis.
