Bismillah
Praise be Allah the All Hearing, Wise, Merciful Creator of all Creations, and prayer and peace be upon His final Messenger Mohamed Ibn Abdullah and all prophets and messengers.
Insh a Allah, we are intending to present Umm Mussa's situation and associated test.
<b>Who is Umm Musa blessings and peace be upon him?
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According to Quran, her name was not mentioned, as in such cases the focal point is not the name but rather the identity as being Mussa's mother and the associated situation that was clearly stated in Quran. Thus, Mufasereen (scholars who explained and interpreted meanings of Quran) came up with several names but they are all taken from Israiliat sources. For this purpose, we will not give much regard to this point. But of course we have enough information that tells us she was married to Emran and that she was from the ancestors of Israel (Jacob blessings and peace be upon him).
Because her type of test is totally different from that to which both Aesha and Mariam were exposed, Allah Did not stress her upbringing, neither Gave us really determinant factors about her background, even the name, scholars differed about it according to Tafseer (Qurtobi, Ibn Katheer). Ahadeeth involving her only elaborate on the focal point which we are going to highlight Insh aAllah. The most important is that she was a believer according to the dogma of Israel as she and her husband E`mran's lineage goes back to Israel (Yaqoub=Jacob).
<b>The major test:
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During the reign of Pharos in Egypt, Pharaoh saw a vision (Ruia) that a fire came from the direction of Jerusalem, burnt all the houses in Egypt and all Copts (native Egyptians), but it did not harm Beni Israel. He called in secrecies and clergymen to inquire about it. They explained that a boy will be born from the lineage of Bani Israel who will be the cause of Egyptian people's destruction, demolish his kingdom, drive him out and changes the religion he established in Eygpt. They also told him, that his time was due.
Pharaoh grew extremely concerned, certainly fearing for his kingdom and glory. He thought of a way to handle and overcome the problem.
Quran introduced this information in 2:49:
<b>"And (remember) when We delivered you from Pharaoh's people, who were afflicting you with a horrible torment, killing your sons and sparing your women, and therein was a mighty trial from your Lord."
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Coming to a decision on how to handle, he gave his orders to kill all newly born boys of Beni Israel. For this purpose, he assigned midwives to monitor pregnant women and record their delivery dates. In case the newly born was a boy, they kill him other wise girls were kept alive. At that time, Beni Israel were into servitude for Pharaoh and the Copts. Observing the decline in males due to constant killing of newly borns, Copts grew concerned to loose the source of servants, and consequently start carrying out all the tasks that were charged for Beni Israel. They complained to Pharaoh about this issue. In response, he commanded to carry out the killing one year after the other. Harun Ibn E`mran was born during the year of exemption. But on the alternate execution year, Umm Mussa was pregnant with him. She was very fearful. However, as she was a believer, she took shield in her deep faith seeking Allah's close guidance and support, while thinking how to save and rescue her expected infant.
<b>How did she feel and handle the test?
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How did she feel, let us examine how Allah Describe her status in Quran to try and have a close feeling, I said try, because non of us sitting comfortably reading on the screen can really sense, feel, realize how did this woman feel.
Before we delve more into the incidents, see how initially Allah Supported this woman, the same woman whom Allah Inflicted with a hard test. Pregnancy signs were not apparent on her. Thus, she was not supervised by Pharaoh's mid wives or spies.
"And the heart of the mother of Moses became empty [from every thought, except the thought of Moses]. She was very near to disclose his (case, i.e. the child is her son), had We not strengthened her heart (with Faith), so that she might remain as one of the believers." (Quran 28:10)
She delivered with no Pharaoh's supervision. No one realized she got a son. Her heart was empty of any usually logical feelings that might have her handle it the normal way, thus, she was prepared to simply execute what Allah Inspired her with.
If we look at the Tafseer of the above mentioned Ayah, the translator explained it as indicated, Sheikh Sha`rawy, may Allah bestow mercy on his soul, explained as her heart became empty of any behavioural control that might lead her to think on how to handle her situation. That is why she easily accepted Allah's inspiration as we will introduce later on. But from a simple viewpoint of a native Arabic speaker, when I read this Ayah, her heart became empty, like turned into vacuum, and note that in this position Allah Used the Arabic word Fouad, not Qalb or lub. Those three words in Arabic refer to the heart. However, because Allah may He be Glorified Is The All Knowing, and because Quran language is incomparable, Allah Does not use a word haphazardly, but rather one word and only one can really serve multiple purposes and convey very deep meaning. Like in this case. The Fouad is the part of the heart that is responsible for feelings, emotions, tension, fear..etc. Unlike Lub or Qalb, when those two expressions are used in Quran, they usually refer to understanding, comprehending, realizing, and so forth. Saying that her Fouad became empty, to me communicates the utmost fear, loss of control, inability to handle, think, take action, to the extend that because she was totally out of control, she almost revealed her case of having a son.
She was in a state of mind that can not be described as an expecting mother who is facing a serious potential danger. For this, she constantly sought Allah's Assistance, took refuge in her faith to overcome shaytan's inspirations. But her fears grew even more and became aggrevating as she gave birth to Mussa blessing and peace be upon him. At this stage, Allah quickly supported her with the answer to her crisis saying:
<b>"And We inspired the mother of Moses, (saying): "Suckle him [Moses], but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily! We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers." (Quran 28:7)
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<b>"Saying: 'Put him (the child) into the Tabut (a box or a case or a chest) and put it into the river (Nile), then the river shall cast it up on the bank, and there, an enemy of Mine and an enemy of his shall take him.' And I endued you with love from Me, in order that you may be brought up under My Eye, (Quran 20:38-39)</b>
Both above mentioned noble Ayahs explain the solution Allah introduced to her, inspiring her (it is not our core of interest to discuss the issue of her inspiration, however, Allah Sends Messages to whomever Allah Wills in different ways and according to ranks of course). The inspiration was that if she grows concerned and fearful for her child, to throw him into the Nile. Umm Mussa lived by the river bank. Immediately, she took the devine advice, as she realized it was from Allah, and made a coffin like box, placed the infant into it and tied it with a robe to her house. She used to suckle the baby and put him back quickly if she felt someone coming. Till the big time, she had to release the rob as sensed someone approaching, but this time, she forgot to re tie it again. And the box floated to a destination where she has no clue about. But again 28:7 was a determinant factor. That is when she ordered his sister to go looking for him. But deep inside she was sure and certain because Allah inspired her that Allah Is going to bring him back to her.
She didn’t hesitate for a minute to submit to Allah's command of throwing her own baby into the water in a box. She had not doubt for a moment that Allah Is Going to rescure him and comfort her with reunion with her baby which was the case.
Let us for the sake of sequence put the full situation together:
Allah Say:
And We inspired the mother of Moses, (saying): "Suckle him [Moses], but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve
. Verily! <b><i>We shall bring him back to you</i>, </b>and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers.* Then the household of Pharaoh picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief. Verily! Pharaoh, Haman and their hosts were sinners.* And the wife of Pharaoh said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be of benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son." And they perceive not (the result of that).* And the heart of the mother of Moses became empty [from every thought, except the thought of Moses]. She was very near to disclose his (case, i.e. the child is her son), had We not strengthened her heart (with Faith), so that she might remain as one of the believers.* And she said to his [Moses'] sister: "Follow him." So she (his sister) watched him from a far place secretly, while they perceived not.* And We had already forbidden (other) foster suckling mothers for him, until she (his sister came up and) said: "Shall I direct you to a household who will rear him for you, and sincerely they will look after him in a good manner?"<b> So did We restore him to his mother, that she might be delighted, and that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the Promise of Allah is true. But most of them know not." Quran 28:7-13
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<b>Lessons learnt:</b>
1. She faced a serious threat and was helpless.
2. She sought remedy from Allah holding on strongly on her faith.
3. She received inspiration from Allah that was even harder to implement.
4. But she accepted Allah's Will and instructions.
5. Because she accepted, resorted to Sabr (patience) and faith Allah miraculously compensated.