As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah
Prophet Musa (`alayhisalam) is often described as being strong, tough and a force against the harshness that surrounded him. See, he was destined to go up against the barbaric Pharaoh, so Allah `azza wa jall raised him in a way where he’d be fit to face the horrors and physical calamities that were to occur to him in his time (surviving persecution, the killing of his opponent, exile, coming back to the Pharoah, leading Bani Israel from oppression etc).
But one interesting characteristic of Musa (`alayhisalam) is that he was not eloquent nor did he possess fluency or ease of speech (which is in contrast to the Prophet Muhammad (s) who was granted ‘jawami’ al-kalim’, i.e. high eloquence).
Musa acknowledged this impediment and feared that Pharaoh would use it against him. Remember, he was a Messenger delivering a message – and naturally it would be that much more difficult to get across your message if you cannot speak as well as your opponent. It only makes the battle harder. Let’s look at Musa’s acknowledgement of this:
He said in his supplication to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala:
وَأَخِي هَارُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّي لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِيَ رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِي ۖ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ
“And my brother Aaron is more fluent than me in tongue, so send him with me as support, verifying me. Indeed, I fear that they will deny me.” [al-Qasas: 34]
He feared that the Message would be denied on account of his speech defect. And indeed, he was denied by Pharaoh and his elites. In fact, Pharaoh used this as an insult against Musa and said:
أَمْ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْ هَٰذَا الَّذِي هُوَ مَهِينٌ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُبِينُ
“Or am I [not] better than this one who is insignificant and hardly makes himself clear?” [al-Zukhruf: 52]
So, why does this characteristic of Musa interest us?
Because subhan’Allah, perhaps this is why Allah `azza wa jall singled him out and spoke to him directly. Pharaoh was arrogant and saw himself above speaking to Musa because he ‘couldn’t make himself clear’, and so Allah honoured Musa by raising to up to Mount Sinai and speaking to him directly – to show that despite the speech impediment, he was worthy of conversing with his Lord.
وَرُسُلًا قَدْ قَصَصْنَاهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًا لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ ۚ وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَىٰ تَكْلِيمًا
“And [We sent] Messengers about whom We have related to you before and Messengers about whom We have not related to you. And Allah spoke to Moses with a direct speech.” [al-Nisa: 164]
Hence Musa is forever remembered as ‘Kaleemullah’ – the one who conversed with Allah.
A lesson: Sometimes, people may disregard you and belittle you, thinking that you are not worthy of something, but in some future turn of events, Allah `azza wa jall will raise you and bring you out as better. He will draw you closer to Him and give you from His Mercy, and also make clear to the people what you are truly deserving of. Let us humble ourselves and never look down on anyone, because not everyone’s reality is clear, and perhaps the ones we look down upon are a million times better and more deserving than us in the Sight of Allah `azza wa jall…
Moved me to tears…very well written
MashaAllaah, good reminder. Baraka Allahu Feeki
ma sha Allah, what an incredible lesson – jazakum Allah khayran for sharing.
Djazaakie llaahoe ghayr, very inspiring. I’ll translate this one into Dutch. : )
jazaakillahu khayra.. Allahu akhbar!
May I ask what the reference of this text is?
xxx
SubhanAllah, jazakillahu khairun for this beautiful reflection sis. It brought tears to my eyes…. subhanAllah what an honour! And to this day we recite the du’a of Musa ‘alayhis salam for ease in our speech! (Rabbi-shrahlee sadri)
Slmalykm …mashAllah gr8 blog…dis is my 1st visit nd wuld def. inshala b visitinG regularly…ws amazed 2read in previous posts about the high interest of females in europe with regards 2 hifdh….mashaAllah…maY Allah swt acept each and every female in Europe for d deen…req. spcl duaas for d sisters in South Africa…
Assalaam Alaikum,
mashaAllah a great lesson…jazakAllah khair…
just a small note..RasoolAllah (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) was NOT CALLED jawami ul kalim…he was GIVEN the jawami ul kalim.
JazakAllah khair
Wa `alaykumusalam wa rahmatullah
Barak’Allahu fik brother Rashid, not sure how I slipped on that one!
Bint A, absolutely. In fact, the du’a of Musa mentioned in Surah Ta-ha extends to say:
“…And untie the knot from my tongue, So they can understand my speech.” [Ta-ha: 27-28]
And today, Musa’s message and speech remains understood in all corners of the world and is preserved throughout the Qur’an, subhan’Allah.
Mardiyya, I didn’t take it from a book; it’s just a contemplation and reflection that some of the scholars like Shaykh al-Maghamisi have mentioned it in their duroos etc. Bi-tawfiq with the translation 🙂
Thank you very much sister
wa laikum As Salam
Alhamdulillah, you have made the point very clear: Don’t undermine others!
I wrote an article on Prophet Musa from a different angle. You can find it here:
http://yassarnalquran.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/water-and-prophet-musa-the-connecting-factor/
Jazakillah Khayr.
asalaamu alaykum waRahmatullah waBarakaatuh.
That post is awesome maa shaa’ Allah. Please give us more like these..
By the way, you might find this interesting since it’s related:
Moses Meets Allah for the 1st time:
http://www.linguisticmiracle.com/moses2
Exactly what I needed to read today! Jazakallahukhairan and may Allah (swt) reward you immensely.
My son, Isa, is turning three in a matter of days and is speech delayed…(he is on the waiting list for speech therapy). At times, I think about Prophet Isa (pbuh) who talked as a baby…
But reading this made me think that no, all is not lost, even if my baby has a speech impediment.
May Allah (swt) bless my little Isa, always, and all of those who have speech disorders. Ameen.
Anger was what Prophet Musa (`alayhisalam) could not control. This anger was his love for Allah and his people and he couldn’t bear to hear ignorant banter nor the patience to console or make one realize. His actions is what he wanted to leave behind as proof; as all humans weighed that more than words which was often misconstrued. He didn’t have a speech impediment! His anger made his heart race and the words that came in that zest would often be questioned so he knew his brother Harun, who was well composed, humble, patient and articulate will eloquently render his insight.
Allah loved Prophet Musa (`alayhisalam) and understood his persona and never mistook his screaming to Him as offensive as it was only a high tone and inside love-rage which he couldnt control as he couldn’t change or convince peoples mindset.
Jazakillahu khayran sister for your input. However, it’s noted in various verses that Musa (as) did have a speech impediment (which was a result of an accident he had as a child when he was burnt by coal).
Ibn Kathir mentions this in the tafsir of the verse where Pharaoh says in mockery of Musa: “Am I not better than this one who is despicable and can scarcely express himself clearly?” [al-Zukhruf: 53]. Scholars said that this was a reference to his stammer or speech defect, hence the du’a of Musa, “And untie the knot from my tongue” [TaHa: 27]
My dear brother, have you never stuttered out of fear? I ask this because I have the same problem, whenever I’m nervous or overwhelmed, I have a slur or a stammer too but this doesn’t mean that it’s a physical impairment like how it has been deciphered.. I may not be a scholar but I have the intellect and understanding to comprehend why Musa (as) needed Harun to be alongside him.. The verses where Pharoah was insulted wht Musa didn’t speak for himself clearly shows he could speak… He spoke very well and articulate to his people and to Almighty Allah.. I know this for sure but you can believe what you want to…
These verses meant for Muhammad (saw) to Musa (as)
“I will establish a prophet for them from among their brothers, like you, and I will place My words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.”
Forgive me if I sound rude or my tone high, I luv my prophets too much and I know about the child coal incident.. Very interesting but again imagine intelligently how a kid is to lift a burning coal and that too put in his mouth!! Avoid lip etc… Just not possible.. Pharoah was awed and at same time perplexed about Musa and when his foster kid was reaching out for coal he stopped him and got to know what he wanted… And as a child Allah pacified Musa to only reach to the coal and frightened Musa followed his gut…
This is thorough and logical research.. Correct me if I’m wrong…
Did Musa (A) ever stutter after he made his Dua to Allah?