As we move through the sacred month of Muharram — which is a significant month for Muslims all over the world as it marks the beginning of the new Islamic year — we reflect on the many lessons which can be taken from how Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) led the believers to victory against the Pharaoh and his army.
In his story, what I find most profound is the revolutionary methodology in which he did this, one which exemplified true advocacy.
Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) paved the way towards “speaking truth to power”, upholding justice in the face of oppression, and taking action against tyranny.
Courage to address the root of the problem
Every generation has witnessed giant oppressors intimidating their subjects with their so-called wealth and power, often leaving people with a sense of helplessness or a defeatist mentality.
This is the mindset which makes people complacent in the face of oppression, often leading to short-term and unsustainable solutions that do not tackle the crux of the situation. The Pharaoh was an arrogant ruler who saw himself as a God, he murdered newborn boys from Bani Isrā’īl, and enslaved the whole community.
When Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) inspired Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) to stand up against the oppressor, Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) — despite knowing his incapability— asked Allah,
“My Lord! Uplift my heart for me, and make my task easy, and remove the impediment from my tongue, so people may understand my speech.” [1]
With firm conviction in Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla), he courageously confronted the Pharaoh!
Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) inspired Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) to understand that the persecution and oppression of the believers would not end, unless Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) addressed the root of the problem and demanded the Pharaoh end his unjust practices, which would be through calling him to the oneness of Allah.
Truth and justice
The dialogue between an oppressive ruler and Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) is one of the most profound examples of “speaking truth to power”.
During a time when oppression prevailed with little opposition, and despite going against the status quo, Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) was able to call out the corruption of the leader of his society.
With his integrity and revolutionary approach to justice, the Pharaoh’s men could not oppose the message that Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) was bringing: to worship Allah and only Allah.
Action
Speaking out against injustices must also be followed by practical actions, and this is exactly what Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) exemplified.
Instead of being a passive voice of justice, Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) empowered the believers to lift themselves out of their circumstances and to establish justice amongst themselves.
Alongside his physical strength, he was steadfast in nourishing the believers’ faith and spirituality. By following Allah’s command to leave Egypt and head to Shām (the Levant), Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) took the believers on a miraculous journey.
Despite the doubt and fears which began to overcome Bani Isrā’īl, Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) exclaimed with conviction,
“No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.” [2]
And with these words, Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) parted the sea for Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) and his nation, and He freed them from their persecution. [3]
Faith-based advocacy
The message of Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām) was one of trust in Allah, courage, truth, justice, and action against unjust persecution and oppression.
He exemplified the fruits of bravery and civil disobedience at a time when cruelty and discrimination was rife. We should remember his efforts and sacrifices and use it as a guide for our own struggle against oppression across the world.
Today, Muslims all over the globe are subjected to various forms of discrimination and/ or persecution due to their faith. Whether it is via discriminatory institutional policies, suppressive legislation, or outright violence and abuse, Muslims are being targeted in various ways.
To passively watch is not from the tradition or examples in our faith; therefore, we must unite as a community to strive to advocate on behalf of our brothers and sisters across the globe.
Embodying this revolutionary approach
These traditions of our faith should motivate us to take a novel approach to serving such communities, by complementing our efforts with advocacy.
Like Mūsa (ʿalayhi al-Salām), we need to highlight and expose the perpetrators who are responsible for communities being subjected to persecution and oppression.
We need to empower the people to lift themselves out of their situation, as opposed to making them dependent on short-term solutions. We need to encourage the community to join the movement towards faith-based advocacy, to align ourselves, and to effectively serve our global Ummah.
Source: Islam21c
Notes
[1] al-Qur’ān, 20:25-28
[2] al-Qur’ān, 26:62
[3] al-Qur’ān, 26
