This weekend I took a class called , Story Night . Noman Ali Khan is teaching this class around America. One of the main reasons why I took the class was because of the title which included story, I thought of the aya three in Surat Yusuf
We relate to you, O Muhammad, the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an although you were, before it, among the unaware.
I thought of the amazing story of Prophet Yusuf that I was taught in the AlMaghrib class
called "Beautiful Patience: Tafsir Surat Yusuf" ( If you did not take this class, you HAVE to take it at NYU at the end of this month inshAllah!! Here are notes to that class, http://hudawritess.blogspot.com/2013/01/prophet-yusuf-beautiful-patience.html
And then there was Noman Ali Khans beautiful description of this class "Qur’an has remarkable beauty from countless perspectives, one that has always captured my curiosity is the incredible style of Divine story telling".
It wasn't until the Surat Yusuf class that I reconginzed the beauty of the stories of the Quran. I actually don't even know a lot of the Prophets stories mentioned in the Quran, and this is why I suggest that whenever an opportunity to learn tafisr , take that opportunity because tafisr classes help you understand and recognize the Miracle of the Quran!
Here are my notes on the class which was focused on Surat Al Qasas:
Movies of today take the narrotaion of the Prophets stories (this was also mentioned in the Surat Yusuf, how the ideas in Surat Yusuf are used in movies).
The story of the Lion King is very similar to Prophet Musas story!
The journey itself is what keeps us interested in the story
The word Qasas comes from the word Qasa which means to take you on a journey
The Prophet Musa is the most mentioned Prophet in the Quran.
Most of the details about Prophet Musa are in Surah Taha (20), Al Shura (26), and Surat Al Qasas (28).
Notice the sequence in the Surah numbers
Tafsir Surat Al Qasas
The Pharoph of Egypt is looking to kill half of the baby boys that are born to reduce the number of Bani Isral, but he leaves some of the girls because the society still needs children.
The army goes into the poor areas of Bani Isral to look for any crying babies, to kill them.
They come near Musas mom, Musa is a baby, and she must find a way to make sure he does not cry so they don't catch him.
Allah sends her an aya to feed her baby milk, and to place Musa in the river and to not worry and that Allah will return him to her and make him a messenger.
Musas mom is so scared but she still feeds the baby, she still puts the baby in the river.
Allah will give you the emotional strength to overcome the hardest times.
strength is from belief in Allah, there are no gurnatees that this basket is safe.
Allah tells her "don't be afraid" and when the basket is so far away from her, Allah tells her " Don't be sad"
When you are a true believer and connected with Allah He will give you the strength to overcome hardships others cannot overcome.
Allah says, "We guarantee to bring him back to you"
The only thing she has is the trust of Allah.
The baby reaches the castle of the pharaoh. Asyia , his wife takes the baby, and she notices how adorable the baby is.
She tells pharaoh that the baby is "qartaa ayoun" the comfort of the eyes. Qartaa means to remember. She tells her husband to adopt Musa, and he says yes.
Allah created Musa special.
This approach of Asiya teaches us something, she is going to a man who wants all of bani isral killed, but she was able to convince him. She started with oh look how cute Musa is, then says don't kill him , lets adopt him. A psychological approach
Musas mom is still waiting for Musa, Allah tells us that Musas mom has psychological strength so she doesn't shatter her heart.
This teaches us that we will go through tough times, will get hurt.
Allah is giving us a gift, in this aya (10), a shattered heart, He can put together, you just need to connect to Allah.
This is a psychology that is needed in our lives.
Musas mom looked at Musas sister and told her to follow him (Musa). The daughter listened right away she didn't ask any questions she just went. Musas mom didn't give her daughter many instructions, this is an example of independent critical thinking.
This girl is so smart!
So as the daughter goes to the palace where Musa is, she notices a bunch of women gathering to the palace. Musa does not drink the milk except of his moms milk. Now the wife of pharoph is worried and she needs to find someone to feed Musa so she makes a call to all women who can feed to gather at the palace. The daughter is there when this gathering happens.
She does something very smart!! She tells them I can take you to a family who can take care of Musa, she is directing them to her own home. They listen to her, and now they are all in Musas home but no one from the palace knows that this is Musas mother.
Allah brought him back to her in the best way.
Then Musa becomes strong, like the bark of a tree as (istwaa). A young teen, and Allah gives Musa wisdom. Allah made this young man unique: strong, wisdom, wealthy (kingdom), knowledge.
Allah tells us these are the excellent characteristics, but you need wisdom and knowledge.
Musa was clearly as Isrealti based on his skin color. Everyone (Army ) hates him, except his adoption parents.
Theres a nap time in this town and as Musa is outside during this time he notices a fight between a bani israli and a non bani israli. Bani isarli asks Musa to help him because he is of the same people, Musa helps him and because of his strength he kills the other man. Then Musa finds out that the bani isral was lieing and he was the wrong one in the fight, Musa says that this is from shytan, him quickly judging and jumping to action Musa who is not even a Prophet yet makes dua for forgivness
This teaches us how do you move on after a sin , how do you ask for forgiveness and know that Allah will accept your forgivness?
....STORY TO BE CONTUNIED! (Haha going to make this interesting, inshAllah I will send "Part 2" soon...
No comments:
Post a Comment