Da’wah Prophets Examples

Prophetic Da’wah: Ibrahim & Musa (Part 8 Cont.)

“Al-Ajwibatus Sadeedah ‘ala al-As’ilatir Rasheedah” – (The Sound Answers to the Rightly Guided Questions) – (Part 8)

By: Allamah Zayd ibn Muhammad ibn Haadi al-Madkhali (may Allah have mercy on him)

Urdu Translation: Umm Muhammad Khushnuma Muslihuddin

Question 12: What is the importance of Da’wah ila Allah (calling to Allah) in the religion of Islam? How should it be carried out, and upon whom is its fulfillment obligatory? Please clarify, may Allah reward you with good. (Part 2)

As for Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him, he is the one whom Allah took as a Khalil (a special friend). This was because he was patient through trials that no other human being had faced all at once. He was sent alone to a nation steeped in polytheism, led by his misguided and wretched father, and ruled by a rebellious king. This king had been deluded by his long life and vast kingdom, causing him to claim divinity and sovereignty for himself. This rebellious and tyrannical king was Nimrod son of Canaan. He debated with Ibrahim, the Khalil of Allah, trying to convince him that he was the lord and there was no lord besides him, and that he was the ruler and there was no ruler besides him. As proof of his divinity, he presented the argument, “I give life and cause death.” Ibrahim, peace be upon him, confronted him and cast the light of truth against his falsehood, completely exposing him, as Allah the Exalted has narrated his words in the Quran:

{فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَاۡتِىۡ بِالشَّمۡسِ مِنَ الۡمَشۡرِقِ فَاۡتِ بِهَا مِنَ الۡمَغۡرِبِ} – [Al-Baqarah: 258]

Translation: "Allah brings the sun from the east; so bring it from the west."

Then what happened?

{فَبُهِتَ الَّذِىۡ كَفَرَ‌ؕ وَاللّٰهُ لَا يَهۡدِى الۡقَوۡمَ الظّٰلِمِيۡنَ‌ۚ} – [Al-Baqarah: 258]

Translation: "So the disbeliever was dumbfounded. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people."

Indeed, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was faced with the trials of slaughtering his son, being thrown into the fire, and leaving his homeland to migrate to the land of Shaam (the Levant). Similarly, he was also afflicted with the hardship of leaving his wife Hajar and son Isma’il (peace be upon them) alone in an uninhabited valley.

He also faced a severe struggle with his people. While he called them towards salvation (i.e., monotheism), his people called him towards the fire (i.e., polytheism and punishment). They invited Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to disbelieve in Allah and to associate partners with Him of which they had no knowledge, while he (Ibrahim, peace be upon him) invited them to worship the Almighty, the Forgiving (Allah).

Ibrahim (peace be upon him) advised his people, but his people did not like advisors. He made clear to them the evil and corruption of idol worship and presented to them a clear and beautiful picture of worshipping only one Allah, Who is unique, dominant over all, and the rewarder of all for their deeds, as Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala has said:

{وَاِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ اِذۡ قَالَ لِقَوۡمِهِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ وَاتَّقُوۡهُ‌ ؕ ذٰ لِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ لَّـكُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡـتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ (١٦) اِنَّمَا تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ اَوۡثَانًا وَّتَخۡلُقُوۡنَ اِفۡكًا‌ ؕ اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ لَا يَمۡلِكُوۡنَ لَـكُمۡ رِزۡقًا فَابۡتَغُوۡا عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِ الرِّزْقَ وَاعۡبُدُوۡهُ وَاشۡكُرُوۡا لَهٗ ؕ اِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ} – [Al-‘Ankabut: 16-17]

Translation: "And [We sent] Abraham, when he said to his people, 'Worship Allah and fear Him. That is better for you, if you should know. (16) You only worship, besides Allah, idols, and you produce a falsehood. Indeed, those you worship besides Allah do not possess for you [the power of] provision. So seek from Allah provision and worship Him and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be return1ed.'"

Therefore, a glimpse of his method of calling and his manner of debate is presented to you, so that you may gain guidance and light from it, through which the path will become clear to you, and you may know how to invite people despite their different levels and diverse thoughts.

Ibrahim (peace be upon him) began his call with his father, as Allah the Exalted has informed us of this incident in Surah Maryam:

{وَاذۡكُرۡ فِى الۡكِتٰبِ اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ ۚ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ صِدِّيۡقًا نَّبِيًّا (٤١) إِذۡ قَالَ لِأَبِیهِ یَـٰۤأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعۡبُدُ مَا لَا یَسۡمَعُ وَلَا یُبۡصِرُ وَلَا یُغۡنِی عَنكَ شَیۡـࣰٔا (٤٢) یَـٰۤأَبَتِ إِنِّی قَدۡ جَاۤءَنِی مِنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ مَا لَمۡ یَأۡتِكَ فَٱتَّبِعۡنِیۤ أَهۡدِكَ صِرَ ٰ⁠طࣰا سَوِیࣰّا (٤٣) یَـٰۤأَبَتِ لَا تَعۡبُدِ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنَۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنَ كَانَ لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ عَصِیࣰّا (٤٤) یَـٰۤأَبَتِ إِنِّیۤ أَخَافُ أَن یَمَسَّكَ عَذَابࣱ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ فَتَكُونَ لِلشَّیۡطَـٰنِ وَلِیࣰّا} – [Maryam: 41-45]

Translation: "And mention in the Book, Abraham. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet. (41) When he said to his father, 'O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not avail you at all? (42) O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to a straight path. (43) O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient. (44) O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire].'"

This was the call of a righteous, obedient, well-wishing, and trustworthy son. What was the response of this misguided father, who was in fact an enemy of the Lord of the worlds, to his son’s advice?

Let us hear from the Quran itself what he said:

{قَالَ اَرَاغِبٌ اَنۡتَ عَنۡ اٰلِهَتِىۡ يٰۤاِبۡرٰهِيۡمُ‌ۚ لَئِنۡ لَّمۡ تَنۡتَهِ لَاَرۡجُمَنَّكَ‌ وَاهۡجُرۡنِىۡ مَلِيًّا} – [Maryam: 46]

Translation: "He said, 'Have you no desire for my gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist, I will surely stone you, so depart from me for a good long while.'"

Ibrahim’s (peace be upon him) beginning the call with his father is clear proof of his perfect wisdom and extreme foresight, and this is the same method our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was commanded to adopt.

It is narrated in Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that when this verse was revealed: ﴿وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِیرَتَكَ الْأَقْرَبِینَ﴾ “And warn your nearest kindred,” the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called the Quraysh. When they gathered, he addressed them generally and specifically (by naming different families and people), saying: “O children of Ka’b ibn Lu’ay, save yourselves from the Fire! O children of Murrah ibn Ka’b, save yourselves from the Fire! O children of ‘Abd Manaf, save yourselves from the Fire! O children of Hashim, save yourselves from the Fire! O children of ‘Abd al-Muttalib, save yourselves from the Fire! O Fatimah (daughter of the Messenger of Allah), save yourself from the Fire! I hold no power for you against Allah (in case of any reckoning).” [Sahih Muslim: 204]

And a poet says on this specific topic:

“If you wish to give the call, then begin first with your own family.

For they, of all people, are most deserving of your advice and most worthy of it.

And Allah the Exalted also commands to first advise the relatives, then when this right is fulfilled for your kin, it becomes easier to call others thereafter.”

Let us observe in the light of the Quran how Ibrahim (peace be upon him) called his father and his people to Allah. Allah the Exalted says:

{وَٱتۡلُ عَلَیۡهِمۡ نَبَأَ إِبۡرَ ٰ⁠هِیمَ (٦٩) إِذۡ قَالَ لِأَبِیهِ وَقَوۡمِهِ مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ (٧٠) قَالُوا۟ نَعۡبُدُ أَصۡنَامࣰا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَـٰكِفِینَ (٧١) قَالَ هَلۡ یَسۡمَعُونَكُمۡ إِذۡ تَدۡعُونَ (٧٢) أَوۡ یَنفَعُونَكُمۡ أَوۡ یَضُرُّونَ (٧٣) قَالُوا۟ بَلۡ وَجَدۡنَاۤ ءَابَاۤءَنَا كَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ یَفۡعَلُونَ (٧٤) قَالَ أَفَرَءَیۡتُم مَّا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡبُدُونَ (٧٥) أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَاۤؤُكُمُ ٱلۡأَقۡدَمُونَ (٧٦) فَإِنَّهُمۡ عَدُوࣱّ لِّیۤ إِلَّا رَبَّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ} – [Ash-Shu’ara: 69-77]

Translation: "And recite to them the news of Abraham. (69) When he said to his father and his people, 'What do you worship?' (70) They said, 'We worship idols and remain to them devoted.' (71) He said, 'Do they hear you when you call? (72) Or do they benefit you, or do they harm?' (73) They said, 'But we found our fathers doing thus.' (74) He said, 'Then do you see what you have been worshipping, (75) You and your ancient forefathers? (76) Indeed, they are enemies to me, except the Lord of the worlds2.'"

Similarly, Allah mentions this confrontation in Surah As-Saffat:

{قَالَ اَتَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مَا تَنۡحِتُوۡنَۙ (٩٥) وَاللّٰهُ خَلَقَكُمۡ وَمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ} – [As-Saffat: 95-96]

Translation: "He said, 'Do you worship that which you carve, (95) While Allah created you and that which you do?'"

But the people chose the path of rebellion and persisted in sin. They said:

{قَالُوا ابۡنُوۡا لَهٗ بُنۡيَانًا فَاَلۡقُوۡهُ فِى الۡجَحِيۡمِ} – [As-Saffat: 97]

Translation: "They said, 'Construct for him a furnace and throw him into the burning fire.'"

So Allah, out of His mercy, saved Ibrahim (peace be upon him):

{فَاَرَادُوۡا بِهٖ كَيۡدًا فَجَعَلۡنٰهُمُ الۡاَسۡفَلِيۡنَ‏} – [As-Saffat: 98]

Translation: "And they intended for him a plot, but We made them the lowermost."

Allah the Exalted ordained salvation and victory for His chosen prophet, the gentle-hearted and wise Khalil. And this has been Allah’s way with all His messengers and their followers, as He says about Himself:

{اِنَّا لَنَـنۡصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا فِى الۡحَيٰوةِ الدُّنۡيَا وَيَوۡمَ يَقُوۡمُ الۡاَشۡهَادُ (٥١) يَوۡمَ لَا يَنۡفَعُ الظّٰلِمِيۡنَ مَعۡذِرَتُهُمۡ وَلَهُمُ اللَّعۡنَةُ وَلَهُمۡ سُوۡٓءُ الدَّارِ} – [Ghafir: 51-52]

Translation: "Indeed, We will support Our messengers and those who believe during the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand - (51) The Day their excuse will not benefit the wrongdoers, and they will have the curse, and they will 3have the evil residence."

And Allah the Exalted also stated:

{وَالَّذِيۡنَ جَاهَدُوۡا فِيۡنَا لَنَهۡدِيَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَا ‌ؕ وَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَمَعَ الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ} – [Al-‘Ankabut: 69]

Translation: "And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good."

From his high method of argumentation based on truth and his purposeful debating style, we select two incidents for you, as mentioned in the Holy Quran;

The first incident is in Surah Al-Baqarah: This incident occurred with a tyrannical king, Nimrod, who had claimed Lordship and that he gives life and causes death. Allah the Exalted narrates this incident, saying:

{اَلَمۡ تَرَ اِلَى الَّذِىۡ حَآجَّ اِبۡرٰهٖمَ فِىۡ رَبِّهٖۤ اَنۡ اٰتٰٮهُ اللّٰهُ الۡمُلۡكَ‌ۘ اِذۡ قَالَ اِبۡرٰهٖمُ رَبِّىَ الَّذِىۡ يُحۡىٖ وَيُمِيۡتُۙ قَالَ اَنَا اُحۡىٖ وَأُمِيۡتُ‌ؕ قَالَ اِبۡرٰهٖمُ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَاۡتِىۡ بِالشَّمۡسِ مِنَ الۡمَشۡرِقِ فَاۡتِ بِهَا مِنَ الۡمَغۡرِبِ فَبُهِتَ الَّذِىۡ كَفَرَ‌ؕ وَاللّٰهُ لَا يَهۡدِى الۡقَوۡمَ الظّٰلِمِيۡنَ‌ۚ} – [Al-Baqarah: 258]

Translation: "Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord [merely] because Allah had given him kingship? When Abraham said, 'My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death,' he said, 'I give life and cause death.' Abraham said, 'Indeed, Allah brings 4the sun from the east, so bring it from the west.' So the disbeliever was overwhelmed [by astonishment], and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people."

Then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, narrated the second incident, which is his debate and argument with his family and his people:

{وَحَآجَّهٗ قَوۡمُهٗ ‌ؕ قَالَ اَتُحَآجُّٓونِّىۡ فِى اللّٰهِ وَقَدۡ هَدٰٮنِ‌ؕ وَلَاۤ اَخَافُ مَا تُشۡرِكُوۡنَ بِهٖۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ يَّشَآءَ رَبِّىۡ شَيۡئًـا ‌ؕ وَسِعَ رَبِّىۡ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ عِلۡمًا‌ؕ اَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُوۡنَ (٨٠) وَكَيۡفَ اَخَافُ مَاۤ اَشۡرَكۡتُمۡ وَلَا تَخَافُوۡنَ اَنَّكُمۡ اَشۡرَكۡتُمۡ بِاللّٰهِ مَا لَمۡ يُنَزِّلۡ بِهٖ عَلَيۡكُمۡ سُلۡطٰنًا ‌ؕ فَاَىُّ الۡفَرِيۡقَيۡنِ اَحَقُّ بِالۡاَمۡنِ‌ۚ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ‌ۘ} – [Al-An’am: 80-81]

Translation: "And his people argued with him. He said, 'Do you argue with me about Allah while He has guided me? And I fear not what you associate with Him [and will not be harmed] unless my Lord should will something. My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge; then will you not remembe5r? (80) And how should I fear what you associate while you do not fear that you have associated with Allah that for which He has not sent down to you any authority? So which of the two parties has more right to security, if you should know?'"

In this most excellent manner, the debate took place between the group of believers (led by Ibrahim, the Khalil of the Most Merciful) and, on the other side, the group of disbelief, transgression, and rebellion (i.e., his people who were in fact the party of Satan). This debate ended with the victory of the first group (the people of faith) and the defeat of the second group (the people of disbelief). This is the way of Allah which does not change, and it is a method that never alters. And the good end is for the righteous, and victory comes only from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

And as for Kalim ar-Rahman (the one who spoke to the Most Merciful), Musa (Moses) son of ‘Imran, Allah Tabaraka wa Ta’ala had chosen him for Himself, protected him throughout his life, and favored him over people with His speech and His message so that he would be among the grateful servants. How many trials came before and after prophethood, which he overcame with a strong heart and the trust in Allah upon which he was naturally created. So he called Pharaoh and his people to believe in the existence of Allah and to acknowledge His Lordship and Divinity, as Allah had said to him:

{ٱذۡهَبۡ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ (١٧) فَقُلۡ هَل لَّكَ إِلَىٰۤ أَن تَزَكَّىٰ (١٨) وَأَهۡدِیَكَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَتَخۡشَىٰ (١٩) فَأَرَىٰهُ ٱلۡـَٔایَةَ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰ (٢٠) فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ (٢١) ثُمَّ أَدۡبَرَ یَسۡعَىٰ (٢٢) فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ (٢٣) فَقَالَ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ} – [An-Nazi’at: 17-24]

Translation: "'Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed. (17) And say to him, "Would you [be willing to] purify yourself (18) And let me guide you to your Lord so you would fear [Him]?"' (19) And he showed him the greatest sign, (20) But Pharaoh denied and disobeyed. (21) Then he turned his back, striving. (22) And he gathered [his people] and called out, (23) And said, 'I am your most exalted lord6.'"

Similarly, Musa (peace be upon him) invited Pharaoh to believe in his prophethood, as Allah the Exalted has narrated this incident to us:

وَ قَالَ مُوۡسٰى يٰفِرۡعَوۡنُ اِنِّىۡ رَسُوۡلٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَۙ (١٠٤) حَقِيۡقٌ عَلٰٓى اَنۡ لَّاۤ اَقُوۡلَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ اِلَّا الۡحَـقَّ‌ ؕ قَدۡ جِئۡـتُكُمۡ بِبَيِّنَةٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّكُمۡ فَاَرۡسِلۡ مَعِىَ بَنِىۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِيۡلَ} – [Al-A’raf: 104-105]

Translation: "And Moses said, 'O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds. (104) [I am] obligated not to say about Allah except the truth. I have come to you with clear evidence from your Lord, so send with me the Children of Israel.'"

…until the final verses of the conversation between the prophet, the caller (Musa, peace be upon him), and the wretched tyrant being called (Pharaoh).

Pharaoh was a great plotter, extremely malicious, and severely deceptive in his schemes. He always tried to mislead his people so that they would follow him in disbelief, denial, and atheism. In the Quran, Allah the Exalted has described his cunning, deception, and conspiracy:

{وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ذَرُوۡنِىۡۤ اَقۡتُلۡ مُوۡسٰى وَلۡيَدۡعُ رَبَّهٗ‌ۚ اِنِّىۡۤ اَخَافُ اَنۡ يُّبَدِّلَ دِيۡنَكُمۡ اَوۡ اَنۡ يُّظۡهِرَ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ الۡفَسَادَ} – [Ghafir: 26]

Translation: "And Pharaoh said, 'Let me kill Moses and let him call upon his Lord. Indeed, I fear that he will change your religion or that he will cause corruption in the land.'"

Allah narrated another saying of his:

{قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ مَاۤ اُرِيۡكُمۡ اِلَّا مَاۤ اَرٰى وَمَاۤ اَهۡدِيۡكُمۡ اِلَّا سَبِيۡلَ الرَّشَادِ‏} – [Ghafir: 29]

Translation: "Pharaoh said, 'I do not show you except what I see, and I do not guide you except to the way of right conduct.'"

Similarly, He said:

{وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ يٰهَامٰنُ ابۡنِ لِىۡ صَرۡحًا لَّعَلِّىۡۤ اَبۡلُغُ الۡاَسۡبَابَۙ (٣٦) 

اَسۡبَابَ السَّمٰوٰتِ فَاَطَّلِعَ اِلٰٓى اِلٰهِ مُوۡسٰى وَاِنِّىۡ لَاَظُنُّهٗ كَاذِبًا} – [Ghafir: 36-37]

Translation: "And Pharaoh said, 'O Haman, construct for me a tower that I might reach the ways - (36) The ways into the heavens - and look at the god of Moses; but indeed, I think he is a liar.'"

Further on, He said:

{وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الۡمَلَاُ مَا عَلِمۡتُ لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰهٍ غَيۡرِىۡ‌ ۚ فَاَوۡقِدۡ لِىۡ يٰهَامٰنُ عَلَى الطِّيۡنِ فَاجۡعَلْ لِّىۡ صَرۡحًا لَّعَلِّىۡۤ اَطَّلِعُ اِلٰٓى اِلٰهِ مُوۡسٰى ۙ وَاِنِّىۡ لَاَظُنُّهٗ مِنَ الۡـكٰذِبِيۡنَ} – [Al-Qasas: 38]

Translation: "And Pharaoh said, 'O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a god other than me. Then ignite for me, O Haman, [a fire] upon the clay and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I do think he is among the lia7rs.'"

As the Holy Quran has informed about Pharaoh’s arrogance, self-admiration, and the contempt and belittlement he showed towards the Prophet Musa (peace be upon him), Allah the Exalted says:

{وَنَادَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنُ فِی قَوۡمِهِۦ قَالَ یَـٰقَوۡمِ أَلَیۡسَ لِی مُلۡكُ مِصۡرَ وَهَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ تَجۡرِی مِن تَحۡتِیۤۚ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَ (٥١) أَمۡ أَنَا۠ خَیۡرࣱ مِّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِی هُوَ مَهِینࣱ وَلَا یَكَادُ یُبِینُ (٥٢) فَلَوۡلَاۤ أُلۡقِیَ عَلَیۡهِ أَسۡوِرَةࣱ مِّن ذَهَبٍ أَوۡ جَاۤءَ مَعَهُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰۤىِٕكَةُ مُقۡتَرِنِینَ (٥٣) فَٱسۡتَخَفَّ قَوۡمَهُۥ فَأَطَاعُوهُۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُوا۟ قَوۡمࣰا فَـٰسِقِینَ (٥٤) فَلَمَّاۤ ءَاسَفُونَا ٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ فَأَغۡرَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِینَ (٥٥) فَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ سَلَفࣰا وَمَثَلࣰا لِّلۡـَٔاخِرِینَ} – [Az-Zukhruf: 51-56]

Translation: "And Pharaoh called out among his people; he said, 'O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see? (51) Or am I better than this one who is insignificant and who can hardly make himself clear? (52) Then why are not bracelets of gold bestowed on him, or angels sent with him in succession?' (53) So he deluded his people, and they obeyed him. Indeed, they were a people defiantly disobedient. (54) And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all. (55) And We made them a precedent and an example for the later generations."

Indeed, they (Pharaoh and his people) were a precedent (a cautionary tale) for those who passed before and a lesson and sign of admonition for those who came after.

And it is very important to point out that the story of Musa (peace be upon him) and Pharaoh and his people is one of the most frequently repeated stories in the Holy Quran. This is because it is a living example of the clash between truth and falsehood. How many times did the battle rage between Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and the wretched, rebellious Pharaoh, but the outcome was always that the successful and victorious group was the party of Allah, represented by Musa (peace be upon him), while Pharaoh and his people, who represented falsehood, faced a humiliating defeat. And this is the unchanging law of Allah in favor of His servants, as Allah the Exalted has said in the Quran:

{وَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَمَعَ الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ} – [Al-‘Ankabut: 69]

Translation: “And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.”

He also said:

{وَحَاقَ بِاٰلِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ سُوۡٓءُ الۡعَذَابِ‌ۚ‏ (٤٥) اَلنَّارُ يُعۡرَضُوۡنَ عَلَيۡهَا غُدُوًّا وَّعَشِيًّا ۚ وَيَوۡمَ تَقُوۡمُ السَّاعَةُ  اَدۡخِلُوۡۤا اٰلَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ اَشَدَّ الۡعَذَابِ} – [Ghafir: 45-46]

Translation: "And the people of Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment - (45) The Fire, they are exposed to it morning and evening. And the Day the Hour appears [it will be said], 'Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment.'"

(To be continued…)