Great
By Fateen Ahmed
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Chapter 1: The Birth in the Shadow of Fear
In the ancient land of Egypt, under the scorching sun and mighty palaces, Pharaoh ruled with arrogance and terror. He was feared as if he were a god, commanding life and death as he wished. Among his darkest commands was one soaked in blood — the killing of every newborn boy of the Israelites. The people of Israel wept in silence, praying for divine mercy as soldiers stormed homes. Amid this cruelty, a mother named Yokhebed hid her newborn son, trembling yet full of faith. For three months she protected him, knowing one day she must make an impossible choice. With tears and a heart breaking in prayer, she placed her baby in a small woven basket, sealing it with tar. As the Nile’s water rippled, she whispered, “O Allah, protect my child.” The basket drifted away, carrying a destiny that would soon shake empires.
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Chapter 2: The River and the Palace
The basket floated gently down the Nile, gliding past reeds and sunlit ripples. It came to rest near Pharaoh’s palace, where Asiya, Pharaoh’s wife, saw it. Her heart softened when she lifted the basket and found the infant within. The child’s face shone with an innocent radiance, and she instantly felt a divine connection. “This baby will be the coolness of my eyes,” she said. Pharaoh frowned, suspicious, but Asiya’s gentle words softened his heart. They adopted him and named him Musa — the child drawn from water. The baby’s real mother was soon reunited with him, secretly hired to nurse him under divine plan. Thus, the very house that decreed death upon Hebrew boys became the home that raised the one who would challenge tyranny itself.
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Chapter 3: The Prince of Two Worlds
Musa grew within the grand halls of Pharaoh’s palace, learning wisdom, courage, and the art of speech. He dressed as an Egyptian noble but his heart remained tied to the cries of his true people — the Israelites, enslaved and broken. He would often walk among them, helping quietly, feeling the fire of justice burning within. His eyes saw the whip strike a weary back, and his soul trembled. The day came when that fire burst. He found an Egyptian beating a Hebrew man. Unable to bear the injustice, Musa struck the oppressor — and the man fell lifeless. Shocked and terrified, Musa realized the magnitude of what he had done. He fled into the desert, leaving behind his royal life and entering the chapter of divine preparation.
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Chapter 4: The Desert of Exile
The sands of Madyan stretched endlessly before him. Hungry, alone, and weary, Musa reached a well where shepherds watered their flocks. Two women stood aside, struggling to control their sheep. He helped them kindly, his strength and compassion shining even in exile. Their father, the wise Prophet Shu’ayb (AS), invited Musa to his home. There, he found rest, food, and finally peace. In time, he married one of Shu’ayb’s daughters and worked for him as a shepherd. Each passing year in the quiet desert was a lesson — patience, humility, and reflection. Little did he know, this isolation was the training ground of a prophet.
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Chapter 5: The Fire of Revelation
One cold night as Musa journeyed with his family, he saw a mysterious light on Mount Tur. “Wait here,” he said to his wife, “I see a fire — perhaps I can bring you warmth.” But as he approached, the light became divine. From the blazing bush came a voice that shook the universe: “O Musa! Indeed, I am your Lord. Remove your sandals — you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa.” Musa trembled, falling to the ground. Allah commanded him to go to Pharaoh and deliver His message: to free the Israelites and submit to the Lord of the Worlds. Musa, overwhelmed, asked for his brother Harun (Aaron) to help him. Allah granted his wish, and the mission of prophethood began.
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Chapter 6: Return to the Tyrant
With faith as his weapon and truth as his light, Musa returned to the palace of his childhood. Pharaoh looked at him with arrogance. “Did we not raise you as a child? And now you come against me?” Musa’s voice, steady and powerful, echoed: “Indeed, I come with the truth from the Lord of the Worlds.” Pharaoh laughed and demanded a sign. Musa threw down his staff — it turned into a serpent that moved swiftly. He placed his hand under his arm — it shone with dazzling light. Yet Pharaoh, blinded by pride, called his magicians to challenge him. But the magicians, upon witnessing Musa’s miracle, fell in prostration, declaring, “We believe in the Lord of Musa and Harun!” Pharaoh raged, but the truth had already pierced the hearts of his people.
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Chapter 7: The Struggle of Faith
Pharaoh’s fury unleashed waves of torment upon the believers. Musa guided his people to patience, urging them to trust Allah’s promise. Plagues struck Egypt — blood in their water, frogs, locusts, and darkness — each a sign for Pharaoh to repent. Yet he remained stubborn, his heart harder than stone. Through it all, Musa never wavered. His people saw in him the light of certainty, even when all seemed lost. And then came the divine command — to lead the children of Israel away from Egypt by night.
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Chapter 8: The Night of Escape
The stars shone above the silent desert as thousands of Israelites followed Musa in haste. Behind them, Pharaoh’s army thundered in pursuit. When they reached the Red Sea, despair struck — there was no path forward. Pharaoh’s soldiers grew nearer, their torches glowing like fire in the darkness. But Musa, with unwavering faith, raised his staff. “Indeed, my Lord is with me; He will guide me.” The sea split open into towering walls of water, and a dry path appeared. His people crossed in awe and fear, as the miracle of Allah surrounded them.
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Chapter 9: The Drowning of Pharaoh
Pharaoh and his army charged into the sea, blinded by arrogance. When the last of the Israelites stepped onto dry land, the waters crashed down. The tyrant who once called himself god was swallowed by the very sea he mocked. As he drowned, he cried, “I believe in the Lord of Musa!” But it was too late. The waves closed over him, leaving behind a corpse that would serve as a sign for generations. Freedom at last had come.
