“Indeed, We conveyed the Word to them in succession.” That is, We continued and repeated it, sending it down gradually, little by little, out of mercy and kindness toward them, “so that they might take heed,” as its verses were repeatedly recited to them and its clear proofs were revealed whenever they were needed. Its gradual revelation was therefore a mercy to them, so why did they object to something that served their own interests?

A Section Mentioning Some of the Benefits and Lessons in This Remarkable Story

Among them is that only the believers benefit and receive illumination from Allah’s signs, His lessons, and His dealings with earlier nations. The extent to which a servant takes heed is proportionate to his faith. Allah relates these stories for their sake. As for others, Allah pays them no regard, and they derive neither light nor guidance from them.

Among them is that when Allah Most High wills a matter, He prepares its causes and brings them about gradually, one after another, rather than all at once.

Among them is that a downtrodden nation, no matter how weak it has become, must not allow indolence to prevent it from seeking its rights, nor despair of rising to the highest ranks—especially when its people are oppressed. Allah rescued the nation of the Children of Israel, despite its weakness, from the captivity of Pharaoh and his chiefs, established them in the land, and gave them possession of their country.

Among them is that so long as a nation remains humiliated and subjugated, neither claiming its rights nor speaking up for them, its religious [or worldly] affairs (1) cannot be properly established, nor can it attain leadership in religion.

Among them is Allah’s kindness to the mother of Moses and His alleviating her affliction through the glad tidings that He would return her son to her and make him one of the messengers.

Among them is that Allah may decree certain hardships for His servant in order to grant him a joy greater than that hardship or avert from him a greater evil. Thus, He decreed that the mother of Moses should experience intense sorrow and profound distress, which became the means by which her son was returned to her in a manner that reassured her soul, delighted her eyes, and increased her happiness and joy.

Among them is that the natural fear of created beings neither contradicts faith nor removes it, as demonstrated by the fears experienced by the mother of Moses and by Moses himself.

Among them is that faith increases and decreases. Among the greatest means by which faith increases and certainty is perfected are patience in the face of distress and Allah’s granting steadfastness amid unsettling circumstances. Allah Most High said: “Had We not strengthened her heart, so that she might remain one of the believers.” That is, so that her faith might thereby increase and her heart become tranquil.

Among them is that one of Allah’s greatest blessings upon His servant—and one of the greatest aids granted to the servant in all his affairs—is that Allah makes him steadfast and strengthens his resolve and heart when he faces fear and overwhelming events. This enables him to say and do what is right. By contrast, when a person remains anxious, frightened, and agitated, his thoughts become confused and his reason fails him, so he cannot make proper use of his own abilities in that state.

Among them is that even when a servant knows that Allah’s decree, predestination, and promise must inevitably come to pass, he does not neglect the means ⦗619⦘ he has been commanded to take. Taking them does not contradict his faith in what Allah has declared. Allah had promised the mother of Moses that He would return him to her, yet she still strove to recover him and sent his sister to follow his trail and search for him.

Among them is the permissibility of a woman going out to attend to her needs and speaking to men when nothing prohibited is involved, as occurred with the sister of Moses and the two daughters of the man of Midian.

Among them is the permissibility of receiving payment for caring for and nursing a child, and for directing others to someone who will do so.

Among them is that, out of His mercy toward a weak servant whom He wishes to honor, Allah shows him some of His signs and allows him to witness some of His clear proofs, thereby increasing his faith. Thus, Allah returned Moses to his mother so that she might know that Allah’s promise is true.

Among them is that it is impermissible to kill a disbeliever who is protected by a covenant established through contract or recognized custom. Moses—peace be upon him—regarded his killing of the disbelieving Copt as a sin and sought Allah’s forgiveness for it.

Among them is that anyone who kills people without right is counted among the tyrants who spread corruption on earth.

Among them is that anyone who kills people without right and claims that he seeks to reform the land and intimidate those who commit sins is lying and is himself a corrupter. Allah related the Copt’s words, “You intend only to become a tyrant in the land, and you do not intend to be one of those who set matters right,” affirming their truth rather than repudiating them.

Among them is that when a man informs another of something said about him in order to warn him of impending harm, this does not constitute malicious tale-bearing; indeed, it may even be obligatory. This is what the man did when he informed Moses, sincerely advising and warning him.

Among them is that when a person fears being killed or destroyed if he remains somewhere, he must not cast himself into destruction or surrender to it. Rather, he should depart from that place, as Moses did.

Among them is that when two harmful courses conflict and one of them must necessarily be taken, the lesser and safer of the two should be chosen. Moses faced the choice of remaining in Egypt and being killed or leaving (2) for a distant land whose roads he did not know, with no guide [to guide] him other than his Lord. Since the latter course was safer than the former, Moses followed it.

Among them is that when someone investigating a scholarly matter needs to speak about it but neither of two positions appears stronger to him, he should seek guidance from his Lord and ask Him to direct him to the correct position, after sincerely intending the truth and searching for it. Allah will not disappoint anyone whose condition is such. Thus, when Moses set out toward Midian, he said: “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the right way.”

Among them is that showing mercy to people and doing good to those one knows and those one does not know are traits of the prophets. Giving water to livestock and assisting those unable to help themselves are also forms of benevolence.

Among them is that it is recommended, when supplicating, to state and explain one’s condition even though Allah already knows it, for Allah Most High loves His servant’s humble entreaty and his acknowledgment of his lowliness and need. Moses therefore said: “My Lord, I am truly in need of whatever good You may send down to me.”

Among them is that modesty—especially in people of noble character—is a praiseworthy trait.

Among them is that recompensing kindness has always been the practice of earlier nations.

Among them is that if a servant performs a deed for Allah Most High and subsequently receives recompense for it without that having been his original intention, he is not to be blamed. Moses accepted the recompense offered by the man of Midian for the kindness he had shown, although he had neither sought payment for it nor inwardly anticipated any reward.

Among them is the legitimacy of hiring contracts. Such a contract may be concluded for shepherding sheep and similar work whose precise extent cannot be quantified and is instead determined by customary practice.

Among them is that the consideration in a hiring contract may consist of a benefit, even when that benefit is marriage.

Among them is that a man is not to be blamed for offering his daughter in marriage to a man whom he has chosen for her.

Among them is that the best hired worker or laborer [who works] for a person is one who is strong and trustworthy.

Among them is that noble character requires a person to treat his hired worker and servant well and not burden him with difficult work, as indicated by the words: “I do not wish to make things difficult for you. You will find me, Allah willing, among the righteous.”

Among them is the permissibility of concluding a hiring contract or any other contract without calling witnesses, as indicated by the words: “Allah is Trustee over what we say.”

Among them are the clear signs and manifest miracles that Allah brought about at the hands of Moses: the serpent, his hand turning white without disease, and Allah’s protection of Moses and Aaron from Pharaoh and from drowning.

Among them is that one of the greatest punishments is for a person to become a leader in evil, in proportion to his opposition to Allah’s signs and clear proofs. Conversely, one of the greatest blessings Allah bestows upon His servant is to make him a leader in goodness—a guide who is himself rightly guided.

Among them is the proof this story contains of Muhammad’s messengership—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He reported these events in accurate detail and in principles fully consonant with the truth. He narrated them in a manner that confirmed the messengers and supported the manifest truth, although he had not been present at any of those events, had not witnessed a single one of those places, had never read a lesson teaching him any of these matters, and had not sat with any learned person. It was nothing but a message from the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful, and a revelation sent down to him by the Most Generous, the Bestower of blessings, so that he might warn an ignorant people who had been heedless of warnings and messengers.

May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon the one whose account alone reveals that he is the Messenger of Allah, and whose commands and prohibitions alone alert enlightened minds that they come from Allah. How much more evident is this when the accounts of earlier and later peoples, the revealed law he brought from the Lord of all beings, the noble character with which he was innately endowed—qualities befitting none but the highest-ranking of creation—and the manifest victory granted to his religion and his nation have all concurred in attesting the truth and veracity of what he brought. His religion reached wherever ⦗620⦘ night and day reach, and his nation conquered most lands and cities with sword and spear, while conquering their people’s hearts through knowledge and faith.

Defiant nations and allied disbelieving kings have never ceased to aim at it from a single bow, plotting against it and scheming to extinguish it, conceal it, and eradicate it from the earth. Yet it has overwhelmed them and risen above them, continuing only to grow, while its signs and proofs become ever more manifest. At every moment, some sign of it appears that is a lesson for all peoples, guidance for all peoples, and light and insight for the discerning. All praise belongs to Allah alone.