In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
It has been related that during the time of Musa (Moses) (PBUH), the Children of Israel were afflicted with a drought. The people went to Musa (PBUH) and said, “O one who has spoken to Allah, invoke your Lord to provide us with rain.” He, accompanied by the people, went out to the desert; they numbered 70,000 or more. Musa (PBUH) supplicated for rain and for Allah’s Mercy, but nothing happened, except that the sky seemed to be even drier and the sun seemed more oppressive with its heat.
Musa (PBUH) was surprised and asked his Lord for the reason behind that. Allah inspired to him, “Indeed, among you is a slave who has been challenging Me with sins for the past forty years. Call out to the people until he comes out from among them, for because of him you were prevented (from rain).” Musa (PBUH) said, “My Lord, I am a weak slave and my voice is weak. How can my voice convey (to them) when they are 70,000 or more in number?” Allah inspired to him, “From you is the call and from Us is its conveyance.” Musa stood as a caller and said, “O sinning slave, who has challenged Allah with sins for the last forty years: come out from among us, for because of you, we have been deprived from rain. The said sinner turned to the left and to the right, seeing no one coming out from among them, which made him realize that he was the one who was wanted. He spoke to himself, “If I come forth from among this group of creation, then I will have exposed myself. But if I sit with them, then they will be deprived because of me.” He put his head in his garment, regretting his evil deeds. He said, “My Lord, I have disobeyed You for forty years and You have given me respite. I have come to You in obedience, so accept from me.” He no sooner finished his speech than a white cloud appeared and the rain came down in abundance. Musa (PBUH) said, “My Lord, why did You give us drink when none from among us came out?” Allah said, “O Musa, I have given you rain because of the same man who was the reason why I prevented you from rain (i.e., the man who repented).” Musa (PBUH) said, “My Lord, let me see this obedient slave.” Allah said, “O Musa, I did not expose him when he was disobeying Me, then do you expect Me to expose him while he is obedient to Me?”
PBUH: peace be upon him
Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
P210