Hadhrat Shuaib gives Hadhrat Moosa his daughter

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Category: Nabi Shuaib (Alayhis Salaam)

Created: Thursday, 16 April 2015 10:17

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In Madyan

After a gruelling walk of eight days, Musa (alayhis salaam) reached the fields outside the City of Madyan. Here was a well where many people had gathered to water their animals. While he was sitting under a tree, in contemplation, he observed two young ladies with covered faces holding back their goats. Musa (alayhis salaam) enquired from them the reason for standing aloof with their goats. One of them responded that they were waiting for the others to complete their tasks of watering their animals, and that they would water their goats after the others had left. Their father was very old and sickly, hence they had to tend to the goats.

    Hadhrat Musa (alayhis salaam) went to the shepherds and reprimanded them for their inconsideration, and for not assisting the young ladies with their animals to enable them to leave for their home early. Offended by the Musa’s reproach, the men spitefully lifted a huge slab of stone and covered the mouth of the well. Several men had to lift the slab of stone. They mockingly said to Musa (alayhis salaam): “If you are so kind and chivalrous, let us now see how you will assist them.” Then they stood at a distance to see the ‘fun’.

    Musa (alayhis salaam) despite the tiresome journey of eight days, with hardly anything to eat besides whatever he could acquire from trees, went to the well and reciting ‘Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem,’ removed the huge slab effortlessly. He lowered the huge water-container into the well. Several men would retrieve the filled container from the well. But, Hadhrat Musa (alayhis salaam) alone managed to draw it from the well. He continued drawing water until all the goats were fully satisfied. The two young ladies then departed with their goats.

    The young ladies were the daughters of Hadhrat Nabi Shuaib (alayhis salaam). He had reached a very old age and was also blind. On this day, the ladies had arrived home with their goats well before their expected time. Surprised at their early return, Hadhrat Shuaib (alayhis salaam) queried the reason. They narrated the episode which had transpired, and the kindness of the Musaafir (Musa – alayhis salaam). Meanwhile Hadhrat Musa (alayhis salaam) dejected and lonely sat down under a tree pondering his fate.

    Having been apprized by Wahi of Hadhrat Musa’s arrival and condition, Nabi Shuaib (alayhis salaam) said: “Alas! He is in dire straits. He is sitting all alone under a tree imploring Allah Ta’ala for some food. Go! Make haste! It appears to me that he has not eaten for eight days. Bring him here. Make haste! I fear that if we do not feed that Musaafir, a calamity will descend on this city.”

    On the instruction of Hadhrat Shuayb (alayhis salaam), his daughter went to call Hadhrat Musa (alayhis salaam). When she reached the place where the well was, she found him sitting under the same tree where he had earlier rested. Describing the scene, the Qur’aan says: “Then one of the two daughters (of Shuayb- alayhis salaam) came walking bashfully. She said: ‘My father calls you so that he may remunerate you for having watered our goats.”

    Adopting an interesting mode of accompanying her, Hadhrat Musa (alayhis salaam) being a man of lofty moral attributes and spiritual excellence, his profound sense of modesty and shame constrained him to instruct her to walk at a distance behind him to avoid his gaze falling on her. Obviously he was not aware of Hadhrat Shuayb’s residence. To solve this problem, he said to the girl to take a handful of pebbles. When direction should be changed, she should throw a pebble indicating the direction to follow, right or left. Since the voice of the female too is Satr (to be concealed), Nabi Musa (alayhis salaam) exercised every precaution to avoid unnecessary hearing of the voice of Nabi Shuayb’s daughter.

    When they reached Hadhrat Shuayb’s home, Musa (alayhis salaam) was warmly welcomed. After he narrated his entire story, Hadhrat Shuayb (alayhis salaam) said to himself: “This person is most certainly from the Family of Ambiya.” Hadhrat Shuayb (alayhis salaam) comforting Hadhrat Musa (alayhis salaam) told him to relax and not to fear. Fir’oun’s jurisdiction did not extend to this land. He therefore need have no fear of being pursued by the men of Fir’oun.

    After Hadhrat Musa (alayhis salaam) had meals, Hadhrat Shuayb’s daughter requested her father to employ this stranger to tend to the goats. She said that he was a man of considerable strength and honesty. Hadhrat Shuayb (alayhis salaam) asked her to explain the basis of her conclusion regarding the stranger. She said that Hadhrat Musa (alayhis salaam) alone lifted the huge slab covering the well. It was a stone which ten men would lift. Then he swiftly drew water from the well with a huge bucket which would be hauled up by five men. From this she understood his phenomenal physical strength.

    The mode he had adopted when accompanying her testifies to his honesty, uprighteousness and integrity. Hadhrat Shuayb (alayhis salaam) was elated at this explanation of his daughter. Hadhrat Shuayb (alayhis salaam) told Hadhrat Musa (alayhis salaam) that it was his intention to marry one of his daughters to him. The condition however was that Hadhrat Musa (alayhis salaam) had to be the shepherd to tend to the goats for eight years, and if he voluntarily agrees to ten years, it will be appreciated. When Hadhrat Musa (alayhis salaam) accepted the terms, Nabi Shuayb (alayhis salaam) performed the Nikah the same day.

Extracted from the story of Hadhrat Musa (Alahy Salaam)