“Miracle of Hazrat Musa in Surah Al-Baqarah 50-53”

Exegesis of Surah Baqarah: Verse 2:50-53

Regarding the Almighty’s words:

وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ الْبَحْرَ فَأَنجَيْنَاكُمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ ﴿٥٠﴾ وَإِذْ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَنتُمْ ظَالِمُونَ ﴿٥١﴾ ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٥٢﴾ وَإِذْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَالْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ﴿٥٣

And when We split the sea for you, saving you while drowning the followers of Pharaoh before your very eyes. Then We called Musa for forty nights, but in his absence, you turned to worship the calf, acting unjustly. Yet, We forgave you after that so you might be grateful. And when We gave Musa the Scripture and the criterion, so that you may be rightly guided.

The Parting of the Sea and the Rescue of Bani Israel

Allah recalls the miraculous event when He parted the sea for Bani Israel, saving them from Pharaoh and his followers. This moment was witnessed by the Israelites, as Pharaoh’s people drowned.

وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ الْبَحْرَ فَأَنجَيْنَاكُمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ

Allah says:>

“And remember when We tore up the sea for you and saved you and drowned the progeny of Firon in it while you were looking at them.”

This verse highlights the direct intervention of Allah to save His chosen people while demonstrating His power and justice against their oppressors.

The Role of the Noble Souls in the Miracle

Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) elaborates on this incident. When Musa (a.s.) prayed for the sea to part, he invoked Allah through the status of noble souls:>

“O Allah! In the name of these noble souls make us walk over this water.”

اللَّهُمَّ بِجَاهِهِمْ جَوِّزْنِي عَلَى مَتْنِ هَذَا الْمَاءِ

Allah turned the water into hard ground. Despite witnessing miracles, the people of Bani Israel hesitated and doubted. A believer named Kalib bin Yuhanna, after renewing his faith in Allah and the noble souls, rode across the water to encourage others. The prayers invoking the noble souls became key to crossing safely, proving their divine significance.

The Division of Paths for the Twelve Tribes

Bani Israel, divided into twelve tribes, expressed concern over potential disputes. Allah commanded Musa to strike the sea with his staff:>

“Strike the sea with your staff.”

As a result, twelve separate paths appeared, and windows were formed in the water walls, allowing them to see one another. Allah even dried the ground for their ease, demonstrating His mercy. However, when Pharaoh and his army entered the same paths, the water walls collapsed, drowning them.>

“We drowned the people of Firon and you were looking at them.”

وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ الْبَحْرَ فَأَنجَيْنَاكُمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ

The Worship of the Calf and its Consequences

After Musa (a.s.) went to Mount Tur for forty nights to receive divine guidance, some of his people turned to calf worship, misled by Samiri. Allah says:>

“And when We appointed a time of forty nights with Musa, then you took the calf (for a god) after him and you were unjust.”

وَإِذْ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَنتُمْ ظَالِمُونَ

Samiri fabricated lies, claiming the calf embodied divinity, deceiving the people.

Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) explains that the calf itself denied divinity, saying:>

“Our Lord is greater than having a tree or an animal as His residence.”

The worship of the calf stemmed from neglecting the belief in Muhammad (S) and his progeny. Despite this grave sin, Allah pardoned them after they sought forgiveness through the noble souls:>

“Then We pardoned you after that so that you might give thanks.”

ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

The Revelation of the Torah and the Furqan

Allah granted Musa (a.s.) the Torah, containing guidance and commands for the Israelites. He also gave the Furqan, the criterion distinguishing truth from falsehood:>

“And when We gave Musa the Book and the distinction that you might walk aright.”

وَإِذْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَالْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) explains that the Furqan also emphasized the belief in the Wilayat of Muhammad (S), Ali (a.s.), and their progeny. Musa took a pledge from Bani Israel to acknowledge this. Those who sincerely believed bore a radiant mark, while others only professed it verbally.

The Lessons for the People in the Time of Muhammad (S)

Allah reminds the people of Muhammad’s time of the blessings granted to their ancestors through the intercession of Muhammad (S) and his progeny. Rejecting these noble souls led to calamities, as seen with calf worshippers.

Allah says:>

“So that you may know what differentiates and what makes one valuable in the sight of the Almighty is the belief in the Wilayat of these noble Imams, as your elders became respectable due to it.”

Final Reflection

These verses and narrations emphasize Allah’s mercy, justice, and the significance of belief in the noble souls. They serve as a reminder to follow divine guidance and uphold the truth for salvation and gratitude.