THE CONTEST OF MOSES WITH PHARAOH

VERSES NO. 103 - 108

      The story of Moses is narrated in many places in the Holy Quran, such as in the chapters of: Cow- Tجhج - Poets- Ant and etc. If we arranged all the incidents written in various chapters, and put them all together; we come to know that there is no repetition at all.

      Comparing with the aforementioned incidents of the ancient prophet and past nations, the story of Moses is narrated with more detail. This is because Egypt was and is an extensive and important country, and the resistance of Pharaoh is greater, and more important and effective. Besides that, Moses himself is one of the five Arch Prophets of God, to whom were given Book and Law.

      We may divide the life time of Moses into five periods as follows:

      1) His wonderful birth, childhood, and nourishment under the charge of Pharaoh when he had already ordered the male infanticide.

      2) His escape from Egypt- his life in Madyan and his services under the charge of Shuaib the prophet.

      3) His prophetic mission and his challenges with Pharaoh and Egyptians who boasted of their earlier and superior civilization.

         4) His pass over - and his encounters in their way back to the promised land.

      5) Here in this chapter, reference is made to the period in which his prophetic mission occurred, and his encounter with Pharaoh and his companions and courtiers.

      The Arabic; `FERUON' or the English `PHARAOH' is a common noun, which is dynasty title, and it is not the name of particular king of Egypt. Some of the commentators, have understood the Pharaoh in the story of Moses, to have been named THOTHMES-1 of the 18th Dynasty, who reigned in Egypt about 1450 B.C.

      One of the main goals of Moses was to rescue the Israelites from the slavery of the Egyptains, and this was very difficult a task without the consent and permission of Pharaoh. This is the reason why, Moses had to see Pharaoh first. He therefore went to him and put forth his request, and propounded his mission and Message. He told Pharaoh that he had not come from his own accord, but that he was the Messenger of God, the Lord of all the worlds and the whole universe. He did not say that he carried the message of the Lord God of the Hebrews or the Egyptians. He added that his call and claim was not without reason, and that he had signs from God and evidences to prove that. Therefore Pharaoh had no other way but to listen to him and to consider his request. He said:

      ``Verily I have come to you with evidences from YOUR Lord. So send forth with me the children of Israel.''

      And Pharaoh said to Moses:

      ``If you have come with a sign, then bring it, if you are of the truthful apostles.''

      So Moses cast his staff, and it became a veritable huge serpent, and once again he drew his hand out of his bosom and it looked bright white to the beholders!

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(It is worthwhile to cite here the comments of Allameh ABDULLAH YUSUF ALI about the Serpent and shining white hand that Moses revealed to Pharaoh:

      ``The Serpent played a large part in Egyptain mythology. The great sun- god,`RAA' won a great victory over the Serpent, `APOPHIA' is typifying the victory of light over darkenss. Many of their gods and goddesses took the form of snakes, to impress their foes with terror. Moses's rod as a type of a serpent at once appeared to the Egyptain mentality. The contempt which the Egyptains had entertained in their minds before, was converted into terror. Here was someone who could control the reptile which their great god `Raa' hismelf had some difficulty in overcoming.

      But the second sign displayed by Moses was even more puzzling to the Egyptains! Moses drew out his hand from the folds of the garments on his breast, and it was white and shining as with Divine Light! This was to counter any suggestion of evil which the Serpent might have created. This was no work of evil- of black magic, or a trick, or illusion,

      His hand was transfigured- with a light which no Egyptain sorcerers could ever produce. In Islam the `WHITE HAND' of Moses has passed into a proverb, for a symbol of Divine glory, dazzling to the beholder.   TRANSLATOR'S NOTE)