In the name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent
Have you learned the story of Moses? When he saw a fire, he said to his family: “Wait here! I perceive a fire. Perhaps I can bring you a lighted torch, or find some guidance at the fire.”
But when he came close to it, a voice called out to him: “Moses, I am your Lord! Take off your sandals, for you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. Know that I have chosen you. Listen, then, to what is being revealed (to you).
“Indeed, I alone am God; there is no deity other than Me. So, worship Me alone, and establish regular prayer to celebrate My praise.
(Ta Ha: 20: 9-14)
This is the beginning of the account given in this Surah of the history of Moses. His story is related in many Surahs, but sometimes we have only a brief or limited reference, while at other times we have a detailed and long account. In Surahs 2, 7, 10 and this Surah we have several episodes of this history, but in every Surah we may have different episodes, or we have similar ones portrayed from different angles, so that they are more fitting with the general line of the Surah in which they occur.
Thus, in Surah 2, The Cow, it is preceded by the story of Adam and how he was honored in Heaven, as well as how he was given charge of the Earth and the grace God bestowed on him when he granted him forgiveness. In the same drift, the story of Moses and the Children of Israel provides a reminder of God’s grace, God’s covenant with them, their savior from Pharaoh, their prayer for rain and how they were given manna and quails for food. It mentions also Moses’ appointment with his Lord and how the Children of Israel took to worshiping the calf in his absence, God’s forgiveness and binding covenant under the mountain, their breach of the Sabbath and the story of the cow.
In Surah 7, The Heights, it is preceded by warnings and an outline of the fate suffered by earlier communities who denied God’s messages after they were given different signs and miracles. Hence, Moses’ story in this Surah begins at the point when Moses is given his message. It refers to the various signs given to Moses, such as his staff and hand, as well as the floods, locusts, ants, frogs and blood, and speaks in detail about the encounter with the sorcerers, the fate of Pharaoh and his people. It then mentions how the Israelites worshiped the calf in Moses’ absence. It culminates with an announcement of the heritage of God’s grace and guidance being passed over to those who follow the last Messenger, the unlettered Prophet.
In Surah 10, Jonah, it is preceded by a short account of the destruction of earlier communities for rejecting God’s guidance despite the clear evidence provided for them. The account of Moses given in this Surah again begins with his message and the scene of the encounter with the sorcerers, with a detailed scene of the destruction of Pharaoh and his army. Here in this Surah, it comes immediately after the opening verses which speak about the grace God bestows on those whom He selects for the task of conveying His message. The story has the same aura of Divine grace, starting with the scene of dialogue between Moses and God. It includes examples of the care God had taken of Moses and the support He had given him. It mentions that such care started long before his message, right in his early childhood, providing him with protection and love: “I lavished My love on you, so that you may be reared under My watchful eye.”
Let us now discuss the story as it is related in this Surah. “Have you learned the story of Moses? When he saw a fire, he said to his family: ‘Wait here! I perceive a fire. Perhaps I can bring you a lighted torch, or find some guidance at the fire’.” The Prophet is asked the rhetorical question whether he had heard of Moses’ history and how it reflects God’s grace and the guidance He provides for those whom He chooses as His messengers.
Here we see Moses (peace be upon him) on the road between Madyan and Egypt, close to Mount Sinai, returning with his wife after he had completed the term he had agreed with Prophet Shuayb. That agreement meant that Shuayb would give him one of his two daughters in marriage in return for eight or ten years during which he would be his assistant. Most probably he spent ten years before he felt that he should depart with his wife to be completely independent. He also wanted to go back to the country where he grew up. There the children of Israel, Moses’s people, were living in subjugation.
Why is he returning back when he had fled from Egypt after having killed an Egyptian whom he found quarreling with an Israelite?
He then found a safe refuge and security with Shuayb, his father-in-law. So why would he leave that place of security and come back to Egypt? Here we see human nostalgia being the tool bringing Moses to the place where he was to play an important role.
Thus is life. We are motivated by feelings, passions, aspirations, hopes and memories, but all these are merely the outward causes of the desired result. They are what we see on the surface, but below them is the will that no sight can see. It is God’s will, and He is the Almighty who accomplishes everything He wants.
Thus we see Moses on his way back, losing his way in the desert, accompanied only by his wife, and perhaps a servant. He loses his way in the darkness of the night in the open desert. We sense this from the way he says to his companions: “Wait here! I perceive a fire. Perhaps I can bring you a lighted torch, or find some guidance at the fire.” People living in the desert normally lit their fires on high grounds so that those traveling at night may see it, find their way or come over to it where they find welcome and hospitality, as well as directions to continue their journey.
Moses saw the fire as he was walking in the desert and he was warmed up by hope. He moved toward it in order to bring a torch for warmth, as night in the desert is normally cold. He felt he may also find some guidance there as whoever had lit the fire might give him directions on which way to travel. He aimed there to bring back a torch, but was in for a great surprise.
He found the fire that warms up souls and spirits, and provides guidance for the greatest journey of all: “But when he came close to it, a voice called out to him: ‘Moses, I am your Lord! Take off your sandals, for you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. Know that I have chosen you. Listen, then, to what is being revealed (to you)’.”
It is an awe-inspiring scene. We shudder as we imagine that scene, with Moses on his own in that open desert, surrounded by the complete darkness of the night and the deep silence engulfing him as he aims toward the fire by the side of the mountain. Then all of a sudden, the whole universe echoes that great address: “Moses, I am your Lord! Take off your sandals, for you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. Know that I have chosen you. Listen, then, to what is being revealed (to you).”
