(Brief account of what Imam Ibn Katheer has stated in his history along with some significant lessons)

When the Copts of Egypt went too far in their disbelief, arrogance, and stubbornness, following their tyrant king Fir‘awn and going against the Prophet and Messenger of Allaah; Moosa ibn ‘Imraan, may Allaah exalt his mention, who spoke to Him. Allaah The Almighty have established against them the great arguments and made them see the miracles that amazed eyes and confused minds. In spite of that fact, they never feared, never stop their arrogance, and never returned to truth.

Fir‘awn went extremely in his tyranny, arrogance, disbelief, oppression, and averting his people from following the right religion. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means) about Fir‘awn and Allaah suffices as an Ever-Present Witness: {And indeed, Pharaoh was haughty within the land} [Quran 10: 83] meaning, stubborn and arrogant person while having no right cause {And indeed, he was of the transgressors}[Quran 10: 83], meaning, in all of his affairs and conditions.

When his arrogance reached its peak to the extent that he deemed himself a god who should be worshiped. It is a great fact that whenever disbeliever and tyranny reach their peak and the Messengers begin to fear, the victory from Allaah The Almighty comes to them. The first manifestation of that victory that Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, gathered together with his followers, recommending, making them stand firm, guiding and linking them with the creator of earth and heaven as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means) describing that scene: {And Moses said, "O my people, if you have believed in Allaah, then rely upon Him, if you should be Muslims."} [Quran 10: 84]

Their answer came to assure our dear Prophet Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, for they have educated by him i.e. Prophet Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention. They said (as Allaah The Almighty says on their behalf): {"Upon Allaah do we rely. Our Lord, make us not [objects of] trial for the wrongdoing people.} [Quran 10: 85]

When he ordered them to rely on Allaah The Almighty, seek His help and take refuge with Him, they immediately obeyed him and thus Allaah The Almighty made for them a way out and relieve.

The second manifestations of victory is the glad tidings Allaah The Almighty granted them: {And We inspired to Moses and his brother, "Settle your people in Egypt in houses and make your houses [facing the] Qiblah and establish prayer and give good tidings to the believers."} [Quran 10: 87]

Allaah The Almighty has inspired to Moosa and his brother Haroon, may Allaah exalt their mention, to settle their people in houses differs from that of the Copts so that they may be full ready to depart if they ordered with it. This will make knowing the houses of each other easier. This action imply confirmation of the principle of applying appropriate means and that it has to be accompanied with putting trust in Allaah The Almighty.

Then, Allaah The Almighty ordered them to "and make your houses [facing the] Qiblah", it was said it means to take their houses as places of worship (mosques) and it was said to offer great deal of prayer in them according to Mujaahid and others. This means to seek help for what they are suffering from such as harm, difficulty and hardship with offering great deal of prayer as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And seek help through patience and prayer.} [Quran 2: 45]

Moreover, it was narrated that whenever the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, is troubled by something, he would turn to prayer. Prayer has great and magnificent effects in this life and Hereafter.

Days pass over Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, and those who are with him, patience covers them and belief and putting trust in Allaah The Almighty adorns them, and relationship with Allaah The Almighty and seeking help with prayer beautify them. In the other side, there is Fir‘awn and those who are with him in their transgression while they wander blindly and from truth they turn away, stubborn and rebelling.

Time of victory approaches {And Moses said, "Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his establishment splendor and wealth in the worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [men] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment."} [Quran 10: 88]

It is a Du‘aa' (i.e. supplication) from a truthful heart that puts his trust in Allaah The Almighty. it is a supplication for supporting truth and wiping out falsehood. It is a great supplication from Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, who spoke to Allaah The Almighty, on the enemy of Allaah The Almighty; Fir‘awn, feeling angry for Allaah The Almighty for he (Fir‘wan) was arrogant enough to follow truth and averted from the way of Allaah The Almighty, was stubborn, tyranny, rebelling, went too far in his falsehood, and rejected the clear, tangible, and abstract truth and decisive proof. Then comes the answer from the One Who is near and responsive {[Allaah ] said, "Your supplication has been answered."}  [Allaah's words for, as scholars said, both Moosa and Haroon, may Allaah exalt their mention, because Haroon used to say Ameen (i.e. O Allaah accept our supplications) and thus the one who recites Ameen became like the invocator himself]

{ So remain on a right course and follow not the way of those who do not know.} Then, the permission came from Allaah The Almighty to Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, to travel along with those who followed him to the Levant, out from Egypt. By then Fir‘awn was aware of their departure, became very angry and nervous from them. So, he mobilized a huge army to catch Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, and those who are with him. How wonderful while the Noble Quran convey to us the events in a magnificent and catchy way. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And We inspired to Moses, "Travel by night with My servants; indeed, you will be pursued." Then Pharaoh sent among the cities gatherers. [And said], "Indeed, those are but a small band, And indeed, they are enraging us, And indeed, we are a cautious society... "So We removed them from gardens and springs. And treasures and honorable station -Thus. And We caused to inherit it the Children of Israel. So they pursued them at sunrise.} [Quran 26: 52-60]

Scholars of Tafseer said: "When Fir‘awn and his army began to chase Banu Isra'eel (i.e. Children of Israel), he was in a great army to the extent it was said it has 100 thousand great horses and number of his soldiers were more than million and six hundred thousand. Allaah Knows best."

Fir‘wan along with his soldiers followed them and caught them up at the sunrise and the two parties met and there became no doubt of that, every party saw the other and nothing remain except fighting. At that moment, companions of Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, said to him while they are terrifying {"Indeed, we are to be overtaken!} [Quran 26: 61] because they were forced to the road of the sea, they have no other way out or escape except it,  the thing that is beyond the ability of any one and also huge and high mountains are around them from right and left.

Fir‘wan closed their way out while they are seeing him among his soldiers and armies. Intensive fear and terror afflicted them due to they knew well his oppression and tyranny. They then complained for the Prophet of Allaah The Almighty what they are suffering from and witnessing. The truthful Messenger said to them {"No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me."}  [Quran 26: 62]

It is a strong word refers to the great trust and rely on the promise of Allaah The Almighty even in the most difficult situations. You can imagine the situation in another clearer way. Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, and those who are along with him were besieged by the sea in front of them and behind them the envious enemy, time was passing while the enemy was approaching.

When the matter reached its peak, became totally complicated, and Fir‘wan and his soldiers approached, the revelation sent down to our Prophet Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention: {Then We inspired to Moses, "Strike with your staff the sea," and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain.} [Quran 26: 63]

The sea turned into solid land by the One Who says to the thing 'be' and it is.

When the sea became in that solid state by the permission of the Great Lord Who is Severe in assault, He The Exalted ordered Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, to pass it along with Banu Isra'eel. They went through it while they are in hurry and happy for they have witnessed the great matter that confuses its witnesses and guides the hearts of the believers. When he and they along with him crossed it and the last of them got out of it and became away from it, the beginning of the army of Fir‘wan began to reach the sea to cross it. Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, wanted to hit the sea with his stick so that it may return as it was, lest Fir‘wan and his soldiers cannot reach him and is kept away from him. However, Allaah The Almighty, the Owner of Majesty, commanded him to leave the sea on that state {And leave the sea in stillness} [Quran 44: 24] meaning, do not change its current state. When he left it as it is and Fir‘wan reached it and saw that great scene and became certain that it is the deed of the Lord of Noble Throne, he kept silent and regretted getting out seeking them. However, regret avails nothing in that situation. But, he pretended before his soldiers that he is brave and even his disbelieving soul and evil nature let him say for those whom he bluffed and they obeyed him and followed him on his falsehood: "See how the sea is parted for me so that I may catch up my fugitive slaves who disobeyed me." He tried by all mean to conceal his fear to go after them, hoped to survive, but how far is that. Sometimes he proceeds while in some other times he refrains from proceeding. When his soldiers saw him going through the sea, they followed him in a hurry. They became all in the sea until the first was about to get out of it, at that time, Allaah The Almighty commanded Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, in what he revealed to him to hit the sea with his stick and thus the sea returned to its natural state and thus no one of them was rescued. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And We saved Moses and those with him, all together.  Then We drowned the others. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers. And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.} [Quran 26: 65-68]

When Allaah The Almighty rescued His worshipers and thus no one of them was drowned and drowned His enemies and thus no one of them was rescued, this implies a great sign and clear-cut proof on His Absolute Power and the Truthfulness of his Messenger Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, regarding what he came with from is Lord such as the honorable religion and upright approaches.

When Fir‘wan saw the truth and drowning overtook him { He said, "I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims."} [Quran 10: 90] How far, how far, is that { Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters?} [Quran 10: 91] and then the judgment of Allaah The Almighty came {So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign.}  [Quran 10: 92]

The events of that great day, as our Messenger Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him, has called it, was ended. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with them, said: "The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, came to Medina and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Ashoora. The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said to them: 'What is the (significance) of this day that you observe fast on it?'  They replied, "This is a good day, the day on which Allaah delivered Moses and his people, and drowned the Pharaoh and his people, and Moses observed fast out of gratitude and we also observe it and thus we observe fasting in it. Upon this the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: "We have more right, and we have a closer connection with Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, than you have; so Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, observed fast (on the day of ‘Ashoora), and gave orders that it should be observed." [Reported by Al-Bukhaari].

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