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مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد
Majma' al-Zawa'id
كتاب التفسير
Book of Tafsir
قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى : وَفَتَنَّاكَ فُتُونًا .
The words of Allah the Exalted: "And We tried you with a severe trial"
Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 11166
اُردوEn
عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى : وَفَتَنَّاكَ فُتُونًا سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْفُتُونِ مَا هُوَ ؟ قَالَ : اسْتَأْنِفِ النَّهَارَ يَا ابْنَ جُبَيْرٍ ، فَإِنَّهَا حَدِيثَةٌ طَوِيلَةٌ . فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْتُ غَدَوْتُ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ لِأَنْتَجِزَ مِنْهُ مَا وَعَدَنِي مِنْ حَدِيثِ الْفُتُونِ ، قَالَ : تَذَاكَرَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُلَسَاؤُهُ مَا كَانَ اللَّهُ وَعَدَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مِنْ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِهِ أَنْبِيَاءَ وَمُلُوكًا ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ : إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَيَنْظُرُونَ ذَلِكَ مَا يَشُكُّونَ فِيهِ ، وَقَدْ كَانُوا يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُ يُوسُفُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ ، فَلَمَّا هَلَكَ قَالُوا : لَيْسَ كَذَلِكَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَعَدَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ . قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ : كَيْفَ تَرَوْنَ ؟ فَأْتَمَرُوا وَأَجْمَعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ عَلَى أَنْ يَبْعَثَ رِجَالًا مَعَهُمُ الشِّفَارُ ، يَطُوفُونَ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ، فَلَا يَجِدُونَ مَوْلُودًا ذَكَرًا إِلَّا ذَبَحُوهُ . فَفَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ ، فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا أَنَّ الْكِبَارَ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ يَمُوتُونَ بِآجَالِهِمْ وَالصِّغَارَ يُذَبَّحُونَ قَالُوا : يُوشِكُ أَنْ تُفْنُوا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ، فَتُضْطَرُّوا أَنْ تُبَاشِرُوا مِنَ الْأَعْمَالِ الَّذِي كَانُوا يَكْفُونَكُمْ ، فَاقْتُلُوا عَامًا كُلَّ مَوْلُودٍ ذَكَرٍ فَيَقِلُّ نَبَاتُهُمْ ، وَدَعُوا عَامًا فَلَا يُقْتَلُ مِنْهُمْ [ أَحَدٌ ] ، فَيَنْشَأَ الصِّغَارُ مَكَانَ مَنْ يَمُوتُ مِنَ الْكِبَارِ ، فَإِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يَكْثُرُوا بِمَنْ تَسْتَحْيُونَ مِنْهُمْ فَتَخَافُونَ مُكَاثَرَتَهُمْ إِيَّاكُمْ ، وَلَنْ يَفْنَوْا بِمَنْ تَقْتُلُونَ فَتَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ . فَأَجْمَعُوا أَمَرَهُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَحَمَلَتْ أُمُّ مُوسَى بِهَارُونَ فِي الْعَامِ الَّذِي لَا يُذْبَحُ فِيهِ الْغِلْمَانُ ، فَوَلَدَتْهُ عَلَانِيَةً آمِنَةً ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنْ قَابِلٍ حَمَلَتْ بِمُوسَى ، فَوَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِهَا الْهَمُّ وَالْحُزْنُ ، وَذَلِكَ مِنَ الْفُتُونِ يَا ابْنَ جُبَيْرٍ بِمَا دَخَلَ مِنْهُ فِي قَلْبِ أُمِّهِ مِمَّا يُرَادُ بِهِ ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ - تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى - إِلَيْهَا أَنْ لَا تَخَافِي وَلَا تَحْزَنِي إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَأَمَرَهَا إِنْ وَلَدَتْ أَنْ تَجْعَلَهُ فِي تَابُوتٍ ثُمَّ تُلْقِيَهُ فِي الْيَمِّ ، فَلَمَّا وَلَدَتْهُ فَعَلَتْ ذَلِكَ بِهِ . فَلَمَّا تَوَارَى عَنْهَا ابْنُهَا أَتَاهَا الشَّيْطَانُ فَقَالَتْ فِي نَفْسِهَا : مَا صَنَعْتُ بِابْنِي ! لَوْ ذُبِحَ عِنْدِي فَوَارَيْتُهُ وَكَفَّنْتُهُ كَانَ خَيْرًا لِي مِنْ أَنْ أُلْقِيَهُ بِيَدِي إِلَى زَفَرَاتِ الْبَحْرِ وَحِيتَانِهِ ، فَانْتَهَى الْمَاءُ بِهِ إِلَى فُرْضَةِ مُسْتَقَى جَوَارِي امْرَأَةِ فِرْعَوْنَ ، فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُ أَخَذْنَهُ ، فَهَمَمْنَ أَنْ يَفْتَحْنَ التَّابُوتَ ، فَقَالَ بِعْضُهُنَّ : إِنَّ فِي هَذَا مَالًا وَإِنَّا إِنْ فَتَحْنَاهُ لَمْ تُصَدِّقْنَا امْرَأَةُ الْمَلِكِ بِمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهِ . فَحَمَلْنَهُ بِهَيْئَتِهِ لَمْ يُحَرِّكْنَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا حَتَّى دَفَعْنَهُ إِلَيْهَا ، فَلَمَّا فَتَحَتْهُ رَأَتْ فِيهِ غُلَامًا ، فَأُلْقِيَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْهَا مَحَبَّةٌ لَمْ تَجِدْ مِثْلَهَا عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْبَشَرِ قَطُّ ، فَأَصْبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَى فَارِغًا مَنْ ذِكْرِ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا [ مِنْ ] ذِكْرِ مُوسَى ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ الذَّبَّاحُونَ بِأَمْرِهِ أَقْبَلُوا بِشِفَارِهِمْ إِلَى امْرَأَةِ فِرْعَوْنَ لِيَذْبَحُوهُ ، وَذَلِكَ مِنَ الْفُتُونِ يَا ابْنَ جُبَيْرٍ ، فَقَالَتْ لَهُمُ : اتْرُكُوهُ ، فَإِنَّ هَذَا الْوَاحِدَ لَا يَزِيدُ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ حَتَّى آتِيَ فِرْعَوْنَ فَأَسْتَوْهِبَهُ مِنْهُ ، فَإِنْ وَهَبَهُ لِي كُنْتُمْ قَدْ أَحْسَنْتُمْ وَأَجْمَلْتُمْ ، وَإِنْ أَمَرَ بِذَبْحِهِ لَمْ أَلُمْكُمْ ، فَأَتَتْ بِهِ فِرْعَوْنَ فَقَالَتْ : قُرَّةُ عَيْنٍ لِي وَلَكَ قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ : يَكُونُ لَكِ ، فَأَمَّا لِي فَلَا حَاجَةَ لِي فِي ذَلِكَ .
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - : " وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ ، لَوْ أَقَرَّ فِرْعَوْنُ كَمَا أَقَرَّتِ امْرَأَتُهُ لَهَدَاهُ اللَّهُ كَمَا هَدَى امْرَأَتَهُ ، وَلَكِنْ حَرَمَتْهُ ذَلِكَ " . فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَى مَنْ حَوْلَهَا مَنْ كُلِّ امْرَأَةٍ لَهَا لَبَنٌ لِتَخْتَارَ لَهُ ظِئْرًا ، فَجَعَلَ كُلَّمَا أَخَذَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ لِتُرْضِعَهُ لَمْ يَقْبَلْ ثَدْيَهَا حَتَّى أَشْفَقَتْ عَلَيْهِ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ أَنْ يَمْتَنِعَ مِنَ اللَّبَنِ فَيَمُوتَ ، فَأَحْزَنَهَا ذَلِكَ ، فَأُخْرِجُ إِلَى السُّوقِ وَمَجْمَعِ النَّاسِ تَرْجُو أَنْ تَجِدَ لَهُ ظِئْرًا يَأْخُذُ مِنْهَا ، فَلَمْ يَقْبَلْ . فَأَصْبَحَتْ أُمُّ مُوسَى وَالِهَةً ، فَقَالَتْ لِأُخْتِهِ : قُصِّيهِ ، قُصِّي أَثَرَهُ وَاطْلُبِيهِ هَلْ تَسْمَعِينَ لَهُ ذِكْرًا ؟ حَيٌّ ابْنِي أَمْ أَكَلَتْهُ الدَّوَابُّ ؟ وَنَسِيَتْ مَا كَانَ اللَّهُ وَعَدَهَا مِنْهُ ، فَبَصُرَتْ بِهِ أُخْتُهُ عَنْ جُنُبٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ - وَالْجُنُبُ : أَنْ يَسْمُوَ بَصَرُ الْإِنْسَانِ إِلَى الشَّيْءِ الْبَعِيدِ وَهُوَ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ لَا يَشْعُرُ بِهِ - فَقَالَتْ مِنَ الْفَرَحِ حِينَ أَعْيَاهُمُ الظُّؤَارُ : أَنَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَكْفُلُونَهُ لَكُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُ نَاصِحُونَ . فَأَخَذُوهَا فَقَالُوا : مَا يُدْرِيكِ مَا نُصْحُهُمْ لَهُ ؟ هَلْ تَعْرِفُونَهُ ؟ حَتَّى شَكُّوا فِي ذَلِكَ ، وَذَلِكَ مِنَ الْفُتُونِ يَا ابْنَ جُبَيْرٍ ، فَقَالَتْ : نُصْحُهُمْ لَهُ وَشَفَقَتُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ رَغْبَةً فِي صِهْرِ الْمَلِكِ وَرَجَاءَ مَنَعَتِهِ . فَأَرْسَلُوهَا فَانْطَلَقَتْ إِلَى أُمِّهَا فَأَخْبَرَتْهَا الْخَبَرَ ، فَجَاءَتْ أُمُّهُ فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهُ فِي حِجْرِهَا نَزَا إِلَى ثَدْيِهَا فَمَصَّهُ حَتَّى امْتَلَأَ جَنْبَاهُ رِيًّا . فَانْطَلَقَ الْبَشِيرُ إِلَى امْرَأَةِ فِرْعَوْنَ يُبَشِّرُهَا أَنْ قَدْ وَجَدْنَا لِابْنِكَ ظِئْرًا ، فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهَا فَأُتِيَتْ بِهَا وَبِهِ ، فَلَمَّا رَأَتْ مَا يَصْنَعُ بِهَا قَالَتْ لَهَا : امْكُثِي عِنْدِي تُرْضِعِينَ ابْنِي هَذَا ، فَإِنِّي لَمْ أُحِبَّ حُبَّهُ شَيْئًا قَطُّ . قَالَتْ أُمُّ مُوسَى : لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَدَعَ بَيْتِيَ وَوَلَدِيَ فَيَضِيعَ ، فَإِنْ طَابَتْ نَفْسُكِ أَنْ تُعْطِيَنِيهِ فَأَذْهَبَ بِهِ إِلَى بَيْتِي فَيَكُونَ مَعِي لَا آلُوهُ خَيْرًا ، وَإِلَّا فَإِنِّي غَيْرُ تَارِكَةٍ بَيْتِي وَوَلَدِي . وَذَكَرَتْ أُمُّ مُوسَى مَا كَانَ اللَّهُ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَعَدَهَا ، فَتَعَاسَرَتْ عَلَى امْرَأَةِ فِرْعَوْنَ ، وَأَيْقَنَتْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ مُنْجِزٌ وَعْدَهُ ، فَرَجَعَتْ إِلَى بَيْتِهَا بِابْنِهَا . [ فَأَصْبَحَ أَهْلُ ] الْقَرْيَةُ مُجْتَمِعِينَ يَمْتَنِعُونَ مِنَ السُّخْرَةِ وَالظُّلْمِ مَا كَانَ بَيْنَهُمْ . قَالَ : فَلَمَّا تَرَعْرَعَ قَالَتِ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِأُمِّ مُوسَى : أَنْ تُرِينِي ابْنِي ، فَوَعَدَتْهَا يَوْمًا تُرِيهَا إِيَّاهُ ، فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِخُزَّانِهَا وَقَهَارِمَتِهَا وَظُؤُورِهَا : لَا يَبْقَيَنَّ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا اسْتَقْبَلَ ابْنِي الْيَوْمَ بِهَدِيَّةٍ وَكَرَامَةٍ لِأَرَى ذَلِكَ فِيهِ ، وَأَنَا بَاعِثَةٌ أَمِينًا يُحْصِي كُلَّ مَا يَصْنَعُ [ كُلُّ ] إِنْسَانٌ مِنْكُمْ . فَلَمْ تَزَلِ الْهَدَايَا وَالْكَرَامَةُ وَالنِّحَلُ تَسْتَقْبِلُهُ مِنْ حِينِ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِ أُمِّهِ إِلَى أَنْ دَخَلَ عَلَى امْرَأَةِ فِرْعَوْنَ ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا بَجَّلَتْهُ وَأَكْرَمَتْهُ وَفَرِحَتْ بِهِ ، وَبَجَّلَتْ بِأُمِّهِ لِحُسْنِ أَثَرِهَا عَلَيْهِ ، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ : لَآتِيَنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ فَلْيُبَجِّلَنَّهُ وَلْيُكْرِمَنَّهُ . فَلَمَّا دَخَلَتْ بِهِ عَلَيْهِ جَعَلَتْهُ فِي حِجْرِهِ ، فَتَنَاوَلَ مُوسَى لِحْيَةَ فِرْعَوْنَ فَمَدَّهَا إِلَى الْأَرْضِ ، فَقَالَ الْغُوَاةُ أَعْدَاءُ اللَّهِ لِفِرْعَوْنَ : أَلَا تَرَى إِلَى مَا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ نَبِيَّهُ أَنَّهُ يَرِبُكَ وَيَعْلُوكَ وَيَصْرَعُكَ ! فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى الذَّبَّاحِينَ لِيَذْبَحُوهُ . وَذَلِكَ مِنَ الْفُتُونِ يَا ابْنَ جُبَيْرٍ بَعْدَ كُلِّ بَلَاءٍ ابْتُلِيَ بِهِ وَأُرْبِكَ بِهِ فُتُونًا . فَجَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ تَسْعَى إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ فَقَالَتْ : مَا بَدَا لَكَ فِي هَذَا الْغُلَامِ الَّذِي وَهَبْتَهُ لِي ؟ قَالَ : تَرَيْنَهُ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ يَصْرَعُنِي وَيَعْلُونِي ! قَالَتْ : اجْعَلْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ أَمْرًا تَعْرِفُ الْحَقَّ فِيهِ ، ائْتِ بِجَمْرَتَيْنِ وَلُؤْلُؤَتَيْنِ فَقَرِّبْهُنَّ إِلَيْهِ ، فَإِنْ بَطَشَ بِاللُّؤْلُؤَتَيْنِ وَاجْتَنَبَ الْجَمْرَتَيْنِ عَرَفْتَ أَنَّهُ يَعْقِلُ ، وَإِنْ تَنَاوَلَ الْجَمْرَتَيْنِ وَلَمْ يَرُدَّ اللُّؤْلُؤَتَيْنِ عَلِمْتَ أَنْ أَحَدًا لَا يُؤْثِرُ الْجَمْرَتَيْنِ عَلَى اللُّؤْلُؤَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ يَعْقِلُ . فَقَرَّبَ ذَلِكَ ، فَتَنَاوَلَ الْجَمْرَتَيْنِ وَلَمْ يُرِدِ اللُّؤْلُؤَتَيْنِ ، عَلِمْتَ ، فَانْزَعُوهُمَا مِنْ يَدِهِ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَحْرِقَانِهِ ، فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ : أَلَا تَرَى ؟ فَصَرَفَهُ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ بَعْدَ مَا قَدْ كَانَ هَمَّ بِهِ ، وَكَانَ اللَّهُ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - بَالِغًا فِيهِ أَمْرَهُ . فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَكَانَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَخْلُصُ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مَعَهُ بِظُلْمٍ وَلَا سُخْرَةٍ حَتَّى امْتَنَعُوا بِهِ كُلَّ الِامْتِنَاعِ ، فَبَيْنَمَا مُوسَى فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِرَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ ، أَحَدُهُمَا فِرْعَوْنِيٌّ وَالْآخَرُ إِسْرَائِيلِيٌّ ، فَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيُّ عَلَى الْفِرْعَوْنِيِّ ، فَغَضِبَ مُوسَى غَضَبًا شَدِيدًا لِأَنَّهُ تَنَاوَلَهُ وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُ مَنْزِلَةَ مُوسَى مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَحِفْظَهُ لَهُمْ ، لَا يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ أَلَا إِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ مِنَ الرِّضَاعِ إِلَّا أُمَّ مُوسَى ، إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ اللَّهُ قَدْ أَطْلَعَ مُوسَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ عَلَى مَا لَمْ يُطْلِعْ عَلَيْهِ غَيْرَهُ . فَوَكَزَ مُوسَى الْفِرْعَوْنِيَّ فَقَتَلَهُ ، وَلَيْسَ يَرَاهُمَا أَحَدٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَالْإِسْرَائِيلِيُّ ، فَقَالَ مُوسَى حِينَ قَتَلَ الرَّجُلَ : هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ مُضِلٌّ مُبِينٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ : رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي فَغَفَرَ لَهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ وَأَصْبَحَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ الْأَخْبَارَ ، فَأُتِيَ فِرْعَوْنُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ : إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَتَلُوا رَجُلًا مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ فَخُذْ لَنَا بِحَقِّنَا وَلَا تُرَخِّصْ لَهُمْ ، فَقَالَ : ابْغُونِي قَاتِلَهُ وَمَنْ يَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِ ، فَإِنَّ الْمَلِكَ وَإِنْ كَانَ صَفْوُهُ مَعَ قَوْمٍ لَا يَسْتَقِيمُ لَهُمْ أَنْ يُقَيِّدَ بِغَيْرِ بَيِّنَةٍ وَلَا تَثَبُّتٍ ، فَاطْلُبُوا لِي عِلْمَ ذَلِكَ آخُذْ لَكُمْ بِحَقِّكُمْ . فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ يَطُوفُونَ لَا يَجِدُونَ ثَبْتًا إِذَا مُوسَى قَدْ رَأَى مِنَ الْغَدِ ذَلِكَ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيَّ يُقَاتِلُ رَجُلًا مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ آخَرَ ، فَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيُّ عَلَى الْفِرْعَوْنِيِّ ، فَصَادَفَ مُوسَى قَدْ نَدِمَ عَلَى مَا فَعَلَ وَكَانَ مِنْهُ فَكَرِهَ الَّذِي رَأَى لِغَضَبِ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيِّ وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَبْطِشَ بِالْفِرْعَوْنِيِّ ، فَقَالَ لِلْإِسْرَائِيلِيِّ لِمَا فَعَلَ أَمْسِ وَالْيَوْمَ : إِنَّكَ لَغَوِيٌّ مُبِينٌ أَنْ يَكُونَ إِيَّاهُ أَرَادَ وَمَا أَرَادَ الْفِرْعَوْنِيَّ ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ أَرَادَهُ إِنَّمَا أَرَادَ الْفِرْعَوْنِيَّ ، فَخَافَ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيُّ فَحَاجَّ لِلْفِرْعَوْنِيِّ وَقَالَ يَا مُوسَى أَتُرِيدُ أَنْ تَقْتُلَنِي كَمَا قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا بِالْأَمْسِ وَإِنَّمَا قَالَ ذَلِكَ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَكُونَ إِيَّاهُ أَرَادَ مُوسَى لِيَقْتُلَهُ ، وَتَنَازَعَا وَتَطَاوَعَا ، وَانْطَلَقَ الْفِرْعَوْنِيُّ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ بِمَا سَمِعَ مِنَ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيِّ مِنَ الْخَبَرِ حَيْثُ يَقُولُ : أَتُرِيدُ أَنْ تَقْتُلَنِي كَمَا قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا بِالْأَمْسِ فَأَرْسَلَ فِرْعَوْنُ الذَّبَّاحِينَ لِيَقْتُلُوا مُوسَى ، فَأَخَذَ رُسُلُ فِرْعَوْنَ الطَّرِيقَ الْأَعْظَمَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى هَيْئَتِهِمْ ، يَطْلُبُونَ لِمُوسَى ، وَهُمْ لَا يَخَافُونَ أَنْ يَفُوتَهُمْ ، إِذْ جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ شِيعَةِ مُوسَى مِنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ ، اخْتَصَرَ طَرِيقًا قَرِيبًا حَتَّى سَبَقَهُمْ إِلَى مُوسَى فَأَخْبَرَهُ الْخَبَرَ . وَذَلِكَ مِنَ الْفُتُونِ يَا ابْنَ جُبَيْرٍ . فَخَرَجَ مُوسَى مُتَوَجِّهًا نَحْوَ مَدْيَنَ ، لَمْ يَلْقَ بَلَاءً قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ بِالطَّرِيقِ عِلْمٌ إِلَّا حُسْنَ ظَنِّهِ بِرَبِّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - فَإِنَّهُ قَالَ : عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِنْ دُونِهِمُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ - يَعْنِي بِذَلِكَ حَابِسَتَيْنِ غَنَمَهُمَا - فَقَالَ لَهُمَا : مَا خَطْبُكُمَا مُعْتَزِلَتَيْنِ لَا تَسْقِيَانِ مَعَ النَّاسِ ؟ قَالَتَا : لَيْسَ بِنَا قُوَّةٌ نُزَاحِمُ الْقَوْمَ وَإِنَّمَا نَنْتَظِرُ فُضُولَ حِيَاضِهِمْ . فَسَقَى لَهُمَا ، فَجَعَلَ يَغْرِفُ مِنَ الدَّلْوِ مَاءً كَثِيرًا حَتَّى كَانَ أَوَّلَ الرِّعَاءِ فَرَاغًا . فَانْصَرَفَتَا بِغَنَمِهِمَا إِلَى أَبِيهِمَا ، وَانْصَرَفَ مُوسَى فَاسْتَظَلَّ بِشَجَرَةٍ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ ، فَاسْتَنْكَرَ سُرْعَةَ صُدُورِهِمَا بِغَنَمِهِمَا حَفْلًا بِطَانًا فَقَالَ : إِنَّ لَكُمَا الْيَوْمَ لَشَأْنًا . فَأَخْبَرَتَاهُ بِمَا صَنَعَ مُوسَى ، فَأَمَرَ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَدْعُوهُ لَهُ ، فَأَتَتْ مُوسَى فَدَعَتْهُ . فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُ قَالَ : لَا تَخَفْ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ لَيْسَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ وَلَا لِقَوْمِهِ عَلَيْنَا سُلْطَانٌ وَلَسْنَا فِي مَمْلَكَتِهِ . قَالَ : فَقَالَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا : يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الْأَمِينُ . قَالَ : فَاحْتَمَلَتْهُ الْغَيْرَةُ إِلَى أَنْ قَالَ : وَمَا يُدْرِيكِ مَا قُوَّتُهُ وَمَا أَمَانَتُهُ ؟ قَالَتْ : أَمَّا قُوَّتُهُ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْهُ فِي الدَّلْوِ حِينَ سَقَى لَنَا لَمْ أَرَ رَجُلًا أَقْوَى فِي ذَلِكَ السَّقْيِ مِنْهُ ، وَأَمَّا أَمَانَتُهُ فَإِنَّهُ نَظَرَ إِلَيَّ حِينَ أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَشَخَصْتُ لَهُ ، فَلَمَّا عَلِمَ أَنِّي امْرَأَةٌ صَوَّبَ رَأْسَهُ وَلَمْ يَرْفَعْهُ وَلَمْ يَنْظُرْ إِلَيَّ حَتَّى بَلَّغْتُهُ رِسَالَتَكَ ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : امْشِي خَلْفِي وَابْغِينِي الطَّرِيقَ ، فَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ إِلَّا وَهُوَ أَمِينٌ . فَسُرِّيَ عَنْ أَبِيهَا فَصَدَّقَهَا فَظَنَّ بِهِ الَّذِي قَالَتْ . فَقَالَ لَهُ : هَلْ لَكَ أَنْ أُنْكِحَكَ إِحْدَى ابْنَتَيَّ هَاتَيْنِ عَلَى أَنْ تَأْجُرَنِي ثَمَانِيَ حِجَجٍ فَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ عَشْرًا فَمِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَيْكَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ، فَفَعَلَ ، فَكَانَتْ عَلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ مُوسَى - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - ثَمَانِ سِنِينَ وَاجِبَةً ، وَكَانَتْ سَنَتَانِ عِدَةً مِنْهُ . فَقَضَى اللَّهُ عِدَتَهُ فَأَتَمَّهَا عَشْرًا . قَالَ سَعِيدٌ : فَلَقِيَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ مِنْ عُلَمَائِهِمْ فَقَالَ : هَلْ تَدْرِي أَيُّ الْأَجَلَيْنِ قَضَى مُوسَى ؟ قُلْتُ : لَا - وَأَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ لَا أَدْرِي - فَلَقِيتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ ، فَقَالَ : أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ ثَمَانِيًا كَانَتْ عَلَى مُوسَى وَاجِبَةً ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ لِيَنْقُصَ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا ، وَتَعْلَمُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَاضٍ عَنْ مُوسَى عِدَتَهُ الَّذِي وَعَدَ ، فَإِنَّهُ قَضَى عَشْرَ سِنِينَ . فَلَقِيتُ النَّصْرَانِيَّ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ ذَلِكَ ، فَقَالَ : الَّذِي سَأَلْتَهُ فَأَخْبَرَكَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ بِذَلِكَ ؟ قَالَ : قُلْتُ : أَجَلْ وَأَوْلَى . فَلَمَّا سَارَ مُوسَى بِأَهْلِهِ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ النَّارِ وَالْعَصَا وَيَدِهِ مَا قَصَّ [ اللَّهُ ] عَلَيْكَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ . فَشَكَا إِلَى رَبِّهِ - تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى - مَا يَتَخَوَّفُ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ فِي الْقَتْلِ وَعُقْدَةَ لِسَانِهِ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ فِي لِسَانِهِ عُقْدَةٌ تَمْنَعُهُ مِنْ كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ ، وَسَأَلَ رَبَّهُ أَنْ يُعِينَهُ بِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ لِيَكُونَ لَهُ رِدْءًا وَيَتَكَلَّمَ عَنْهُ [ بِكَثِيرٍ مِمَّا لَا يَفْصَحُ بِهِ لِسَانُهُ ] . فَآتَاهُ اللَّهُ سُؤْلَهُ ، فَعَبَّرَ عَنْهُ بِكَثِيرٍ مِمَّا لَا يُفْصِحُ بِهِ لِسَانُهُ وَحَلَّ عُقْدَةَ لِسَانِهِ ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى هَارُونَ وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَلْقَاهُ ، فَانْدَفَعَ مُوسَى بِعَصَاهُ حَتَّى لَقِيَ هَارُونَ ، فَانْطَلَقَا جَمِيعًا إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ ، فَأَقَامَا عَلَى بَابِهِ حِينًا لَا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُمَا ، ثُمَّ أُذِنَ لَهُمَا بَعْدَ حِجَابٍ شَدِيدٍ فَقَالَا : إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ فَقَالَ : مَنْ رَبُّكُمَا يَا مُوسَى ؟ فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِالَّذِي قَصَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ ، فَقَالَ : فَمَا تُرِيدُ ؟ وَذَكَّرَهُ الْقَتِيلَ فَاعْتَذَرَ بِمَا قَدْ سَمِعْتَ ، وَقَالَ : إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَتُرْسِلَ مَعِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ، فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ وَقَالَ : ائْتِ بِآيَةٍ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ . فَأَلْقَى عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ فَاغِرَةٌ فَاهَا مُسْرِعَةٌ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ . فَلَمَّا رَآهَا فِرْعَوْنُ قَاصِدَةً إِلَيْهِ خَافَهَا ، فَاقْتَحَمَ عَنْ سَرِيرِهِ ، وَاسْتَغَاثَ بِمُوسَى أَنْ يَكُفَّهَا عَنْهُ فَفَعَلَ ، ثُمَّ أَخْرَجَ يَدَهُ مِنْ جَيْبِهِ فَرَآهَا بَيْضَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ - يَعْنِي مِنْ غَيْرِ بَرَصٍ - ثُمَّ رَدَّهَا فَعَادَتْ إِلَى لَوْنِهَا الْأَوَّلِ . فَاسْتَشَارَ الْمَلَأَ حَوْلَهُ فِيمَا رَأَى فَقَالُوا لَهُ : إِنْ هَذَانِ لَسَاحِرَانِ يُرِيدَانِ أَنْ يُخْرِجَاكُمْ مِنْ أَرْضِكُمْ بِسِحْرِهِمَا وَيَذْهَبَا بِطَرِيقَتِكُمُ الْمُثْلَى - يَعْنِي مُلْكَهُمُ الَّذِي هُمْ فِيهِ وَالْعَيْشَ - فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُعْطُوهُ شَيْئًا مِمَّا طَلَبَ وَقَالُوا لَهُ : اجْمَعْ لَنَا السَّحَرَةَ ، فَإِنَّهُمْ بِأَرْضِكَ كَثِيرٌ حَتَّى يَغْلِبَ سِحْرُهُمْ سِحْرَهُمَا ، فَأَرْسَلَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ ، فَحُشِرَ لَهُ كُلُّ سَاحِرٍ مُتَعَالِمٍ . فَلَمَّا أَتَوْا فِرْعَوْنَ قَالُوا : بِمَ يَعْمَلُ هَذَا السَّاحِرُ ؟ قَالُوا : بِالْحَيَّاتِ . قَالُوا : فَلَا وَاللَّهِ مَا أَحَدٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَعْمَلُ السِّحْرَ بِالْحَيَّاتِ وَالْعِصِيِّ الَّتِي نَعْمَلُ ، فَمَا أَجْرُنَا إِنْ نَحْنُ غَلَبْنَا ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ : إِنَّكُمْ أَقَارِبِي وَخَاصَّتِي ، وَأَنَا صَانِعٌ إِلَيْكُمْ كُلَّمَا أَحْبَبْتُمْ . فَتَوَاعَدُوا يَوْمَ الزِّينَةِ وَأَنْ يُحْشَرَ النَّاسُ ضَحًى .
قَالَ سَعِيدٌ : حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ يَوْمَ الزِّينَةِ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي أَظْهَرَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مُوسَى عَلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَالسَّحَرَةِ ، وَهُوَ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ . فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعُوا فِي صَعِيدٍ قَالَ النَّاسُ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ : انْطَلِقُوا فَلْنَحْضُرْ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ لَعَلَّنَا نَتَّبِعُ السَّحَرَةَ إِنْ كَانُوا هُمُ الْغَالِبِينَ يَعْنُونَ مُوسَى وَهَارُونَ اسْتِهْزَاءً بِهِمَا . فَقَالُوا : يَا مُوسَى - لِقُدْرَتِهِمْ بِسِحْرِهِمْ - إِمَّا أَنْ تُلْقِيَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ نَكُونَ نَحْنُ الْمُلْقِينَ قَالَ : بَلْ أَلْقُوا فَأَلْقَوْا حِبَالَهُمْ وَعِصِيَّهُمْ وَقَالُوا بِعَزَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْغَالِبُونَ فَرَأَى مُوسَى مِنْ سِحْرِهِمْ مَا أَوْجَسَ فِي نَفْسِهِ خِيفَةً ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ - تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى - إِلَيْهِ أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ فَلَمَّا أَلْقَاهَا صَارَتْ ثُعْبَانًا عَظِيمًا فَاغِرَةً فَاهَا ، فَجَعَلَتِ الْعَصَا بِدَعْوَةِ مُوسَى تَلْبَسُ الْحِبَالَ حَتَّى صَارَتْ جُدُرًا إِلَى الثُّعْبَانِ
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - : " وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ ، لَوْ أَقَرَّ فِرْعَوْنُ كَمَا أَقَرَّتِ امْرَأَتُهُ لَهَدَاهُ اللَّهُ كَمَا هَدَى امْرَأَتَهُ ، وَلَكِنْ حَرَمَتْهُ ذَلِكَ " . فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَى مَنْ حَوْلَهَا مَنْ كُلِّ امْرَأَةٍ لَهَا لَبَنٌ لِتَخْتَارَ لَهُ ظِئْرًا ، فَجَعَلَ كُلَّمَا أَخَذَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ لِتُرْضِعَهُ لَمْ يَقْبَلْ ثَدْيَهَا حَتَّى أَشْفَقَتْ عَلَيْهِ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ أَنْ يَمْتَنِعَ مِنَ اللَّبَنِ فَيَمُوتَ ، فَأَحْزَنَهَا ذَلِكَ ، فَأُخْرِجُ إِلَى السُّوقِ وَمَجْمَعِ النَّاسِ تَرْجُو أَنْ تَجِدَ لَهُ ظِئْرًا يَأْخُذُ مِنْهَا ، فَلَمْ يَقْبَلْ . فَأَصْبَحَتْ أُمُّ مُوسَى وَالِهَةً ، فَقَالَتْ لِأُخْتِهِ : قُصِّيهِ ، قُصِّي أَثَرَهُ وَاطْلُبِيهِ هَلْ تَسْمَعِينَ لَهُ ذِكْرًا ؟ حَيٌّ ابْنِي أَمْ أَكَلَتْهُ الدَّوَابُّ ؟ وَنَسِيَتْ مَا كَانَ اللَّهُ وَعَدَهَا مِنْهُ ، فَبَصُرَتْ بِهِ أُخْتُهُ عَنْ جُنُبٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ - وَالْجُنُبُ : أَنْ يَسْمُوَ بَصَرُ الْإِنْسَانِ إِلَى الشَّيْءِ الْبَعِيدِ وَهُوَ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ لَا يَشْعُرُ بِهِ - فَقَالَتْ مِنَ الْفَرَحِ حِينَ أَعْيَاهُمُ الظُّؤَارُ : أَنَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَكْفُلُونَهُ لَكُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُ نَاصِحُونَ . فَأَخَذُوهَا فَقَالُوا : مَا يُدْرِيكِ مَا نُصْحُهُمْ لَهُ ؟ هَلْ تَعْرِفُونَهُ ؟ حَتَّى شَكُّوا فِي ذَلِكَ ، وَذَلِكَ مِنَ الْفُتُونِ يَا ابْنَ جُبَيْرٍ ، فَقَالَتْ : نُصْحُهُمْ لَهُ وَشَفَقَتُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ رَغْبَةً فِي صِهْرِ الْمَلِكِ وَرَجَاءَ مَنَعَتِهِ . فَأَرْسَلُوهَا فَانْطَلَقَتْ إِلَى أُمِّهَا فَأَخْبَرَتْهَا الْخَبَرَ ، فَجَاءَتْ أُمُّهُ فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهُ فِي حِجْرِهَا نَزَا إِلَى ثَدْيِهَا فَمَصَّهُ حَتَّى امْتَلَأَ جَنْبَاهُ رِيًّا . فَانْطَلَقَ الْبَشِيرُ إِلَى امْرَأَةِ فِرْعَوْنَ يُبَشِّرُهَا أَنْ قَدْ وَجَدْنَا لِابْنِكَ ظِئْرًا ، فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهَا فَأُتِيَتْ بِهَا وَبِهِ ، فَلَمَّا رَأَتْ مَا يَصْنَعُ بِهَا قَالَتْ لَهَا : امْكُثِي عِنْدِي تُرْضِعِينَ ابْنِي هَذَا ، فَإِنِّي لَمْ أُحِبَّ حُبَّهُ شَيْئًا قَطُّ . قَالَتْ أُمُّ مُوسَى : لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَدَعَ بَيْتِيَ وَوَلَدِيَ فَيَضِيعَ ، فَإِنْ طَابَتْ نَفْسُكِ أَنْ تُعْطِيَنِيهِ فَأَذْهَبَ بِهِ إِلَى بَيْتِي فَيَكُونَ مَعِي لَا آلُوهُ خَيْرًا ، وَإِلَّا فَإِنِّي غَيْرُ تَارِكَةٍ بَيْتِي وَوَلَدِي . وَذَكَرَتْ أُمُّ مُوسَى مَا كَانَ اللَّهُ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَعَدَهَا ، فَتَعَاسَرَتْ عَلَى امْرَأَةِ فِرْعَوْنَ ، وَأَيْقَنَتْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ مُنْجِزٌ وَعْدَهُ ، فَرَجَعَتْ إِلَى بَيْتِهَا بِابْنِهَا . [ فَأَصْبَحَ أَهْلُ ] الْقَرْيَةُ مُجْتَمِعِينَ يَمْتَنِعُونَ مِنَ السُّخْرَةِ وَالظُّلْمِ مَا كَانَ بَيْنَهُمْ . قَالَ : فَلَمَّا تَرَعْرَعَ قَالَتِ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِأُمِّ مُوسَى : أَنْ تُرِينِي ابْنِي ، فَوَعَدَتْهَا يَوْمًا تُرِيهَا إِيَّاهُ ، فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِخُزَّانِهَا وَقَهَارِمَتِهَا وَظُؤُورِهَا : لَا يَبْقَيَنَّ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا اسْتَقْبَلَ ابْنِي الْيَوْمَ بِهَدِيَّةٍ وَكَرَامَةٍ لِأَرَى ذَلِكَ فِيهِ ، وَأَنَا بَاعِثَةٌ أَمِينًا يُحْصِي كُلَّ مَا يَصْنَعُ [ كُلُّ ] إِنْسَانٌ مِنْكُمْ . فَلَمْ تَزَلِ الْهَدَايَا وَالْكَرَامَةُ وَالنِّحَلُ تَسْتَقْبِلُهُ مِنْ حِينِ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِ أُمِّهِ إِلَى أَنْ دَخَلَ عَلَى امْرَأَةِ فِرْعَوْنَ ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا بَجَّلَتْهُ وَأَكْرَمَتْهُ وَفَرِحَتْ بِهِ ، وَبَجَّلَتْ بِأُمِّهِ لِحُسْنِ أَثَرِهَا عَلَيْهِ ، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ : لَآتِيَنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ فَلْيُبَجِّلَنَّهُ وَلْيُكْرِمَنَّهُ . فَلَمَّا دَخَلَتْ بِهِ عَلَيْهِ جَعَلَتْهُ فِي حِجْرِهِ ، فَتَنَاوَلَ مُوسَى لِحْيَةَ فِرْعَوْنَ فَمَدَّهَا إِلَى الْأَرْضِ ، فَقَالَ الْغُوَاةُ أَعْدَاءُ اللَّهِ لِفِرْعَوْنَ : أَلَا تَرَى إِلَى مَا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ نَبِيَّهُ أَنَّهُ يَرِبُكَ وَيَعْلُوكَ وَيَصْرَعُكَ ! فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى الذَّبَّاحِينَ لِيَذْبَحُوهُ . وَذَلِكَ مِنَ الْفُتُونِ يَا ابْنَ جُبَيْرٍ بَعْدَ كُلِّ بَلَاءٍ ابْتُلِيَ بِهِ وَأُرْبِكَ بِهِ فُتُونًا . فَجَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ تَسْعَى إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ فَقَالَتْ : مَا بَدَا لَكَ فِي هَذَا الْغُلَامِ الَّذِي وَهَبْتَهُ لِي ؟ قَالَ : تَرَيْنَهُ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ يَصْرَعُنِي وَيَعْلُونِي ! قَالَتْ : اجْعَلْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ أَمْرًا تَعْرِفُ الْحَقَّ فِيهِ ، ائْتِ بِجَمْرَتَيْنِ وَلُؤْلُؤَتَيْنِ فَقَرِّبْهُنَّ إِلَيْهِ ، فَإِنْ بَطَشَ بِاللُّؤْلُؤَتَيْنِ وَاجْتَنَبَ الْجَمْرَتَيْنِ عَرَفْتَ أَنَّهُ يَعْقِلُ ، وَإِنْ تَنَاوَلَ الْجَمْرَتَيْنِ وَلَمْ يَرُدَّ اللُّؤْلُؤَتَيْنِ عَلِمْتَ أَنْ أَحَدًا لَا يُؤْثِرُ الْجَمْرَتَيْنِ عَلَى اللُّؤْلُؤَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ يَعْقِلُ . فَقَرَّبَ ذَلِكَ ، فَتَنَاوَلَ الْجَمْرَتَيْنِ وَلَمْ يُرِدِ اللُّؤْلُؤَتَيْنِ ، عَلِمْتَ ، فَانْزَعُوهُمَا مِنْ يَدِهِ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَحْرِقَانِهِ ، فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ : أَلَا تَرَى ؟ فَصَرَفَهُ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ بَعْدَ مَا قَدْ كَانَ هَمَّ بِهِ ، وَكَانَ اللَّهُ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - بَالِغًا فِيهِ أَمْرَهُ . فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَكَانَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَخْلُصُ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مَعَهُ بِظُلْمٍ وَلَا سُخْرَةٍ حَتَّى امْتَنَعُوا بِهِ كُلَّ الِامْتِنَاعِ ، فَبَيْنَمَا مُوسَى فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِرَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ ، أَحَدُهُمَا فِرْعَوْنِيٌّ وَالْآخَرُ إِسْرَائِيلِيٌّ ، فَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيُّ عَلَى الْفِرْعَوْنِيِّ ، فَغَضِبَ مُوسَى غَضَبًا شَدِيدًا لِأَنَّهُ تَنَاوَلَهُ وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُ مَنْزِلَةَ مُوسَى مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَحِفْظَهُ لَهُمْ ، لَا يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ أَلَا إِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ مِنَ الرِّضَاعِ إِلَّا أُمَّ مُوسَى ، إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ اللَّهُ قَدْ أَطْلَعَ مُوسَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ عَلَى مَا لَمْ يُطْلِعْ عَلَيْهِ غَيْرَهُ . فَوَكَزَ مُوسَى الْفِرْعَوْنِيَّ فَقَتَلَهُ ، وَلَيْسَ يَرَاهُمَا أَحَدٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَالْإِسْرَائِيلِيُّ ، فَقَالَ مُوسَى حِينَ قَتَلَ الرَّجُلَ : هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ مُضِلٌّ مُبِينٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ : رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي فَغَفَرَ لَهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ وَأَصْبَحَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ الْأَخْبَارَ ، فَأُتِيَ فِرْعَوْنُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ : إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَتَلُوا رَجُلًا مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ فَخُذْ لَنَا بِحَقِّنَا وَلَا تُرَخِّصْ لَهُمْ ، فَقَالَ : ابْغُونِي قَاتِلَهُ وَمَنْ يَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِ ، فَإِنَّ الْمَلِكَ وَإِنْ كَانَ صَفْوُهُ مَعَ قَوْمٍ لَا يَسْتَقِيمُ لَهُمْ أَنْ يُقَيِّدَ بِغَيْرِ بَيِّنَةٍ وَلَا تَثَبُّتٍ ، فَاطْلُبُوا لِي عِلْمَ ذَلِكَ آخُذْ لَكُمْ بِحَقِّكُمْ . فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ يَطُوفُونَ لَا يَجِدُونَ ثَبْتًا إِذَا مُوسَى قَدْ رَأَى مِنَ الْغَدِ ذَلِكَ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيَّ يُقَاتِلُ رَجُلًا مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ آخَرَ ، فَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيُّ عَلَى الْفِرْعَوْنِيِّ ، فَصَادَفَ مُوسَى قَدْ نَدِمَ عَلَى مَا فَعَلَ وَكَانَ مِنْهُ فَكَرِهَ الَّذِي رَأَى لِغَضَبِ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيِّ وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَبْطِشَ بِالْفِرْعَوْنِيِّ ، فَقَالَ لِلْإِسْرَائِيلِيِّ لِمَا فَعَلَ أَمْسِ وَالْيَوْمَ : إِنَّكَ لَغَوِيٌّ مُبِينٌ أَنْ يَكُونَ إِيَّاهُ أَرَادَ وَمَا أَرَادَ الْفِرْعَوْنِيَّ ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ أَرَادَهُ إِنَّمَا أَرَادَ الْفِرْعَوْنِيَّ ، فَخَافَ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيُّ فَحَاجَّ لِلْفِرْعَوْنِيِّ وَقَالَ يَا مُوسَى أَتُرِيدُ أَنْ تَقْتُلَنِي كَمَا قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا بِالْأَمْسِ وَإِنَّمَا قَالَ ذَلِكَ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَكُونَ إِيَّاهُ أَرَادَ مُوسَى لِيَقْتُلَهُ ، وَتَنَازَعَا وَتَطَاوَعَا ، وَانْطَلَقَ الْفِرْعَوْنِيُّ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ بِمَا سَمِعَ مِنَ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيِّ مِنَ الْخَبَرِ حَيْثُ يَقُولُ : أَتُرِيدُ أَنْ تَقْتُلَنِي كَمَا قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا بِالْأَمْسِ فَأَرْسَلَ فِرْعَوْنُ الذَّبَّاحِينَ لِيَقْتُلُوا مُوسَى ، فَأَخَذَ رُسُلُ فِرْعَوْنَ الطَّرِيقَ الْأَعْظَمَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى هَيْئَتِهِمْ ، يَطْلُبُونَ لِمُوسَى ، وَهُمْ لَا يَخَافُونَ أَنْ يَفُوتَهُمْ ، إِذْ جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ شِيعَةِ مُوسَى مِنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ ، اخْتَصَرَ طَرِيقًا قَرِيبًا حَتَّى سَبَقَهُمْ إِلَى مُوسَى فَأَخْبَرَهُ الْخَبَرَ . وَذَلِكَ مِنَ الْفُتُونِ يَا ابْنَ جُبَيْرٍ . فَخَرَجَ مُوسَى مُتَوَجِّهًا نَحْوَ مَدْيَنَ ، لَمْ يَلْقَ بَلَاءً قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ بِالطَّرِيقِ عِلْمٌ إِلَّا حُسْنَ ظَنِّهِ بِرَبِّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - فَإِنَّهُ قَالَ : عَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِي سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِنْ دُونِهِمُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ - يَعْنِي بِذَلِكَ حَابِسَتَيْنِ غَنَمَهُمَا - فَقَالَ لَهُمَا : مَا خَطْبُكُمَا مُعْتَزِلَتَيْنِ لَا تَسْقِيَانِ مَعَ النَّاسِ ؟ قَالَتَا : لَيْسَ بِنَا قُوَّةٌ نُزَاحِمُ الْقَوْمَ وَإِنَّمَا نَنْتَظِرُ فُضُولَ حِيَاضِهِمْ . فَسَقَى لَهُمَا ، فَجَعَلَ يَغْرِفُ مِنَ الدَّلْوِ مَاءً كَثِيرًا حَتَّى كَانَ أَوَّلَ الرِّعَاءِ فَرَاغًا . فَانْصَرَفَتَا بِغَنَمِهِمَا إِلَى أَبِيهِمَا ، وَانْصَرَفَ مُوسَى فَاسْتَظَلَّ بِشَجَرَةٍ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ ، فَاسْتَنْكَرَ سُرْعَةَ صُدُورِهِمَا بِغَنَمِهِمَا حَفْلًا بِطَانًا فَقَالَ : إِنَّ لَكُمَا الْيَوْمَ لَشَأْنًا . فَأَخْبَرَتَاهُ بِمَا صَنَعَ مُوسَى ، فَأَمَرَ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَدْعُوهُ لَهُ ، فَأَتَتْ مُوسَى فَدَعَتْهُ . فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُ قَالَ : لَا تَخَفْ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ لَيْسَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ وَلَا لِقَوْمِهِ عَلَيْنَا سُلْطَانٌ وَلَسْنَا فِي مَمْلَكَتِهِ . قَالَ : فَقَالَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا : يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرْتَ الْقَوِيُّ الْأَمِينُ . قَالَ : فَاحْتَمَلَتْهُ الْغَيْرَةُ إِلَى أَنْ قَالَ : وَمَا يُدْرِيكِ مَا قُوَّتُهُ وَمَا أَمَانَتُهُ ؟ قَالَتْ : أَمَّا قُوَّتُهُ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْهُ فِي الدَّلْوِ حِينَ سَقَى لَنَا لَمْ أَرَ رَجُلًا أَقْوَى فِي ذَلِكَ السَّقْيِ مِنْهُ ، وَأَمَّا أَمَانَتُهُ فَإِنَّهُ نَظَرَ إِلَيَّ حِينَ أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَشَخَصْتُ لَهُ ، فَلَمَّا عَلِمَ أَنِّي امْرَأَةٌ صَوَّبَ رَأْسَهُ وَلَمْ يَرْفَعْهُ وَلَمْ يَنْظُرْ إِلَيَّ حَتَّى بَلَّغْتُهُ رِسَالَتَكَ ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : امْشِي خَلْفِي وَابْغِينِي الطَّرِيقَ ، فَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ إِلَّا وَهُوَ أَمِينٌ . فَسُرِّيَ عَنْ أَبِيهَا فَصَدَّقَهَا فَظَنَّ بِهِ الَّذِي قَالَتْ . فَقَالَ لَهُ : هَلْ لَكَ أَنْ أُنْكِحَكَ إِحْدَى ابْنَتَيَّ هَاتَيْنِ عَلَى أَنْ تَأْجُرَنِي ثَمَانِيَ حِجَجٍ فَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ عَشْرًا فَمِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَيْكَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ، فَفَعَلَ ، فَكَانَتْ عَلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ مُوسَى - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - ثَمَانِ سِنِينَ وَاجِبَةً ، وَكَانَتْ سَنَتَانِ عِدَةً مِنْهُ . فَقَضَى اللَّهُ عِدَتَهُ فَأَتَمَّهَا عَشْرًا . قَالَ سَعِيدٌ : فَلَقِيَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ مِنْ عُلَمَائِهِمْ فَقَالَ : هَلْ تَدْرِي أَيُّ الْأَجَلَيْنِ قَضَى مُوسَى ؟ قُلْتُ : لَا - وَأَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ لَا أَدْرِي - فَلَقِيتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ ، فَقَالَ : أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ ثَمَانِيًا كَانَتْ عَلَى مُوسَى وَاجِبَةً ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ لِيَنْقُصَ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا ، وَتَعْلَمُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَاضٍ عَنْ مُوسَى عِدَتَهُ الَّذِي وَعَدَ ، فَإِنَّهُ قَضَى عَشْرَ سِنِينَ . فَلَقِيتُ النَّصْرَانِيَّ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ ذَلِكَ ، فَقَالَ : الَّذِي سَأَلْتَهُ فَأَخْبَرَكَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ بِذَلِكَ ؟ قَالَ : قُلْتُ : أَجَلْ وَأَوْلَى . فَلَمَّا سَارَ مُوسَى بِأَهْلِهِ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ النَّارِ وَالْعَصَا وَيَدِهِ مَا قَصَّ [ اللَّهُ ] عَلَيْكَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ . فَشَكَا إِلَى رَبِّهِ - تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى - مَا يَتَخَوَّفُ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ فِي الْقَتْلِ وَعُقْدَةَ لِسَانِهِ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ فِي لِسَانِهِ عُقْدَةٌ تَمْنَعُهُ مِنْ كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ ، وَسَأَلَ رَبَّهُ أَنْ يُعِينَهُ بِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ لِيَكُونَ لَهُ رِدْءًا وَيَتَكَلَّمَ عَنْهُ [ بِكَثِيرٍ مِمَّا لَا يَفْصَحُ بِهِ لِسَانُهُ ] . فَآتَاهُ اللَّهُ سُؤْلَهُ ، فَعَبَّرَ عَنْهُ بِكَثِيرٍ مِمَّا لَا يُفْصِحُ بِهِ لِسَانُهُ وَحَلَّ عُقْدَةَ لِسَانِهِ ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى هَارُونَ وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَلْقَاهُ ، فَانْدَفَعَ مُوسَى بِعَصَاهُ حَتَّى لَقِيَ هَارُونَ ، فَانْطَلَقَا جَمِيعًا إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ ، فَأَقَامَا عَلَى بَابِهِ حِينًا لَا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُمَا ، ثُمَّ أُذِنَ لَهُمَا بَعْدَ حِجَابٍ شَدِيدٍ فَقَالَا : إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ فَقَالَ : مَنْ رَبُّكُمَا يَا مُوسَى ؟ فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِالَّذِي قَصَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ ، فَقَالَ : فَمَا تُرِيدُ ؟ وَذَكَّرَهُ الْقَتِيلَ فَاعْتَذَرَ بِمَا قَدْ سَمِعْتَ ، وَقَالَ : إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَتُرْسِلَ مَعِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ، فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ وَقَالَ : ائْتِ بِآيَةٍ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ . فَأَلْقَى عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ فَاغِرَةٌ فَاهَا مُسْرِعَةٌ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ . فَلَمَّا رَآهَا فِرْعَوْنُ قَاصِدَةً إِلَيْهِ خَافَهَا ، فَاقْتَحَمَ عَنْ سَرِيرِهِ ، وَاسْتَغَاثَ بِمُوسَى أَنْ يَكُفَّهَا عَنْهُ فَفَعَلَ ، ثُمَّ أَخْرَجَ يَدَهُ مِنْ جَيْبِهِ فَرَآهَا بَيْضَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ - يَعْنِي مِنْ غَيْرِ بَرَصٍ - ثُمَّ رَدَّهَا فَعَادَتْ إِلَى لَوْنِهَا الْأَوَّلِ . فَاسْتَشَارَ الْمَلَأَ حَوْلَهُ فِيمَا رَأَى فَقَالُوا لَهُ : إِنْ هَذَانِ لَسَاحِرَانِ يُرِيدَانِ أَنْ يُخْرِجَاكُمْ مِنْ أَرْضِكُمْ بِسِحْرِهِمَا وَيَذْهَبَا بِطَرِيقَتِكُمُ الْمُثْلَى - يَعْنِي مُلْكَهُمُ الَّذِي هُمْ فِيهِ وَالْعَيْشَ - فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُعْطُوهُ شَيْئًا مِمَّا طَلَبَ وَقَالُوا لَهُ : اجْمَعْ لَنَا السَّحَرَةَ ، فَإِنَّهُمْ بِأَرْضِكَ كَثِيرٌ حَتَّى يَغْلِبَ سِحْرُهُمْ سِحْرَهُمَا ، فَأَرْسَلَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ ، فَحُشِرَ لَهُ كُلُّ سَاحِرٍ مُتَعَالِمٍ . فَلَمَّا أَتَوْا فِرْعَوْنَ قَالُوا : بِمَ يَعْمَلُ هَذَا السَّاحِرُ ؟ قَالُوا : بِالْحَيَّاتِ . قَالُوا : فَلَا وَاللَّهِ مَا أَحَدٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَعْمَلُ السِّحْرَ بِالْحَيَّاتِ وَالْعِصِيِّ الَّتِي نَعْمَلُ ، فَمَا أَجْرُنَا إِنْ نَحْنُ غَلَبْنَا ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ : إِنَّكُمْ أَقَارِبِي وَخَاصَّتِي ، وَأَنَا صَانِعٌ إِلَيْكُمْ كُلَّمَا أَحْبَبْتُمْ . فَتَوَاعَدُوا يَوْمَ الزِّينَةِ وَأَنْ يُحْشَرَ النَّاسُ ضَحًى .
قَالَ سَعِيدٌ : حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ يَوْمَ الزِّينَةِ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي أَظْهَرَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مُوسَى عَلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَالسَّحَرَةِ ، وَهُوَ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ . فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعُوا فِي صَعِيدٍ قَالَ النَّاسُ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ : انْطَلِقُوا فَلْنَحْضُرْ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ لَعَلَّنَا نَتَّبِعُ السَّحَرَةَ إِنْ كَانُوا هُمُ الْغَالِبِينَ يَعْنُونَ مُوسَى وَهَارُونَ اسْتِهْزَاءً بِهِمَا . فَقَالُوا : يَا مُوسَى - لِقُدْرَتِهِمْ بِسِحْرِهِمْ - إِمَّا أَنْ تُلْقِيَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ نَكُونَ نَحْنُ الْمُلْقِينَ قَالَ : بَلْ أَلْقُوا فَأَلْقَوْا حِبَالَهُمْ وَعِصِيَّهُمْ وَقَالُوا بِعَزَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْغَالِبُونَ فَرَأَى مُوسَى مِنْ سِحْرِهِمْ مَا أَوْجَسَ فِي نَفْسِهِ خِيفَةً ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ - تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى - إِلَيْهِ أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ فَلَمَّا أَلْقَاهَا صَارَتْ ثُعْبَانًا عَظِيمًا فَاغِرَةً فَاهَا ، فَجَعَلَتِ الْعَصَا بِدَعْوَةِ مُوسَى تَلْبَسُ الْحِبَالَ حَتَّى صَارَتْ جُدُرًا إِلَى الثُّعْبَانِ
Sa'id bin Jubayr narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) regarding this statement of Allah Almighty: (Allah Almighty says:) "And We tried you with a thorough trial (futun)." I asked him what the futun was. He said: "Come at the start of the day, O Ibn Jubayr, for it is a long account." The next morning I went early to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) to claim from him what he had promised me of the account of the futun. He said: Pharaoh and his companions were discussing what Allah Almighty had promised Sayyiduna Ibrahim (peace be upon him): that He would make prophets and kings from among his descendants. Some of them said: "The Children of Israel are waiting for that and have no doubt about it. They used to think it was Sayyiduna Yusuf bin Ya'qub (peace be upon them both), but when he died they said: 'It is not so; Allah Almighty promised Sayyiduna Ibrahim (peace be upon him).'" Pharaoh said: "What is your view?" They consulted together and agreed that he should send out men carrying knives to go around among the Children of Israel and slaughter every newborn male they found. They did so. When they saw that the elders of the Children of Israel were dying at their appointed times while the young were being slaughtered, they said: "You are about to wipe out the Children of Israel, and then you will be forced to do yourselves the work they used to do for you. So kill every newborn male one year, so that their numbers decrease, and leave them one year in which none of them is killed, so that the young grow up in place of the elders who die. They will not become so many through those you spare that you fear their outnumbering you, nor will they perish through those you kill so that you come to need them." They agreed on that. The mother of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) conceived Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon him) in the year in which boys were not slaughtered, and she gave birth to him openly and in safety. The following year she conceived Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him), and worry and grief entered her heart. O Ibn Jubayr, that too was part of the futun (trial): the fear that entered his mother's heart over what was intended for him. So Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, revealed to her: "Do not fear and do not grieve; indeed, We will return him to you and make him one of the messengers." And He commanded her, when she gave birth to him, to place him in a chest and then cast it into the river. When she gave birth to him, she did that. When her son had passed out of her sight, Satan came to her, and she said to herself: "What have I done to my son! Had he been slaughtered in my presence and I had shrouded and buried him, that would have been better for me than casting him with my own hand to the surging waves of the sea and its fish." The water carried him to the landing where the slave girls of Pharaoh's wife drew water. When they saw him they picked him up and were about to open the chest, but one of them said: "There is wealth in this, and if we open it, the king's wife will not believe us about what we found in it." So they carried it as it was, without disturbing anything in it, until they handed it over to her. When she opened it, she saw a boy in it, and a love for him was cast into her heart such as she had never felt for any human being. And the heart of the mother of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) became empty of the remembrance of everything except the remembrance of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him). When the slaughterers heard about him, they came with their knives to Pharaoh's wife to slaughter him. O Ibn Jubayr, that too was part of the futun. She said to them: "Leave him, for this one child will not add to the Children of Israel, until I go to Pharaoh and ask him to give him to me. If he gives him to me, you will have done well and kindly; and if he orders him to be slaughtered, I will not blame you." She brought him to Pharaoh and said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you." Pharaoh said: "Let him be for you; as for me, I have no need of him."
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By the One in whose Hand is my soul, had Pharaoh acknowledged him as his wife acknowledged him, Allah Almighty would have guided him as He guided his wife; but Allah Almighty deprived him of that." Then she sent for every woman around her who had milk, so as to choose a wet nurse for him. But whenever one of those women took him to nurse him, he would not accept her breast, until Pharaoh's wife feared that he would refuse milk and die, and that grieved her. So he was taken out to the market and the places where people gathered, in the hope of finding a wet nurse whose milk he would accept, but he would not accept any. The mother of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) became distraught and said to his sister: "Follow him; follow his trail and look for him. Do you hear any mention of him? Is my son alive, or have the beasts eaten him?" She had forgotten what Allah Almighty had promised her about him. His sister watched him from a distance while they did not perceive it. ('From a distance' (junub) means that a person's gaze reaches out to something far off while it is beside him, and he is unaware of it.) When the wet nurses had failed them, she said out of joy: "Shall I direct you to a household who will take care of him for you and be sincere to him?" They seized her and said: "How do you know about their sincerity toward him? Do you people know him?", until they became suspicious about it. O Ibn Jubayr, that too was part of the futun. She said: "Their sincerity toward him and their tenderness for him will be out of a desire for a tie with the king and in hope of his protection." So they let her go, and she went to her mother and told her the news. His mother came, and when she placed him in her lap he leapt to her breast and sucked from it until both his sides were filled. The bearer of good news went to Pharaoh's wife to tell her: "We have found a wet nurse for your son." She sent for her, and she was brought to her along with him. When she saw how he behaved with her, she said to her: "Stay with me and nurse this son of mine, for I have never loved anything as I love him." The mother of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) said: "I cannot leave my house and my children, lest they be lost. If you are content to give him to me, I will take him to my house and he will stay with me, and I will spare no effort in doing him good; otherwise I will not leave my house and my children." The mother of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) remembered what Allah Almighty had promised her, so she was firm with Pharaoh's wife, being certain that Allah Almighty would fulfil His promise; and she returned to her house with her son. The people of the town came to be united, and they became protected from the forced labour and oppression that used to be inflicted on them. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: When he had grown somewhat, Pharaoh's wife said to the mother of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him): "Show me my son." She set a day on which she would show him to her. Pharaoh's wife said to her treasurers, stewards and nurses: "Let every one of you receive my son today with a gift and an honour, so that I may see that done for him; and I am sending a trustworthy person who will record what each one of you does." Gifts, honours and presents kept receiving him from the moment he left his mother's house until he came in to Pharaoh's wife. When he came in to her, she honoured and esteemed him and rejoiced in him, and she also honoured his mother because of the fine effect of her upbringing on him. Then she said: "I will surely take him to Pharaoh, so that he too may honour and esteem him." When she took him in to Pharaoh, she placed him in his lap, and Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) took hold of Pharaoh's beard and pulled it toward the ground. The misguided ones, the enemies of Allah, said to Pharaoh: "Do you not see what Allah Almighty promised His prophet Sayyiduna Ibrahim (peace be upon him): that this one will overpower you, rise above you and throw you down!" So he sent for the slaughterers to slaughter him. O Ibn Jubayr, that too was part of the futun, after every trial with which he was tested and thrown into distress. Pharaoh's wife came hurrying to Pharaoh and said: "What has come over you regarding this boy whom you gave to me?" He said: "Do you not see him claiming that he will throw me down and rise above me!" She said: "Set a matter between me and you by which you may know the truth. Bring two live coals and two pearls and place them near him. If he grabs the two pearls and avoids the two coals, you will know that he has understanding; and if he takes the two coals and does not want the two pearls, you will know that no one with understanding would prefer two coals to two pearls." So he placed these near him, and he took the two coals and paid no attention to the two pearls. Then Pharaoh knew, and they snatched the coals out of his hand for fear that they would burn him. Pharaoh's wife said: "Do you not see?" So Allah Almighty turned Pharaoh away from him after he had resolved to do it, and Allah Almighty was to accomplish His purpose regarding him. When he reached his full strength and became a man, none of Pharaoh's people could lay a hand on any of the Children of Israel with oppression or forced labour while he was with them, until they were completely protected because of him. Once, while Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) was in one part of the city, he came upon two men fighting, one of them of Pharaoh's people and the other an Israelite. The Israelite called on him for help against the man of Pharaoh's people. Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) became intensely angry, because that man had laid hands on the Israelite while knowing the standing of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) among the Children of Israel and his protection of them. People thought that this was only because of the bond of nursing; no one except the mother of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) knew (the real truth), unless Allah Almighty had shown Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) something of it that He had not shown anyone else. Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) struck the man of Pharaoh's people and killed him, and no one saw the two of them except Allah Almighty and the Israelite. After killing the man, Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) said: "This is from the work of Satan; indeed, he is a clear, misleading enemy." Then he said: "My Lord, forgive me." So He forgave him; indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. "And he became fearful in the city, watching out for news." Pharaoh was approached and told: "The Children of Israel have killed a man of Pharaoh's people, so get us our right and grant them no leniency." He said: "Find me his killer and someone who will testify against him, for even though the king's sympathy lies with a people, it is not right for him to exact retaliation without evidence or verification. So find out the facts of the matter for me, and I will get you your right." While they were going around and finding no proof, the next day Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) saw that same Israelite fighting another man of Pharaoh's people. The Israelite called on him for help against the man of Pharaoh's people, but he found Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) regretting what he had done, and he disliked the scene he saw. Because of the Israelite's anger, while he himself intended to seize the man of Pharaoh's people, he said to the Israelite, on account of what he had done the day before and that day: "Indeed, you are clearly misguided." (The Israelite feared) that it was him he intended and not the man of Pharaoh's people, though he did not intend him; he intended only the man of Pharaoh's people. So the Israelite was afraid and, arguing in front of the man of Pharaoh's people, said: "O Musa, do you want to kill me as you killed a soul yesterday?" He said that only out of fear that Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) intended to kill him. The two of them quarrelled and then parted, and the man of Pharaoh's people went to his people and told them what he had heard from the Israelite when he said: "Do you want to kill me as you killed a soul yesterday?" So Pharaoh sent the slaughterers to kill Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him). Pharaoh's envoys took the main road, walking at their ease in search of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him), not fearing that he would escape them, when a man from the party of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) came to him from the farthest end of the city. He took a short cut until he reached Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) ahead of them and told him the news. O Ibn Jubayr, that too was part of the futun. Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) set out toward Madyan. He had never faced hardship before that, and he had no knowledge of the road, only a good opinion of his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, for he said: "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the right way." When he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found a crowd of people watering (their flocks) there, and apart from them he found two women holding back, that is, holding back their sheep. He said to them: "What is the matter with you, standing apart and not watering along with the people?" They said: "We do not have the strength to push in among the people; we only wait for what is left over in their troughs." So he drew water for them; he began drawing a great deal of water with the bucket, until they were the first of the shepherds to finish. They went back with their sheep to their father, and Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) went off, took shade under a tree and said: "My Lord, I am in need of whatever good You send down to me." Their father found it strange how quickly they had returned with their sheep, with full udders and full bellies, and said: "Something special has happened to you today." They told him what Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) had done, and he told one of them to call him. She came to Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) and invited him. When he spoke with him, he said: "Do not fear; you have escaped from the wrongdoing people." Pharaoh and his people have no authority over us, and we are not in his kingdom. The narrator said: One of the two said: "O my father, hire him; indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy." The narrator said: Jealousy moved him to say: "And how do you know about his strength and his trustworthiness?" She said: "As for his strength, I saw it with the bucket when he drew water for us; I have never seen a man stronger in drawing water than him. As for his trustworthiness, he looked at me when I came toward him and appeared before him, but when he realised that I was a woman he lowered his head and did not raise it, nor did he look at me until I had delivered your message to him. Then he said: 'Walk behind me and show me the way.' Only a trustworthy man would do this." Her father's worry was relieved; he believed her and thought of him as she had said. Then he said to him: "Would you agree that I marry you to one of these two daughters of mine on condition that you work for me for eight years? If you complete ten, that is from you; I do not wish to put you in difficulty. You will find me, if Allah wills, among the righteous." He agreed. So eight years were binding upon the Prophet of Allah, Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him), and two years were a promise from him. Allah Almighty had him fulfil his promise, and he completed ten. Sa'id bin Jubayr said: A man from among the Christians, one of their scholars, met me and said: "Do you know which of the two terms Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) fulfilled?" I said: "No" (at that time I did not know). Then I met Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and mentioned that to him. He said: "Do you not know that eight years were binding upon Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him), and the Prophet of Allah would not have fallen short of them in anything? And you know that Allah Almighty would fulfil on behalf of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) the promise he had made; so he completed ten years." I met the Christian and told him that. He said: "Is the one you asked, who told you this, more knowledgeable than you about it?" I said: "Yes, and more worthy (of being followed)." When Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) set out with his family, there happened the matter of the fire, the staff and his hand which Allah Almighty has related to you in the Qur'an. He complained to his Lord, the Blessed and Exalted, of what he feared from Pharaoh's people because of the killing, and of the knot in his tongue, for there was a knot in his tongue that prevented him from much speech. He asked his Lord to help him through his brother Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon him), so that he would be a support for him and speak on his behalf much of what his own tongue could not express clearly. Allah Almighty granted him his request: Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon him) expressed on his behalf much of what his tongue could not express clearly, and Allah Almighty untied the knot of his tongue. Allah Almighty revealed to Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon him) and commanded him to meet him. Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) set off with his staff until he met Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon him), and they went together to Pharaoh. They remained at his door for some time without being granted permission; then they were admitted after a severe barrier. The two of them said: "We are the messengers of your Lord." He said: "Who is the Lord of you two, O Musa?" He told him what Allah Almighty has related to you in the Qur'an. He said: "So what do you want?" And he reminded him of the slain man, and he gave the excuse that you have heard, and said: "I want you to believe in Allah and send the Children of Israel with me." He refused him that and said: "Bring a sign, if you are of the truthful." So he threw down his staff, and behold, it was a huge serpent with its mouth gaping, rushing toward Pharaoh. When Pharaoh saw it heading for him, he feared it, leapt from his throne and begged Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) to restrain it from him, and he did. Then he drew out his hand from his bosom, and Pharaoh saw it white without any harm, that is, without leprosy; then he put it back and it returned to its original colour. Pharaoh consulted the chiefs around him about what he had seen, and they said to him: "These two are magicians who want to drive you out of your land with their magic and do away with your exemplary way," that is, the kingdom and the comfortable life they were in. They refused to grant him anything of what he asked, and said to Pharaoh: "Gather the magicians for us, for there are many of them in your land, so that their magic may overcome the magic of these two." So he sent word into the city, and every skilled magician was gathered for him. When they came to Pharaoh, they said: "With what does this magician work?" They were told: "With snakes." They said: "By Allah, there is no one on earth who works magic with snakes and staffs as we do. So what will our reward be if we prevail?" He said to them: "You are my kinsmen and my close associates, and I will do for you whatever you like." So they set the appointment for the Day of Adornment, and agreed that the people should be gathered in the forenoon.
Sa'id bin Jubayr said: Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) told me that the Day of Adornment was the day on which Allah Almighty gave Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) victory over Pharaoh and the magicians, and it is the day of Ashura. When they had all gathered on an open plain, the people said to one another: "Let us go and attend this matter; perhaps we may follow the magicians, if they are the victors," meaning Sayyiduna Musa and Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon them both), mocking the two of them. The magicians, confident in their magic, said: "O Musa, either you throw, or we will be the first to throw." He said: "Rather, you throw." They threw their ropes and their staffs and said: "By the might of Pharaoh, we will surely be the victors." Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) saw their magic and sensed fear within himself. So Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, revealed to him: "Throw your staff." When he threw it, it became a huge serpent with its mouth gaping, and the staff, by the supplication of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him), began to wrap up the ropes until they became like walls against the serpent.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By the One in whose Hand is my soul, had Pharaoh acknowledged him as his wife acknowledged him, Allah Almighty would have guided him as He guided his wife; but Allah Almighty deprived him of that." Then she sent for every woman around her who had milk, so as to choose a wet nurse for him. But whenever one of those women took him to nurse him, he would not accept her breast, until Pharaoh's wife feared that he would refuse milk and die, and that grieved her. So he was taken out to the market and the places where people gathered, in the hope of finding a wet nurse whose milk he would accept, but he would not accept any. The mother of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) became distraught and said to his sister: "Follow him; follow his trail and look for him. Do you hear any mention of him? Is my son alive, or have the beasts eaten him?" She had forgotten what Allah Almighty had promised her about him. His sister watched him from a distance while they did not perceive it. ('From a distance' (junub) means that a person's gaze reaches out to something far off while it is beside him, and he is unaware of it.) When the wet nurses had failed them, she said out of joy: "Shall I direct you to a household who will take care of him for you and be sincere to him?" They seized her and said: "How do you know about their sincerity toward him? Do you people know him?", until they became suspicious about it. O Ibn Jubayr, that too was part of the futun. She said: "Their sincerity toward him and their tenderness for him will be out of a desire for a tie with the king and in hope of his protection." So they let her go, and she went to her mother and told her the news. His mother came, and when she placed him in her lap he leapt to her breast and sucked from it until both his sides were filled. The bearer of good news went to Pharaoh's wife to tell her: "We have found a wet nurse for your son." She sent for her, and she was brought to her along with him. When she saw how he behaved with her, she said to her: "Stay with me and nurse this son of mine, for I have never loved anything as I love him." The mother of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) said: "I cannot leave my house and my children, lest they be lost. If you are content to give him to me, I will take him to my house and he will stay with me, and I will spare no effort in doing him good; otherwise I will not leave my house and my children." The mother of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) remembered what Allah Almighty had promised her, so she was firm with Pharaoh's wife, being certain that Allah Almighty would fulfil His promise; and she returned to her house with her son. The people of the town came to be united, and they became protected from the forced labour and oppression that used to be inflicted on them. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: When he had grown somewhat, Pharaoh's wife said to the mother of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him): "Show me my son." She set a day on which she would show him to her. Pharaoh's wife said to her treasurers, stewards and nurses: "Let every one of you receive my son today with a gift and an honour, so that I may see that done for him; and I am sending a trustworthy person who will record what each one of you does." Gifts, honours and presents kept receiving him from the moment he left his mother's house until he came in to Pharaoh's wife. When he came in to her, she honoured and esteemed him and rejoiced in him, and she also honoured his mother because of the fine effect of her upbringing on him. Then she said: "I will surely take him to Pharaoh, so that he too may honour and esteem him." When she took him in to Pharaoh, she placed him in his lap, and Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) took hold of Pharaoh's beard and pulled it toward the ground. The misguided ones, the enemies of Allah, said to Pharaoh: "Do you not see what Allah Almighty promised His prophet Sayyiduna Ibrahim (peace be upon him): that this one will overpower you, rise above you and throw you down!" So he sent for the slaughterers to slaughter him. O Ibn Jubayr, that too was part of the futun, after every trial with which he was tested and thrown into distress. Pharaoh's wife came hurrying to Pharaoh and said: "What has come over you regarding this boy whom you gave to me?" He said: "Do you not see him claiming that he will throw me down and rise above me!" She said: "Set a matter between me and you by which you may know the truth. Bring two live coals and two pearls and place them near him. If he grabs the two pearls and avoids the two coals, you will know that he has understanding; and if he takes the two coals and does not want the two pearls, you will know that no one with understanding would prefer two coals to two pearls." So he placed these near him, and he took the two coals and paid no attention to the two pearls. Then Pharaoh knew, and they snatched the coals out of his hand for fear that they would burn him. Pharaoh's wife said: "Do you not see?" So Allah Almighty turned Pharaoh away from him after he had resolved to do it, and Allah Almighty was to accomplish His purpose regarding him. When he reached his full strength and became a man, none of Pharaoh's people could lay a hand on any of the Children of Israel with oppression or forced labour while he was with them, until they were completely protected because of him. Once, while Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) was in one part of the city, he came upon two men fighting, one of them of Pharaoh's people and the other an Israelite. The Israelite called on him for help against the man of Pharaoh's people. Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) became intensely angry, because that man had laid hands on the Israelite while knowing the standing of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) among the Children of Israel and his protection of them. People thought that this was only because of the bond of nursing; no one except the mother of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) knew (the real truth), unless Allah Almighty had shown Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) something of it that He had not shown anyone else. Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) struck the man of Pharaoh's people and killed him, and no one saw the two of them except Allah Almighty and the Israelite. After killing the man, Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) said: "This is from the work of Satan; indeed, he is a clear, misleading enemy." Then he said: "My Lord, forgive me." So He forgave him; indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. "And he became fearful in the city, watching out for news." Pharaoh was approached and told: "The Children of Israel have killed a man of Pharaoh's people, so get us our right and grant them no leniency." He said: "Find me his killer and someone who will testify against him, for even though the king's sympathy lies with a people, it is not right for him to exact retaliation without evidence or verification. So find out the facts of the matter for me, and I will get you your right." While they were going around and finding no proof, the next day Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) saw that same Israelite fighting another man of Pharaoh's people. The Israelite called on him for help against the man of Pharaoh's people, but he found Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) regretting what he had done, and he disliked the scene he saw. Because of the Israelite's anger, while he himself intended to seize the man of Pharaoh's people, he said to the Israelite, on account of what he had done the day before and that day: "Indeed, you are clearly misguided." (The Israelite feared) that it was him he intended and not the man of Pharaoh's people, though he did not intend him; he intended only the man of Pharaoh's people. So the Israelite was afraid and, arguing in front of the man of Pharaoh's people, said: "O Musa, do you want to kill me as you killed a soul yesterday?" He said that only out of fear that Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) intended to kill him. The two of them quarrelled and then parted, and the man of Pharaoh's people went to his people and told them what he had heard from the Israelite when he said: "Do you want to kill me as you killed a soul yesterday?" So Pharaoh sent the slaughterers to kill Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him). Pharaoh's envoys took the main road, walking at their ease in search of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him), not fearing that he would escape them, when a man from the party of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) came to him from the farthest end of the city. He took a short cut until he reached Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) ahead of them and told him the news. O Ibn Jubayr, that too was part of the futun. Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) set out toward Madyan. He had never faced hardship before that, and he had no knowledge of the road, only a good opinion of his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, for he said: "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the right way." When he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found a crowd of people watering (their flocks) there, and apart from them he found two women holding back, that is, holding back their sheep. He said to them: "What is the matter with you, standing apart and not watering along with the people?" They said: "We do not have the strength to push in among the people; we only wait for what is left over in their troughs." So he drew water for them; he began drawing a great deal of water with the bucket, until they were the first of the shepherds to finish. They went back with their sheep to their father, and Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) went off, took shade under a tree and said: "My Lord, I am in need of whatever good You send down to me." Their father found it strange how quickly they had returned with their sheep, with full udders and full bellies, and said: "Something special has happened to you today." They told him what Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) had done, and he told one of them to call him. She came to Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) and invited him. When he spoke with him, he said: "Do not fear; you have escaped from the wrongdoing people." Pharaoh and his people have no authority over us, and we are not in his kingdom. The narrator said: One of the two said: "O my father, hire him; indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy." The narrator said: Jealousy moved him to say: "And how do you know about his strength and his trustworthiness?" She said: "As for his strength, I saw it with the bucket when he drew water for us; I have never seen a man stronger in drawing water than him. As for his trustworthiness, he looked at me when I came toward him and appeared before him, but when he realised that I was a woman he lowered his head and did not raise it, nor did he look at me until I had delivered your message to him. Then he said: 'Walk behind me and show me the way.' Only a trustworthy man would do this." Her father's worry was relieved; he believed her and thought of him as she had said. Then he said to him: "Would you agree that I marry you to one of these two daughters of mine on condition that you work for me for eight years? If you complete ten, that is from you; I do not wish to put you in difficulty. You will find me, if Allah wills, among the righteous." He agreed. So eight years were binding upon the Prophet of Allah, Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him), and two years were a promise from him. Allah Almighty had him fulfil his promise, and he completed ten. Sa'id bin Jubayr said: A man from among the Christians, one of their scholars, met me and said: "Do you know which of the two terms Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) fulfilled?" I said: "No" (at that time I did not know). Then I met Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and mentioned that to him. He said: "Do you not know that eight years were binding upon Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him), and the Prophet of Allah would not have fallen short of them in anything? And you know that Allah Almighty would fulfil on behalf of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) the promise he had made; so he completed ten years." I met the Christian and told him that. He said: "Is the one you asked, who told you this, more knowledgeable than you about it?" I said: "Yes, and more worthy (of being followed)." When Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) set out with his family, there happened the matter of the fire, the staff and his hand which Allah Almighty has related to you in the Qur'an. He complained to his Lord, the Blessed and Exalted, of what he feared from Pharaoh's people because of the killing, and of the knot in his tongue, for there was a knot in his tongue that prevented him from much speech. He asked his Lord to help him through his brother Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon him), so that he would be a support for him and speak on his behalf much of what his own tongue could not express clearly. Allah Almighty granted him his request: Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon him) expressed on his behalf much of what his tongue could not express clearly, and Allah Almighty untied the knot of his tongue. Allah Almighty revealed to Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon him) and commanded him to meet him. Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) set off with his staff until he met Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon him), and they went together to Pharaoh. They remained at his door for some time without being granted permission; then they were admitted after a severe barrier. The two of them said: "We are the messengers of your Lord." He said: "Who is the Lord of you two, O Musa?" He told him what Allah Almighty has related to you in the Qur'an. He said: "So what do you want?" And he reminded him of the slain man, and he gave the excuse that you have heard, and said: "I want you to believe in Allah and send the Children of Israel with me." He refused him that and said: "Bring a sign, if you are of the truthful." So he threw down his staff, and behold, it was a huge serpent with its mouth gaping, rushing toward Pharaoh. When Pharaoh saw it heading for him, he feared it, leapt from his throne and begged Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) to restrain it from him, and he did. Then he drew out his hand from his bosom, and Pharaoh saw it white without any harm, that is, without leprosy; then he put it back and it returned to its original colour. Pharaoh consulted the chiefs around him about what he had seen, and they said to him: "These two are magicians who want to drive you out of your land with their magic and do away with your exemplary way," that is, the kingdom and the comfortable life they were in. They refused to grant him anything of what he asked, and said to Pharaoh: "Gather the magicians for us, for there are many of them in your land, so that their magic may overcome the magic of these two." So he sent word into the city, and every skilled magician was gathered for him. When they came to Pharaoh, they said: "With what does this magician work?" They were told: "With snakes." They said: "By Allah, there is no one on earth who works magic with snakes and staffs as we do. So what will our reward be if we prevail?" He said to them: "You are my kinsmen and my close associates, and I will do for you whatever you like." So they set the appointment for the Day of Adornment, and agreed that the people should be gathered in the forenoon.
Sa'id bin Jubayr said: Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) told me that the Day of Adornment was the day on which Allah Almighty gave Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) victory over Pharaoh and the magicians, and it is the day of Ashura. When they had all gathered on an open plain, the people said to one another: "Let us go and attend this matter; perhaps we may follow the magicians, if they are the victors," meaning Sayyiduna Musa and Sayyiduna Harun (peace be upon them both), mocking the two of them. The magicians, confident in their magic, said: "O Musa, either you throw, or we will be the first to throw." He said: "Rather, you throw." They threw their ropes and their staffs and said: "By the might of Pharaoh, we will surely be the victors." Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him) saw their magic and sensed fear within himself. So Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, revealed to him: "Throw your staff." When he threw it, it became a huge serpent with its mouth gaping, and the staff, by the supplication of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him), began to wrap up the ropes until they became like walls against the serpent.
