The Life of Prophet Musa and the Bani Israel

Musa (Moses) and Bani Israel

• Musa asked Allah for water and 12 springs gushed forth.

Bani Israel's Requests

• Instead of Manna and Salwa, Bani Israel asked for cucumbers, garlic, and lentils.

Religious Groups

• Mu'min: believer
• Yahud: Jews
• Nasara: Christians
• Sabians: followers of a pre-Islamic religion in Arabia

The Story of the Sabbath

• Bani Israel were commanded to observe the Sabbath and rest on the seventh day.
• They were punished for breaching the Sabbath.

Punishment for Breaching the Sabbath

• Those who breached the Sabbath were transformed into apes.

The Story of the Cow

• Bani Israel were commanded to slaughter a cow, but they asked many questions about it.
• They asked Prophet Musa 7 questions about the cow.

Descriptions of the Cow

• Musa described the cow as:
  • One that is neither old nor young
  • One that is not used for plowing or irrigation
  • One that is of a specific color

The Importance of "Hear and Obey"

• As Muslims, we are commanded to hear and obey Allah's commandments without question.
• Bani Israel fell short of this commandment by asking too many questions.
• Examples of those who followed Allah's commandments without question include Ibrahim, Ismail, and Yusuf.
• Their reward was paradise and Allah's pleasure.
• The importance of keeping company with those who "hear and obey" lies in their positive influence and encouragement to follow Allah's commandments.

Lessons Learned

• The importance of obedience to Allah's commandments
• The danger of questioning Allah's commandments
• The reward of following Allah's commandments without question