Soon the people of Pharaoh became victims of misfortune. Allaah^-SWT is so Kind and Gracious that He^-SWT gradually sent His^-SWT Signs of admonition unto them, giving them an opportunity to repent. Firstly, they were struck by famine, so that the shortage of fruits and foods may cause them to realize their helplessness. But the darkness of the hearts precludes understanding, just as today we try to take all sorts of measures in order to prevent shortage of food on national and personal level but never do we even think of mending our ways. Similarly the People of Pharaoh would take the credit for any good fortune and blame all their miseries on Prophet Musa^-AS and his followers, who were alleged to have brought them bad luck.

 

But it must be understood that the inauspiciousness of the evil deeds alone is enough for the destruction of the wrongdoer. And that exactly was the case of the Pharaoh and his folk.

 

Austerity for Reformation

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The state of their hearts was so disastrous that they told Prophet Musa^-AS that it was his magical power that prevailed and they had decided not to ever believe in him. According to Commentators, after the contest with the magicians. Prophet Musa^-AS ceaselessly invited the People of Pharaoh to Allah^-SWT's Message for two decades. In the meantime they faced many situations of miraculous nature, such as rain and thunderstorm which flooded their fields as well as their homes. The Bani Israil remained unaffected although living in the same areas.

 

Under great compulsion the Qibtis requested Prophet Musa^-AS to pray for their deliverance from the punishment. And they promised that once rescued they would accept his Message and free the Bani Israil to live in freedom according to their own choice. Allaah^-SWT had given them a great offer. They could have kept their land and empire and spared the Bani Israil. But to their misfortune, they went back on their words once the floods subsided and their fields were laden again with the crops. Allaah^-SWT then sent swarms of locust which not only ravaged their fields but also devoured all the wood works in their homes. Once again they begged Prophet Musa^-AS to intercede. Delivered from the locust, they once again backed out on their promise. Now their houses and fields were infested with vermin’s. When that too did not force them to accept the truth, they were invaded by frogs. Their homes, courtyards and their fire places were infested making cooking impossible. Once this was over a bloody affliction struck, wherein all their food items would turn into blood. In short, they were subjected to continuous visitations. Each time when the situation went beyond their control, they begged Prophet Musa^-AS for intercession, and as soon as delivered from the distress, they reverted to disobedience.

 

Aulia and the Temporal Hardship

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This shows that temporal hardships are indeed opportunities for an individual to mend his ways and realize how powerless he is. Moreover, if Aulia are requested to pray, Allaah^-SWT may alleviate the sufferings. But the real benefit to be attained from this relief is not material but spiritual, that one should submit to the Will and Purpose of Allaah^-SWT and become His^-SWT obedient servant. If this is not done, of course, he is still at a loss.

 

Anyway, when they failed to reform themselves Allaah^-SWT punished them and created such circumstances that they plunged into the death trap themselves. They had left their homes in pursuit of Prophet Musa^-AS and the Bani Israil with the intention of executing them. But on the contrary they were drowned by Divine Will once their defiance and neglect to Allaah^-SWT had crossed all limits of tolerance. Take note of the Absoluteness of Divine Power. The nation subjected to slavery generation after generation and to whom their masters were not ready to give any importance was not only blessed with freedom but also the sway over the same land laden with resources.

 

The term "inherit the land, the Eastern and Western parts of if signifies an absolute authority. And the authority and the control is always passed on as patrimony. No one has ever been able to retain it forever. One takes over power only to leave it for his successors. Thus Allaah^-SWT deposed the Pharaoh and the 'Amalqah from the thrones of Egypt pt and Syria respectively, handing them over to the Bani Israil. This was because inspite of all their failings they had persevered and had adhered to Prophet Musa^-AS by obeying him. This is the essence of patience or perseverance. Similarly, today if we stand firm on obedience to the Holy Prophet^-SW, our condition will improve in no time. The promise of Divine Succour came true and the Pharaoh together with his nation was destroyed. Neither their impregnable defenses nor their immense resources availed them.

 

On the other end of the sea the Bani Israil landed safely after personally witnessing the fate of Pharaoh's folk. They came across a nation of idolaters and requested Prophet Musa^-AS to chisel out similar idols for them to worship. He^-AS became furious and said that they were indeed ignorant. He told them that no analogy could be presented of Allah^-SWT, and all that those idolaters had sculptured was mortal and temporary, which cannot be taken as an alternative for the immortal? Therefore, whatever the idolaters practiced was ungodly and perishable so what benefit could its worship provide.

 

He admonished them that they should never expect him to guide them to anyone other than Allaah^-SWT . He reminded the Bani Israil of their misery under the Pharaoh and how they had tortured them by assassinating their newly born males and retaining their females. And how helpless they had been that they could not even complain about it. He reminded them of the Divine Favours in the form of the destruction of Pharaoh and his folk and transfer of power to them. So it was highly unbecoming for them even to think of paying homage to anyone other than Allaah^-SWT .