Prophets Stories In Islam

Part 2. Prophet Musa & Harun: The Birth of Harun and Musa (as)

Musa's (as) mother was pregnant with Harun (as) in a year that boys were spared; thus she gave birth to the child publicly and safely. Musa (as) was born in a year in which the sons of the Children of Israel were put to death the moment they were born. Thus his birth caused her much terror. Imagine the sense of fear that permeated every aspect of life under such conditions. Pregnancy was not an event to be celebrated and cherished but a source of fear and insecurity. Security guards roamed the streets and invaded homes searching for pregnant women, therefore Musa's (as) mother concealed her pregnancy.
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Imagine the conditions under which she gave birth: fearful, silent, possibly shrouded in darkness. Was she surrounded by women or alone? Did her husband hold her hand praying that she did not cry out revealing herself to the neighbors or guards? Whatever the conditions, Musa (as) was born. A boy. His parents’ heart must have constricted with joy and fear simultaneously. What were they to do now, how would they conceal a newborn baby?
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Musa's (as) mother was a righteous woman, pious and Allah fearing, therefore in her hour of need she turned to Allah (ﷻ) and He inspired her next actions. Musa's (as) mother has just spent the last months concealing her pregnancy for fear that her child would be put to death, now as she holds him to her breast. she nursed him secretly. No sooner had the divine revelation finished that she obeyed the sacred and merciful call.
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After giving birth, Allah (ﷻ) inspired to her to take a piece of wood, make it like a chest and tie it with a rope. Her house was on the bank of the River Nile. She used to feed her baby regularly. Whenever she feared that someone might visit her, she would place him in that piece of wood, untie the rope and let it float in the river. She would keep it under her control by the other end of the rope. Then, when the visitor left, she would pull it back to her.
"And we inspired the mother of Musa: suckle him, but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily! We shall bring him back to you and shall make him one of (our) Messengers." (28:7)
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She was commanded to make a basket for Musa (as). She nursed him, put him into the basket, then went to the shore of the Nile and threw it into the water. Her mother's heart, the most merciful one in the world, grieved as she threw her son into the Nile. However, she was aware that Allah (ﷻ) was much more merciful to Musa (as) than to her, that He loved him more than her. Allah (ﷻ) was his Lord and the Lord of the Nile.
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Hardly had the basket touched the water of the Nile than Allah (ﷻ) made His command to the waves to be calm and gentle while carrying the child would one day be a prophet. She instructed her daughter to follow the course of the basket and to report back to her.
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As the daughter followed the floating basket along the riverbank, she found herself right in the palace grounds and saw what was unfolding before her eyes. The basket came to rest at the riverbank, which skirted the king's palace. The palace servants found the basket with the baby and took it to the Pharaoh and his queen. When the queen beheld the lovely infant, Allah (ﷻ) instilled in her a strong love for this baby.
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Pharaoh's wife, Asiyah bint Muzahim ibn Ubayd ibn al-Rayan ibn al-Waleed. Pharaoh was the king during the time of Yusuf (as). Asiyah was very different from Pharaoh. He was a disbeliever; she was a believer. He was cruel; she was merciful. He was a tyrant; she was delicate and goodhearted. It has been said that she was from the Israelites, the same clan as Musa's (as). A third opinion has also suggested that she was his aunt. Allah (ﷻ) knows best.
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She was sad because she was infertile and had hoped to have a son. Hardly had she held the baby than she kissed him. Pharaoh was much amazed when he saw his wife hugging this baby to her breast. He was much astonished because his wife was weeping with joy, something he had never seen her do before. She requested her husband: "Let me keep the baby and let him be a son to us."
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Allah (ﷻ) gave her what she had hoped for in both the worlds. He guided her in this world, even though she was living with the Pharaoh. In the hereafter, Allah (ﷻ) will make her one of the dwellers of Paradise because of her attitude towards Musa (as).
They were both unaware of what Allah (ﷻ) had decreed for them - the fact that this very boy going to destroy the kingdom of the Pharaoh and his army.
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Allah (ﷻ) says in the Quran:
"Then he was picked up by the family of Pharaoh (unaware) that he would become their enemy and a cause for regret. Surely the Pharaoh, Haman and their hordes were habitual sinners.
The Pharaoh's wife said: "He will be a comfort to me and to you. Do not kill him. He may well be of some advantage to us, or we may adopt him as a son."
They were not aware (of what the future held in store)." (28:8-9)
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The queen summoned a few wet nurses to suckle the baby Musa (as), but he would not take any of their breasts. The queen was distressed and sent for more wet nurses. Musa's (as) sister was also worried, as her baby brother was without milk for a long time. Seeing the queen's anxiety, she blurted that she knew just the mother who would suckle the child affectionately. They asked her why she was following the floating basket. She said she did so out of curiosity. Her excuse sounded reasonable, so they believed her.
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They ordered her to rush and fetch the woman she was talking about. Her mother also was waiting with a heavy heart, worried about the fate of her baby. Just then her daughter rushed in with the good news. Her heart lifted and she lost no time in reaching the palace. As the child was put to her breast, he immediately started suckling.
Pharaoh was astonished and asked: "Who are you? This child has refused to take any other breast but yours."
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Had she told the truth, Pharaoh would have known that the child was an Israelite and would have killed Musa (as) instantly. However, Allah (ﷻ) gave her inner strength and she replied: "I am a woman of sweet milk and sweet smell, and no child refuses me."
This answer satisfied Pharaoh. From that day onward, she was appointed as Musa's (as) wet nurse. She continued to breast-feed him for a long time. Thereafter, Asiyah decided to give her wages and pay for all her expenses. When he was bigger and was weaned, she was allowed the privilege of visiting him. Musa (as) was raised in the palace as a prince.
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"When he had grown up to full maturity, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus do We recompense the doers of good." (28:14)