Article appeared Friday, February 21st, 2020 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (610) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

From God’s point of view, there are two types of people – believers and non-believers. Is
there a difference between the two? Believers are those who believe in no power other
than God. The belief system of non-believers may include powers other than God, i.e.,
God plus other gods/powers, or powers excluding God or no powers at all or may claim
to have no opinion on any power. The question we want to look at in this article is the
distribution of believers and non-believers not across the world or religions but in the
same household! For example, can believers be born or raised in the house of non-
believers? If so, what could God’s purpose be and what could the possible outcomes
be?

We want to, in particular, talk about the story of Prophet Moses (pbuh) and the
household of the Pharaoh at that time. Who was Moses and who was Pharaoh? Was
there any difference in the belief systems of these two? Moses was born to a Hebrew
mother {1}, raised in the Pharaoh’s household and subsequently became a prophet of
God. The Pharaoh {2} at the time when Moses became a prophet was the Egyptian
King. What was Pharaoh’s belief system? According to the Holy Scripture, the Qur’an,
Pharaoh declared himself as god.
“Then he (Pharaoh) collected (his men) and made a proclamation, saying, "I am
your Lord Most High."” [79.23 – 79.24]

As the Egyptian King at the time he had power, wealth and became so arrogant that he
declared himself as god. He was also cruel and vindictive {2}. Raised in the royal
household, did any of these things affect Moses? On the other hand, God gave Moses
the Scripture and wisdom.
“Moreover We gave Moses the Book completing (Our favor) to those who would
do right and explaining all things in detail and a guide and a mercy that they
might believe in the meeting with their Lord. And (further) this is a Book (the
Qur’an) which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it and be righteous that
you may receive mercy:” [6.154 – 6.155]

The Holy Scripture was revealed to Moses as was subsequently revealed to Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh). The following Verses from the 28th Chapter of the Qur’an briefly
carry the story of Moses. How do we know that the Verses are from God?

28.1 “Ta. Sin. Mim.”

28.2 “These are Verses of the clear Book.”

Where were these Verses revealed from?
“And verily it is in the Mother of the Book in Our Presence high (in dignity) full of
wisdom.” [43.4]

“Nay this is a Glorious Qur'an (Inscribed) in a Tablet Preserved!” [85.21 – 85.22]

To lend authenticity and divine authority to the Verses revealed it is likely that the single
Arabic letters, “Ta. Sin. Mim.” are a direct reference to a place or places in the Mother
of the Book where everything about creation is given in detail – for example, the creation
of unique individuals and the opportunities that would be given to each? Confirming the
truth of opportunities to believe in God, the following Verses were revealed after the
occurrence of the events between Moses and Pharaoh. What opportunities did Pharaoh
get?

28.3 “We rehearse to you some of the story of Moses and Pharaoh in Truth
for people who believe.”
Obviously, there will be people who doubt or do not believe in the Verses. Logically,
however, we know that before any product is made, a detail specification must be drawn
up. Should it be surprising that God says that He has the Mother of the Book with Him?

28.4 “Truly Pharaoh elated himself in the land and broke up its people into
sections depressing a small group among them: their sons he slew but he
kept alive their females: for he was indeed a maker of mischief.”
Pharaoh did not want any leaders or prophets to be born among the Hebrew people {3}
so he arranged to kill all the newborn males. He also subjected the Hebrews to slavery.

28.5 “And We wished to be gracious to those who were being oppressed in

the land to make them leaders (in faith) and make them heirs.”

28.6 “To establish a firm place for them in the land and to show Pharaoh
Haman and their hosts at their hands the very things against which they
were taking precautions.”
Pharaoh was taking precautions by killing all the male babies of the Hebrew people. God
wanted to teach Pharaoh and his ministers (Haman and others) a lesson by destroying
them and letting their destruction remain as a lesson for those who oppress and feel that
they are gods on earth.
“Thus have We placed leaders in every town its wicked men to plot (and burrow)
therein: but they only plot against their own souls while they perceive not.”
[6.123]

When Moses was born, how would God prevent him being killed?

28.7 “So We sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses, "Suckle (your
child) but when you fear for him cast him into the river but fear not nor
grieve: for We shall restore him to you and We shall make him one of Our
apostles."”

28.8 “Then the people of Pharaoh picked him up (from the river): (it was
intended) that (Moses) should be to them an adversary and a cause of
sorrow: for Pharaoh and Haman and (all) their hosts were men of sin.”

28.9 “The wife of Pharaoh said, "(Here is) a joy of the eye for me and for
you: slay him not. It may be that he will be of use to us or we may adopt
him as a son." And they perceived not (what they were doing)!”

28.10 “But there came to be a void in the heart of the mother of Moses: she
was going almost to disclose his (case) had We not strengthened her heart
(with faith) so that she might remain a believer.”
28.11 “And she said to the sister of (Moses), "Follow him." So she (the
sister) watched him in the character of a stranger and they knew not.”

28.12 “And We ordained that he refused suck at first until (his sister came
up and) said, "Shall I point out to you the people of a house that will
nourish and bring him up for you and be sincerely attached to him?"”

28.13 “Thus did We restore him to his mother that her eye might be
comforted that she might not grieve and that she might know that the
promise of God is true: but most of them do not understand.”
Mother of Moses believed in the inspiration given by God and followed His instructions.
As a reward, God arranged for her to raise Moses in the household of Pharaoh.

28.14 “When he (Moses) reached full age and was firmly established (in life)
We bestowed on him wisdom and knowledge: for thus do We reward those
who do good.”
God fulfilled His Promise to the mother and later Moses was tasked to invite Pharaoh to
become a believer.
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{Notes}:
{1} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses
{2} https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/people-in-the-bible/pharaoh-king-punished-god/
{3} https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+2&version=VOICE