Al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah - Ibn Kathir - (2/27)

Al-Bidayah wa an-NihayahIbn Kathir

—of colossal size, dread, and a terrifying, awe-striking appearance—
so much so that it is related that when Pharaoh saw it with his own eyes, he was seized by extreme panic and overwhelming fear; he was afflicted with severe diarrhoea more than forty times in a single day, whereas previously he would relieve himself only once every forty days. The situation was thus completely reversed. Likewise, when Moses —peace be upon him— put his hand inside his cloak and brought it out, he drew it forth like a piece of the full moon, gleaming with a light that dazzled every eye; but whenever he returned it to his cloak it went back to its original state. Despite all this, Pharaoh—may Allah curse him—derived no benefit at all. He persisted in his obstinacy, declared that the whole affair was sorcery, and resolved to oppose it with magicians. Accordingly, he sent to summon them from every corner (1) of his kingdom, from among all who were under his rule and authority—as will be set out in detail in its proper place, where Allah will manifest the clear truth and the decisive, overwhelming proof against Pharaoh, his chiefs, the people of his realm, and the adherents of his creed. All praise and favour belong to Allah.

The Most High says in Sūrah Ṭā Hā:
“‘You stayed for years among the people of Midian; then you came at the appointed time, O Moses. I have chosen you for Myself. Go, you and your brother, with My signs, and do not slacken in remembering Me. Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has indeed transgressed. Speak to him gentle words; perhaps he will take heed or feel fear.’ They said, ‘Our Lord, we fear that he may act hastily against us or exceed all bounds.’ He said, ‘Do not fear; I am surely with you both—I hear and I see.’” [20:40–46]

The Almighty addresses Moses, recounting what He spoke to him on the night He revealed Himself to him and honoured him with prophethood, speaking directly to him:
“I was watching over you while you were in Pharaoh’s palace, sheltering you under My protection and kindness. Then I brought you out from the land of Egypt to the land of Midian by My will, decree, and management, and you remained there for years. ‘Then you came at the appointed time’—that is, by My design; it coincided with My decree and direction. ‘I have chosen you for Myself,’ meaning I have singled you out for My own purpose by entrusting you with My message and by speaking to you. ‘Go, you and your brother with My signs, and do not falter in remembering Me,’ that is: do not become lax in remembering Me when you go to him and stand before him, for that remembrance will aid you in addressing him, answering him, offering him sincere counsel, and establishing the proof against him.

It is mentioned in some narrations:
“Allah, Exalted is He, says: ‘My servant—truly My servant—is the one who remembers Me while confronting (2) his adversary.’”

The Exalted also says: “O you who believe, when you meet a host, stand firm and remember Allah much…” [8:45]

Then He, exalted is He, said:
“Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed. Speak to him gentle words; perhaps he will take heed or feel fear.” [20:43–44]
This is part of His forbearance (3), generosity, kindness, and mercy toward His creation, despite His knowledge of Pharaoh’s disbelief, arrogance, and tyranny—he was at that time the vilest of all creatures—yet Allah sent to him the choicest of His servants in that age, and even so He says to them and commands them to invite him with that which

(1) Sāʾir al-shayʾ (the remainder): that which remains. (2) In B: “Kullu ʿabdin yadkurunī wa huwa mulaqi qarnihi” (“Every servant who remembers Me while facing his opponent”), narrated by al-Tirmidhī (Hadith no. 3580 in The Chapters on Supplications, ch. 119). He comments: “This is a strange (weak) hadith; we know it only from this chain, and its isnād is not strong.… The phrase wa huwa mulaqi qarnihi refers specifically to the battlefield, meaning one should remember Allah at that moment.” (3) In B: “And this is from the wisdom of Allah, the Exalted.”

في الضخامة، والهول، والمنظر العظيم الفظيع الباهر، حتى قيل: إنَّ فرعون لمَّا شاهد ذلك وعاينه أخذه رَهَبٌ شديد، وخوف عظيم، بحيث إنه حصل له إسهالٌ عظيم أكثر من أربعين مرّة في يوم، وكان قبل ذلك لا يتبرّز في كل أربعين يومًا إلا مرة واحدة، فانعكس عليه الحال. وهكذا لما أَدخل موسى (عليه السلام) يده في جيبه واستخرجها، أخرجها وهي كفِلْقَةِ القمر تتلألأ نورًا يبهر الأبصار، فإذا أعادها إلى جيبه رجعت إلى صفتها الأولى، ومع هذا كلّه لم ينتفع فرعون لعنه الله بشيء من ذلك، بل استمر على ما هو عليه، وأظهر أنَّ هذا كلّه سحر، وأراد معارضته بالسَّحَرة، فأرسل يجمعهم من سائر (١) مملكته، ومن في رعيته، وتحت قهره ودولته، كما سيأتي بسطه وبيانه في موضعه من إظهار الله الحق المبين والحجّة الباهرة القاطعة على فرعون وملئه وأهل دولته وملّته، ولله الحمد والمِنَّةُ. وقال تعالى في سورة طه: ﴿فَلَبِثْتَ سِنِينَ فِي أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَى قَدَرٍ يَامُوسَى (٤٠) وَاصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِي (٤١) اذْهَبْ أَنْتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِآيَاتِي وَلَا تَنِيَا فِي ذِكْرِي (٤٢) اذْهَبَا إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَى (٤٣) فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَيِّنًا لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى (٤٤) قَالَا رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَنْ يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَا أَوْ أَنْ يَطْغَى (٤٥) قَالَ لَا تَخَافَا إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَا أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَى﴾ [الآيات: ٤٠ - ٤٦] . يقول تعالى مخاطبًا لموسى، فيما كلَّمه به لَيلة أَوحى إليه، وأنعم بالنبوة عليه، وكلَّمه منه إليه: قد كنتُ مشاهدًا لكَ وأنت في دار فرعون، وأنت تحت كنفي ولطفي، ثُمَّ أخرجتك من أرض مصر إلى أرض مَدين بمشيئتي وقَدَري وتدبيري، فلبثت فيها سنين. ﴿ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَى قَدَرٍ﴾، أي: منّي لذلك، فوافق ذلك تقديري وتسييري ﴿وَاصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِي﴾ أي: اصطفيتك لنفسي برسالتي وبكلامي ﴿اذْهَبْ أَنْتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِآيَاتِي وَلَا تَنِيَا فِي ذِكْرِي﴾ يعني: ولا تفتُرا في ذِكري إذا قَدِمتما عليه، ووفدتما إليه، فإن ذلك عونٌ لكما على مخاطبته، ومجاوبته، وإهداء النصيحة إليه، وإقامة الحجّة عليه. وقد جاء في بعض الأحاديث: "يقول الله تعالى: إنَّ عَبْدي كُلَّ عَبْدي الذي يذكرني وهو ملاق (٢) قِرْنه" . وقال تعالى: ﴿يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمْ فِئَةً فَاثْبُتُوا وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا .... ﴾ [الأنفال: ٤٥] . ثم قال تعالى: ﴿اذْهَبَا إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَى (٤٣) فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَيِّنًا لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى﴾ وهذا من حلمه تعالى (٣) ، وكرمه، ورأفته، ورحمته بخلقه، مع علمه بكفر فرعون وعتوّه، وتجبُّره وهو إذ ذاك أردى خلقه، وقد بعث إليه صفوته من خلقه في ذلك الزمان، ومع هذا يقول لهما ويأمرهما أن يدعواه إليه بالتي

(١) سائر الشيء: بقيته. (٢) في ب: كل عبدي لمن يذكرني وهو مناجز قرنه، والحديث رواه الترمذي: (٣٥٨٠) فى الدعوات، باب ١١٩، وقال: "هذا حديث غريب (ضعيف) لا نعرفه إلا من هذا الوجه، وليس إسناده بالقويّ … ومعنى قوله: وهو ملاق قِرنه، إنما يعني عند القتال، يعني أن يذكر الله في تلك الساعة". (٣) في ب: وهذا من حكمة الله تعالى.