An example of true faith in the Book of Allah

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

"They said: "O Mûsâ (Moses)! Either you throw first or we be the first to throw?" * [Mûsâ (Moses)] said: "Nay, throw you (first)!" Then behold! their ropes and their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast. * So Mûsâ (Moses) conceived fear in himself. * "And throw that which is in your right hand! It will swallow up that which they have made. That which they have made is only a magician's trick, and the magician will never be successful, to whatever amount (of skill) he may attain." * So the magicians fell down prostrate. They said: "We believe in the Lord of Hârûn (Aaron) and Mûsâ (Moses)." * [Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] said: "Believe you in him [Mûsâ (Moses)] before I give you permission? Verily, he is your chief who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of date-palms, and you shall surely know which of us [I (Fir'aun - Pharaoh) or the Lord of Mûsâ (Moses) (Allâh)] can give the severe and more lasting torment." * They said: "We prefer you not to what have come to us of the clear signs and to Him (Allâh) Who created us. So decree whatever you desire to decree, for you can only decree (regarding) this life of the world. "Verily, we have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the magic to which you did compel us. And Allâh is better [as regards reward in comparison to your * (Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) reward], and more lasting (as regards punishment in comparison to your punishment)." verily, whoever comes to his Lord as a Mujrim (criminal, polytheist, sinner, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allâh and His Messengers), then surely, for him is Hell, wherein he will * But whoever comes to Him (Allâh) as a believer (in the Oneness of Allâh), and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks (in the Hereafter), -neither die nor live. * But whoever comes to Him (Allâh) as a believer (in the Oneness of Allâh), and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks (in the Hereafter), - * 'Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever: such is the reward of those who purify themselves (by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allâh has forbidden and by doing all that Allâh has ordained)." [Surat Taha: 65- 76].

It is a wonderful situation that shakes the hearts with true faith which surpasses the pleasures of worldly life, its catastrophes, fear, weakness, lusts and whims.

The situation did not take more than these moments during which sorcerers realized that the truth, which was sent down to Moses (Peace be upon him), was not sorcery because they are the most knowledgeable people of sorcery.

The signs which Moses brought from his Lord were the truth, therefore they prostrated themselves in submissiveness, believing in the truth which they saw, knew, and believed in.

It is a firm faith which made them leave the joys of life in which they lived under the rule of the Pharaoh, and did not pay much attention to the dangerous threats of the Pharaoh:  "[Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] said: Believe you in him [Mûsâ (Moses)] before I give you permission? Verily, he is your chief who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of date-palms, and you shall surely know which of us [I (Fir'aun - Pharaoh) or the Lord of Mûsâ (Moses) (Allâh)] can give the severe and more lasting torment."

It is a fearful and terrifying threat coming from the Pharaoh who was capable of executing his threat by this terrifying punishment.

They were no longer tempted by the decorations of the world which they found under the rule of the Pharaoh: "They said: "We prefer you not to what have come to us of the clear signs and to Him (Allâh) Who created us. So decree whatever you desire to decree, for you can only decree (regarding) this life of the world. *"Verily, we have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the magic to which you did compel us. And Allâh is better [as regards reward in comparison to your (Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) reward], and more lasting (as regards punishment in comparison to your punishment)." True and total separation from the decorations and joys of the worldly life and its temporary interests, and true approach to the Last Home, a true approach out of faith and certainty without weakness or doubt.

They left the whole world, its decorations, and the sedition of power and authority. They left all these joys when faith was raised in their heart, thus they knew the sedition of the world and its triviality against the bliss of the Hereafter in the moment they knew the truth, then decided to take the side of Allah (Glory be to Him).

"And Allâh is better [as regards reward in comparison to your (Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) reward], and more lasting (as regards punishment in comparison to your punishment)." They knew the reality of the Last Home and the severe torment of the disbelievers and the eternal bliss for the pious: "Verily, whoever comes to his Lord as a Mujrim (criminal, polytheist, sinner, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allâh and His Messengers), then surely, for him is Hell, wherein he will neither die nor live. * But whoever comes to Him (Allâh) as a believer (in the Oneness of Allâh), and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks (in the Hereafter), - * 'Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever: such is the reward of those who purify themselves (by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allâh has forbidden and by doing all that Allâh has ordained)." We should note here the power of the expression: "and has done righteous good deeds." which means confirmation and certainty so that the truthful faith should be connected with the pious work with no doubt.

The whole matter is connected with Allah (Glory be to Him) because to Him return all matters. Look at this expression: "So the magicians fell down prostrate. They said: We believe in the Lord of Hârûn (Aaron) and Mûsâ (Moses)." It is Allah's Grace upon them when He knew the truthfulness of their hearts, He granted them the sweetness of faith, certainty, and made them firm on the truth until they prostrated themselves before Allah, knowing His Bounty and Grace on them.

If we go back to the Ayahs prior to this Ayah, we will see that the sorcerers were in a state of certainty of their false sorcery until they considered Moses and Aaron sorcerers who do magic and thought that they are the victorious with their sorcery. Their eyes were blind to ponder over the saying Moses (Peace be upon him) to them: "Mûsâ (Moses) said to them: Woe to you! Invent not a lie against Allâh, lest He should destroy you completely by a torment. And surely, he who invents a lie (against Allâh) will fail miserably." [Surat Taha: 61].

It is a clear call for having faith in Allah and not to attribute lies to Him, then they differed, disputed among themselves, and started to talk secretly: "Then they debated one with another what they must do, and they kept their talk secret. * They said: "Verily, these are two magicians. Their object is to drive you out from your land with their magic, and overcome your chiefs and nobles. * So devise your plot, and then assemble in line. And whoever overcomes this day will be indeed successful." [Surat Taha: 62 - 64].

Thus was their contentment that Moses (Peace be upon him) was doing magic, so they thought that the conflict is between sorcery and sorcery and they deemed that their magic was the best; their scale was the world and it benefits.

Thus was their psychology condition, their intellectual contentment, and that was the dominant atmosphere. From this firm contentment in their souls, they were released by the grace of Allah after they had known that the truth, which Moses (Peace be upon him) came with, was not sorcery because they were the most knowledgeable people of sorcery, cheat, and lie. They saw the truth evident in the work of Moses (Peace be upon him) and is not part of the sorcery they knew.

The clear signs of Moses (peace be upon him) took them out from their joys and revealed the truth for them, therefore they believed in the favor of Allah and prostrated themselves before Him.

It is a great transition from the world of polytheism, disbelief, and sorcery, from the world of Pharaoh and his error to the truth, faith, and certainty.

A certainty which they left the worldly joys for and made them endure the threats of killing, crucifixion, and severe punishment, and turned their faces to the Hereafter with truthfulness and certainty.

It seems that the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) had the same belief and took out weakness and the worldly joys of their hearts, as Allah (Glory be to Him) says about them: "Among you are some that desire this world and some that desire the Hereafter." [Surat Al `Imran: 152].

When Allah knew the Companions' clarity of faith, He gave them victory and support.

As Muslims, are not we in need to this faith and to such a transition?! If we look at the reality of Muslims today, we will see that the world has beaten many people, so from where we can achieve victory?

Allah judges justly among people and does not oppress people, but people oppress themselves. Recite the saying of Allah (Glory be to Him): "And Allâh judges with truth, while those to whom they invoke besides Him, cannot judge anything. Certainly, Allâh! He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." [Surat Ghafir: 20]. And Allah's Saying: "Truly! Allâh wrongs not mankind in aught; but mankind wrong themselves." [Surat Yunus: 44].

In this stage, Muslims pass by humiliation and weakness which made them a burden on their enemies: They give victory to some of them over others, so they are scattered to parties, countries, boundaries, interests, and desires making everyone weak. "The nations are about to call each other and set upon you, just as eaters set upon food It was said: "Will it be because of our small number that day?"

He said: "Rather, on that day you will be many, but you will be like foam, like the foam on the river. And Allah will remove the fear of you from the hearts of your enemies and will throw wahn (weakness) into your hearts." Someone said: "O Messenger of Allah! What is Wahn?" He said: "Love of the world and the hatred for death." [Reported by Abu Dawud 31/5/4297].

What is the way out of this weakness? The answer is in Allah's Saying: "So flee to Allâh (from His Torment to His Mercy - Islâmic Monotheism). Verily, I (Muhammad peace be upon him) am a plain warner to you from Him." [Surat Adh-Dhariyat: 50]. It is a great transition as sorcerers moved to firm faith and certainty when they saw the truth.