Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … From this brief chapter, it is understood that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was granted special mercy, protection (ismah), and favor from Allah Ta’ala, such that even before prophethood, Allah Ta’ala kept him safe from all forms of adornment and idol worship.

The way Allah Ta’ala purifies and keeps His noble prophets (alayhimus-salam) free from faults and defects can be gauged from the following example.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said regarding this verse: {یَا أَیُّہَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوْا لَا تَکُونُوْا کَالَّذِینَ آذَوْا مُوسٰی فَبَرَّأَہُ اللّٰہُ مِمَّا قَالُوْا} [الأحزاب: ۶۹] He said: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Indeed, the Children of Israel used to bathe naked (and in another narration: they would look at each other’s private parts), and the Prophet of Allah, Musa (alayhis-salam), was very modest and would cover himself when bathing. So they cast aspersions on him regarding his private parts (and in another narration: they said, ‘By Allah! Nothing prevents Musa from bathing with us except that he has a swelling in his testicles’). He said: So one day, while the Prophet of Allah was bathing, he placed his clothes on a rock, and the rock ran off with his clothes. The Prophet of Allah followed it, striking it with his staff and saying, ‘My clothes, O stone! My clothes, O stone!’ until it stopped in the midst of a group from the Children of Israel and stood still. The Prophet of Allah took his clothes and put them on, and when they saw Musa (alayhis-salam), they found him to be the best of creation in form and the most well-proportioned in appearance. The Children of Israel then said, ‘May Allah destroy the slanderers from among the Children of Israel!’ Thus, this was the exoneration by which Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, cleared Musa (alayhis-salam) of what they had said about him.” …

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said regarding the statement of Allah Ta’ala: {یٰٓاَیُّہَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَکُوْنُوْا کَالَّذِیْنَ اٰذَوْا مُوْسٰی فَبَرَّاَہُ اللّٰہُ مِمَّا قَالُوْا وَکَانَ عِنْدَ اللّٰہِ وَجِیْہًا۔ } … O you who have believed! Do not be like those who harmed Musa, but Allah cleared him of what they said, and he was honorable in the sight of Allah.

He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Indeed, the condition of the Children of Israel was such that they would bathe naked and look at each other’s private parts, whereas the Prophet of Allah, Musa (alayhis-salam), felt modesty and shyness regarding this, so he would bathe in seclusion. But because of this, the Children of Israel cast aspersions on him regarding his private parts. In one narration, they said: “By Allah! The only thing preventing Musa from bathing with us is that his testicles are swollen.” So, one day, this Prophet of Allah was bathing and placed his clothes on a rock, but the rock, along with the clothes, began to move. Musa (alayhis-salam) followed it, striking it with his staff and calling out, “O stone! My clothes, O stone! My clothes!” Meanwhile, the stone reached a group of the Children of Israel and stopped among them. The Prophet of Allah took his clothes and put them on. When they saw Musa (alayhis-salam), they found him to be the most beautiful in creation and the most well-proportioned in appearance. After this, the Children of Israel said, “May Allah destroy the slanderers from among the Children of Israel!” Thus, this was the exoneration by which Allah Ta’ala cleared Musa (alayhis-salam) of the accusation. (Sahih Bukhari: 3404, 4799)

Musa (alayhis-salam), due to his extreme modesty, would not allow his body to be exposed before people, but people fabricated the claim that he had a certain disease in his private parts, and that is why he always kept himself covered. The circumstances required that Musa (alayhis-salam) be cleared of this accusation and suspicion, so this incident occurred.