Quranic Reflections - Islamic School of Stanford

A promise
On the one hand, Musa (AS) had left Egypt for eight years and added two years as she
got married with Shu ‘aib’s daughter. Shu’aib then told him what can be translated as,
“I intended to wed one of these my daughters to thee, on condition that thou
serve me for eight years; but if thou complete ten years, it will be (grace) from
thee. But I intend not to place thee under a difficulty: thou wilt find me, indeed,
if Allah wills, one of the righteous.”“ (TMQ, 28: 27). Consequently, he then
returned to Egypt after ten years. Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), on the other hand,
victoriously conquered Makkah eight years after hijra and the Mission of Islam was
completed in the tenth year. Both promises are the same and were fulfilled in exactly
the same interval of time and under the same difficult conditions. Musa (AS) fearfully
left Egypt as he was warned in what can be translated as, “the Chiefs are taking
counsel together about thee, to slay thee so get thee away, for I do give thee
sincere advice” (TMQ, 28: 20). Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) secretly left Makkah
by night after the disbelievers had conspired to kill him.
Such similar incidents raise a question : Are we really confident about Allah’s (SWT)
victory Allah (SWT) promised us that He will grant us victory in what can be
translated as, “Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work
righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of
power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority
their religion, the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change
(their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace:
`They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me.’ If any do reject
Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked.” (TMQ, 24: 55). It is a promise
among many of Allah’s promises (SWT) like this one which can be translated as, “for
We shall restore him to thee” (TMQ, 28: 7) and that one which can be translated as
“and Verily He Who ordained the Qur’an for thee, will bring thee, back to the
Place of Return.” (TMQ, 28: 85) It is a promise made by Allah (SWT) and will be
fulfilled just like the above cited ones (even if it takes eight or ten years or even
more). After reading Surat Al-Qasas, do we really have faith that Allah (SWT) will
grant us victory
The cost of Da’wa
The fulfillment of Allah’s (SWT) promise requires many sacrifices and self-struggle
on the side of the Da’ia (the one who makes Da’wa). That is why the Surah pointed
out the change in the place of Da’wa as in the story of Musa (AS) and the Prophet
(SAWS) which is clear in the ayah which can be translated as, “They say: “If we
were to follow the guidance with thee, we should be snatched away from our
land.”“ (TMQ, 28: 57). The road of da’wa is not an easy one because it is full of
sacrifices and leaving the homeland
But at its end there is glory and victory.
The will of Allah (SWT) the will of falsehood