Episode 2
In the name of Allah[1]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftn1/’), the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful. Peace and blessings of Allah be upon His prophet Muhammad. I’d like to again stress our motto “Living by the Qur’an." This is actually the name of our online campaign this Ramadan. It basically aims to get 10 million thorough reads of the Qur’an this month by our viewers. Our web counters are on and you can sign up for the campaign and spread the word as well. The Qur’an for life; its morals and sovereign values are what we’re aiming to live by. Prophet Muhammad (SAWS[2]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftn2/’)) advised us to read and contemplate the Qur’an seeking forgiveness on the Day of Judgment and learning the substantial values it preaches for our everyday life.
One of these values has everything to do with our story for today. Our lesson is to never be an ally to an unjust might and never be the reason the poor and the weak are denied their rights, be them mothers, orphans, wives, servants or even low ranking employees. Picture the oppressed watching you rip them off their rights and the sound of their prayer asking for justice. Fear Allah’s inevitable vengeance.
This Ramadan, if forgiveness is what you’re aiming at, then make sure you are being unjust to no-one, not only to people at work or strangers but also among your family. Have you insulted your wife recently? When was the last time you beat your child? Allah (TWT[3]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftn3/’)) says what can translated as, “Then an announcer will announce between them, ‘The curse of Allah be on the unjust.’’’ [TMQ[4], 7:44]. He also says what can be translated as, “Sure it is that the unjust will not prosper.’’ [TMQ, 6:21]. And, “Surely We have readied for the unjust a Fire whose canopy encompasses them; and in case they call for succor, they will be succored with water like molten metal that will scald their faces. Miserable is the drink, and odious is it (as) a resting place!” [TMQ 18:29].
Now, we’re telling the story of Musa (AS[5]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftn5/’)) (Moses). Allah teaches us the value of justice and how distorting oppression could be to a man’s soul. In this story we’re introduced to a mighty pharaoh who put up a new law allowing the killing of male infants born of Israelis in his kingdom. After killing one thousand babies, the Israelites were still too scared to complain! There must have been a reason for the pharaoh’s decision and for their meek reaction; there must have been someone they’ve oppressed one day for the cycle of oppression to turn back on them like so.
Before we pick up where we stopped yesterday, I’d like to start with a historical background on Musa (AS). Musa (AS) was the third son of Ukabed[6]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftn6/’) and Imran son of Levi brother of Yusuf (AS) (Joseph). Both Levi and Yusuf were the sons of old Ya’qub (AS) (Jacob). Musa (AS) and the Israelites of Egypt were believers; however, Egypt was never their hometown. The story of how the Israelites settled in Egypt dates back 400 years from the time of Musa (AS). It all started with Yusuf (AS), the first Israeli to reach Egypt as a toddler and be brought up in the king’s palace. Yusuf was born with the gift of interpretation of dreams; he foresaw in one of the king’s dreams the seven-year famine and thus the country was able to take precautions for the drought beforehand.
Afterwards, Yusuf’s insight and wisdom were appreciated all over the palace. They were also desperately needed through the world financial crisis that troubled the pharaoh of Egypt at that time. The pharaoh was in fact a Hyksos[7]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftn7/’) king who was desperate to find a talented financial minister to guide Egypt through the crisis; however, no help was to be hoped for from an Egyptian because the Egyptians hated the unjust Hyksos and their cruel reign. Therefore, Yusuf (AS) stepped up and the pharaoh was anxious to help a non-Egyptian attain social rank. The Hyksos were very prejudiced and very cruel and unjust to the Egyptians. It may seem that Yusuf (AS) joined the oppressor’s side, but actually Yusuf (AS) used his power to proclaim all people equals and ease the hatred between the Hyksos and the Egyptians. He set up a single trade law that the two parties had to abide by. Justice was finally being delivered and Egypt survived the financial crisis under Yusuf’s guidance.
Yusuf was known as the greatest financial minister who ever lived and was beloved by both the Egyptians and the Hyksos; thus, the king was more than willing to grant him his wish to have his family over as guests in Egypt. Yusuf’s family of 60 Israelis were offered a land that belonged to the Egyptian people at the heart of the fertile planes of River Nile, but the ever-just Yusuf (AS) refused to accept the king’s offer so as not to rip the Egyptians of their land. He rather preferred an un-inhabited land in the desert for him and his people, the land of Gassan[8]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftn8/’).
Yusuf’s family lived for years as respected guests out of love and gratitude for the great Yusuf. However, Yusuf (AS) knew that his brothers would not adopt his attitude towards the Egyptians after him. Before his death, Yusuf (AS) predicted that some day along the Israeli line would come a man who would bring justice about again and save the Israeli people from degradation which would be the inevitable outcome of their unjustness. And so Yusuf (AS) died leaving a growing family of Israelis; his prediction came to pass and his brothers started siding with the Hyksos and lending a deaf ear to the Egyptian rights. Years after, no trace of Yusuf’s justness was left in the Israelis; the Hyksos and the Israelis took turns sucking the blood of the people of Egypt.
This continued until salvation came for the Egyptians at the hands of Ahmos, an Egyptian military leader who banished the Hyksos from Egypt and chased them off into the deserts and literally cut them into pieces until they existed no longer. Then, the eternal cycle began and the oppressors became oppressed; Ahmos turned to the Hyksos allies, the Israelis. Their punishment involved six cruel phases through which they were degraded to almost nothing. First, a new law was issued stating that no Israeli was free and they were enslaved just like they allowed the Hyksos to enslave the Egyptians before. Second, they were banished from the land Gassan. Third, they were forced to inhabit mud houses on the banks of River Nile. Fourth, they were torn apart into two communities in the north and south of the country. Fifth, they were prohibited from getting education whatsoever and finally, they were put to hard work around the clock for no pay.
A map of ancient Egypt shows River Nile flowing through the country’s heart, starting way up in the north and ending deep down in the south. Extending on its bank were the Jewish communities in the north and south of the country and on the same bank at the center of the country was the royal palace in the country’s capital Bra’aa mafiis. Bra’aa in the ancient Egyptian tongue stands for the home of Ra[9]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftn9/’), the god whose earthly incarnation is the pharaoh Ramses.
Ramses ruled during the darkest times for the Israeli people. He was the pharaoh who ordered to kill the male infants of the Israelis; he allowed his men to have their way with Israeli women and to burn down the Israeli house. Their souls were weakened and wounded so deep that they trembled to the sound of Ramses’ name. Their oppression was really beyond imagination that they stood watching all that being done to them and were too scared to even ask why.
However, Musa’s mother managed to escape the king’s men with Musa (AS) on her hands and ran to the Nile bank. She put her baby in a wooden box and let it go with the flow. The water carried the box from the southern quarter to the royal quarter where our story begins. We will get to that tomorrow.
I hope the concept of the never-ending cycle is clear; today’s oppressor is tomorrows oppressed. Nothing distorts the human spirits and extinguishes human pride like fear and degradation. Musa (AS) had a tough mission at hand trying to pump life into the hearts of a nation that the pharaohs took turns at sucking life out of for ages. Supported by Allah, he succeeded, and the meek prayers of the Israeli mothers were eventually answered. Finally, I have one more thing to ask of you today: never be the oppressor and never perform an act of unjustness.
Translated by: The English Convoy – Dar al-Tarjama
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[1]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftnref1/’) The word Allah is the Arabic term for God. Although the use of the word “Allah” is most often associated with Islam, it is not used exclusively by Muslims; Arab Christians and Arabic-speaking Jews also use it to refer to the One God. The Arabic word expresses the unique characteristics of the One God more precisely than the English term. Whereas the word “Allah” has no plural form in Arabic, the English form does. Allah is the God worshipped by all Prophets, from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.
[2]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftnref2/’) Salla Allah alayhe Wa Salam [All Prayers and Peace of Allah be upon him]
[3]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftnref3/’) Tabaraka Wa Ta`ala [Blessed and Exalted be He].
[4]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftnref4/’) TMQ=Translation of the Meaning of the Qur’an. This translation is for the realized meaning, so far, of the stated (Surah:Ayah) of the Qur’an. Reading the translated meaning of the Qur’an can never replace reading it in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed.
[5]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftnref5/’) Alayhe as-Salam [All Peace of Allah be upon him].
[6]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftnref6/’) Ukabed in the ancient Hebrew tongue means a woman who’s faith is strong and possibly physically strong too
[7]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftnref7/’) The Hyksos are asian tribes that invaded Iraq, Palestine and finally Egypt in the twelfth dynasty and reigned for 200 years
[8]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftnref8/’) A land in the south of Egypt. currently near belbis , city of Sharqiya
[9]](http://amrkhaled.net/‘#_ftnref9/’) Ra: the ancient Egyptian god of the sun.