The lessons of the children of Israel

The lessons of the children of Israel and the emergence of the Imam of the Age [Imām Mahdī] (mgehr)

Introduction

The Prophet (PBUH)’s name is mentioned in Qur’an five times; once the name Aḥmad and four other times the name Muḥammad. Prophet Moses [pbuh]’s name has occurred 136 times in Qur’an. More than 900 verses of Qur’an are about the children of Israel without which, the subject of Imām Mahdī (mgehr)’s emergence cannot be initiated. The noble prophet [of Islam] (pbuh) stated, “No lizard goes to a hole in the children of Israel unless it will happen to my nation as well.” (Muntakhab al-’Athar, p. 98)

One must know the nation of Israel, in order to learn Enemyology[1], because God has stated, “Surely You will find the most hostile of all people towards the faithful to be the Jews and the polytheists.” (Al-Mā’idah 5:82)

Moses [prophet Mūsā (pbuh)]: Banū Israel’s and Jew’s prophet

Jews were the first and the most intelligent nation who found out they need a Mahdavī government!

The gap between His Excellency Yūsuf [Josef (pbuh)] and His Excellency Mūsā (pbuh) was 400 years. The Pharaohs after His Excellency Yūsuf (pbuh), didn’t like Banū Israel, so they didn’t hire them in the government and forced them to work. They kept the men alive as many as they needed, but they killed others.  Also they raped their women.

Anyway, Banu Israel got distressed; cried and lamented. Therefore, the Faqīhs among them suggested that, if they turn to religion and plead to God, God will consider a savior for them. However, they managed to do this through crying, so they hastened it for more than 100 years. Yes, His Excellency Mūsā (pbuh) became their prophet.

“The first government of the innocent Walī [ religious Guardian], was formed by His Excellency Mūsā (pbuh.”

The story of the people of Moses (pbuh)

• Saving from the Pharaohs [phraoh like people]
• The divine attention
• Appreciate the favor [of God]
• The economic experiment, and the beginning of the disobedience
• well-being seeking experiment
• Disobedience to the infallible [prophet Moses (pbuh)]
• The divine anger, and loss of the infallible guardian [prophet Moses (pbuh)]
• The divine traditions

Saving from the Pharaohs

His Majesty Moses (pbuh) transmitted more than 600,000 people through the Nile. He struck his staff to the sea, and made twelve paths to cross the twelve tribes of Israelites. The pursuing Pharaoh, who had reached the Nile, was drowned there; once the Israelites passed the Nile and the paths were closed.

Question: Why the Israelites did not go back to Egypt after the destruction of Pharaoh, who had persecuted them?

Answer: Because the Israelites had made a promise, for the universal government of Mahdavī, in the promised land Palestine.

Israelites wanted to reach the Promised Land,

And we are supposed to reach the Promised Time.

God has stated in “Surah Yunus”, ‘We passed the children of Israel through the sea, and Pharaoh and his legions pursued them arrogantly and frantically. But as he (Pharaoh) was drowning he cried out: “[Now], I believe that there is no God, except He, in whom the Children of Israel believe. I am of those that submit [to God] (Muslims)”. (God replied): “Now you declare belief in Me! but before this, you were a disobedient rebel. We will save your body on this day so that you may become evidence (of Our existence) for the coming generations; many people are unaware of such evidence”. (Holy Qurʾān, Surah Yunus, verses 90-92)

The divine attention

“We divided them into twelve tribes, each a nation. And when his people demanded drink, We revealed to Moses: ‘Strike the rock with your staff. ‘ Thereupon twelve springs gushed from the rock and each tribe knew its drinking place. We caused the clouds to cast their shadow over them, and sent down for them manna and quails, saying: ‘Eat of the good things We have provided for you. ‘ Indeed, they did Us no wrong, but they wronged themselves.”

Banū Israel decided to arrive in Promised Land but, we are going to live in The Promised Era

In Surah Yūnus, God stated:

We took the Children of Israel across the sea: Pharaoh and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At length, when overwhelmed with the flood, he said: “I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam). (It was said to him): “Ah now! – But a little while before, wast thou in rebellion! – and thou didst mischief (and violence)! “This day shall We save thee in the body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee! but verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!” (Surah Yūnus, Verses 90- 92)

Divine Providence

We divided them into twelve tribes or nations. We directed Moses by inspiration, when his (thirsty) people asked him for water: “Strike the rock with thy staff”: out of it there gushed forth twelve springs: Each group knew its own place for water. We gave them the shade of clouds, and sent down to them manna and quails, (saying): “Eat of the good things We have provided for you”: (but they rebelled); to Us they did no harm, but they harmed their own souls. (Surah Aˈrfa, Verse 160)

Thanks for blessings

Remember Moses said to his people: “O my people! Call in remembrance the favor of Allah unto you, when He produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples. (Surah Ma’idah, Verse 20)

To The Almighty God, the greatest blessing is to choose your destiny. The first blessing which is given by God to the people who seek Mahdavī government, is independence.

The economical test [by God] and the beginning of disobedience.   [Pay attention to what Surah Baqarah, Verse 60 mentions in this regard]:

And remember Moses prayed for water for his people; We said: “Strike the rock with thy staff.” Then gushed forth therefrom twelve springs. Each group knew its own place for water. So eat and drink of the sustenance provided by Allah, and do no evil nor mischief on the (face of the) earth.

Prophet Mūsā (pbuh) stated:

The things you are demanding, have been available for you in Egypt! Why do you like to exchange something good with bad?! When we reach the destination, there will be much better things, prepared for you.

[ Surah Ma’idah, Verse 21, refers to this issue:]

“O my people! Enter the holy land which Allah hath assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then will ye be overthrown, to your own ruin.”

The second [divine] test they took, was the test of Jihad; the Jihad to get the Holy Land. However, [in Surah Ma’idah, Verses 22& 23]

They said: “O Moses! In this land are a people of exceeding strength: Never shall we enter it until they leave it: if (once) they leave, then shall we enter.

(But) among (their) Allah-fearing men were two on whom Allah had bestowed His grace: They said: “Assault them at the (proper) Gate: when once ye are in, victory will be yours; But on Allah put your trust if ye have faith.”

The people of Israel did not want to be hard on themselves, and because of their indolence and selfishness [they cared a lot to themselves] , they failed the test of jihad.

Disobedience from what the infallible Imāms (pbu th) stated

[Surah Ma’idah, Verse 24, refers to this issue:]

They said: “O Moses! while they remain there, never shall we be able to enter, to the end of time. Go thou, and thy Lord, and fight ye two, while we sit here (and watch).”

Banu Ismā’īl failed the test of Jihad [the divine fight]; they were to enter the Holy Land! And we are to get to the Holy Time. When Ayatollah Khomeini ((mgbhs) who was not infallible) ordered to free Khorramshahr, we were given the test of Jihad [too]. Yes, the Ayatollah spoke about the religion [Islam] and emphasized that we would get the Holy Time; therefore, we obeyed what he ordered us.

The Divine wrath and losing the infallible Walī [an Imām (pbuh) is the guardian for us]

[Surah Ma’idah, Verse 25, refers to this issue:]

He said: “O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother: so separate us from this rebellious people!”

If we call the infallible Walī (pbuh) but we disobey him, we will not have the previous position! Instead, the infallible will curse us. Similarly, on the night of 19 Ramadhan, Āmir al Mu’menin (pbuh) stated, ‘[O, God! Please get me rid of them, and give them someone bad, instead!’

• The divine traditions

1. Allah said: “Therefore will the land be out of their reach for forty years: In distraction will they wander through the land: But sorrow thou not over these rebellious people…” Holy Qurʾān, Surah Al-Maeda, Verse 26.

Israelites [Banu Israel] disobeyed (God), so the Holy Land became forbidden to them for years, and they wandered for a while. Likewise, if we rebel or disobey [God], the Holy Era (The Emergence) will be postponed to us!

“O’ my Mawlā! How long will I be wandering in you?”  Mafatih al-Jina, V. 3, Du’a Nudba.

2. “But because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard; they change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the message that was sent them, nor wilt thou cease to find them- barring a few – ever bent on (new) deceits: but forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds): for Allah loveth those who are kind.” Holy Qurʾān, Surah Al-Maeda, Verse 13.

If we desire for the Mahdavī government, but make a covenant and then break the covenant, Imām Zamān (mgehr) will leave us. So, we will be strayed and cursed by God. In this case, the hearts will turn to stones; when the hearts are stoned, we will be like Banu Ismā’īl. Yes, they distorted the words of God and forgot a part of it! They eventually killed the divine Messengers [the holy prophets (pbu th)]!!!!!

His Majesty Dāwūd (pbuh)’s government:

The second government of the innocent Walī, and the vastest kingdom in the history of Banu Israel, belonged to His Majesty Dāwūd (pbuh). His Majesty Dāwūd (pbuh)’s nation, against prophet Mūsā (pbuh), they achieved a victory in the economy and Jihad [divine]Tests.

[In this respect,] In the Psalms of David [Dāwūd (pbuh)], the following was mentioned:

Prophet Dāwūd (pbuh) used to cry a lot for Imām Zamān (mgehr) so much that, it was a matter of surprise for the people!  They wondered and asked The Majesty, “You are the king and have everything! Why do you miss the future time [the Emergence Era]?!” The Majesty stated, “You cannot understand! At that time, no disease will exist. All of the people will turn to Walī of God and …!”

There, they asked, “Is not it possible for you to be one of them [now]?!” He stated, “Sure! But you are not the ones who can bear that Era [the problems of that Era]

but his nation insisted on that issue, and [prophet] Dāwūd (pbuh) asked it from God. So, God granted the prophet Dāwūd (pbuh) a small part of [Imām] Mahdi (mgehr)’s government. And that is the divine test of Justice.

Prophet Dāwūd (pbuh) sat in the position of a judge. He wouldn’t justify according to witnesses, reasons, and documents. Rather, by divine will, he made inner [divine] judgments. [Anyway], The hypocrites couldn’t withstand it and launched a psychological war against Prophet Dāwūd (pbuh).

[In Surah Nisā, Verse 65], God stated,

But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.

Fulfilling prophet Muḥammad (pbuh&h)’s promise

They narrated from the Prophet (pbuh&h), that he stated, “Whatever happened for Banu Israel; like a lizard that went into a hole there, will happen to my Ummah!”  (Muntakhab al-Athar, Page 98)

Yes, after our Prophet (pbuh&h), all those events happened in such a way that a person like Yazīd (mgdh) sat in the position of the Prophet (pbuh&h)!

All these things happened after our Prophet and it reached a point where a person like Yazid sat down in the place of The Prophet.

Sulaymān ibn Ṣurad al-Khuzāʿīy wrote to Imām Ḥusayn (pbuh), ‘O’ Ḥusayn! we are loyal to you, and we are ready. You are our Imām, [so] it is your duty to respond to our call’. His Majesty stated, ‘I had not received any ultimatum, before that letter’. Yes, such people who had invited Imām, left him alone and even had an effort in his killing.

God, in return, accursed them and turned their heart to stone. The curses in Ziyarat Ashura refer to the point that we absolve ourselves to God and show that we are not among those who were accursed; rather, we are among those who accuse them.

• Our hearts have turned to stone too. The proof is that we can not cry unless they recite the story of the beheading of His Majesty. Yet, even Umar ibn Sa‘ad cried over His Majesty’s beheading.

The mystery behind Imām Mahdī (mgehr)’s Emergence, is revealed in the red flag of Imām Ḥusayn (pbuh).

The Islamic Revolution (of Iran)’s Examination:

In our revolution, we have passed the examination of jihād and economics, and we are still taking it; But unfortunately, we could not pass the examination of justice well;

Through financial corruption, astronomical salaries, etc, The enemy is trying to make people eat haram[2]. Because if one generation eats haram, the next generation will be born by haram. It may be possible that haram-eater people, like people of Kufa, pray for the coming of the Imām of  Zaman (mgehr), or even invite him, but a generation which is born by haram will definitely behead their Imām of Zaman (mgehr).

 

[1] Enemyology or enemy logy, means knowing the enemy, his strengths and weaknesses, the way he works, etc.

2- Haram means, forbidden in Islam