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The Quest For Allah's Mercy
Prepared by Muhammad Alshareef
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It
was narrated that in the days that Musa (AS) wandered with Bani
Israel in the desert a grizzly drought befell them. Together, they
all raised their hands towards the heavens praying for the blessed
rain. Then, to the astonishment of Musa (AS) and all those
watching, the few clouds that scattered the sky vanished, the heat
scorched down, and the drought intensified.
It was revealed to Musa that there was a sinner amongst Bani Israel
that had disobeyed Allah for more than 40 years of his life. “Let
him separate himself from the congregation,” Allah told Musa.
“Only then shall I shower you all with rain.”
Musa (AS) called out to the throngs of humanity, “There is a
person amongst us who has disobeyed Allah for 40 years. Let him
separate himself from the congregation and only then shall we be
rescued from the drought.” That man, waited, looking left and
right, hoping that someone else would step forward…but no one
did. Sweat poured from his brow and he knew he was the one.
If he stayed amongst the congregation all would die of thirst; yet,
if he stepped forward he would be humiliated for all eternity.
He raised his hands with sincerity he had never known before, with
humility he had never tasted, tears poured on both cheeks, “O
Allah, have mercy on me! O Allah, hide my sins! O Allah, forgive
me!”
As Musa (AS) and Bani Israel waited for the sinner to step forward,
the clouds hugged the sky and the rain poured. Musa (AS) asked
Allah Ta’ala, “O Allah, you blessed us with rain even though
that sinner did not come forward.” And Allah Ta’ala replied,
“O Musa, it is for the repentance of that very person that I
blessed all of Bani Israel with water.”
Musa, wanting to know who was this blessed man, asked, “Show him
to me O Allah!” Allah Ta’ala replied, “O Musa, I hid his sins
for 40 years. Do you think that after his repentance I shall expose
him?”
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